Can our reflector housings handle 100 watts?

[jross20]

I found out that Koito (Japanese bulb maker) makes some H4 bulbs that are 100/90 watt and I wanted to look into making the switch for some better OEM housing light. (Just not a fan of projectors and all that fancy stuff)

Now, I did read that the stock wiring harness isn't going to handle that power, so I was going to order one of those plug-n-play harnesses that uses the OEM one as the relay trigger. However, I cannot find anything about whether or not the actual reflector and housing can handle 100 watts. Do we have any information on that? Id rather not melt the reflector... Haha

 

[Zhehan]

This was recommended in a thread:

Amazon.com

Amazon.com

I put these items on a wishlist. I can't remember what thread it was... I'll take a look at my Likes and see if I can find the post/thread.

EDIT: The Likes only go back a month or so. I guess the forum doesn't store that stuff like they do the Quotes.

 

[hoppyjr]

I recommend you have a look at VLEDS led H4 bulbs. Super high quality, significant improvement in lighting, and no worries about wiring or melting anything. They started a 30% off sale today too.

 

[Malcolm99]

Thats what I did, note my review and others though as the harness needed to be rebuilt. I was also concerned about the heat, they do get very hot, no problems yet, but i rarely drive at night, do not have DRL's, I used 100/80Hellas, and cooler climate. I also have fogs anytime and with high beam mod which is nice.

 

[Bad Luck]

Thats what I did, note my review and others though as the harness needed to be rebuilt. I was also concerned about the heat, they do get very hot, no problems yet, but i rarely drive at night, do not have DRL's, I used 100/80Hellas, and cooler climate. I also have fogs anytime and with high beam mod which is nice.

I couldn't find your review on Amazon. What did you have to rebuild on them?

 

[jross20]

I recommend you have a look at VLEDS led H4 bulbs. Super high quality, significant improvement in lighting, and no worries about wiring or melting anything. They started a 30% off sale today too.

I'm not a fan of LED's at all; especially for an older rig. Plus, unless those are special or something...putting an LED bulb in a reflector housing will blind everyone.

Thats what I did, note my review and others though as the harness needed to be rebuilt. I was also concerned about the heat, they do get very hot, no problems yet, but i rarely drive at night, do not have DRL's, I used 100/80Hellas, and cooler climate. I also have fogs anytime and with high beam mod which is nice.

I saw some folks saying the temperature increase was about 20-30 degrees F, but I've no idea if that is a lot or not and that was on a 2nd gen taco.

So, did you burn out the stock wiring? Or did you use a harness and your stock wiring still messed up? Sorry I just don't follow.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

I'm not a fan of LED's at all; especially for an older rig. Plus, unless those are special or something...putting an LED bulb in a reflector housing will blind everyone.

So will putting 100/80 or 100/90 bulbs……


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[jross20]

So will putting 100/80 or 100/90 bulbs……


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Why so? I've never heard of halogens causing glare in reflector housings if they are aimed properly. I mean I guess if you did 500 watts maybe it would.

 

[Ed_C]

So according to the huge thread on Tacomaworld The ultimate headlight upgrade H4 (not LED or HID) | Tacoma World Osram's Super Bright is the top high-wattage performer OSRAM Super Bright Premium 9003 (HB2/H4) Lamp | PowerBulbs US

Although lighting guru Daniel Stern says a Vosla 60/55 is the world's best halogen H4 Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

I was going to suggest Tungstram H4s (Daniel Stern use to recommend/sell) but it appears they've been discontinued. I'm presently running the high-wattage Hellas on my Tundra but may try the Voslas when they burn out.

 

[prybar]

I've been running the Hella H4 80/100W bulbs (with harness) for about 6 months and my housings are fine. No noticeable wear, no melting or tarnishing of the reflector. I think you should be good to make the upgrade.

 

[jross20]

I've been running the Hella H4 80/100W bulbs (with harness) for about 6 months and my housings are fine. No noticeable wear, no melting or tarnishing of the reflector. I think you should be good to make the upgrade.

That's good to know. How is the output?

 

[hoppyjr]

I'm not a fan of LED's at all; especially for an older rig. Plus, unless those are special or something...putting an LED bulb in a reflector housing will blind everyone.

