Advice on h4 bulbs - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

s13pignose · 08-08-2006, 08:41 PM

I searched for "bulbs" and "bulb current draw" didn't find any answers so I m going ahead and making a new thread.

Anyway these h4 bulbs I'm considering lis them as
Power 12v 170/130w

I have no idea what that means. Do you think thats to high for my zenki. I mean I get the 12v obviously, but not the other numbers.

Thanks

kandyflip445 · 08-08-2006, 09:36 PM

Rewire the harness for the lights for the higher wattage bulbs.

s13pignose · 08-08-2006, 10:21 PM

Well see thats my question. Would these bulbs call for that or not. I dunno what is exactly considered high and what isn't. Anyone got like a suggestion of the max I can go when looking for bulbs with out having to rewire or worry?

Thanks for qwik reply 2

s13_newbie · 08-08-2006, 11:50 PM

normal H4 bulbs from factory is 55/50, or 60/55. the 1st number means the power it will use for high beam, the 2nd number is low beam. I have used 130/90 on my old car, n itz bright. the problem i had was it draws too much current, i can easily notice the light got dimmer when i stop @ traffic light.

there are couple things u need to consider:

1) are you running a system?
2) is ur alternator in good shape?
3) is ur housing able to handle the heat?
4) do u think u r able to rewire the headlight system?

first 2 question is an easy fix, just get an optima battery or those voltage stablizer, third is harder, u need a better housin, but if u still wanna go for that bulb, i would suggest u to just use the housin until it melt or toasted which isnt that easy. forth isnt really that hard, u just need couple relays, switches n some wires.

btw, can u post a site where u find the bulbs?? one of my bulb burnt, n the highest i find is 100/80....

s13_newbie · 08-08-2006, 11:53 PM

i have tried 130/90 w/ oem wiring, but it has too much power lost in wires, n get heat up(not melt yet), and now i am runing 100/80, everything seems fine w/ me.

g6civcx · 08-09-2006, 05:42 AM

Check out link for W rating and wire selection: http://www.zilvia.net/f/showpost.php...7&postcount=11

Also watch out for your system's consumption and alternator output as well.

YucA · 08-09-2006, 07:30 AM

you really dont need to go with a bulb with higher wattage. its really just a waste. Get a HIGH quality bulb with stock wattage, and you will see up to 50% more light than a standard bulb. Which is more than a POS blue tinted 100w...

The color "temperature" of the light given off by halogens is low, this means that the majority of the light is closer to the yellow side of the spectrum then the blue side. Thus when you stick a blue coating on your bulb you block a lot of the light that should be coming out. And what are you left with? That damn blue light which is no good...

Sylvania silverstars are good, but they still have a slight blue tint in the glass for US market. Check out OSRAM silverstars. Made for UK market, no blue tint and rated the best light at autoexpress for 05 and 06. you can find them for 25-35 bucks a pair...

disregard this if you want omgfakeHID blue lights

s13pignose · 08-09-2006, 09:02 AM

Yeah think Im going with osram or philips vision plus. Leaning more to philips based on a zilvia members experience. Read in an old thread osram silverstars burn out quicker cause they're brighter, but if they or the phillips can last me at least 4months I'll be happy. I tried hilites before, and one of the two burnt out in less than a week. And I used gloves when installing, and didn't even touch the glass to begin with and disconnect ground on batt.

Thanks for the help

pr240sx · 08-09-2006, 09:46 AM

I currently use gold ion 100/80 bulbs
You MUST upgrade your wiring and dont even think using a higher wattage bullb without a relay.
Almost everybody upgrades wiring on the positive side, you must also upgrade on the ground side too.

Also, consider your alternator main wire, if its too thin, you will have a small stove there!!, in doubt, UPGRADE, via a bigger fatter wire or another wire with similar.

Check this website
http://www.rallylights.com/useful_in...amp_wiring.htm

Very usefull when you upgrade your lights.Includes a very useful diagram with relays, etc.

Also check thishttp://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm
To verify your wire gauge (size)
I personally use no less than 10 for the lights (way overkill) for headlamps and altima fans, 2 for the alternator (removed the OEM one) and 12 for fuel pump (walbro 255)
For relays, I am using 3 relays, I mostly use the low beams so 2 for low (20 amps each) and one for high (40 amps) circuit breaker and the source, fuses after the relay.
If you use shorter wires, you can use a thinner wire. Why I use wires so big, I like to hide my wiring and far from any heat source.

