Auto Lighting thread : Post all queries about automobile lighting here

[nareshtrao]

Can any of the users give me a comparison between

1. OSRAM Night Breakers,
2. Philips Extreme Vision and
3. Philips Crystal Vision ?

I see different recommendations here and have not been able to make up which is suitable under what circumstances?

This is for Stock replacement of H4 bulbs in i10.

Thanks to all in advance.

[ALSUDA]

I switched over to Swift from Wagon-R. & it’s about an year old now. ICE, Wheel/Alloys upgrade etc are over. About lighting, I upgraded to Night Breaker & fogs bulb to H7 55W Night Breaker (bought thru e-bay). I’ve gone thru the lighting thread (almost all pages) & now confused more.

I thought of going for Phillips Xtreme. But, I read many reviews/opinions that for best illumination of road switching to 100/90 would be the best option. I found that all these 50+, 80+, 90+ etc. are marketing tricks & nothing like 100/90. I decided to go for Rally 100/90, but I never seen how these are.

Any expert opinion on Phillips Xtreme compared to 100/90?
Among the group which 100/90 is the best? Are there bulbs available in 55/100W?

I know this must ‘ve been answered somewhere in the thread, but I rqst for suggestion & this might be a useful info for new members

Tnks

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[KSM-Vtec]

Ok i have a question here - Can i run these lights AIRCRAFT LANDING LIGHTS / HALOGEN LANDING LIGHTS on a gypsy??

What will be the impact or using a 250watts light?

[hellstar]

yes you can , get a relay which is rated for operational currents of more than (250/12) ~ 21 amps and you should be safe.

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by KSM-Vtec

Ok i have a question here - Can i run these lights AIRCRAFT LANDING LIGHTS / HALOGEN LANDING LIGHTS on a gypsy??

What will be the impact or using a 250watts light?

It will overload the alternator.
Two 100W bulbs in the main headlamps means 200W.
One lamp will draw more current than 2 headlights,.
If you want brightness without upgrading your alternator, I suggest you look at Xenon.
Buy two cheapo fog lamps, and fit H3 Xenon in them, cost = 4500rs approx for everything.

[bblost]

Originally Posted by KSM-Vtec

Ok i have a question here - Can i run these lights AIRCRAFT LANDING LIGHTS / HALOGEN LANDING LIGHTS on a gypsy??

What will be the impact or using a 250watts light?

A simple look at it is this.

Watts / Volts = Amp

Your Car battery is 12 Volts.
Your lights need 250 Watts.

So you need about Amp = 250 / 12 = 21 (approx)

But your car battery has less than a fourth of that.

When the battery is being charged by running the car engine, the drain is still enough to dry it out.

Any such mod will require a couple more batteries and some very thick wiring.

[tsk1979]

What do you mean that battery has less than a fourth of that?
Battery is rated at Ah.
For example a 65aH battery means that if you draw 65 Amperes the batter will die in one hour.
If you are running 21Ampere light, your battery will run out in 3 hours from full to flat.

Now if your alternator is supplying more current than consumed by system, your battery will keep charging, however if drain current exceeds charge current battery will die.

So if you intend to use the light for couple of minutes in emergency, its okay, but if you want them as running lights, a strict no no.

[bblost]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

What do you mean that battery has less than a fourth of that?

oops. confused with my bikes battery.

Battery is rated at Ah.
For example a 65aH battery means that if you draw 65 Amperes the batter will die in one hour.
If you are running 21Ampere light, your battery will run out in 3 hours from full to flat.

Now if your alternator is supplying more current than consumed by system, your battery will keep charging, however if drain current exceeds charge current battery will die.

So if you intend to use the light for couple of minutes in emergency, its okay, but if you want them as running lights, a strict no no.

The primary task of a battery is to store electric current chemically. Make it available when its needs and be able to deliver large amounts in a short period of time. The last being the difference between a battery being used in a car and an inverter.

A load of 250 Watts will be difficult to sustain by the stock battery.
So the battery needs to be upgraded and also the wires.

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by bblost

The primary task of a battery is to store electric current chemically. Make it available when its needs and be able to deliver large amounts in a short period of time. The last being the difference between a battery being used in a car and an inverter.

A load of 250 Watts will be difficult to sustain by the stock battery.
So the battery needs to be upgraded and also the wires.

