100/80w bulbs

[danmetallic]

So I've just completed the headlight relay mod which would now allow be to use 100/80w H4 bulbs. Are they legal though? Anyone else have them? ps I have done a search but couldn't find anything, perhaps I was searching for the wrong term. Apologies if this has been covered before

[danmetallic]

pps I'm not talking HID or Xenon.

[R0B]

Nightbreakers are what you want.

[CovKid]

They're not legal no (won't have any EU approved markings) and I agree, nightbreakers better. To be honest, if you've got the relays, on good reflectors even stock bulbs are bright enough but if you do want that extra bit of light, fit nightbreakers, not so-called higher wattage ones which won't actually be much brighter than stock and will burn out quicker (from experience). They often result in a poor beam pattern as all the ones I've come across are cheaply and badly made.

[danmetallic]

That's what I suspected. Thank you. I have Nightbreaker Unlimited bulbs ready to fit tonight.

[WLC]

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Does anyone know where I can get decent quality bulb connectors in small quantities please

The flag receptacles in the connectors I've tried recently get over hot when I use them with 100/80 bulbs
They won't take a decent size wire either

Thanks.

[CovKid]

And the moral of the story is....

This is the other problem with higher wattage bulbs, you need heatsinks too. To my mind, fitting overated bulbs just puts strain on the existing loom. Its not the answer - merely a cure for the symptoms rather than dealing with the cause. Relays and correctly rated bulbs work out better and cheaper in the end. They also last longer. I've even seem cracked lenses due to 100/80 bulbs getting so hot.

Good reflectors important. If yours are round, read the posts on the Euro Car Part headlights (very cheap), fit relays and Osram nightbreaker bulbs. Result = bright lights without long term grief.

[WLC]

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And the moral of the story is....

The moral is . . .

if the cruddy connectors I've found so far waste enough electricity to fry themselves with 100W bulbs they'll waste too much of the electricity I want delivered to my 55w bulbs.
And I don't like that waste because it means my bulbs aren't as bright as the orta be.

Ok, I can use straight yellow receptacles than I can crimp on to nice thick wire so I don't get too much voltage drop along the wire between the relay and the bulb receptacle
But it's messy, and the punters think pretty is electrically efficient.
But that doesn't stop them moaning when things don't work as well as they reckon they should.

Come to think of it, I don't like messy work either
.

[danmetallic]

Having fitted relays and nightbreakers I see little if any benefit of going up to 100w. Are you on rounds or squares WLC?

[CovKid]

Definately seen the h4 bulb connectors on ebaY - they do tend to come with flyleads for obvious reasons though. Can see where you're coming from but if you have 200w on the end of inadequate cable and cruddy headlight connectors, the potential for fire is greatly increased compared to stock bulbs. I toyed with all these things over the years and higher wattage bulbs was the worst path I trod.

[WLC]

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Having fitted relays and nightbreakers I see little if any benefit of going up to 100w. Are you on rounds or squares WLC?

Rounds, that's very kind of you Dan, I'll have a pint of Guinness if that's OK by you:-)

More seriously round headlights last time.
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