Warning! - Use caution with hi wattage 9004 bulbs!!ts

[87-911]

I requested help reqarding loss of both Hi & Lo beam headlights with all fuses in tact.

Seem the new 100 w 9004 bulbs produced so much heat the connector bodies were charred and and the ground terminals on both were burnt to the point the connection was lost. Still don't understand why the hi beam indicator was always on.

Wiring, fuses hi/lo turn signal switch seem fine. If you are contemplating such a mode use caution. Don't know if it is the particular design/make of the bulbs or if all 100w bulbs heat up the connector this much but this much heat would have been a disaster in a more critical location.

[Early_S_Man]

Check the archives ... I've been warning against High Wattage bulbs in H5 headlamps for almost 2 years! As recently as two months ago, the H4 vs H5 question came up again!
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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa
1992 Dodge Dakota 5.2 4X4 parts hauler

[This message has been edited by Early_S_Man (edited 09-23-2001).]

[movin]

What brand were you using?

[This message has been edited by movin (edited 09-23-2001).]

[Decolliber]

Try the PIAA 9004 bulbs. They have the standard wattage (45/65?) but give a brighter light.

[machintek]

I put I believe 70 nor 80 watt bulbs in my wife's Jaguar with the Xenon gas in them. They burn at a higher temperature and thus give off a wavelength of light closer to noon daylight as well as being a bit more efficient thus given off more photons for the same energy consumed. This wattage in conjuction with this gas is a good combination that gives better visibility. It also did not confuse her Bulb Fail Modules. Recently she caught stones in both right headlights and I am going to install H4s with leaded glass lenses. My 911 has these same bulbs waiting to be installed with a commercially available wiring harness. It plugs into the existing harness of a headlight to run relays that are mounted inside the trunk that draw raw power directly from the battery. The prevents the dreaded smoke in the cockpit at mach 1 from the headlight switch carrying all the current.

George
83 911SC Cab/Euro

[pwd72s]

Gawd, doesn't anyone run H-1's these days? Bought mine back in the 70's...I run the standard wattage bulbs, and they work great!

[Doug Zielke]

George is right!
You have to run high wattage lights via a suitable relay. Use #10 wire directly from the battery to feed the lights. If you don't, not only will you fry the wiring and sockets, but the dashboard switch as well.

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'81 SC Coupe (aka: "Blue Bomber")
Canada West Region PCA
The Blue Bomber's Website
"If it ain't broke...we'll help you fix it 'til it is!"

[old_skul]

We need a tech article on this. If Wayne sends me some H4 conversions and some hi-wattage bulbs, I'll do it. I write OK.

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Mark Szabo
1986 911 Targa 3.2
1987 Escort 5-speed 1.9 RIP
The Porsche Owners Gallery

[movin]

Hey machintek is the conversion kit you plan to use from Japan? I saw one a while back, costs about $750 for the 911 series. I don't think the conversion to Xenon works very well because the reflector and lenses are not designed for that type of lumination. You really have to use clear lenses to fully appreciate Xenon. Yes, Mercedes did use a diffused lenses on some models with Xenon lights but they didn't compair well to the models using clear lenses.

[This message has been edited by movin (edited 09-24-2001).]

[Doug Zielke]

This ain't as hard as installing a turbo Basically, the existing wiring and headlight switch operates the control side of the relays. The load side relay contacts feed the lights themselves directly from (fused) wires connected to the battery.
Note:
The sockets need be rated for high-wattage lamps. If you are buying PIAA lamps, these sockets are available from them.

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'81 SC Coupe (aka: "Blue Bomber")
Canada West Region PCA
The Blue Bomber's Website
"If it ain't broke...we'll help you fix it 'til it is!"

[This message has been edited by Doug Zielke (edited 09-24-2001).]

[machintek]

I had purchased 6 of these bulbs (4 headlights and 2 fog lights) for about $90.00 from a place I found in Autoweek almost 2 years ago. The relay harness to save the headlight switch was another $30.00 but it is cost effective to the time necessary to buy the relays, wires, and plugs.
DO NOT confuse xenon replacement bulbs with the HIDs. The HIDs do use Xenon gas that is excited to light emmission by a pulsed high voltage. This is the same concept as the electronic flash of a camera but repeated so many times a second that it appears to be a steady light. The conversions of this type are very expensive, have a high voltage balast, and only have low beam. One can imagine some idiot coming at you on a narrow dark road with a set of these in a theoretical high beam mode. It would take a long time or a lot of miles to get ones eyes back to night vision mode if one is still on the road. If i do my 911 soon, I will take some pictures and post them.

George
83 911SC Cab/Euro