What Are The Brightest H4s?

[bigboi]

I have H4s in my 1967 Camaro. I bought the housings off ebay (very cheap). I still don't think they are bright enough and I am pretty sure I just need to get some new bulbs that are brighter.



Can anyone recommend the brightest H4 bulb. I want something that is really bright, but I don't want it to blind the oncoming drivers.

Brian

[Yoda4561]

Do you have stock wiring harness or have you installed headlight relays? For sure you can get brighter bulbs, like the off-road rated lamps, but if you're still on stock wiring they won't really help. Usually relays and a good quality bulb like the Xtravisions work fine for street use.

[bigboi]

I have the relays. What bulb number would be the brightest?

[Yoda4561]

Any of the 80/100 watt offroad bulbs would be brightest, they're not technically allowed on road as far as I know. I like the sylvania xtravisions, more light than stock bulbs and 100% legal, can get em almost anywhere. Make sure whatever you get to avoid any blue tinted bulbs, they cut the output significantly compared to a similar untinted bulb.

[Nessumsar]

Your very cheap housings are probably the culprit. I would look into getting a set of Hella housing with some PIAA bulbs. I talked to the guys at PIAA about their 7" lights, and the rep said the Hella housing has a really nice beam pattern with their bulbs, something about how the bulb is constructed and where the filament sits in the housing.

On a side note, are your current housings plastic or glass? If they're plastic and you throw any hotter bulb in them, you could melt them.

[bigboi]

Your very cheap housings are probably the culprit. I would look into getting a set of Hella housing with some PIAA bulbs. I talked to the guys at PIAA about their 7" lights, and the rep said the Hella housing has a really nice beam pattern with their bulbs, something about how the bulb is constructed and where the filament sits in the housing.

On a side note, are your current housings plastic or glass? If they're plastic and you throw any hotter bulb in them, you could melt them.

@Nessumsaar - Yes, they are plastic housings. Thanks for the tip on not putting hotter bulbs. Are you talking about the housing below by Hella?

Hell VisionPlus
http://www.myhellalights.com/halogen...Headlamp.html#

Hella Offroad
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HLA-002395801/

^^ Not sure what the different above would be? They both seem to be 7" housings.

In conjunction with me getting new housings I noticed some manufacturers offer 130/100 bulbs. Obviously these would be brighter than 100/80 but would 130/100 be too much? I don't want to blind oncoming traffic, but on the other hand I want the maximum amount of light possible when driving. This car isn't my daily driver so I don't mind going a "little too bright" but I definitely don't want to blind the old lady driving to the store to pickup groceries.. lol

Brian

[tintman]

X2 on the Piaa bulbs.I have sold a lot of bulbs and these are the best I have found.(I used to like Catz bulbs but haven't seen them around for a long time). But with the price of a true HID conversion so low I would go that wrought. I have done quit a few set ups with no problems. Just check ebay.

[bigboi]

Hmmm... Last time I checked which was a couple years ago the HID Conversion kits were still a little pricey for my taste.

Do you have any links for "true" HID conversion kits?

I wouldn't mind checking out some pricing on them if you say the pricing has went down a bit.

[tintman]

Hmmm... Last time I checked which was a couple years ago the HID Conversion kits were still a little pricey for my taste.

Do you have any links for "true" HID conversion kits?

I wouldn't mind checking out some pricing on them if you say the pricing has went down a bit.

I will find out tomorrow the brand that we have been putting in. We get them from our distributor. I will get a price for ya also.

[Twentyover]

https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=64686

Any of the European bulb manufacturer's, Hella, Osram, etc, will provide anything from a 55/100 W bulb (which should keep yu out of trouble) to 90/130W bulbs (that will consume 10A each bulb- make sure you have a good alternator. )

Personally not a fan of HID conversion kits. Not sure they're legal yet, and most a just ricer lashups that probably paint the wrong area with light.

[bigboi]

I am undecided on H4 or HID. I already have the H4 wiring harness w/ relays and it's probably cheaper for me to go the H4 route anyhow. But if you can get pricing I sure would be interested in the HID.

I have clear plastic lenses now w/ a H4 for white light and a small blue bulb. The blue bulb looks cool at dusk and/or when you drive through the parking lot at a nighttime Cruise In (yeh yeh I know it's the little things)

I really like the blue bulbs in my housings. Maybe if I grab the Hella housings I can drill a hole in them and place a blue led in there - this place has 10 lumen blue lights for a few bucks (http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b...ini-wedge.html). The 10 lumen led should light up the inside housing pretty good.

I think my alternator is fairly decent. It's the alternator that comes with the Vintage Air Front Runner Kit.

