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mik_ok
Original Poster
660 posts
110 months
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Apologies of this is a repost - search is down) I find the full beams excellent on the VXR8 with the extra driving lights kicking in, but it does highlight (no pun intended) that the dipped beams are a bit dissapointing. Has anyone tried 65w H7's. Obviously not for road use  click for example ad only - other sellers are availableBeing slightly higher wattage I know their life will be a bit shorter, but probably no more than the "high output" 55w bulbs with their thinner, more dense windings that throw the light further out.... and the 18% extra output shouldn't be too much for the std loom to handle?
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Gary H 2008
2,261 posts
58 months
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after_shock
7,749 posts
89 months
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Really would like some upgraded ones for the Monaro, did HID's last time but not going down that route this time.
Anyone tried the Osram Night Breakers?
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Defcon5
4,056 posts
60 months
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I used to have 130w main beam bulbs in an old car, no problems with the wiring on that that were visible. They were often on for 20mins at a time too
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mik_ok
Original Poster
660 posts
110 months
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Defcon - I ran 90w/130w (dual elements) an old car previously and the dip/main switch melted after approx 18m and the bulbs only lasted 4-6months each.  I don't want to go back to that pullaver A 90w/130w upgrade on a std 55w/60w bulb is a big difference over slightly upgrading a 55w single-element bulb to a 65w however. I'm tempted.
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Chaz9950
154 posts
13 months
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OK... So, I'll be boring!! Lets do some super fun fun maths! WOOO!!!  Using P = I / V (Power - Watts = Amps / Volts), we can work out some numbers. A standard 55w bulb, at 14.4v (maximum regulated charging) So, the formula give us, 55w / 14.4v. This means, at peak charging, each bulb is drawing a current of 3.82 Amps. However, there will be extra resistance through the wires, and the bulb will 'spike' more current for the first few milliseconds it is turned on (less resistance = more current). Not to mention, unless you have a VERY good setup, you won't ever see full charging voltage at the lights - the loss from resistance in the wires will be felt. So, accounting for everything + 10%, say the peak current draw your car is designed for, is 4 amps per headlight, totalling 8 amps. Seeing as 8 amp fuses are hard to find, we'll stick a 10 amp one in. Now, if you fit 65 watt headlamps in, lets do some maths again. 65w / 14.4 = 4.51 amps. So, in total, 9 amps, not 8, as previously discovered. So, in theory, your 10 amp fuse and wiring SHOULD cope with the extra load, as there are tolerances built in to the system - it's difficult / impossible to predict EXACTLY the current draw on anything, so chances are you'll be grand. Realistically, though, to get 12.5 v at the headlight cluster is more sensible. For a 55w bulb, current will be 4.4 amps each, and a 65w bulb, current will be 5.2. A little higher this time, as the bulb, to produce the same output, with a lower voltage, will draw more current. But only marginally more. To sum this up - yes, I'd say you'll be fine. The wires in the headlight circuit will only be drawing marginally more current, so it's not going to be an issue. It would be wise, however, to take a few spare fuses, just incase the fuse/s do burn out. And for the record, I had 80watt bulbs in my old 3 series BMW as 'dip beam'. Nice and bright, and nothing unfavourable ever happened to my loom, relays or fuses.
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StefanVXR8
2,337 posts
67 months
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after_shock said: Really would like some upgraded ones for the Monaro, did HID's last time but not going down that route this time.
Anyone tried the Osram Night Breakers? Yes, and they are bloody brilliant! I use them in the Wife's car and they were in mine until I upgraded. Stef
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After_Shock
7,749 posts
89 months
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StefanVXR8 said: Yes, and they are bloody brilliant!
I use them in the Wife's car and they were in mine until I upgraded.
Stef Good to hear What you upgraded too?
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StefanVXR8
2,337 posts
67 months
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After_Shock said: StefanVXR8 said: Yes, and they are bloody brilliant!
I use them in the Wife's car and they were in mine until I upgraded.
Stef Good to hear What you upgraded too? 4300K HID's Didn't want to go to white/blue so stuck with a fairly common OEM colour. Stef
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after_shock
7,749 posts
89 months
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StefanVXR8 said: After_Shock said: StefanVXR8 said:
Yes, and they are bloody brilliant!
I use them in the Wife's car and they were in mine until I upgraded.
Stef
Good to hear What you upgraded too? 4300K HID's Didn't want to go to white/blue so stuck with a fairly common OEM colour. Stef Will get a set of the bulbs ordered, need some improvement on what have as they aint great.
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mik_ok
Original Poster
660 posts
110 months
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Forgot about this in summer - dark winter nights have reminded me however! Just ordered a set of Osram Nightbreakers - obviously this keeps me legal and removes any worries about current draw (although I'm 100% confident 65w would be fine) - will see how I get on with them before trying any higher power varients. Had a quick look under the bonnet - plenty of room round the nearside lamp (on my car at least as I have an OTRCAI). The offside lamp looks like a bit of a squeeze however.  I didn't try it as I was in a hurry, but can the dipped beam bulb be accessed without removing anything? Does the whole lamp unit just pop out if I undo the two nuts on the top surface?
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Tattooboy
4,923 posts
47 months
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after_shock said: Really would like some upgraded ones for the Monaro, did HID's last time but not going down that route this time.
Anyone tried the Osram Night Breakers? From what I have heard/read on here, they don't last very long for some reason ??
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mik_ok
Original Poster
660 posts
110 months
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The "high output" 55w bulbs manage this magic via thinner windings concentrated into a smaller area - so the light can be focused as a more intense "spot source" but the overall output remains legal.
