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cugsy
Senior Member Joined: 30 Nov 2016 Location: norfolk Status: Offline Points: 958 |
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Posted: 24 Nov 2019 at 12:27 |
I bet this is a can of worms. But - here goes.
The headlight on the 99 EV is definitely crap, especially at half 6 in the cold n frosty mornings. I checked the voltage at the H4 connector and it's 12.3v - enought to light the 90% brighter bulb I swapped for the original. My thinking is that the back of the headlight bucket should be brighter and would help throw the light further or at least better. But, at 20 years old the inside is looking duller than the channel 5 news. To be honest, I could probably ride with it on full beam and it would look like low beam. So, choices. Do I spend some time and money on getting the inside of the headlight shinied up? Or has anyone just been swayed by the kind of lights that eg; Alchemy sell for about £100. Seems a bargain to me. So why not go the whole porker and fit them all over? Brake lights and indicators? Will it substantially ease the pain on my charging system? Etc... Can opened....let it begin. John
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Due to italian electrickery I am saying nowt. Despite nearly giving the Vstrom away the honda has gone...
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Dave P.
Senior Member Joined: 12 Jan 2015 Location: Northants Status: Offline Points: 5573 |
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If it's a 7" lamp would one of these not suffice with a Philips Extreme Vision bulb or an Osram Night Breaker. A much cheaper option.
https://www.vehiclewiringproducts.co.uk/c-55-lighting/c-140-front-lamps Top left on the page. Edited by Dave P. - 24 Nov 2019 at 12:52 |
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TO LIVE OUTSIDE THE LAW YOU MUST BE HONEST.
1971 V7 Special. 1972 850GT. 1970 T120 Bonnie. 2009 500 Bullet. |
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cugsy
Senior Member Joined: 30 Nov 2016 Location: norfolk Status: Offline Points: 958 |
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The bulb in there isnt far from that. The light isnt being reflected methinks
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Due to italian electrickery I am saying nowt. Despite nearly giving the Vstrom away the honda has gone...
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cugsy
Senior Member Joined: 30 Nov 2016 Location: norfolk Status: Offline Points: 958 |
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My bad. New internals...hmmm
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Due to italian electrickery I am saying nowt. Despite nearly giving the Vstrom away the honda has gone...
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Brian UK
Moderator Group Joined: 13 May 2014 Location: Surrey Status: Offline Points: 17641 |
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If you are only getting 12.3 volts at the bulb connector you are wasting something like 20% of the light output. They are made to run at 14v. This is where your poor headlight comes from. Changing to fancier bulbs won't help until you sort out the votage. Fit a pair of relays using heavy wiring from the battery. Control the relays from the dip switch output.
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Brian.
Better 5 minutes late in this world than years early in the next. |
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AdrianW
Senior Member Joined: 05 May 2019 Location: Bristol Status: Online Points: 993 |
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That Vehicle Wiring Products halogen unit looks good..
Excuse my ignorance but is a V35II headlamp 7" ? Mine is an import & the glass may be original LHD.. It laso has a (hard to see, minor crack in it) Bike got an MOT with PO (despite the rear caliper pads coated in fluid of some kind) but my local examiner might be more thorough for the next one... Cheers, Adrian Bristol UK |
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Jerry atric
Senior Member Joined: 24 Nov 2014 Location: Wiltshire Status: Offline Points: 3367 |
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If your reflector is not mirror-like, you are definitely wasting your money on bulbs or anything else. I would go with Dave P's suggestion, then do Brian's relay mod
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Brian UK
Moderator Group Joined: 13 May 2014 Location: Surrey Status: Offline Points: 17641 |
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No, do it in the other order. No point in any fancy bulb if the volts are not getting to it. But do both and the light will be transformed. Adrian, yes 7 inch. My v50 was also continental dip. I altered the notch in the bulb holder to twist the bulb around to make LH dip. The glass didn't seem to matter.
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Brian.
Better 5 minutes late in this world than years early in the next. |
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