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H4 Headlight Experiments

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Norcal69, Oct 15, 2020.

  1. Oct 19, 2020
    boopiejones

    boopiejones I can’t drive 55

    California east bay
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    Mar 16, 2020
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    545
    Mine are 100/80. I’ve ordered some 65/55 to experiment with.
     
  2. Oct 19, 2020
    jeepermc

    jeepermc Active Member

    Western WA
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    May 25, 2011
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    1,188
    The higher the wattage, the shorter they last. I've had good luck with 55/60's.
     
  3. Oct 21, 2020
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    I have used halogen 100/80's with no problems, mostly in motorcycles. Perhaps buying a good brand is important?

    But the housing and socket must be able to take the heat.
     
  4. Oct 22, 2020
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
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    Sep 17, 2009
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    4,460
    Don't tell anyone but I've been running 100/130 H4 bulbs in my 3B for 3 decades. One failure. I use the aluminum headlight buckets.
     
    dnb71R2 and jeepstar like this.
  5. Oct 24, 2020
    Henri Watson

    Henri Watson Member

    Mississippi
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    Oct 27, 2018
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  6. Oct 24, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    These are not legal in the USA. If you have an annual inspection, you won't pass.

    I would use relays with any Halogen bulbs. Read my article Headlights Relays In Absurd Detail

    LEDs (not the Hellas linked to) take less current and the switches would likely survive. But you still get a brightness advantage with relays.
     
    Henri Watson likes this.
  7. Oct 24, 2020
    CHUGALUG

    CHUGALUG Member

    Silverton, OR
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    May 11, 2019
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    timgur I'm confused what are not legal in the USA? The H4 Hella Headlight conversions I posted? Cause they sure are in Oregon. And they say ECE/SAE certified in the description. Now they might not be legal in your STATE but here in Oregon there is no annual inspection etc. I have reviewed Oregon law on Headlights and there is nothing about these 55-60watt H4 bulbs that would not compile with current law.
     
  8. Oct 24, 2020
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Nov 22, 2003
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    Says right in the ebay ad "Lamps are ece compliant and legal for on-road use only in Canada "
     
  9. Oct 24, 2020
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

    Florida Keys
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    Hella E code lights are not 50 state legal in the USA. I believe the "E" is a European spec that has a different reflector and bulb focal distance. There are Hella 7" (and 5 3/4") lights that are US legal. Also, any bulbs with wattage higher than 55/65 (maybe 60?) are not legal either.
    When I lived up in NC years ago, I couldn't pass a safety inspection with Euro spec lights. I had 7" Hellas (US spec) in my mom's BMW 2002 at the time, and there was no problem passing the State inspection.
    Way back, I used to run a single 5 3/4" 100 w aircraft landing light (GE 4537) on one of my inner hi beams on my '77 Scirocco. I did melt the headlight switch on an all-night drive. After that, I started running relays with non-stock lighting.
    -Donny
     
  10. Oct 24, 2020
    wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    York, PA
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    I agree with this 100%, word for word. Thanks for voicing this. I thought it was just me. All those light should be illegal. They may make nicer driving for the guy behind the wheel of that car but they make it horrible for every oncoming driver that guy meets or follows. I've actually turned my headlights off when being followed by one of these people and could still see pretty well. It was just a test and a bit of a message to the person that was following me.

    Ok.......I'm out.
     
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  11. Oct 25, 2020
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    12,529
    Look deeper. There are DOT compliance laws that Oregon follows (Federal that all states must follow). It doesn’t mean they are always enforced but Federal DOT is the law.
     
  12. Oct 25, 2020
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    Yes you will. I have for 30 or 40 years of using them. No one is going to check your headlight wattage or brightness.

    Even though they are brighter, good ones have excellent "cut-off" patterns and I've never once ever had any hint that they bothered another driver.
     
  13. Oct 25, 2020
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Th halogen ones are not the problem, they come with proper(ish) geometry reflectors & lenses to keep the light pattern where it belongs.

    It's those @)&&^#* cheezy cheap xenon kits that stick a bulb in a reflector/lens assembly that was never intended for those bulbs that screw up the pattern & send light all sorts of places it was never intended. :steamed:

    Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

    I'm seeing more of these on the road, you can always tll the factory hid from the retrofits.



    Don't get me started on the idiots running led light bars on the road :bash:
     
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  14. Oct 25, 2020
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    That, and the HID systems with the UV color spectrum that makes your eyeballs bleed.

    Just as an aside, OEM military M38A1 headlights are 80 watt halogen sealed beams, IIRC.
     
    Last edited: Oct 25, 2020
  15. Oct 25, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    I presume there's no easy way to check the bulb wattage. In the USA, aftermarket reflectors (including the lenses) should pass only if they say "DOT" on the glass. Even there, the inspector's (or LEO's) discretion matters, which should be outside your influence.
     
    Last edited: Oct 25, 2020
  16. Nov 13, 2021
    Peter Dorey

    Peter Dorey Member

    Vista, CA
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    Might be a stupid question, but the Amazon description for the Hella ‎002395801 kit is 165mm which is about 6.5".
    Any issue, or should I just order them?
     
  17. Nov 13, 2021
    boopiejones

    boopiejones I can’t drive 55

    California east bay
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    Amazon listings are so confusing sometimes. My guess is that if you order the 165mm kit, you will receive two 7” housings and two bulbs. If you want to be safe, you can order two of the 178mm individual housings which, at $30 each, is actually a much better deal anyway. either way I think you’ll get the correct 7” housings, but at least Amazon has a good return policy.

    here’s a link to the quadratec listing, which I’ve ordered before and I did receive 7” housings as their listing says. I’d say order from them, but they’re out of stock…

    Hella 002395801 7" Round E-Code (ECE) H4 Conversion Headlight Kit
     
  18. Nov 13, 2021
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Suggest you order by the bulb type and regard not the listed diameter. Type 6014 or 6024.
     
    Last edited: Nov 13, 2021
  19. Nov 14, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    I bought these empty Hella housings for mine:
    Then I bought these brighter than standard bulbs separately:
    I also bought these ceramic pigtails because the bulbs can get hot enough to melt the OE plastic connectors:
    Everything fits in the stock housing and they light up the road fantastic. You'll need relays, of course.
     
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