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Headlight Upgrade

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by jeepstar, Apr 10, 2016.

  1. Apr 10, 2016
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Hella German. Cibie' French.
     
  2. Apr 10, 2016
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    I have found the sharp cutoff on some modern cars is a PIA on "rural" roads.

    Going over humps and dips they are always either too high or too low, whereas the old fashioned sealbeams had a broader more forgiving way of spreading the light around usefully on a winding or bumpy road. The newer lights seem patterned strictly for the interstate.

    So, "brighter" can be subjective. That said, at high speed I do like the extra reach of a 100/80 watt H4 in my Harley.
     
  3. Apr 10, 2016
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    On an open road bright lights/good visibility is great. Around town, different story. No one will ever convince me that the glare that is the result of modern super bright lights is making the road safer. It is harder now to see anything that might be in my lane.....i.e. bicycles, pedestrians or whatever.
     
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  4. Apr 10, 2016
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    There is a type of lights called "city lights" that have an additional low-intensity light in the reflector. You turn on the city lights and turn off the headlights in the city, where the ambient light (street lights and such) is high enough that you don't need the intense light that is so useful on lonely country roads. Of course, this is a Euro code thing, and is probably illegal in the USA.

    If you drive in the country a lot, the high intensity high beams might save your life by avoiding a collision with a deer or whatever. NB collision with deer kills more people than shark or bear attack ...
     
  5. Apr 10, 2016
    termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Mason, MI
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    Most of the auto high beams dont turn on then off either. They pulse width modulate the voltage to dim or brighten them. Hard to tell if they where brights or just the angle they where shining.
     
  6. Apr 10, 2016
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    I actually flashed some idiot today because his lights were so bright & it wasn't even close to dark yet. There's too many people out there running around with overpowered poorly aimed lights on the road.

    H.
     
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  7. Apr 10, 2016
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    Exactly.
     
  8. Apr 10, 2016
    Beach66Bum

    Beach66Bum 1966 Tuxedo Park Mark IV 2024 Sponsor

    Big Island on...
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    Poorly aimed lights are a huge problem.
    When it's foggy out you get a real good look at just how far off some people's lights are! Maybe they want to see the squirrels in the trees or something...
     
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  9. Apr 11, 2016
    uncamonkey

    uncamonkey Member

    Greeley CO
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    Or find the ants.
    All very good information posted here.
    A friend used to time road races in CA and would have some long trips home in the dark. He hid some aircraft landing lights behind the grill of his Austin Healey. Certainly illegal but he could see a long way.
     
  10. Apr 11, 2016
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

    Florida Keys
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    The most popular aircraft landing light bulb is a 5 3/4" 100w GE #4537. I have used them for many years on cars with the smaller diameter 4 headlight system. They are a very narrow pencil beam, and only are used on highbeam with no other vehicles in sight. They are great for long straight roads.
    -Donny
     
  11. Apr 11, 2016
    Rick Whitson

    Rick Whitson Detroit Area 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    I live South of...
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    I have a 2014 Ford pick up, lease, it came with those eye ball white head lights. I don't like them at all, too bright, people are always flashing their lights at me, they don't like it when I flash back. I don't drive much at night so it is not a big deal. I put aircraft lights in my 62 Corvettes inboard lights, back in the 60's. The lights would go off and on after the relay got hot, scary to lose your lights on country roads, it gets real dark.
     
  12. Apr 11, 2016
    uncamonkey

    uncamonkey Member

    Greeley CO
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    I don't know what lights there were. I've known this guy about 40 years and I didn't know he used to preserve vintage aircraft.
     
  13. Apr 11, 2016
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
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    I run PAR 36 100W aircraft landing lights in metal housings on two of my Jeeps. Lots of light for ~7 bucks a bulb.
     
  14. Apr 11, 2016
    kf_chris

    kf_chris Weary traveler!

    Rock Hill, SC
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    I'm interested in this also. Having a JK if/when I upgrade my stock lights with the ones I have my eye on I'll get two sets of upgraded lights in one shot....that's a high rate of return
     
  15. Apr 11, 2016
    cookieman

    cookieman Member

    Colton,Calif
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    ..I agree...100%
     
  16. Apr 11, 2016
    Alan F

    Alan F Sponsor

    SE TX
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    The biggest problem with headlights today is the people that place HID conversion bulbs in non-projector housings. HIDs weren't meant to be used that way. Those should be ticketed.
     
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  17. Apr 11, 2016
    txtoller

    txtoller Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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  18. Apr 11, 2016
    1960willyscj5

    1960willyscj5 Well-Known Member

    Mesa, Arizona
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    You might consider checking out the new LED head lamps.

    And I agree, if your headlamps now are only good for lighting up 15 to 20 feet in front of your jeep, then something is not right in JEEPville. you should be able to see farther than that on the low beams alone.
     
  19. Apr 11, 2016
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
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    Like Glenn I just did the halogens years ago. Don't Jeep at night.
    Our streets not that dark around here.
    I like them at night for highway drives.
    High beams throw plenty out there.
     
  20. Apr 11, 2016
    1960willyscj5

    1960willyscj5 Well-Known Member

    Mesa, Arizona
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    You should try driving in the Phoenix/Tempe/Mesa metropolitan area. The street lights around here are so dim at night that you cannot see a white cat crossing your path.
     
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