08-08-2006, 08:41 PM	#1
s13pignose Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: ?? Posts: 1,324 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	Advice on h4 bulbs I searched for "bulbs" and "bulb current draw" didn't find any answers so I m going ahead and making a new thread. Anyway these h4 bulbs I'm considering lis them as Power 12v 170/130w I have no idea what that means. Do you think thats to high for my zenki. I mean I get the 12v obviously, but not the other numbers. Thanks

08-08-2006, 09:36 PM	#2
kandyflip445 Post Whore! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Arden, NC Age: 40 Posts: 4,460 Trader Rating: (1) Rides Gallery: kandyflip445 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Rewire the harness for the lights for the higher wattage bulbs. __________________ My 240 vBgarage

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08-08-2006, 10:21 PM	#3
s13pignose Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: ?? Posts: 1,324 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	Well see thats my question. Would these bulbs call for that or not. I dunno what is exactly considered high and what isn't. Anyone got like a suggestion of the max I can go when looking for bulbs with out having to rewire or worry? Thanks for qwik reply 2

08-08-2006, 11:50 PM	#4
s13_newbie Leaky Injector Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: BC Posts: 52 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	normal H4 bulbs from factory is 55/50, or 60/55. the 1st number means the power it will use for high beam, the 2nd number is low beam. I have used 130/90 on my old car, n itz bright. the problem i had was it draws too much current, i can easily notice the light got dimmer when i stop @ traffic light. there are couple things u need to consider: 1) are you running a system? 2) is ur alternator in good shape? 3) is ur housing able to handle the heat? 4) do u think u r able to rewire the headlight system? first 2 question is an easy fix, just get an optima battery or those voltage stablizer, third is harder, u need a better housin, but if u still wanna go for that bulb, i would suggest u to just use the housin until it melt or toasted which isnt that easy. forth isnt really that hard, u just need couple relays, switches n some wires. btw, can u post a site where u find the bulbs?? one of my bulb burnt, n the highest i find is 100/80....

08-08-2006, 11:53 PM	#5
s13_newbie Leaky Injector Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: BC Posts: 52 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	i have tried 130/90 w/ oem wiring, but it has too much power lost in wires, n get heat up(not melt yet), and now i am runing 100/80, everything seems fine w/ me.

08-09-2006, 05:42 AM	#6
g6civcx Post Whore! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 5,764 Trader Rating: (5) Feedback Score: 5 reviews	Check out link for W rating and wire selection: http://www.zilvia.net/f/showpost.php...7&postcount=11 Also watch out for your system's consumption and alternator output as well.

08-09-2006, 07:30 AM	#7
YucA Leaky Injector Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Miami Age: 43 Posts: 142 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	you really dont need to go with a bulb with higher wattage. its really just a waste. Get a HIGH quality bulb with stock wattage, and you will see up to 50% more light than a standard bulb. Which is more than a POS blue tinted 100w... The color "temperature" of the light given off by halogens is low, this means that the majority of the light is closer to the yellow side of the spectrum then the blue side. Thus when you stick a blue coating on your bulb you block a lot of the light that should be coming out. And what are you left with? That damn blue light which is no good... Sylvania silverstars are good, but they still have a slight blue tint in the glass for US market. Check out OSRAM silverstars. Made for UK market, no blue tint and rated the best light at autoexpress for 05 and 06. you can find them for 25-35 bucks a pair... disregard this if you want omgfakeHID blue lights

08-09-2006, 09:02 AM	#8
s13pignose Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: ?? Posts: 1,324 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	Yeah think Im going with osram or philips vision plus. Leaning more to philips based on a zilvia members experience. Read in an old thread osram silverstars burn out quicker cause they're brighter, but if they or the phillips can last me at least 4months I'll be happy. I tried hilites before, and one of the two burnt out in less than a week. And I used gloves when installing, and didn't even touch the glass to begin with and disconnect ground on batt. Thanks for the help

08-09-2006, 09:46 AM	#9
pr240sx Zilvia Addict Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 627 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I currently use gold ion 100/80 bulbs You MUST upgrade your wiring and dont even think using a higher wattage bullb without a relay. Almost everybody upgrades wiring on the positive side, you must also upgrade on the ground side too. Also, consider your alternator main wire, if its too thin, you will have a small stove there!!, in doubt, UPGRADE, via a bigger fatter wire or another wire with similar. Check this website http://www.rallylights.com/useful_in...amp_wiring.htm Very usefull when you upgrade your lights.Includes a very useful diagram with relays, etc. Also check thishttp://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm To verify your wire gauge (size) I personally use no less than 10 for the lights (way overkill) for headlamps and altima fans, 2 for the alternator (removed the OEM one) and 12 for fuel pump (walbro 255) For relays, I am using 3 relays, I mostly use the low beams so 2 for low (20 amps each) and one for high (40 amps) circuit breaker and the source, fuses after the relay. If you use shorter wires, you can use a thinner wire. Why I use wires so big, I like to hide my wiring and far from any heat source.