Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.
|
Author |
Message |
Riley Blue
Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 1750 Location: Derbyshire
|
Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2017 9:50 am Post subject: Improving headlamps |
|
|
It's not often we're out after dark in our Riley One-Point-Five but we were on Tuesday evening. Although I've fitted halogen bulbs, their output is not really sufficient on rural roads with no street lighting.
There are Lucas spot lamps fitted which I wondered about wiring so they're on with main beam and off with dipped beam but I think the main/dip contrast will be too great - any suggestions? The car is positive earth with a dynamo. _________________ David
1963 Riley 1.5
1965 Riley 1.5 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
colwyn500
Joined: 21 Oct 2012 Posts: 1745 Location: Nairn, Scotland
|
Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2017 12:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
David, I had the same issue with my Fiat 500; I bought modern Hella spotlights.
I wired them to main beam via relays and afeed direct from the battery. Ebay sold me a really neat, well made and inexpensive mini-loom which made that easy and tidy to do.
It made a massive difference to my confidence in going out in the dark, but when I calculated the amperage I was using for this light show it was obvious that I had to upgrade to an alternator.
So a lot of originality out of the window in favour of practicality on this one.
MAL_9778 by Peter Thompson, on Flickr
thefinalsolution by Peter Thompson, on Flickr |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Peter_L
Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 2680 Location: New Brunswick. Canada.
|
Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2017 1:31 pm Post subject: |
|
|
This would cope with those dangerous dips in the road.
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Riley Blue
Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 1750 Location: Derbyshire
|
Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2017 3:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
peterwpg wrote: | This would cope with those dangerous dips in the road.
|
That's exactly what I need! _________________ David
1963 Riley 1.5
1965 Riley 1.5 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
alastairq
Joined: 14 Oct 2016 Posts: 1954 Location: East Yorkshire
|
Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2017 4:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Maybe a redundant flare mortar?
The problem is, the huge difference in contrast when faced with oncoming modern headlights.
There are halogen bulb conversions around.....even LED conversions.
Maybe aim to go from the old 'cream' lights to modern 'white' lights?
With spots, I always find the wobbling very off-putting...
Plus, no amount of spot lights[drivng lights] are going to help when oncoming traffic is encountered.
Might be possible to convert the round headlights to a projector array?
But, all in all, I think the best option is to convert to halogen? And, make sure the reflectors are not rusted? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Phil - Nottingham
Joined: 01 Jan 2008 Posts: 1252 Location: Nottingham
|
Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2017 6:47 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Not many classics are driven at night and in winter especially on unlit roads. I use ours all year round day & night and the 1950-1970's lighting is quite adequate but the pre-war 36w lights are somewhat feeble _________________ Rover P2
Rover P4
Rover P5 & P5B
Land Rover S2 & S3
Morris Mini Traveller Mk2 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
jp928
Joined: 07 Jun 2016 Posts: 249 Location: Australia
|
Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2017 4:37 am Post subject: |
|
|
Check what volts you are getting at the actual bulbs, to see if there is a drop along the way. You might be surprised, it only takes a couple of slightly poor connections to make for real drops. If relays are not already fitted, put them in line, so the switch is handling minimal current. Put the relays as close as possible to the lights, with a relatively heavy lead (fused) from a good supply point. Also check all your ground points are clean and bright. Fuse holders can also degrade their contacts - put some Deoxit or similar on all sliding contacts.
jp 26 Rover 9 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
alastairq
Joined: 14 Oct 2016 Posts: 1954 Location: East Yorkshire
|
Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2017 8:15 am Post subject: |
|
|
As an aside, I used to use an old trick on my rear engined Skodas...the plugs/connectors, being made by PAL, were never really good at keeping themselves clean.
So I would trawl scrappies with a tesco bag and snips, cutting off things like headlamp connectors from Japanese cars [that were being scrapped, of course....wouldn't dream of trawling the local car park!!]....These were then used to replace PAL or Lucas connectors, soldering wires, etc....for some reason, Japanese electrical hardware didn't have the corrosion issues that plagued Lucas, PAL, or some Italian electrical stuff. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
colwyn500
Joined: 21 Oct 2012 Posts: 1745 Location: Nairn, Scotland
|
Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2017 3:25 pm Post subject: |
|
|
alastairq wrote: |
The problem is, the huge difference in contrast when faced with oncoming modern headlights.
With spots, I always find the wobbling very off-putting...
|
My forward view used to be in shadow when a modern car was close behind me; I didn't even seem to benefit from an enhanced view from their lighting.
To avoid wobble I fitted some easily available, universal, adjustable stays.
MAL_0100 by Peter Thompson, on Flickr |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
php BB powered © php BB Grp.
|