enough light? seal beam conversions or ?????

[bigdog9191999]

ok, a subject that I have been thinking about as of late is.. light! we need it to see in the dark, but how much is enough? I have been thinking mostly about 5 3/4'' and 7'' round headlights. as found on my 72 lemans, and my 68 wagoner. but the wifes Camaro also uses the 4x6 versions. now I know these are originally seal beam lights and a simple upgrade to halogen makes a nice difference. but with all this tech from then to now there has to be something better that don't brake the bank... right?

I am more interested the the smaller round as that is what will have speed at night ( and the jeep with have some led pods of some type I am sure to "help) but what options have you guys tried and had luck with?? I know the simple conversions to housing and a 9007 style are not bad, but what about the odd stuff like halo's, projectors, led ect.. I know there is a lot of china stuff that sucks out there.. but if you have swapped or have something different I would love to see it/them!!

[DanStokes]

I can't get enough light as my eyes are compromised (long story, more than old age). However, since my cataract surgery I'm highly aware of glare and know it's unfair to subject other drivers to expose them to extremely bright headlamps. And of course, very bright lights also endanger YOU as it can blind the driver (say, me) coming at you. So I stick with stock lights.

But a notion: we sometimes had customers complain that they needed more light from the Buicks our dealership sold. Our head mechanic came up with a nifty fix - battery power was run directly to the headlights thru a relay with the wire from the headlight switch running to trigger the relay. Much more light! So that might be something to try and it still uses the stock bulbs. Evidently the headlamps don't always get full power thru the switch and this fixes that issue. At least for the Pontiac it might do the job.

Dan

[Barry Donovan]

I have not found an LED headlamp to be just right.
my subaru brings high beam flickers back at me, and if I should go rude and show what my high beams are in return, I'd probably cause an accident.

lo and behod my dad's 2016 peterbilt is an asshole too..
LED too bright bringing high beam flickers back at him to turn them down.


I stayed old headlamps in my truck.
they'll get the LED right some day.

if you can find 5000k LED - that should do it.
they all seem to start at 6000k, and freakish piercing bright.

all else can go LED. Making fun of asian versions after they got the Nobel for inventing it..
well that is up to you.

edit:
some more narrowing down by my own trial and error.

6000k is the color of white. that is very nice.. but you can still see some blue. I have those now.

the problem is lumens. Way too bright.
Looking for good comments and reviews has it at 3800LM.
I'd try led again on that number.. in fact I am going to get a pair for low beam.
I must have got some huge lumens number being a pioneer in the realm of guinea pig.

"Cree" brand will give you the simulated number.
30w = 3800 lumens.
that is their 2016 stuff, they are always keeping up.

Specification:
Model: 9005/9006
Power: 60W (30W Per Lamp)
Voltage: 10V-30V
Color Temperature: 6000K White
Material: Aircraft grade Aluminium
Lumen: 6000Lumen (3000Lumen Per Lamp)

if you can simulate this for whatever you are trying to do..
these numbers are right on the money. They do not annoy people.

the model # is just my truck, there is all kinds of things to swap around to get what you want.

[bigdog9191999]

Well I am no stranger to bright light. But I like to do things as right as possible. As I don't like being "that" guy that blinds everyone ( unless they have asked specifically for it. Then all bets are off).

I currently have a morimoto mini projector conversion with 35w hid in the wife's 40th grand Prix. As well as my wing that has the same projector conversion as well as 18w led long range pod lights on an aux lights bar that are wired to come on with the high beams.

My avalanche is actually quite decent as stock. But o have a 20" led bar that I plan to mount for a little extra. And I know most frown on this but I use these responsibly as I live in the country and drive to work before 6am and there are very few drivers and after 7pm which is dark the other half of the year. I dim quite early also.

I know much of the decent stuff ( thinking mostly led) has a nice cutoff like projectors. And can have good output. But the last ones I spotted that have good output look a bit different for an older car. But are very pricy. At $700+ for a pair. And like my LeMans has 4. So...ouch. at that I will get some halogen seal beams!

[bigdog9191999]

I guess to be clear too I mean led like truck lightz led or like new Harleys . Not led bulbs in whatever housings.

[Andy4639]

The first thing is run the relays for the lights. It's a proven fact that the lights never get the full amount of 12 volts it needs. Next do the whole electric system a favor and install a alternator with internal regulator if it doesn't have one around 95amps if the vehicle is for the street. Simply check the vehicles electrical system with a digital voltmetter at the fuse block.

Checkout this link it has a lot of good info for the guy's who like getting their hands dirty.

http://www.madelectrical.com/

[silver_bullet]

another option or two...
http://www.quadratec.com/products/97...DHYaAgB78P8HAQ

https://www.denniskirk.com/j-w-speak...prd/218857.sku

[Dan Barlow]

I think if you can't see "it" in time with halogens , then your simply driving too fast . Those and direct battery current as with Dan's instructions should take care of all your lighting needs .

[Deaf Bob]

It is more obvious on a bike than a car/truck
You do not see pot holes or dips in time
I use motorcycle use only headlights on my flatbed..
Have hit some dips and holes.

[silver_bullet]

I have learned that headlight aim counts for a lot more than I would have thought in my younger years... it is the aim that gives you a better shot at seeing the potholes... I run amber fog lamps and white halogens for headlights... silverstars to be exact... this gives me varying angles and different colors of contrast... really extends the sight lines when driving as much as i do in the dark...P.S. the reason for the amber fogs is their abrupt cutoff point at the top of the beam to prevent glare on oncoming traffic...

[bigdog9191999]

can ask the wife, I am pretty anal about having correct aim and such. and the amount of light ect that I have and tend to do. she thinks I go to far sometimes at night aiming and such. but she enjoys the results too.

the type that silver linked are they types I was thinking for led. but not finding were many have swapped them into classics really.

[silver_bullet]

I didn't originate the idea... saw the Camaro that Ring Brothers debuted on 2008 power tour had HD headlight capsules, and I really liked the idea...

[Deaf Bob]

Try landing lights for hi-beams.

[silver_bullet]

more options with a better selection...https://www.iowa80.com/browse/headlamps/HLHEADLAMP/

[Andy4639]

I have LED driving lights and white star head lights. I have plenty of light and I have them aimed pretty good. I have never had anyone flash theirs at me driving it. I drive mine a lot at night.
This is just the driving lights which I do have the relays installed for all the front lights.






This is with all four light and the flash of the camera!