Thread: $3500 for a pair of spotties What The ?????

I did a survey of the lights fitted to trucks I passed today.

1 truck had light force XGTs. The lenses looked yellowed with age.
1 truck Britax X-Ray.
The remaining 20 or so trucks were ~ 50/50 Narva and Hella

Originally Posted by isuzurover

I did a survey of the lights fitted to trucks I passed today.

1 truck had light force XGTs. The lenses looked yellowed with age.
1 truck Britax X-Ray.
The remaining 20 or so trucks were ~ 50/50 Narva and Hella

Seems to depend on the day here...

Either Light Force or Hella are the most common.

Although the other day I "spotted" 2 with Fyrlyts...

Of the hella equipped vehicles, most seem to be running 4000's



Most common light fitted to 4wdrives is IPF (they have a captive audience when vehicle fit outs are being done)

Originally Posted by talltales

I fitted a set of HID kits from Jaycar for Series 800 IPF lights. The lights were $200 on Fleabay and the kits $65 each. They are 30w globes and after a hours fitting for under $400 they are the best. I have been from Queensland to the Flinders Ranges and back up the Birdsville track and down Cordillo downs and not one movement a or problem. Man are they bright, like daylight. Take a bit to start up but once working wow. Just pure white light and they make the halogen high beam on the D3 look yellow.
The Ballasts were mounted behind the grill and I had to drill another hole in the light casing but a grommet was supplied to seal this. Too easy.

Under the function of: Glare = Bright.. Yes they are....

The wavelength produces a light to which the pupil doesnt dilate as easy. Making them feel 'brighter'.

You also mentioned the exact problem - "Take a bit to start"

Well, I've seen an incident from the warming up bit - truck hit the very object his HID spotlights were supposed to help prevent..
They were warming up at the time after dipping to pass an oncoming vehicle.

Even trucks dont like 7' Reds....

"take a bit to start"

what timeframe are we talking about here?

The main delay is initially when you switch to high beam for the first time. Once they are lit (first to full brightness) they are instantaneous from then on.
A brilliant light.

Originally Posted by talltales

The main delay is initially when you switch to high beam for the first time. Once they are lit (first to full brightness) they are instantaneous from then on.
A brilliant light.

Sorry, but that defies the entire way they are designed to operate

The composition of the tube, the way the igniter works etc cannot allow this to occur or damage will occur or the light will fail to function.

Originally Posted by talltales

The main delay is initially when you switch to high beam for the first time. Once they are lit (first to full brightness) they are instantaneous from then on.
A brilliant light.

Perhaps "near instantaneous"? Subjectively it's hard to tell. With my HID spots, certainly the initial switch to high beam takes 4 to 5 secs to reach full luminosity. After that, a short flick to low beam then back again doesn't produce any noticeable lag to full brightness. Low beam for more than 3 mins or so will again produce a delay when switching back to high.

Cheers,

Gordon

So something in the system has a capacitive effect but only for a short period after which it will drain and require "recharging" before reaching full illumination.