Retroanaconda Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 Yes I do use good H4 lamps. 100/ 65 wired so both filaments come on with high beam. Is that legal? The 100/65 bit I mean. I thought headlights had to be 60/55? Interesting regarding lighting both filaments. I've always wondered about doing that but was concerned about the bulb (or lamp) overheating due to them both being lit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 Is that legal? The 100/65 bit I mean. I thought headlights had to be 60/55? Interesting regarding lighting both filaments. I've always wondered about doing that but was concerned about the bulb (or lamp) overheating due to them both being lit. That depends if you read the lighting regulatios or construction and use !! I use 100Watt high beam but make sure I dip when meeting oncoming traffic on the idea that I can only have an illegal light if used against a meeting car. Incidently don't think a 100watt lamp will shine further along/ down the road. It won't, that is in the design of the reflector What a 100Watt filament will do is to spread the light sideways as well as being brighter. When I was rallying I had a nice set of Marechal spot and a drive light. They used the H2 halogen. We tried 100Watts in them but quickly reverted to the 55 Watt ones because of the nasty scatter and the fact that anything white was unseeable..... Don't worry about the overheating. Make sure you fit a new connector to the lights with a really thick earth wire. Yep I have had the connector block melt using 130/ 95 Watts.....In my rally car.....Again going back to a "normal" dip helped. You will however expect and get a shorter filament life.... Jason Hella are now only available "avec" side lights. I just leave the holders in place and not lit so to speak. As I said earlier I don't think that 22 quid is expensive to see where you're going now that good spot/ drive lights are over a thousand quid each. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
=jon= Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 Just been out for the first time since swapping my sealed beams for the wipacs and the halford 'ultimate' bulbs lamps 'fings wot give off light' and the difference is incredible It's way better now, I can see where I'm going Although I seem to have blown a fuse wiring up the reversing light somewhere, as I've lost half the dash lights and a front indicator! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 Haven't had any problem with my crystal headlight units with the pilot/side light in them, shouldn't be a problem in normal road use, but if the vehicle gets regulary dunked in deep water then headlights will be a small problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 ....bulbs lamps 'fings wot give off light' ...... Come on, we all know they should really be called Dark Suckers http://www.siliconhell.com/humour/darksucker.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverik Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 Crystal wipacs with stainless steel retaining rings and some good quality bulbs - brilliant. Appologies if its been discussed but i skipped through the whole thread. Due to my wireing being 27yrs old, I made up new loom sections for the headlights, thats probably helped too... how's your wireing? As regards 100w bulbs, they are mega! the spots on the roof of the camel are those and they are as bright as the sun! rather cool. Mav Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutz Posted November 26, 2012 Author Share Posted November 26, 2012 mmgemini; saved the link to your wiring of the new lights and i will be upgrading using that system, thank you for the info. So the Crystals seem to be a good choice, found out last night a mate had them fitted to his Landie and he is well impressed with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orgasmic Farmer Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 Well call me old fashioned but when I did up my 110 I fitted a set of nearly new Wipac Quadopics (£20 from a forum seller), a set of good Philips bulbs and did the relay conversion (which I have done on every Land Rover I have owned) and the results have been very impressive. Easily as good as the lights on my BMW which is only a few years old. For me the order of improvements will always be 1. upgrade the wiring so that the bulbs are getting the full 12 volts (not 8-9 volts which the standard wiring manages) 2. upgrade the bulbs to something with a bit of modern quality about it 3. fit a quality headlamp unit (though I don't think there is really that much difference to be had if you have done the 1st 2 upgrades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom1809 Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 http://www.mobilecentre.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=36_211&products_id=345 I've considered fitting these to my 90. I've seen there operation first hand and it really does make sure a difference. They seem to be very popular amount puma models and there various incarnations. The only thing that does concern me is there legality in older models as aren't they supposed to be used in conjunction with self levelling units or was that just for hid lights. Sorry to hijack the thread. On another note my Wipac 7 " lights seem to work reasonable well and improved lighting over my old crystal ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
=jon= Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 £900 each? My 90 was only a bit more than one of those lights!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom1809 Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 "Price is for a pair and is for the lamp only you will need to re use your existing mounting hardware. We recomend to have your headlamps aligned after installation by a specialist." 450 each side. I know they are expensive but its a realitvly new thing and no doubt the prices will come down at somepoint as more are produced and the demand for them becomes more. I guess it's all about how you value your defender and what you use it for. In a challenge truck I wouldn't fit them but in my 90 I'm considering it as it hardly sees the mud, I spend most of my time on the roads early mornings and late nights so would be a be a benefit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
