CALLING ALL 2003 - 2005 OWNERS who want better lighting...

[seafish]

Good reading on the selective yellow debate, here is another view- VClassics Interactive - Archive

Also a nice link!!! Thanks.

 

[Matt400]

Do you have any more information on how those lights are mounted to the bumper. Like yourself, I never thought there was enough room.

Here is another idea I saw here.



Mount a pair of Hella 700's like that to supplement the highs and the 90mm low beams in place of the fogs to supplement the lows and you will have a nice light upgrade all controlled with the factory switch for around $200. 00

 

[seafish]

Another vendor is Daniel Stern for 59. 00 but its all the parts you need- relays, relay sockets, headlamp sockets and pins less the wire. I think they build them too for extra cost. The Rally Lights one sounds pretty good at 16. 00 more its all done.



Using a dual 87 terminal 40a relay should be plenty, one for low and one for high. I don't know why the SUV lights site has 4 relay set ups for a 9007 application unless the relays they use are 20a or something.



C. Fish- When you get a chance, ask that fella building your harness what size relays they are using and if relay sockets will be used. . I might want one too.

OK. . a short update on the harness and bulb upgrade for my 2005 headlights.



Daniel Stern has provide a link here--(<b>Philips <font color="red">Xtreme Power</font> 9007 / HB5</b> (Pack of Two Bulbs)) to buy what he says are the newest, best and brightest 9007/HB5 bulbs that fit our headlights. Unlike the ones Matt posted here --(Hella HB5 9007 12V 100/80W Bulb),

these are stock wattage and there won't be ANY chance of either overheating the oem plastic lense or harness, or getting a fixit ticket either. They involve an improved design/better focused filament which improves the light output by up to 80% better then stock. Reviews that I have read indicate that these are the *****. I DID find out that running them, or any bulb, with a wiring harness that provides full battery voltage to the bulb, will certainly increase light output even more, but at AT THE COST of bulb longevity. Ultimately, it might be worth shorter bulb life for better lighting, BUT I DID check the existing voltage at my factory headlights with original 9007 bulbs; With the headlight ON, and I am getting 11. 97 volts through the FCM, AT THE BULB. That's not too bad. . so for now, I am going to replace only the bulbs to see how they improve the forward lighting situation. If they are still not bright enough, I will have Stern or Ray at RallyLights.com, make me a wiring harness to provide full battery voltage to the headlights. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE (as JKloppe did here--https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/3rd-generation-ram-forum-no-engine-transmission-discussions/191334-how-hid.html) that a relay powered wiring harness upgrade to our trucks MUST use a 4. 75 ohm/75 watt resistor (or something like it) wired in paralell to the #85 and #86 terminals of both the low beam AND high beam relays, OTHERWISE the FCM will think the bulbs are not working and turn off voltage to the the relay, thus turning off our headlights as opposed to giving us more light. More on this if I end up buying and installing a harness to get more voltage at the headlights. ALSO, of course, I am going to continue with my auxilary light projects involving mounting the Warn SDB-160 HBE dual beam fog/driving light in the fog location of my Ute, as wellas a pair of KC Daylighter 100 watt driving beams at headlight level on my Ute for high beam supplements.



Will take before and after pics with the new bulbs and let you guys know what I think... about 10 days before they are delivered. Oo.

 

[Matt400]

Cool. . ! can't wait to get the review.

They involve an improved design/better focused filament which improves the light output by up to 80% better then stock.

Interesting, I wonder if that means they have actually relocated the filaments? If so how could they know these would perform well in ALL 9007 lamps with different reflectors.

I am getting 11. 97 volts through the FCM, AT THE BULB.

I have not tested alternator output voltage but my guess is thats about a 15% reduction from what it could be.

 

[seafish]

Cool. . ! can't wait to get the review.

Interesting, I wonder if that means they have actually relocated the filaments? If so how could they know these would perform well in ALL 9007 lamps with different reflectors.

I have not tested alternator output voltage but my guess is thats about a 15% reduction from what it could be.

Don't know, but it is DOT 9007/HB5, so it must work in all configurations.

