Question about H1 headlights (cont'd)

[Juggino]

I will be upgrading my H1 headlights as follows.

I am replacing the low beams with the 100w super bright white / blue bulbs that Pelican sells along with installing the relay kit. I am also replacing the high beams with new 100w standard bulbs. I am also going to change the lenses as well as check all power and grounds.

my questions are:

1) Do the low beams stay on when the highs are on?

2) Can I set it up to do that?

2) Will I need an additional relay if the lows and highs are on together?

3) Where are the grounds that I should be checking?

[Juggino]

Bump for help...

[porwolf]

As far as I know the low beams do not stay on when the high beams are activated. If you want both on you should make sure that you beef up the ground connection from the H1 assembly to the car body because then you are running about 4 times the current through it than it was designed for.

[RWebb]

you do NOT want both on at the same time - on high you want your attention focused down the road and the lows will hamper that

a PO did this on my 1st 911 and it sucked

you DO want relays installed

[Juggino]

So I just checked my car and it seems that when I push the high beam arm forward nothing happens, the high beams only come on while I am holding the arm back towards me. Also while I hold the arm back and the high beams are on, the low beams also stay on. Is this typical for when you hold the arm back? I would imagine that the switch is broken in the forward position?

[porwolf]

Originally Posted by Juggino

So I just checked my car and it seems that when I push the high beam arm forward nothing happens, the high beams only come on while I am holding the arm back towards me. Also while I hold the arm back and the high beams are on, the low beams also stay on. Is this typical for when you hold the arm back? I would imagine that the switch is broken in the forward position?

Seems like the old turn signal switch on the steering wheel column has problems. That has been dealt on this forum many times. That switch may need some rebuilding. Can be done and is not too difficult. I have done mine (79 SC) just recently.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by Juggino

I am replacing the low beams with the 100w super bright white / blue bulbs that Pelican sells

I wouldn't do this. Use a regular bulb. Read this:

Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

It wouldn't be a bad idea to read some of his other tech articles, while you're at it.

Originally Posted by Juggino

I am also going to change the lenses as well

Unless your lenses are in really bad shape, I would not do this. It's a very difficult task to do, if you are not familiar with these lights, and you run the risk of screwing up the adjusters and rubber grommets. I'm not aware of anybody making spare parts for these lights, apart from gaskets and lenses, so be careful what you get yourself into.

Put aside the credit card for a minute...

Did you look into the lights and get an idea of the condition of your reflectors?

Did you check the aiming of the lights?

Did you measure any voltages, check the grounds yet, etc?

Did you try turning down your interior lights?

You really ought to go about this in a more logical way. I've used H1 lights for 30 years and haven't found them wanting, so I'd be very surprised if you need to "upgrade" your lights all that much. If they are operating properly, which I suspect they aren't, they ought to be adequate. Either that, or your expectations are out of whack. Given the value of these lights these days, I'd not get too wild with them.

JR

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by javadog

I wouldn't do this. Use a regular bulb. Read this:

Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

It wouldn't be a bad idea to read some of his other tech articles, while you're at it.



Unless your lenses are in really bad shape, I would not do this. It's a very difficult task to do, if you are not familiar with these lights, and you run the risk of screwing up the adjusters and rubber grommets. I'm not aware of anybody making spare parts for these lights, apart from gaskets and lenses, so be careful what you get yourself into.

Put aside the credit card for a minute...

Did you look into the lights and get an idea of the condition of your reflectors?

Did you check the aiming of the lights?

Did you measure any voltages, check the grounds yet, etc?

Did you try turning down your interior lights?

You really ought to go about this in a more logical way. I've used H1 lights for 30 years and haven't found them wanting, so I'd be very surprised if you need to "upgrade" your lights all that much. If they are operating properly, which I suspect they aren't, they ought to be adequate. Either that, or your expectations are out of whack. Given the value of these lights these days, I'd not get too wild with them.

JR

I agree, completely, with this post.

However, your previous post regarding the operation of the dimmer switch probably will resolve your issue as it sounds as if you never had the high beams on while driving. If you fix the switch so the low/high beams operate correctly, aim them correctly, install the relay kit, and clean the lenses, you should have enough light without modifying the circuitry. You can still go with higher wattage bulbs as long as you have the relay kit installed.

[porwolf]

Turn down the interior lights! That is my recipe also for driving on dark country roads. It makes a huge difference. Your eyes adjust to the lower ambient light and all of a sudden the street in front of you becomes much brighter. Also turning down the interior rear view mirror and turning out the side view mirror will prevent cars from behind blinding you.

[DRACO A5OG]

1. Only if you manually pull and hold it.

2. You could possibly rig it up to stay on but it may overload your stalk???

3. YES, You really need a realy if you use 100w blubs

4. Ground is the brown wire connected to the H1 housing which is grounded by the chassis bucket, you have to insure the ground contact surfaces are clean. Usinga DVM will confirm a good ground.

Jim