<VV> halogen lights

[JVHRoberts at aol.com]

Actually, they were talking about 42 volt systems, which use an 18 cell  
battery. Yes, I know that means 36 volts to most people, but a 12 volt system  is, 
in reality, 14 volts when the car is running. And yes, it would dramatically  
reduce the amount of copper needed, unless they take advantage of the  
significantly greater available power and start running air conditioners, power  
steering, etc, on electric. 
 
Anyway, light output goes up with the 3.5 power of the voltage. Meaning,  get 
an extra 1.5 volts at the headlight, and you make over 50% more light. That  
is a big deal. Usually, on Corvairs with original harnesses, I've found it to 
be  more like an added 2 volts with H4/H1 lights, which means 72% more light! 
Also,  when I've added H4/H1 headlights, the added wattage is enough to make 
the  breaker trip on high beams after a few minutes. So, relays it is. And 
GREAT  point on using better grounds! 
 
Although the more powerful bulbs are illegal, they do make insane amounts  of 
light. My Fiero GT has H4 headlamps, with 100/145 watt bulbs, and I do NOT go 
 wanting for light. At all. Headlights are Cibie. When I had E codes in my  
Corvair, with 80/100s in the low beams, and 100s in the high beams, it was  
instant daytime for well over a mile on high beams, and with all the lamps  
properly aimed, the lows weren't offensive to anyone. 
 
In a message dated 1/6/2009 6:59:26 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
lechevrier at earthlink.net writes:


>However, there is substantial voltage drop through the headlamp  switch and 
wiring and using headlamp relays would get more voltage to the  halogen lamps 
resulting in substantially improved light output.
>   
>
This will also improve standard incandescent headlamps and relays  take 
nearly all the load of the headlight switch, extending it's useful  life 
beyond that of the current owner (when correctly  installed).

>If you are going to non-sealed beam H4/H1 lamps, then  you REALLY need to 
use relays...
>
Standard wattage H4's aren't much  worse for cunsumption than any other 
standard lamp, however, since a relay  system (and appropriate design and 
wiring) will improve just about any oem  headlight system (compare 
actuall votage readings at the headlight to that  at the battery), it is 
only a reasonable thing to do to go along with the  halogens, as well as 
improved grounds, in search of improved  lighting.  Reports to the 
contrary generally indicate that there  was/is a pre-existing poorly 
maintained connection somewhere or a failing  headlight switch or other 
electrical malfunction.

Detroit  can  be pretty cheap when it comes to buying copper -- that and 
reduced weight  is behind those periodic rumors of 48 volt electical 
systems on production  vehicles

Higher wattage (and generally illegal) halogens do require  wiring 
improvements, especially if you are trying to run them concurrently  with 
high watt H1 lamps, as in a quad headlight setup.

see  http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/relays/relays.html

Bill  Strickland


 
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