Brightest Headlight Bulbs

familyman

I doubt the PO used the headlights of my late 240. They were so bright - like I'd never seen on a 240. Better than most modern cars around me. On low too I mean. (Yeah, I know - shock, right?) I dreaded people overtaking on rural roads because I'd be forced to dip to low as they passed, they'd switch up to hi, but their high beam was duller. So I can't see the wildlife determined to commit suicide.

I've noticed a drop in brightness. Planning to go through the connections, clean, tighten... but is there a bulb brand that stands out above Osram Nightbreaker Unlimited, or Philips X-treme Vision nowdays? Has anyone tried both in the same car?

Vee_Que

I don't Rate either of them, never have, the +120 globes available from narva, Phillips, even repco will be brightest. But +90 is pretty bright for a 55/60w globe and on special at repco right now.

Maybe you had bad aim on the car to be too bright though. Or they are hid globes and units, which are illegal and cause a "good" low beam but woefull high beam.

If you do put normal globes in, make sure the aim is correct! And also to increase the power of the globe, a common mod is to run a relay from the battery to power the headlights, but switched by the headlight circuit, as 240s don't have them stock and they burn out the switch.

carnut1100

+1 for relays.
Voltage drop throws light output off hugely. Gain back half a volt and you'll see a huge improvement. Fat wire with a dedicated fuse straight from battery via relay to lights gives sfa voltage drop and makes stock setup much brighter.
Put bigger bulbs in and it makes a bigger difference besides stopping the stock switch and wiring from toasting itself.

240

Wouldn't there already be a relay in the circuit to switch between low and high beams?

I gather that not all H4 bulbs are equal then... aside from the differences between brands, is there any advantage to using LED bulbs?

How do you get the alignment right? I know how to adjust them but I don't know what the correct position is (as a result, one of my headlights is dimmer than the other even though it has a much better reflector).

deleted_user_160

direct from a narva rep.

the higher the + rating the shorter the life span of the globe filament.

the differences of wiring quality and the amount of use they get will change how long time frame inbetween you changing them.
the +50 or +60 depending on the brands, ive found to have the longest life span, while having increased light penetration.

polishing the headlight buckets or further more having the bucket silver plated will increase light output significantly.

Vee_Que

Aim. Generally you only need the shape to be level with the middle of the headlight bucket when aimed at a wall.

The + range globes increase light throw, similar to going to a higher wattage globe.

tbro

Another one for relays, I run 1 per beam per side and 1 for driving lights, still use the original but now its a switching relay taking the load off the wiring and switches. Headlights 55/90 driving 150w, not that I drive mine at night just cause..................

carnut1100

240;87512 wroteWouldn't there already be a relay in the circuit to switch between low and high beams?

I gather that not all H4 bulbs are equal then... aside from the differences between brands, is there any advantage to using LED bulbs?

How do you get the alignment right? I know how to adjust them but I don't know what the correct position is (as a result, one of my headlights is dimmer than the other even though it has a much better reflector).

Stock 240 setup has a switch on the column to change beams but there isn't a separate relay.
The thinner wire and stock switches don't handle increased current draw if you run higher wattage bulbs and there is a fair bit of resistance in the whole thing especially when they get old. This gives voltage drop which gives reduced light output.

Fatter wire in a straight run from battery to relay to lights is about as low resistance as you'll get. Now the stock wiring is only carrying switching current so the switch lasts forever...

240

OK that makes sense.
Forgive my lack of knowledge but what would be the best way to wire up such a setup? Ie what sort of relay, and what would go on which pin? (I'm sure I could work it out eventually, but with a high chance of stuffing something up.)

deleted_user_160

@carnut1100 interested in doing a DIY? In the tutorials section?

carnut1100

Might do that....
Thinking of doing this to my Discovery as the lights aren't awesome.
Principles are the same on all cars.
Will try to do a basic wiring diagram on the computer too.

carnut1100

article on wiring relays

This article is actually pretty good at explaining how to do it and has a basic diagram to help as well s the codes for relay terminals.

He suggests 14 or 12g wire and 10 being great if possible.
I've seen them done with 8g speaker cable for subs and they were bright as...

Personally I'd go one step further and run 4 relays one for each beam each side with a fuse on each one.

familyman

I'll go through this thread again when I'm not so unwell. Thanks.

Vee_Que

The Daniel stern site is where read /followed from for my 264s lights when I was 18 and not yet an apprentice also.

carnut1100

Yeah.
I don't think it has been updated much for a while but it's bloody good with the fundamental info.

deleted_user_160

I'll give it a read. Sus it out for the light on the 142.

Vee_Que

I'm doing it on the 122 as part of my fuse upgrade. will be neater than my 740s setup...