This obviously affects their longevity.
Will give them a go.
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the_ferret82
24,927 posts
53 months
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mik_ok said: Forgot about this in summer - dark winter nights have reminded me however! Just ordered a set of Osram Nightbreakers - obviously this keeps me legal and removes any worries about current draw (although I'm 100% confident 65w would be fine) - will see how I get on with them before trying any higher power varients. Had a quick look under the bonnet - plenty of room round the nearside lamp (on my car at least as I have an OTRCAI). The offside lamp looks like a bit of a squeeze however. I didn't try it as I was in a hurry, but can the dipped beam bulb be accessed without removing anything? Does the whole lamp unit just pop out if I undo the two nuts on the top surface? im not sure about the vxr8 but night brakers dont last long in the monaro headligths  they just burn out within a few months. im currently trying ring bulbs so far they seam a better bulb IMO. as for putting higher wattage bulbs in cars. i have an old shogun 4x4 for the winter months and i fitted 100/80w bulds in the head lights and 130w bulbs in the spots (for off road use only) all on the standard 15 year old wiring which is much thinner than the monaro headlight wires and had no issues, no melts no bad smells and all bulbs still live and there nice and bright 
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StefanVXR8
2,337 posts
67 months
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the_ferret82 said: im not sure about the vxr8 but night brakers dont last long in the monaro headligths they just burn out within a few months. im currently trying ring bulbs so far they seam a better bulb IMO. as for putting higher wattage bulbs in cars. i have an old shogun 4x4 for the winter months and i fitted 100/80w bulds in the head lights and 130w bulbs in the spots (for off road use only) all on the standard 15 year old wiring which is much thinner than the monaro headlight wires and had no issues, no melts no bad smells and all bulbs still live and there nice and bright I've used the Osram Night Breakers in a few different cars and never had one fail so it might be a Monaro thing. I used them in everything from a Land Rover Defender to a Citroen DS3 Racing and in the latter the bulbs out lasted the car, twice!! I must say though, the HIDs in the VXR8 when properly adjusted are fantastic, no MOT issue with mine either. Stef
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mik_ok
Original Poster
660 posts
110 months
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Well I can confirm 2 things :- 1. the nightbreakers are better than the std bulbs 2. Removing the 2 bolts on top of the offside lap unit doesn't allow it to "pop out" as I'd hoped. I don't have massive hands, but still had to unbolt the fuse box and wriggle it out of the way to get adequate aceess. Offside took 20mins to change. Nearside took about 1min. 
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SteveMJ
545 posts
65 months
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StefanVXR8 said: I must say though, the HIDs in the VXR8 when properly adjusted are fantastic, no MOT issue with mine either.
Stef Hi Stef, How easy (or difficult!) was it to access the rear of the headlamps and fit the HID kit? I had a quick look a while back and thought that getting my hands into the area may be a bit fiddly. I'll ask optimistically if you have any photos of the install? The bulbs are H7? Thanks, Steve
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StefanVXR8
2,337 posts
67 months
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SteveMJ said: StefanVXR8 said: I must say though, the HIDs in the VXR8 when properly adjusted are fantastic, no MOT issue with mine either.
Stef Hi Stef, How easy (or difficult!) was it to access the rear of the headlamps and fit the HID kit? I had a quick look a while back and thought that getting my hands into the area may be a bit fiddly. I'll ask optimistically if you have any photos of the install? The bulbs are H7? Thanks, Steve It wasn't too bad to be honest, the H7 HID bulbs aren't much bigger than standard ones, passenger side was fine, drivers side as mentioned above a pain in the arse! I undid the fuse box too so I had a little more room. The ballast units can be tricky to place, the passenger side was easy and that is mounted on the chassis rail, the drivers side is just cable tied to the front corner of the wing so it's sits inside the wing and is not visible. You'll need to bore a hole in each of the headlamp bulb caps but the HID kit should come with a proper rubber grommet to fit and pass the cables through. The kit I ordered came with the drill hole cutter (I think?). I ordered these in 4300K as that is the OEM colour mostly used but if you want them a little whiter move up to 5000k. I didn't take any pics when I did mine but as long as you move the fuse box slightly you should be OK. Stef
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ARAF
11,559 posts
92 months
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StefanVXR8 said: after_shock said: Really would like some upgraded ones for the Monaro, did HID's last time but not going down that route this time.
Anyone tried the Osram Night Breakers? Yes, and they are bloody brilliant! I use them in the Wife's car and they were in mine until I upgraded. Stef Daughter has them in her Corsa. Difficult to get an accurate idea of what 'better' means, but maybe like having an extra light on the car, which would suggest 50% better, but maybe 30% as a conservative estimate?
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SteveMJ
545 posts
65 months
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StefanVXR8 said: It wasn't too bad to be honest, the H7 HID bulbs aren't much bigger than standard ones, passenger side was fine, drivers side as mentioned above a pain in the arse! I undid the fuse box too so I had a little more room. The ballast units can be tricky to place, the passenger side was easy and that is mounted on the chassis rail, the drivers side is just cable tied to the front corner of the wing so it's sits inside the wing and is not visible. You'll need to bore a hole in each of the headlamp bulb caps but the HID kit should come with a proper rubber grommet to fit and pass the cables through. The kit I ordered came with the drill hole cutter (I think?). I ordered these in 4300K as that is the OEM colour mostly used but if you want them a little whiter move up to 5000k. I didn't take any pics when I did mine but as long as you move the fuse box slightly you should be OK. Stef Thank you Stef. So Canbus based ballasts are needed? I hadn't even thought of that. Thanks again, Steve
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