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StruanR
25-10-2012, 18:48
Winter is fast approaching so I thought it was time to fit up the full complement of lighting.
Reckon I should be able to see where I'm going now....
Struan

turbonutter
25-10-2012, 19:35
Looking Good :)

Guy Mayers
25-10-2012, 19:57
How's the alternator?

mudhut
25-10-2012, 20:34
Hot, I'd say...

Allora#2
25-10-2012, 21:18
Wow Struan,
looks very nice!
even now It's already done christmas illumination! :)

StruanR
25-10-2012, 22:14
How's the alternator?
Ferrari/Magnetti Marelli alternator is only 55A output, but it seems to hold the voltage OK.
Might struggle with radiator fan and wiper motor going too.
It probably gets quite hot as the exhaust fits around it......although we have wrapped the exhaust as best we can.

Struan

turbonutter
26-10-2012, 10:53
Assuming they are all 60W bulbs, thats 40A just for the front lights. A 55A alternator isnt really up to the job, as you also need to run th eengine, fuel pump, rear lights, heater fan & radiator fans, which will take it over 55..... I know, my last car had a 90A alternator and I had 110W bulbs in my front lights, (75A) , and the charge light would be on when the quad pod was on.....

This car has a 150A alternator, so should be fine......

StruanR
26-10-2012, 11:35
Assuming they are all 60W bulbs, thats 40A just for the front lights. A 55A alternator isnt really up to the job, as you also need to run th eengine, fuel pump, rear lights, heater fan & radiator fans, which will take it over 55..... I know, my last car had a 90A alternator and I had 110W bulbs in my front lights, (75A) , and the charge light would be on when the quad pod was on.....

This car has a 150A alternator, so should be fine......
Yes, I agree it is marginal, although bulbs are only 55W and I've only got one radiator fan at the moment. (I do need to add another one)
Heater fan is a luxury we shall dispense with if the lights are on!
Struan

turbonutter
26-10-2012, 12:44
Only 55 watts! well that saves you a few amps, so should be ok. I only went with a big alternator due to having 3 water pumps, 2 fuel pumps, 2 big fans, a gearbox pump and of course the usual lights- with everything on and at its max consumption, I am in the 130-140amp zone:eek:

peteracs
29-10-2012, 08:13
Only 55 watts! well that saves you a few amps, so should be ok. I only went with a big alternator due to having 3 water pumps, 2 fuel pumps, 2 big fans, a gearbox pump and of course the usual lights- with everything on and at its max consumption, I am in the 130-140amp zone:eek:

Neil, now we know why you needed all that engine power.......

Peter

Ginger
01-11-2012, 11:12
Can you not use LED bulbs, they're certainly bright enough these days, if you can get the right fitment.

ChrisCar6
01-11-2012, 11:55
No reason why you can't put HID in the pod. Expensive. HID spots much smaller diameter, so would look different. H4 HID fixed bulbs are HID dip/normal main, so not ideal. The moving HiLo H4 HIDs would do.

Cadami
01-11-2012, 12:27
Can you not use LED bulbs, they're certainly bright enough these days, if you can get the right fitment.

Ebay is full of the various fitments and they're cheap. Might try a pair in my headlights and eventually pod... Solves the problem of excessive power consumption.

john
01-11-2012, 13:22
H4 HID fixed bulbs are HID dip/normal main, so not ideal.

Could these not be wired to come on together?!

StruanR
01-11-2012, 19:58
No reason why you can't put HID in the pod. Expensive. HID spots much smaller diameter, so would look different. H4 HID fixed bulbs are HID dip/normal main, so not ideal. The moving HiLo H4 HIDs would do.

Yes I prefer them to look fairly original, though I wouldn't spend loads of money to get original Carellos.
With my luck someone would throw up a stone on the road and they'd get smashed.

ChrisCar6
01-11-2012, 23:04
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=1090031&mid=41118&i=80&nmt=LED+Headlights+-+anyone%3F!&mid=41118 (http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=1090031&mid=41118&i=80&nmt=LED+Headlights+-+anyone%3F!&mid=41118)

LED discussion on PH. Probably not then. The last post probably sums it up

Jeff
02-11-2012, 09:59
My experience of LED based lighting (not automotive and so in a more "friendly" environment) isn't good. They've never lasted a fraction of the time they're supposed to.

turbonutter
02-11-2012, 12:32
I think the look of the LED lights would suit my car, but have been put off using them, as my experience with LED lights is that they do give an excellent light, but dont seem to have the same "penetration distance" into the darkness that more conventional bulbs have. I would need to see some evidence of the beam range before i was tempted....

Griff
03-11-2012, 19:29
Thought I would add my 5 pence worth, as you know I have purpose made LED's on my car and they are excellent, I also have Bi-xenon 50W 6000k HID's fitted to my sons Metro, and they are really effective, it walked through the MOT test last week with them fitted, and we also have HID's fitted to the wifes Abarth 500 headlamps and drive lamps, which are also really good. There is no reason why you can't use a 50W H1 HID unit in a drive lamp and get the best of both worlds, look original and give excellent output, you could even mount the ballast units in the light pod