Date: Wed, 13 May 1998 22:37:17 EDT
Reply-To: kenneth d lewis <kdlewis@JUNO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: kenneth d lewis <kdlewis@JUNO.COM>
Subject: Re: another angle on high-wattage headlight bulbs
Mark;
The battle plan here is to maximize light output. To achieve this
scenario we would like 100% of available voltage at the bulb terminals.
This of course is impossible due to resistance working against us. The
main sources are; in the wire ,connections and switch contacts. I would
think switch contacts are the biggest offenders with connectors a close
second. Presently, current has to travel through a myriad of
switches(ignition,dimmer, on/off) and connectors( two per switch, at
fuse, etc.)to reach the bulbs. Each switch has a small amount of carbon
build up due to arching. Carbon creates a voltage drop, which creates
heat, which shortens the life of the switch.It stands to reason: Increase
the current and hasten the demise. This effect is compounded in the bulb
socket because of the heat of the bulb. The best thing you could do here
is keep the connection clean or somehow upgrade the socket. But,in my
opinion , the single biggest improvement you could make is add a relay.
This relieves the existing circuitry to only carry the current needed to
operate the coil in the relay, about 10ma compared to around 15 amps( a
factor of 1500!). So you are adding safety two ways, reducing harm to the
system and increasing visibility!
Drive Safely & Good Luck
Ken Lewis<K-ville,NC> Temporarily internetless
86 VW Transporter Double Cab Pickup
60 Porsche T-5 Coupe
85 VW GL Vanagon<Elvis>
On Tue, 12 May 1998 16:40:47 -0700 Mark McCulley <raven@HALCYON.COM>
writes:
>I've been thinking about upgrading to 80/100W headlight bulbs and
>spent an
>hour or so the other day consuming a double latte and studying the
>Bentley
>wiring diagrams. I think I had a minor revelation! I've already
>"upgraded"
>the lamps on my 87 to the pre-86 style 7" round lamps. Since the stock
>rectangular lamps use two 55W bulbs per side for high beams for a
>total of
>110W per side, I figure I can use the 80/100W bulbs in my round lamps
>and be
>pulling less current on high beams than a stock setup with rectangular
>lamps. The low beams will draw more current, but that shouldn't be a
>problem
>as the gauge of the low-beam wiring is the same as the high-beam
>stuff.
>There's still the problem of possibly melting the plastic connector
>that
>connects to the H4 bulbs. I'm not too worried about that--it's pretty
>easy
>to replace and you could get away without using it at all.
>
>This scheme only applies to 86 and later vans that have been upgraded
>to the
>pre-86 round lights.
>
>Any thoughts on this?
>
>-Mark McCulley
>87 syncro Westfalia
>
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