15-20% is what I figure, but it was also pointed out to me that any voltage increase/decrease flux while operating the bulbs (as well as simply Higher voltage) will aslo lead to diminished bulb life (kind of in the form of 'metal fatigue'. This is from the rep at Candlepower.com at the link I posted. They are a MAJOR bulb wholesaler/retailer, so just might be covering their buts, BUT I do know that "longlife" service bulbs in 120 volts config. , are simply designed to run on a higher voltage (like 130v), but since they run on 110/120,, you get a longer life, but diminished output. Same principle, but opposite, as to what Candlepower.com is talking about. And afterall, 12 volt filament bulb works the same in theory and practice as a 120 volt bulb.
Does that make sense?

 

[AH64ID]

I have not tested alternator output voltage but my guess is thats about a 15% reduction from what it could be.

On my SGII I see 14. 5-14. 7 99% of the time.

 

[EEdmondson]

My digital volt meter reads 14. 4 when the engine is running.

 

[seafish]

I also have measured 14. 4 volts at the betteries with the engine running.



Given that, and the following--



QUOTE "When I investigated output and life expectancy of SMALL incandescent (hot tunsten filament) light bulbs some 30 years ago as part of a design exercise for a mass production calibrated light source , the manufactures' various graphs revealed the following:



1) Life excpectancy of a small incandescent bulb increases as THE THIRTEENTH POWER of the applied voltage. So, if you reduce the applied voltage to half, the life expecancy will increase by 2 to the thirteen times. That is, more than eight thousand times.



2) The light output of small incandescent bulbs increases as the third and a half power of the applied voltage. So, if you decrease the applied voltage by half, the light output will decrease by a factor of 10. 53.



Th figures did not indicate if the same factors applied to large (domestic) incandescent bulbs, but the guess is that they substantially do.



It seems clear that a amall reduction in applied voltage will produce considerably enhanced life expectancy. " QUOTE



Can ANY math geeks (I mean that in a positive way) figure out--



1) increase in percent light output of a 12 volt bulb running at 14. 5 volts



2) Decrease in percent hours of operation of the same.



THANKS for the help!!

 

[Matt400]

Can ANY math geeks (I mean that in a positive way) figure out--



1) increase in percent light output of a 12 volt bulb running at 14. 5 volts



2) Decrease in percent hours of operation of the same.



THANKS for the help!!

That wouldn't be me however I bet D. S. could answer that.

I do recall reading this statement about H9 bulbs-

H9 bulb at 1870 lm (at 12. 8V) - in terms of light output at the various test points decreed by existing US regulations. Actual bulb lumen output on the highway at say, 14. 0V would be 136% of 1870 lm, or 2543 lm

I don't know where the math for that formula came from but if applied to the 9007 of 1000 lm low beam and 1350 high beam you would have a 1360 lm / 1836 lm bulb and of course that is based on a 1. 2v increase so the potential of 2. 5v increase would be even more.



For comparison and speaking from experience when upgrading from a 9006 bulb of 1000 lm to a 9005 bulb of 1700 lm there is a significant light increase.



As for longevity I can't imagine it would be significant. If these bulbs are that good at 14. 5v I wouldn't mind changing them every 2 or 3 years. I have never change a 9007 on my 05 and a friend of mines 03 has the oem bulbs still and with a Bright Box.

 

[Matt400]

bump

Sorry to dig this one up again but I was reading on a motorcycle forum where some guys are raving about this HID retro fit kit.



The kit comes with projectors & standard HID bulbs. What is different about it is you separate your housings and the base of the projector locks in to the original halogen bulb location so no cutting or other major mods beside separating the housing cover.



They don't come with ballasts so you have to get those separately.

Anyone seen these yet?

Ebay link.



A pic:

#ad




Here is one thread on these:

Boneman's Bi-Xenon HID projector mod - In Progress - Yamaha FZ6 Forums - International FZ6 Motorcycle Community Forum

 

[p-Bar]

not to bad looking for CHINA still not DOT approved but better than retro in existing reflector

 

[CSilkowski]

Sorry to dig this one up again but I was reading on a motorcycle forum where some guys are raving about this HID retro fit kit.



The kit comes with projectors & standard HID bulbs. What is different about it is you separate your housings and the base of the projector locks in to the original halogen bulb location so no cutting or other major mods beside separating the housing cover... ...

