8000k 100w light bulbs

phillyMX3mayn · Post by **phillyMX3mayn** » February 6th, 2005, 10:26 am

i ordered texon 8000k 100w light bulb for my 95 rs. this is what someone told me

I'm not sure what "Texon" is (namebrand?) but 100W bulb could smoke your light housing and possibly overheat your wiring harness (meaning fire). Too much current draw for gauge of wire. You might want to try PM'ing Taras out in BC. He's an expert when it comes to lighting IMO.

does anyone else have an opinion on this?

Taras · Post by **Taras** » February 6th, 2005, 12:26 pm

Philly,

It all depends on the actual bulb. There are a lot of false and misleading lighting products out there. Some claim 100w output with 55w draw (yeah right!, didn't they study phisycs?) and some will actually put a 100w load on your system.

If your situation is the actual 100w requirement for the bulb, then I would say you are going to damage a few things.

Fist of all, wiring. Wiring that comes stock on our cars is not designed to handle anything in the 100w range. At best, you might be able to get away with 60-70w without blowing the fuses. And fuses, is the indicator for you as well. So, yes, wiring harness damage may occur. To avoid wiring damage, you can utilize a relayed harness with upgraded wiring feeding from the battery. 14-12ga wires needed. This will even improve the output of a stock bulb by spplying full 14v right from the battery.

Even if you upgrade the wiring, you still need, glass or quartz lenses, magnezium or cast metal housing and the bulb itself needs to be on a ceramic base with heat-resistant connectors. And we both know, our headlights are not that.

Besides heat, another issue that you need to consider with 100w or so bulbs, is that their life is 100 hours at best, so they will burn out very fast. I assume not a very cost effective proposition.

Also, 8000k is very blue, probably a painted bulb. Not really good for the quality of light. I guess that is why they need to give it 100w. And that much light in out stock housings will probably not do much good for the others on the road.

If you want to upgrade your lighting while still using your stock housings, first of all clean your outer lenses, build a quality relayed harness and get a good quality bulb (not painted) such as Philips Premium or VisionPlus (seen at WalMart) or Osram/Sylavania Silverstar.

Hope it helps.
Taras.

phillyMX3mayn · Post by **phillyMX3mayn** » February 7th, 2005, 10:47 am

which is best and brightest out of these? Philips Premium or VisionPlus (seen at WalMart) or Osram/Sylavania Silverstar.

Taras · Post by **Taras** » February 7th, 2005, 11:01 pm

First of all Osram Silverstar is a European Only bulb and is almost the same as Philips Vision Plus. They are what called a +50 bulbs.

Philips Premium is called Philips Hi-Vision in North America and is what is called a +30 bulb.

Sylvania (not Osram) is a blue tinted bulb that has a decent output and I am not too sure how it compares to the above. In a actual light output it should be same as any +30bulb. Perception-wise though, people think it is brighter.

I think Philips started to sell Vision Plus in 9004 type. Osram Silverstar (not coated) is not available in 9004 in US/Canada.

RoundTop · Post by **RoundTop** » February 8th, 2005, 12:42 am

Taras: it should be mentioned that there are 4 lines of sylvania bulbs..

the standard 9004,
9004 Cool Blue
9004 Silverstar
9004 Silverstar Cool Blue

Only the cool blue bulbs are slightly tinted.

phillyMX3mayn · Post by **phillyMX3mayn** » February 8th, 2005, 1:51 pm

is 80watts alright?

Split Sixer · Post by **Split Sixer** » February 8th, 2005, 10:18 pm

wholly how do u know so much about lights....

Taras · Post by **Taras** » February 8th, 2005, 11:06 pm

James,

Uncoated Osram Silverstar does not come in 9004. I may be wrong but the only Sylvania Silverstar I know of is a light blue coated bulb. Buy certainly Osram/Sylvania makes other 9004's in various varieties.

How do I know so much about lights? I don't really. I am still lots to learn. Just playing with them and internet, so learned a bit. But thanks.

Gro Harlem · Post by **Gro Harlem** » February 9th, 2005, 3:26 pm

you can get the real german osrams on ebay for CHEAP!! Like $40 shipped for a pair of them. I plan to get some H4's for my e-specs soon when I get off my a--.

As for the other bulbs...DO NOT get those 100 watt peices of crap off ebay. They WILL DEFINITELY melt your wiring harness & won't last more than 2 months anyways. every set of ebay bulbs i've seen anyone use has never lasted more than a half a year.

Don't get the sylvania "cool blues" either. I bought a set, they aren't blue, they just suck...basically stock bulbs. I did have a set of the regular sylvania silverstar bulbs in my old 9004 housings and they kicked a--, definite improvement. I'd recommend getting those if you need them ASAP or if you can wait, order some true Osrams from germany.

Taras · Post by **Taras** » February 9th, 2005, 10:05 pm

Gro Harlem wrote:.....order some true Osrams from germany.

True Osram Silverstar is only available in H1, H4 and H7 and that means that if you have stock DOT headlights that use 9004 bulbs, you are out of luck.