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Going full led

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cugsy View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cugsy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Going full led
    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.  Thumbs Up     John
Due to italian electrickery I am saying nowt. Despite nearly giving the Vstrom away the honda has gone...
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Dave P. View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dave P. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Nov 2019 at 12:49
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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cugsy View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cugsy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Nov 2019 at 13:50
The bulb in there isnt far from that.  The light isnt being reflected methinks

Due to italian electrickery I am saying nowt. Despite nearly giving the Vstrom away the honda has gone...
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cugsy View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cugsy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Nov 2019 at 13:51
My bad. New internals...hmmm
Due to italian electrickery I am saying nowt. Despite nearly giving the Vstrom away the honda has gone...
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Brian UK View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Brian UK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Nov 2019 at 16:28
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.
Brian.

Better 5 minutes late in this world than years early in the next.
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AdrianW View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AdrianW Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Nov 2019 at 17:13
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jerry atric Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Nov 2019 at 19:53
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 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Brian UK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Nov 2019 at 22:56
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.
Brian.

Better 5 minutes late in this world than years early in the next.
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