Let there be light

Post by **Molly Man** » 06 Aug 2008, 13:42

Have just received some Super Bright H4 100/80 VW Transporter T25 Headlight bulbs (Made in China...what is'nt!) off 'fleabay' any problems using these..battery drain?...overheating?...legallity? Do they need a 20 amp fuse? or am I a complete pillock for buying them!...don't answer that one!

Post by **R0B** » 06 Aug 2008, 13:44

buy first.ask second.wrong way around methinks..

Post by **Molly Man** » 06 Aug 2008, 13:50

OK... so it was a rush of blood to the groin!

Post by **Campcharlie** » 06 Aug 2008, 13:53

Post by **Titus A Duxass** » 06 Aug 2008, 13:57

Go the whole hog and do the relay mod, you'll have a really good setup.
You should have no problems.

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 06 Aug 2008, 14:14

Agree, buying brighter bulbs isn't actually the answer. Its the wiring thats the prob. All you'll be doing is putting even more load on it just to get thuppence worth of difference.

I too went down the 'bright' bulb route but nothing transformed them anywhere near as much as relays and a ballast unit.

Post by **Titus A Duxass** » 06 Aug 2008, 14:22

Ballast Unit - What's that then?

Post by **redstar** » 06 Aug 2008, 17:29

As mentioned before... RELAYS!

its all down to voltage drop, and actual working % of the bulb. If the van is early fuse box type, the relay route is so simple. I have done them in the past and the difference is enormous.

If you do a search through the wiki or search the site, I remember cumbriankeith posting some excellent stuff a couple of years ago.

Also remember that if you use relays, you will only have to uprate the cables FROM the fuse box to the lamps...
(if you go the other way, by rights you should increase the light swith on your dash.... I dont think ya wanna do that!?)

Post by **Mocki** » 06 Aug 2008, 17:49

just be aware that anything bigger than the 55/65w are for "off road use only" unless tha law has changed recently.......

Post by **AngeloEvs** » 06 Aug 2008, 18:02

Please remember to dip your headlights, drives me nuts

when I have to put me sun glasses on ......at night!

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 06 Aug 2008, 18:14

Titus A Duxass wrote:Ballast Unit - What's that then?

Mine is fitted with a ballast unit under dash that maintains the right voltage etc. Not seen any since but got mine from fleabay for about £30 from china. Really works too. I mentioned ages ago that I first fitted Osram silverstar bulbs (and they're legal by the way) but with the ballast unit fitted, first time I switched em on all the neighbours came out and every cat in the neighbourhood vanished up alleyways. I've since (gradually) brought down the dip to the right level and all seems well. Definately big difference as light is now white instead of beeswax yellow.

Ballast unit was described as a 'headlight booster' and a little like an HID unit except it works with standard bulbs but as I say, can't find any on fleabay at mo. Cured mine for good anyway. Relays were also included in the kit and lights are powered direct from battery instead of through dip switches etc which now only operate the relays.

Post by **bigherb** » 06 Aug 2008, 19:08

As Mocki says anything over 55/60w is not legal for road use.
Better results even with standard wiring can be achieved by fitting Philips Extreme headlamp bulbs which are the same power consumption as standard bulbs.
The wiring from the fuse box to the headlights is pretty good with little appreciable voltage drop. The main voltage losses are through the ignition switch; headlight and dipswitches fitting a relay to bypass these can give you another couple of volts.

The picture below is a Philips extreme on the left and what is supposed to be an 80/100W bulb on the right but actually worked out at 70/88W. Osram And Ring does similar bulbs. The Ring bulb is slightly brighter but has a less defined beam and the Osram is nearly comparable with the Philips.
[img:640:452]http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee16 ... ropped.jpg[/img]

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 06 Aug 2008, 19:19

Heres a pic of the headlight booster by the way. Knew I'd posted it somewhere. It has all the relays mentioned in previous posts but just gives an extra boost to bulbs on top of that. Tis possible that bulb life might be limited using these but been on a year now with no probs

[img:596:641]https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/images/Headlightbooster.jpg[/img]

Post by **clartsonly** » 06 Aug 2008, 19:46

bigherb wrote:As Mocki says anything over 55/60w is not legal for road use.
Better results even with standard wiring can be achieved by fitting Philips Extreme headlamp bulbs which are the same power consumption as standard bulbs.
The wiring from the fuse box to the headlights is pretty good with little appreciable voltage drop. The main voltage losses are through the ignition switch; headlight and dipswitches fitting a relay to bypass these can give you another couple of volts.

The picture below is a Philips extreme on the left and what is supposed to be an 80/100W bulb on the right but actually worked out at 70/88W. Osram And Ring does similar bulbs. The Ring bulb is slightly brighter but has a less defined beam and the Osram is nearly comparable with the Philips.
[img:640:452]http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee16 ... ropped.jpg[/img]

man I think you have a halfpipe in your garage

Post by **Molly Man** » 11 Aug 2008, 09:06

Thanks everybody for your enlightened replies... have ditched ebay bulbs and am now searching out 'Phillips Extreme' ...and there was light!