=jon= Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 Ahh - I read it as per light. As you've said, as they get fitted to more production cars the price will come down - HID retrofit kits were a similar price a few years ago - now they are sub 50 quid... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz13 Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 I fitted Cibie Light Unit - 7" Round Main/Dip with sidelights from Larkspeed, brighter than the crystals I had before, but with much more defined dip and main beam. These have glass front lens. Gaz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cackshifter Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 They are Cibie H180. I like them very much too, having used them a lot in a misspent youth. I have a set on one vehicle and IMHO they give much better light than the standard Quadoptics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 Regarding LED headlights, there is an interesting thread on another forum where the fitting of this type of headlight is popular SteveG raised some questions there regarding the legality of fitting LED headlights. Whilst I don't pretend to understand the legalities of headlight law which were bandied back and forth, I read the thread and was left unconvinced by the answers of the main retailer of these units. Were I in the market for this type of headlight, I'd be having second thoughts. Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom1809 Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 i assume this is another forum mainly for defenders with puma engines? which i agree yes the leagalitys of it is questionable cause i asume you have to have auto leveling lights which the defender doesnt have, but then they are not hid lights instead a complete assembley and not just the lamps, so there is the argument whats the difference from a standard unit ans some uprated lamps, the td5's and pumas an adjust them electronically but its not like the d3/4 or ranger rovers. the thing is tho, my mot tester has passed a truck with these lights and didnt seem to question the leagality and just made the coment, effing expenisve but look nice when asked about em. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 i assume this is another forum mainly for defenders with puma engines? Nope, any 90/110/Defender & owner are welcome, but most of us have older vehicles. IIRC the UK MOT test has been updated to take new type LED headlights into consideration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
=jon= Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 Nope, any 90/110/Defender & owner are welcome, but most of us have older vehicles. I think that was a question to the previous poster discussing the forum where the LED lights seem to be a lot more common (and everyone seems to have very deep pockets!), not a comment on this forums demographic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 the other forum is http://www.defender2.net/forum/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbs Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 I wonder how It would be nice if somebody gave me the credit for the up-grading wiring that I originally posted in the early 2000's..... Nope. I see others get the credit for that. Mike, In the past I've given you credit for the conversion- I also sent you a PM on here to thank you for giving us all the heads up on how to do the work and how well I could now see after using the Instructions you took the time out to type too. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orgasmic Farmer Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 Also been doing it for 10 years Mike. Long before I got involved with t'internet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom1809 Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 I think that was a question to the previous poster discussing the forum where the LED lights seem to be a lot more common (and everyone seems to have very deep pockets!), not a comment on this forums demographic Spot on Jon. Wasn't saying anything bad about defender2 it's just the easiest way to describe it as majority of its members have newer defenders. I circle that forum on a daily basis all be I'm not a member yet but some of there stuff is very nice indeed. A lot of them the led lights sets of there trucks very nicely indeed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete3000 Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 Right, after driving out last night in the dark down some "B" roads i now need to replace my sealed beam lights, combination of poor illumination, poor eyesight (age related LOL) and dismal weather conditions i couldnt hardly see at all as other cars came towards me and couldnt drive above 40mph. Question is which lights have you replaced yours with and are they any better than the others, Not going down the HID route. There are some replacement items on flea bay. Crystal freeform.£32 + delivery = about £42 http://www.ebay.co.u...984.m1423.l2648 and some basic replacements. £19.99 + delivery = about £29 http://www.ebay.co.u...d=390442005327 are the crystal really worth the extra? I replaced my sealed beam units in the ex-mil 110 with some cheapo H4 units then had to do them again after 4-5 years as the silvering was rusting off the units. I went for the wipac crystals and was suitably impressed with the fit and finish. I managed to retain the mil fittings, and using a gasket (usb cable off a old mouse) they fit nicely without any play. Definate upgrade over sealed beams and nicer than the £20 jobbers. I put a set of halfords gold brilliance bulbs 50/65W? in when they were 2 for 1 (£12 pair) and they throw enough light for me without needing aux lighting. Helps to check your wing earths at the same time and run another back to the bulkhead if necessary Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happyoldgit Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 I think that was a question to the previous poster discussing the forum where the LED lights seem to be a lot more common (and everyone seems to have very deep pockets!), not a comment on this forums demographic Spot on Jon. Wasn't saying anything bad about defender2 it's just the easiest way to describe it as majority of its members have newer defenders. I circle that forum on a daily basis all be I'm not a member yet but some of there stuff is very nice indeed. A lot of them the led lights sets of there trucks very nicely indeed. I'm on my second Puma and am a member of Def2 ....although I can afford them I personally wouldn't fork out for the headlamps that are popular with some on there for my Defender, I just don't have the need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Brock Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 Worth fitting relays ?? though I would look up the Voltage effect on lamp output........... 10.5V : 510 lumens 11.0V : 597 lumens 11.5V : 695 lumens 12.0V : 803 lumens 12.5V : 923 lumens 12.8V : 1000 lumens ←Rated output voltage 13.0V : 1054 lumens 13.5V : 1198 lumens 14.0V : 1356 lumens ←Rated life voltage 14.5V : 1528 lumens Full article here http://www.danielste...ays/relays.html as well as drawing for the non "leccy's" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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