I installed one of these kits on my BMW motorcycle about one year ago and love it. It cost about $75 with ballasts. Since the BMW's electrical system is more sensitive to amp draws than the Dodge, I was thinking of buying another for my truck and giving it a whirl.

 

[RKerner]

Sorry to dig this one up again but I was reading on a motorcycle forum where some guys are raving about this HID retro fit kit.



The kit comes with projectors & standard HID bulbs. What is different about it is you separate your housings and the base of the projector locks in to the original halogen bulb location so no cutting or other major mods beside separating the housing cover.



They don't come with ballasts so you have to get those separately.

Anyone seen these yet?

Ebay link.



A pic:

#ad




Here is one thread on these:

Boneman's Bi-Xenon HID projector mod - In Progress - Yamaha FZ6 Forums - International FZ6 Motorcycle Community Forum

It seems HID kits are everywhere and at reasonable prices:

Dodge Ram HID Kits Ram HIDs Kit Xenon Bulbs Conversion HID Lights



Xenon HID Headlights For Dodge Ram Pickup | Xenon Gas H. I. D Conversion Kit | Auto Lamp Lighting



9007 High/ Low HID Kits - Home



Or new projector housings and HID:

02-05 Dodge Ram LED Dual Halo Projector Headlights w/6000K HID Black 02 03 04 05



And the further you look, the more you find and the requisite warnings that they are not legal seemingly anywhere on Earth. Caveat emptor?

 

[Matt400]

I installed one of these kits on my BMW motorcycle about one year ago and love it. I was thinking of buying another for my truck and giving it a whirl.

Let us know if you do, a fella tried one on a dakota housing and it was too big / long to put the lense back on. As long as the light output is good, it might be a good mod.

For load carrying users an air bag system may be needed to keep aim within reason.

 

[seafish]

Let us know if you do, a fella tried one on a dakota housing and it was too big / long to put the lense back on. As long as the light output is good, it might be a good mod.

For load carrying users an air bag system may be needed to keep aim within reason.

Our headlight reflectors our so bad, it is also possible that the extra light made by the HID bulb will simply scatter everywhere. In fact, Matt, I think that I remember YOUR making this point once.

In any case, it could be an interesting experiment for someone to try...

it's got to be a step up from all of those IMO fugly HID replacement headlight housings with all the silly LEDs. :-laf

 

[Matt400]

You are thinking of a HID bulb in a reflector housing, this mod is a projector body plugged into the halogens housing. None of the reflector will get any light as all light will be projected forward.

 

[seafish]

You ar thinking of a HID bulb in a reflector housing, this mod is a projector body plugged into the halogens housing. None of the reflector will get any light as all light will be projected forward.

Thanks for clarifying!! Which link is to this type of retrofit??

 

[Matt400]

Here is one on a Motorcycle-

Boneman's Bi-Xenon HID projector mod - In Progress - Yamaha FZ6 Forums - International FZ6 Motorcycle Community Forum

 

[Matt400]

Interesting find-

Ok this may sound really dumb it has me wondering...



We know the 3rd gen light reflectors are terrible and I have heard of fella's running on high beam all the time cuz they are so bad. I can't do that cuz my high beams are supplemented with another pair on a light bar.

So today I just finished installing a fresh set of bulbs and aligned them on my sons 04. I drove it for 15 min on high beam and encountered many oncoming cars on a 2 lane highway with not one flash back.



Was I just lucky or is the high beam really that bad? Actually I have to say the high beams are truly a crummy high beam but not bad at all as a low beam especially when aimed properly.



Anyone running on high beams in oncoming traffic?



I can't help but wonder if you could get away with swapping the terminals on the lamp as long as you have another set of driving lights for high beam.

You would burn the oem high beam while low is selected.

Select high beam and you would burn the low filament and your driving lights.



Illegal I'm sure but if the reflector is realy that bad and traffic is ok with it then maybe an interesting mod.

 

[Jeremiah]

Funny you should ask. My '03 is getting ready to turn 100K and I have been running bright lights only for the last 60,000 miles. How many cars have blinked at me to dim 'em? Not the first one! It's a design fault in the reflector and there is no solution to it that I know of and DC won't even acknowledge it. Live with it or buy a Ford or Chevy. Or a furrin pickup. Now those have some BRIGHT lights! But no Cummins engine, so I'll keep what I have and keep cussing DC. Oo.