Actually not true, provided it’s a well designed LED and the headlamp is properly aimed. One of the reasons I use VLED’s is because they design them to have the led chips firing at the correct place on the bulb, the same place even with where the filament would be on a halogen bulb. This ensures the light distribution into the reflector is optimized. I can’t speak to the cheap stuff.

That said, I’m sure you’ll find a good halogen solution.

 

[Bad Luck]

Actually not true, provided it’s a well designed LED and the headlamp is properly aimed. One of the reasons I use VLED’s is because they design them to have the led chips firing at the correct place on the bulb, the same place even with where the filament would be on a halogen bulb. This ensures the light distribution into the reflector is optimized. I can’t speak to the cheap stuff.

That said, I’m sure you’ll find a good halogen solution.

I have yet to come across another vehicle with led bulbs in a halogen housing that had a good pattern/cutoff and didn't blind everyone on the road. There's a reason auto manufacturers aren't putting led bulbs in halogen housings. Halogen housings are for halogen bulbs. Projector housings can be used with any bulb type provided they were designed for the heat output of the bulb.

 

[3bears]

So according to the huge thread on Tacomaworld The ultimate headlight upgrade H4 (not LED or HID) | Tacoma World Osram's Super Bright is the top high-wattage performer OSRAM Super Bright Premium 9003 (HB2/H4) Lamp | PowerBulbs US

Although lighting guru Daniel Stern says a Vosla 60/55 is the world's best halogen H4 Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

I was going to suggest Tungstram H4s (Daniel Stern use to recommend/sell) but it appears they've been discontinued. I'm presently running the high-wattage Hellas on my Tundra but may try the Voslas when they burn out.

thanks for those links...... very informative

 

[prybar]

That's good to know. How is the output?

It's so much better than stock. It used to be sketchy driving down dark roads at night, but now I can see everything. Highbeams are super bright too. Beam pattern should be about the same too, which you don't get with LED's. I've recommended this upgrade to just about everyone I know.

One thing though - if you turn off your truck and leave the lights on, it drains the battery pretty quick due to the increased wattage.

Overall, the best headlight upgrade for the money IMO.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

It's so much better than stock. It used to be sketchy driving down dark roads at night, but now I can see everything. Highbeams are super bright too. Beam pattern should be about the same too, which you don't get with LED's. I've recommended this upgrade to just about everyone I know.

One thing though - if you turn off your truck and leave the lights on, it drains the battery pretty quick due to the increased wattage.

Overall, the best headlight upgrade for the money IMO.

Do you know how many amps they draw?


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[Ed_C]

Do you know how many amps they draw?

Let me see if I can find my multimeter. You want current draw for low and high?

BTW if anyone plans to DIY a headlight harness, I'm using these ceramic connectors on my Tundra (running Hella 80/100)

https://www.amazon.com/Wiring-Harne...sprefix=mosleys+h4+ceramic,aps,55&sr=8-3&th=1

 

[phattyduck]

Do you know how many amps they draw?

P = I x V

80W at 13.2V = 6.1A (each, high power bulb at standard test voltage)
55W at 13.2V = 4.2A (each, standard bulbs at standard test voltage)
etc.

Actual current draw will be higher or lower by the square of the ratio between the voltages since headlight bulbs are effectively a resistive load.

-Charlie

 

[Ed_C]

Using a power supply set @ 14.4 (forgot to lower it):
7.5x amps low
8.1x amps high

Powered on just for a few seconds because the bulb was blinding me, didn't have headlight install it in, just a pair of vice grips to hold the electrical connector.

I'll try to run the test again with voltage @ 13.2 when I find a spare headlight to install in.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Using a power supply set @ 14.4 (forgot to lower it):
7.5x amps low
8.1x amps high

Powered on just for a few seconds because the bulb was blinding me, didn't have headlight install it in, just a pair of vice grips to hold the electrical connector.

I'll try to run the test again with voltage @ 13.2 when I find a spare headlight to install in.

The Napa ultra bright bulbs pull a fair amount of amps compared to stock. I posted the specks before…..

My comment about 80w low beams blinding older people still stands. I’m an older people…..

I have a Hall effect amp meter on my Alt output. I think it’s a little over 6a per bulb.

I’ll confirm but those Napa “bright as hell” bulbs push 80w on low beam and have a 2 year warranty.


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