What you can do to increase your headlamp performance

[tibo_3rd]

saw this in the website of Hella USA

very informative. this might be used by the MMDA and LTO as a basis for confiscating aftermarket HID kits.

Automotive Headlamp Bulbs - What you can do to to increase your headlamp performance:

Legal:
Reduce the voltage drop to the bulbs

By bypassing the standard wiring with relays the voltage to the headlamp can increase, giving improved performance from any bulb. Typically standard wiring is relatively thin and a 1 volt drop is common to the bulbs. When replaced with higher capacity cable and relays this voltage drop can be deduced. A 10% drop in voltage (1.2V) equals 33% drop in light output.

Install upgrade bulbs (+30% & +50%)

Installing compliant upgrade bulbs is an effective way of improving your headlamp's performance. Usually the bulbs can be replaced without additional help and the increase in light is noticeable. The +30% (Xenon) is an cost effective option while the +50% (Xenon plus) achieve the largest increase in light output. Confirm the bulbs are SAE compliant.

Install blue bulbs

While sold as upgrade bulbs the blue bulbs only increase the color in temperature of the light output (whiter), which gives the impression of more light. Typically a blue bulb produces the same amount of light as a standard bulb. Again make sure the bulbs are compliant.

Install upgraded headlamps

Upgrade headlamps are also available however some may be for styling only and may not necessarily increase performance. Gas discharge may be an option and may be an upgrade available for the factory or aftermarket. Again it is essential to ensure the the lamps comply with our regulations.

Have the lamps professionally aligned

By adjusting the lamps correctly will provide an increase in performance, allowing the lamps to work as designed. Just because the car passes a WOF does not mean the light are aimed correctly. Have the headlamps checked with a beamsetter to ensure efficient performance.


Illegal:
Install higher power consumption bulbs

By installing higher wattage bulbs you can increase headlamp performance, due to more light being produced. It is illegal in the US to install non-compliant bulbs (i.e. non standard power consumption). Other downsides to high power include higher temperatures (melted headlamps and plugs) shorter life (up to 80% less), high cost (usually twice the price), and more stray sight due to the filament being larger. May be used for off-road purposes.

Install a gas discharge conversion kit

There are kits available i which you replace the halogen bulb with a gas discharge bulb. The gas discharge light source is 2.5 times as bright as the halogen bulb and does not focus correctly within the headlamp, as the headlamp was not designed for this bulb. This creates excessive glare (up to 100 times), which blinds oncoming drivers, and is very dangerous.

Install dark blue bulbs

Blue bulbs are deigned to reduce the yellow content of the light, so to make the light look wither. Only a slight tint is allowed before the bulb is below the minimum output required by the regulations. Some manufacturers take the tint further to produce an even whiter light output. This reduces the light output and is dangerous. These bulbs are not compliant.

[scharnhorst]

Another one:

Lens Cleaning.

[tibo_3rd]

yup +1 ako dito. last year, had the inside part of the glass of my headlamps cleaned. had the accumulated carbon dust removed.

Another one:

Lens Cleaning.

[mbeige]

The accumulated dust can be due to the small vent holes in headlamp assemblies. Cleaning them then covering these holes will certainly prolong headlight clarity.

Sometimes, polishing the reflective part can actually damage them so ingat lang kayo at wag manggigil sa paglilinis! Avoid any acetone or alcohols too kung puro plastics yung headlight assemblies niyo.

[tibo_3rd]

the reflective surface of my headlamps are fading. what can be done or what can be placed to make them shiny or reflective again? the plastic part is showing already.

[mbeige]

Get good used ones and replace them, or just remove the good stuff from the good used ones and replace the bad ones in your current headlight.

That, or simply get brand new. I've heard that resurfacing or painting with chrome/silver paint will make it worse, and that the factory coating is the most ideal. Maybe there are shops that specialize in these already and have succeeded in repairing the reflectors properly.

Did you use overwattage lamps before?

[morrissey_05]

ive heard that getting a grounding kit helps headlights.

[Type 100]

Lens cleaning you can do as part of your annual exterior detailing job. When I had it done on my Jazz it helped the headlight illumination a lot...not to mention the headlight lenses themselves looked much better and clearer too

+1 on the grounding kit/volt stabilizer, any proof on that? That certainly seems like a good idea.

[s_quilicot]

chroming the reflector kaya?

[mbeige]

Unless the chroming is done with a very critical eye to consistency and detail, the throw of light will almost certainly be off, and at worst, sabog.

[rion]

ive heard that getting a grounding kit helps headlights.

yes, if the ride is old and corroded inside somewhere.

[s_quilicot]

Unless the chroming is done with a very critical eye to consistency and detail, the throw of light will almost certainly be off, and at worst, sabog.

sir mbeige is there any other way na ma convert ang non clear lense sa clear (crystalized) lense ng HL? wala kasing available aftermarket clear lense HL so model nung sakin eh .. TIA

[Starex_Gold]

Bro SQ, palitan mo nalang ng projector yung fogs mo. Laking tulong din nun.

Pero wala pa akong nahahanap..

