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Old 11-06-2007, 11:36 AM   #1 (permalink)
 
Location: Westfield, IN (Indiana)
Drive: 2003 Audi 1.8T Quattro
Headlight Bulbs

Over the past twenty years I have utilized 80 watt bulbs on low beam and 100 watt bulbs on high beam, and these higher-wattage bulbs have required the use of an aftermarket harness which features a relay as well as a circuit breaker and/or fuse. I never had any problems with blinding other drivers as I made sure the headlights were aimed properly and of course I used high beams as required. I would suggest that anyone contemplating the installation of higher-wattage bulbs in their SMART first have a look at Daniel Stern's website for additional information:

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/[

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Old 11-06-2007, 01:34 PM   #2 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kurier44 View Post
Over the past twenty years I have utilized 80 watt bulbs on low beam and 100 watt bulbs on high beam, and these higher-wattage bulbs have required the use of an aftermarket harness which features a relay as well as a circuit breaker and/or fuse. I never had any problems with blinding other drivers as I made sure the headlights were aimed properly and of course I used high beams as required. I would suggest that anyone contemplating the installation of higher-wattage bulbs in their SMART first have a look at Daniel Stern's website for additional information:

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/[
I've used bulbs in that wattage range for years in a number of different vehicles and have never needed a relayed harness or even an upgraded fuse.

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Old 02-17-2010, 10:30 PM   #3 (permalink)
 
Location: washington
Aren`t you aware that a ONE YEAR long international traffic study (in all the major countries) has shown that these lights (xenon and H.I.D.) cause 1 of every 6 HEAD ON collisions?????

Also highway and police depts all over the United States are reporting that these lights are the #1 cause of violent road rage....

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Old 02-18-2010, 12:32 AM   #4 (permalink)
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The key here is operating them correctly and having them correctly aimed. The fools that cause the collisions and 'road rage' are usually the ones who drive with the high beams on all the time, refuse to dim them for oncomming traffic or when following. After a head on collision, it would be difficult to check the alignment when the lights are blamed for the collision. At might on a back road, they are most definately needed to aid in seeing wildlife before it jumps out onto the road in front of you. They saved my skin many times riding home after dark on my motorcycle.

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Old 02-18-2010, 12:39 PM   #5 (permalink)
 
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Originally Posted by kurier44 View Post
Over the past twenty years I have utilized 80 watt bulbs on low beam and 100 watt bulbs on high beam.
High wattage halogens? Flashback to the 80s.

Ever hear of HIDS?

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Old 02-18-2010, 02:32 PM   #6 (permalink)
 
Location: washington
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Originally Posted by jimvw57 View Post
The key here is operating them correctly and having them correctly aimed. The fools that cause the collisions and 'road rage' are usually the ones who drive with the high beams on all the time, refuse to dim them for oncomming traffic or when following. After a head on collision, it would be difficult to check the alignment when the lights are blamed for the collision. At might on a back road, they are most definately needed to aid in seeing wildlife before it jumps out onto the road in front of you. They saved my skin many times riding home after dark on my motorcycle.
Jackblds reply.....Having them aimed correctly does NOT matter as we don`t drive on perfectly flat roads....the 3-5 second momentary blindness is because we drive on hills, slight inclines/declines and curves....this is when the blindness occurs

As for needing to see wildlife on rural roads....that too is NOT correct as the study showed that these lights blind the pedestrians (and animals) so much that they actually step into the vehicles path because of the "white out" effect.....

Another disastrous effect of these lights is that is rainy weather....the oncoming vehicles windshields is turned into a crystalized blurr of irridesence....The risk of HEAD ON collision is dramatically increased because the blurr is so intense that the oncoming vehicle driver can NOT see the white line to use as a guide to stay in their lane.....

I do think these lights are great IF I am the ONLY person on the road....but After learning about these facts....Only a fool would think these lights are cool

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Old 02-18-2010, 05:52 PM   #7 (permalink)
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As for needing to see wildlife on rural roads....that too is NOT correct as the study showed that these lights blind the pedestrians (and animals) so much that they actually step into the vehicles path because of the "white out" effect.....


BUT.. if you don't see them to begin with.... At least you can reduce speed and anticipate their possible actions. I had some driving lights that I only used on the backroads when I was driving at night. In town I would shut theem off, and I tried not to get caught in bad weather (on a motorcycle, it does tend to be painful in the rain)

As always, when used for their intended purpose, they are just fine.

Last edited by jimvw57; 02-18-2010 at 05:55 PM..

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Old 02-18-2010, 05:55 PM   #8 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by jackblds View Post
Aren`t you aware that a ONE YEAR long international traffic study (in all the major countries) has shown that these lights (xenon and H.I.D.) cause 1 of every 6 HEAD ON collisions?????

Also highway and police depts all over the United States are reporting that these lights are the #1 cause of violent road rage....
is this a " They say " or can you point a link to the study? Or, is this study conducted by global warming scientists?

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Old 02-18-2010, 07:02 PM   #9 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jackblds View Post
Aren`t you aware that a ONE YEAR long international traffic study (in all the major countries) has shown that these lights (xenon and H.I.D.) cause 1 of every 6 HEAD ON collisions?????

Also highway and police depts all over the United States are reporting that these lights are the #1 cause of violent road rage....
Hope you weren't expecting a response from the two 07 posters; they haven't been around for awhile.

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Old 02-18-2010, 07:27 PM   #10 (permalink)
 
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Road rage is caused by terminally angry people, not headlights.

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