High Power Headlamp Bulbs,whats legal?

[redstar]

Just a quick question (another one)
I have uprated the wiring in my 2000 '81 bus
and am wondering how many watts of power
can i 'legaly' have?
At present i have 60/55 in, so just wondering...

Thanks in advance as always..

[Fox McIntyre]

55/60 watt headlamp bulbs are the maximum legal power, however, I run 80/100 watt bulbs with standard wiring with no (so far!) ill consequence. Its nigh on impossible to tell the difference except when your in the driving seat at night!

[Aidan]

Stick to stock and let the rest of us see past you when you are coming towards us - I HATE EXTRA BRIGHT OR BLUE LIGHTS - dangerous to other users IMHO.
And as for people who sit with their foot on the brake peddle at lights in front of me dazzling me with their brake lights - I want a gun

[redstar]

i uprated the wiring as per various threads on the wiki
(esp thanks c.keith) so if i put in 'big' bulbs like that
i may have someones eye out! just passed a mot so the
alignment is pretty good, but still wary 'bout chucking
in some 130/90's...............hence the Q...
or am i being too law abiding???

[Fox McIntyre]

Stick to stock and let the rest of us see past you when you are coming towards us - I HATE EXTRA BRIGHT OR BLUE LIGHTS - dangerous to other users IMHO.
And as for people who sit with their foot on the brake peddle at lights in front of me dazzling me with their brake lights - I want a gun

I checked my headlamp alignment personally. yes, with a beam tester.

[murdoch]

not half as bad as bl**dy fog lights, that people think they must put on if its a little drizzly *@@/0£ %$<<;

would be interested to find out about bulbs too, as i plan to upgrade the headlamp wiring soon, not to blind others i might add, but to see sharp left and rights that are only a few yards from the cliff edges, that we have plenty of round here!

[Fox McIntyre]

would be interested to find out about bulbs too, as i plan to upgrade the headlamp wiring soon, not to blind others i might add, but to see sharp left and rights that are only a few yards from the cliff edges, that we have plenty of round here!

You can buy 'cornering' lamps from demon tweeks (Hella DynaView) now that detect the cornering motion of your vehicle and illuminate the road alongside it, as you corner. And I think they do spotlamps that 'steer' automaticly as well. Check it out..
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/products/ ... HEL295-801
or you could fit spotlamps facing outwards like a rally car but you using them would surely make you a hypocrite?

[murdoch]

be happy with just the two bulbs pointing forwards, albeit a bit brighter.

[mike the van]

If running standad wiiring and no relay, beware the upgrade otherwise you might find the headlight switch melts ! It happened on my 86 Polo, only way to turn lights off was to pull fuse or disconnect battery, switch contacts had fused together.
Mike
1491

[redstar]

good point mike, but the 'proper' way is to use the output of the switch to earth via the relay. Then crack some woopass cable to the other points on the relay.. the wiring on my bus (due to idiots with scotchlocks and spots) had only 9.4v at the bulb when on main so i dont think the melting switch think would be applicable mind... but fair point for 'good' buses

[Horza]

It's not voltage that melts things it's current I thought. 90w at 9.4v is nearly 10a! compared to 55w at say 11v which is only about 5a. Or am I being a plonker?

[redstar]

seems a fair shout.. but if you were running 'standard' wiring, you would use the correct fusing (prob bout 8 amp) where as with relays you rate them as to design current... so 30 amp is the 'preferred' choice.. (remember seperate fusing mind)