250W? 250W is nothing in a car.
Lets see in a stock setup
Headlights = 200W
Tail lamps = 40W
Front Fogs = 100W
Music system = 50W onwards
AC blower = 100W+
Fan = 250W

At any given time its around 50A of current at peak load with AC and headlights working
250W will add 20A to that load.
So if the user is not running the headlights, 250W is okay, but with headlights on, this will be an issue, and battery will slowly start to drain.
Normally cars have 45Ah batter, SUVs have 75-80Ah battery, and diesels have 55Ah battery(indica etc.,)

So using a 250W spotlamp for 10-15 minutes is not an issue, but using it as the main headlight, i,.e using 2 of them is not really recommended.

[gpa]

Originally Posted by nareshtrao

Can any of the users give me a comparison between

1. OSRAM Night Breakers,
2. Philips Extreme Vision and
3. Philips Crystal Vision ?

I see different recommendations here and have not been able to make up which is suitable under what circumstances?

nareshtrao,

I have used all 3 bulbs and here are my opinions on each of them. Steer clear of the Crystal Visions, they are useless at lighting up the road especially in the rain and are mere "show off" light as they emit a white light.

Osram Night Breakers are good performance. But they tend to fail after a few months of extensive usage. Philips Xtreme Power bulbs are good. They actually provide much better lighting than the stock bulbs. Also, the beam throw is much wider on the low beam and the high beam has a good throw. The light emitted is brighter and whiter than when compared to the stock halogens.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
gpa

[KSM-Vtec]

So in that case using 2 spot lamps having a total of 500W is not recommended for a long duration.

But if i use it for say 5 min will it still load the alternator/battery causing any kind of permanent damage?? and when will be the next best time to switch the light back on again??

Originally Posted by tsk1979

250W? 250W is nothing in a car.
Lets see in a stock setup
Headlights = 200W
Tail lamps = 40W
Front Fogs = 100W
Music system = 50W onwards
AC blower = 100W+
Fan = 250W

At any given time its around 50A of current at peak load with AC and headlights working
250W will add 20A to that load.
So if the user is not running the headlights, 250W is okay, but with headlights on, this will be an issue, and battery will slowly start to drain.
Normally cars have 45Ah batter, SUVs have 75-80Ah battery, and diesels have 55Ah battery(indica etc.,)

So using a 250W spotlamp for 10-15 minutes is not an issue, but using it as the main headlight, i,.e using 2 of them is not really recommended.

[manjubp]

Originally Posted by ALSUDA

Any expert opinion on Phillips Xtreme compared to 100/90?

I am not expert. However, I have Phillips Xtreme on myswift from last 4-5 months and I had 100/90 on my Indica. Here are my observations.

1. Phillips Xtreme : Really good, till now no issues. Excellent visibility. No changes in wiring, plug and drive.
2. 100/90 : Firstly this is wattage. In the beginning, it was better than Phillips Xtreme, however, within 2-3 months, the refectors started to darken. Additionally, needs rchange in wiring and it is not street legal.

So my vote to Phillips Xtreme .

regards,
-manju

[saildrive]

Originally Posted by nishantgandhi (Auto Lighting thread : Post all queries about automobile lighting here)
@SRS - Any specific reason why you want to go for the Xtreme power series? Would be good to know how its different from the normal 'Rally' halogen bulbs?

If you are not in a hurry, I can get you in 2 weeks time. My mechanic is out of town. He sources everything for me from Opera but at good prices.

Hi Nishant

I too am keen on getting my headlamps changed for the monsoons. I have a Indica Xeta GLS.

Do let me know as well once your mechanic is back in town

Cheers

[ALSUDA]

So my vote to Phillips Xtreme

Dear Manju, how's the performance in rain? Osram NB during nights are pathetic & also the throw of high beam is not that good for highway drive. I remember reading a review in this thread, saying xtreme's highbeam throw is far better than NB.
I feel it's better to stick to 55/60 instead 100/90 which shortens life(shine) of reflectors. I would like to try Xtremes, I 've to go to AK Traders & pick them up.
Thanks for the response Manju.

Suda

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by KSM-Vtec

So in that case using 2 spot lamps having a total of 500W is not recommended for a long duration.

But if i use it for say 5 min will it still load the alternator/battery causing any kind of permanent damage?? and when will be the next best time to switch the light back on again??

If you want to use it for short burts, get a more powerful 65Ah battery instead of the 45Ah you have now.
Also. whats your alternator capacity? Its usually written on the alternator.
Make sure that the circuit controlling these lights is totally separate with its own wiring and heavy duty 50A switch . These are going to be seriously thick wires.