Marchal Amplilux

[Vereeken]

Do we have any lighting guru's present?

I have a set of Machal Amplilux headlights (much like the Cibie Biode) ready to go in. With clear lenses covering them.

I noticed that they carry H1 and H3 bulbs.

So does this mean I have beam and high beam but no running light like on the classic H4s?

Or is the running light created by altering the voltage to one of the bulbs?
If so is this driven by a separate relay I have to install?

Michel

[Joe Bob]

Are you talking about the small "City Lights" that are illuminated with the "parking lights" with one pull on the interior light switch?

If so, you can modify them if there is no separate socket for it....

[Arne2]

You are correct, Amplilux were not fitted for running lights. If you are using them in sugar scoops on an impact bumper car, you will not have any running lights and will need to modify the Amplilux housings. Which would be a shame, since those lights are getting quite rare these days.

[Vereeken]

Yes indeed I am talking about "city lights".

I will not modify them. Too expensive for that. I can ofcourse wire up city lights somwhere else...or I could just run without them.

So they came without city lights....weird...

Michel

[Joe Bob]

City lights are not always legal every place in the world.....

[RDM]

If you must have parking lights, you could wire them in the US style, down in the blinker housing. I'd certainly do that before modifying the lights.

As an aside, I'm on my way to Westvlieteren on Wednesday...

[donporfi]

I assume you will use the Amplilux lights in this type of housing.
I think there is a housing with provision for city lights .

[Arne2]

Originally Posted by Vereeken

Yes indeed I am talking about "city lights".

I will not modify them. Too expensive for that. I can ofcourse wire up city lights somwhere else...or I could just run without them.

So they came without city lights....weird...

Michel

Back when those lights were designed (late '60s, prior to the invention if the dual filament H4 bulb), most cars that used 7" headlights did not have integrated city/parking lamps. Those cars typically had a separate clear/white parking lamp. City lamps integrated into the housings didn't start in earnest until '74-75 when cars started getting impact bumpers for the US market and no longer had a spot for the separate white/clear city/parking lamp. That's why Porsche had Bosch add the city light to the big H4, and certain 7" round lights (especially Lucas and Wipac) had them added to accommodate the rubber-bumper MGs. Both cars used essentially the same bumper world-wide, and needed a new place to put the parking lamps.

[donporfi]

Like in this 356/VW headlight housing.

[Joe Bob]

I meant, modify the housing as suggested above.

Back in the day, I used the illegal in CA city light, used the housing for turn signals on an early bug.....removed and filled the hole for the stock signals.

[Vereeken]

Originally Posted by RDM

If you must have parking lights, you could wire them in the US style, down in the blinker housing. I'd certainly do that before modifying the lights.

As an aside, I'm on my way to Westvlieteren on Wednesday...

That is my current thought. Any pictures an how this looks like on the inside...

Send the pictures before your Westvleteren trip. You will be of no use to us afterwards.

Michel

[Vereeken]

Originally Posted by donporfi

I assume you will use the Amplilux lights in this type of housing.
I think there is a housing with provision for city lights .

Yes but I am a cheap ass. And after delving 500 USD in the Amplilux I do not want to spend more ;o)

No seriously. I discovered that the early beetle clear lenses are an exact replacement for the fugly H4 glass in the 911, so I only replaced the H4 lens with a clear lens and the Ampliux behind it. Just lovely.

How does that housing look with bulb in it? I have the feeling it shows the small bulb naked.

[Vereeken]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

I meant, modify the housing as suggested above.

Back in the day, I used the illegal in CA city light, used the housing for turn signals on an early bug.....removed and filled the hole for the stock signals.

That is a bit too fast for me Joe Bob, care to shed some more light () on what you have done (I am sure its between the lines but I lack the proper education).

[Arne2]

Originally Posted by Vereeken

How does that housing look with bulb in it? I have the feeling it shows the small bulb naked.

Yes, the bulb is very visible.

Originally Posted by RDM

If you must have parking lights, you could wire them in the US style, down in the blinker housing. I'd certainly do that before modifying the lights.

So I understand that you have an impact bumper 911. Modifying the blinkers may be your cleanest option, but you may be required to show a white light for parking, not amber. If so, you may need to replace the lenses with clear ones to do this. The nicest option might be clear lenses and drill a hole in the blinker housing for an added, snap-in light socket with clear bulb for the parking lights, and swap the blinker to an amber bulb.

[Vereeken]

Yes Arne. That will likely be my course of actions.

We have no obligation for city lights, but I like to have something for those in between moments.

I google the 356 lenses and boy those city lights stick out ...