I will probably go with a 130/100 for the lights. I don't see very well in the dark and it sure would be nice to see where I am going when the tires are sliding all over the road kicking up rubber on the back quarters... lol

Brian

[4RS FED]

i run hids in all my vehicles, including my 1973. the kits i sell come complete with housings and an hid kit.

[1bad68cat]

I bought my HID kit from this place. Lifetime warranty on the ballast and it's a good price to boot.

http://www.ddmtuning.com/index.php?p...parent=85&pg=1

[bigboi]

This kit with a 55w bulb is $59.95
http://www.ddmtuning.com/index.php?p...=101&parent=85

The kit above says it puts out 5000 lumens. How many lumens does a Hella 100/80 Watt H4 put out?

Seems cheap at $59.95. How does a person know if that is a good kit or not? I see people saying "true" HID kit. Can someone define the word "true" in regard to a HID kit? What does true mean exactly?

Do these HID kits plug directly in to the wiring or ?

Sorry for so many questions... I just need to get my shiii straight before I dive in.

Brian

[Yoda4561]

Lot of poorly done HID and "fake" HID setups out there. The blue ricer halogen bulbs are an example of "fake" HID. Worse are the HID kits that don't use the correctly optimized reflectors for the HID bulb, they throw light where it shouldn't be and cause glare for both oncoming drivers and yourself when there's inclement weather abouts. I have not to date seen any 7 inch HID setups that are guaranteed DOT approved and street legal.

[JJEH]

Do yourself a favor and use only a good brand...

Because if you have cheap bulbs into it, they will be defect alot of times...

I did this experience...

[Twentyover]

This kit with a 55w bulb is $59.95
http://www.ddmtuning.com/index.php?p...=101&parent=85

The kit above says it puts out 5000 lumens. How many lumens does a Hella 100/80 Watt H4 put out?

..............

Brian

IMO, measures such as lumens inthe referenced ad have little meaning. What we are talking about here is illuminating the road while not disturbing oncoming drivers. This depends on the design of the reflector and lense. The lense on a good Hella, Cibie, oe Marchall light housing has dustinct cutoff lines (it's why the hosuing is $50, not $2.50)

[1bad68cat]

This kit with a 55w bulb is $59.95
http://www.ddmtuning.com/index.php?p...=101&parent=85

Do these HID kits plug directly in to the wiring or ?

Sorry for so many questions... I just need to get my shiii straight before I dive in.

Brian

You will actually need to get the HI/LO kit which I believe is $20 more. I currently have their HID kit w/ Hella headlamp housings for my 68 cougar. My brother has them on his 66 mustang as well. A few reasons we bought them were: local, price, and the lifetime warranty. I had a HID kit from another company installed on my bike that cost more with a 1 year warranty and now the ballast quit working, so I will be switching. The HID kit from the company I suggested is plug & play.

[mc84_zz4]

I would recommend as others to get some quality lamps, I personally am addicted to Bosch, they are the top quality I have found.
There are others I would like, AutoPal is a great replica of the Bosch/Hella designs, and is top quality (metal case& reflector with a glass lens)at a reasonable price.
When you turn the lights on, you should see a smoth distribution of light, no 'hotspots' where multiple light beam converge, leaving others with less light, AND causing you more eyestrain as the darker areas will seem less lit as well.

Here is a limk to the Autopal e-bay site:
http://stores.ebay.com/Autopal-Lights


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/7-H60...Q5fAccessories

I would suggest using the nice optic reflector lens as opposed to the clear lens with the stamped/fluted relector dish, those seem more prone to hotspots and glare.
I also recommend using some Osram +50 H4 60/55 W bulbs, anything above that is not legal, and I have to say you will not be disappointed in the performance. These are xenon gas pressurized.
Something like these, but from a closer merchant...
http://cgi.ebay.com/H4-Osram-Silvers...item439d334014

Avoid the blue tinted bulbs at all cost, they shift the beam color to appear whiter when it reflects on signs/stripes, but actually filter a 15% of the available light. The blue tinted light will blend-in on wet roads and recently-paved asphalt, and you will not see jack, that includes all blue tinted bulbs, even several of the PIAA bulbs.

I have always had a love for long-distance high speed traveling at night, I have used equipment like this for years. The H4 will also produce a sharp cutoff leaving a dark area above the hood, so fog and rain have much less glare.
HTH

[bigboi]

I went with the setup below. I went with the Hella 100/80 lights. I wanted to try the PIAA lights but they didn't have the 100/80 lights, they only had the lower wattage. 100/80s are probably a tad bright for the street but I don't drive the car much and I have a little bit of a hard time seeing at night so hopefully the extra brightness will help me out.

Hella 002395801 - Hella Headlight Assemblies
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HL...5801/?rtype=10



Hella H83140171 - Hella Halogen Light Bulbs - 100/80 Watt
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HLA-H83140171/