[s_quilicot]

hyanap ako sa concorde

[tibo_3rd]

hmmm... will have to check with the wifey if we have budget to get new headlamp assy. if ok, will check out the shops when we get to san carlos-fremont in july.

it faded due to age and wear and tear. was using regular halogen bulbs 55/65 9006-9005. but recently switched to super yellow 80w 9006 xenon bulbs.

thanks.

Get good used ones and replace them, or just remove the good stuff from the good used ones and replace the bad ones in your current headlight.

That, or simply get brand new. I've heard that resurfacing or painting with chrome/silver paint will make it worse, and that the factory coating is the most ideal. Maybe there are shops that specialize in these already and have succeeded in repairing the reflectors properly.

Did you use overwattage lamps before?

[tibo_3rd]

i'm thinking of having a grounding kit installed in my accord, which is about 16 years old now.

also, want to install relays to the headlights. do i use 1 relay per bulb? :question:

yes, if the ride is old and corroded inside somewhere.

[rion]

no ideas how your accord headlights work. some headlights kasi are switched by negative post. meaning, the polarity could be opposites.

[mbeige]

sir mbeige is there any other way na ma convert ang non clear lense sa clear (crystalized) lense ng HL? wala kasing available aftermarket clear lense HL so model nung sakin eh .. TIA

AFAIK you have to swap the whole assemblies. The non-clear lenses are matched with smooth reflectors, while the clear lenses are matched with patterned reflectors. These matching will result in the same beam of light, though these days the clear ones are preferred for aesthetics.

If you install a clear lens to a reflector that's meant to be for a non-clear lens sabog din ang buga ng ilaw. Like I said they have to match. It's just like shining a beam from a flashlight. The smooth reflector from the non-clear lens is matched with the clear lens of the "flashlight" but in the flashlight analogy, there's no need for the beam cut off to prevent glare, whereas in the real car there is a critical need for this.

hmmm... will have to check with the wifey if we have budget to get new headlamp assy. if ok, will check out the shops when we get to san carlos-fremont in july.

it faded due to age and wear and tear. was using regular halogen bulbs 55/65 9006-9005. but recently switched to super yellow 80w 9006 xenon bulbs.

thanks.

Plastic reflectors tend to do that, unfortunately - that's why they're cheap. That's just the nature of the material. The use of the overwattage bulb may have sped up the wear. You don't necessarily need to get a new assembly, a good used one will do - just give enough time to scourge the parts stores.

[tibo_3rd]

what about the use of those booster kits for headlights? are they worth it? thanks.

[mbeige]

what about the use of those booster kits for headlights? are they worth it? thanks.

Personally, no. There's a point of no return, and it's usually when you do some rewiring, for me that's a no-no. To me, adding booster kits is that point and I'm not going to risk ruining my car's electricals just because I wanted more light. If I wanted more light I would install higher gauge wires, relays, ceramic sockets, and possibly only install 55W/100W bulbs instead, since most of the time you'll be using the high beams when nobody's around (at least, ideally, you should - over there the story is obviously not true). So when I use the high beams that's when I'll need the thicker wires, but they also help by minimizing voltage drop and so I get the most out of my 55W low beams too. That or maybe go as high as 70W for lows. Currently, however, I just have stock bulbs.

You see, I'd rather do something that's reversible, rather than alter/modify the vehicle's headlight wiring. There are many ways to get a healthy lighting system, I think you've listed them down here already in your first post of this thread.

Plus, if you plan to sell the car, you'll have to undo what you did unless you'd rather keep it from the would-be buyers. With the relays, higher gauge wiring, etc the buyer will probably actually just keep them rather than have them undone.

Personally I really don't see the need to get really, really, really bright lights. When I fly back home I use the Jazz with the stock 55/65W bulbs, never a single problem. If the area is dark I just turn on the fog lights. Both headlights and fogs are aimed properly - and I have no problems whatsoever, except when some idiot with overly bright headlights comes along my way either on the opposite lane or behind me.

What happens is that if you keep modifying your headlights there comes a point you get so obsessed and your level of perception adapts so what seems bright enough for others may not be for you, but in fact you're actually causing them more inconvenience and glare than you think. I have had the same dilemma myself when I got my W123 with its inadequate sealed beams. I found that European lenses that swapped directly with the sealed beams helped a ton and have replaceable bulbs and one of the best lenses I can buy with my give budget for it. I've never been happier with such a simple swap. In fact when I used it on a long haul trip to San Francisco during the wee hours close to and even past midnight, I felt that my standard bulbs were enough to light up the roads - and mind you those roads that I felt the headlights worked best were unlit. Surely if I had sealed beams, I would not have enjoyed it as much as I did.

The best thing you can do, if you have the regular headlights with squarish refractors on your lenses, is to swap them for ones that have the cutoff (but make sure those are for the proper side, some units come cheaper from Japan but are the wrong type because the cutoff is on the left side, where in fact should be on the right side). I haven't done this on the other car primarily due to the expensive cost of swapping headlights, so I'll stick to the current ones until I find a suitable replacement or save enough $ for it.

Don't go overboard and swap in the highest wattage bulbs you can find. I'm sure you already know the reasons for this - it's for your own safety as well as consideration for other motorists. Add to that the fact that tinting the front windshield can be dangerous because you'll have to compensate by adding more powerful bulbs, which just compounds the situation.