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BRIGHT hi beams?

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Old May 4, 2011 | 12:50 PM
  #1  
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From: Chagrin Falls, Ohio
BRIGHT hi beams?

I need to replace my headlights soon, and I am just wondering if anyone has used any bulb that has an ultra bright high beam and a bright low beam for regular driving.

I just don't like how my high beams now don't really help me much over my regular driving lights.

Thanks in advance for the help!

-Chase
 
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Old May 4, 2011 | 10:03 PM
  #2  
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From: Lubbock, Texas
I upgraded my headlights with OEM 05-07 headlights. However, the best improvement was adding the headlight relay to power the headlights. If you research the topic...the stock headlights run 12v power through the switch. By the time it reaches the headlights it's down to 10.5 volts. Running the relay puts 12V at the lights and made a huge improvement over stock. Hope this helps.
 
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Old May 5, 2011 | 01:39 PM
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Incandescent bulbs dim over time, so even by replacing with the exact same brand, it will be brighter.
Pipeline's suggestion is also an excellent one.

With plastic housings and lenses, you have to exercise a little caution when going to higher wattage bulbs. Melting of connectors (and possibly housings) can happen. Especially with tiny terminals of the '05+ lights. With pre '05, you should have no issues using a bulb with 80 to 85 watt high beam. As an experiment (after adding relays, better connectors, and larger wires), I wired mine so I can leave low beam on with high beam. That is over 100 watts through connector, and so far, no melting. But I do keep the bulb and connector contacts very, very clean. As corrosion forms, resistance and heat generation go up. That will eventually lead to melted connectors.

Of course, any higher wattage bulb will have shorter life... That physics thing.

Do NOT waste your money on all that hyper white/blue/purple crap!
 
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Old May 5, 2011 | 03:05 PM
  #4  
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Try the Sylvania SilverStar Ultra's....

For my truck I did not want carpet due to the amount of outdoor play my family and I do so I built up and XL for my needs. One of the best things I did was keep the sealed beam lights. I was very close to upgrading due to the looks! Yes they are FUGLY...... but I do not have to worry about the plastic yellowing chipping or cracking.

I went with the Sylvania SilverStar but for the sealed beam application and boy oh boy is there a difference!!!!!

If they worked this well for me I can only assume thier other bulbs would rock as well.
 
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Old May 5, 2011 | 03:29 PM
  #5  
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I also use Silverstar Ultras, but will mention that I installed in 3 vehicles two years ago, and have had one burn out in each. Conclusion: they do have a much shorter life - and combined with high cost, they are notably more expensive to run. Some would say the slight improvement in brightness is not worth the cost. I like to see, so I am OK paying for them.
 
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Old May 5, 2011 | 04:40 PM
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Im interested in the relay addition? Can anyone shed some light onto this. (Haha pun not intended).
 
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Old May 5, 2011 | 05:02 PM
  #7  
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From: Millersburg, OH
It's a harness that taps power directly from the battery to power the headlights instead of relaying the power through the headlight switch. I bought a harness from DFUser.com a few years back but you could make one yourself pretty easily.
In the end I decided just to buy the harness because it wasn't all the much more than me buying all the parts and building it myself. Mine was also wired so both hi/low beams are on when the dimmer switch is off.

EDIT: WOW prices have really gone up since I bought mine.
 
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Old May 5, 2011 | 05:52 PM
  #8  
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i have the silverstars also..they are pretty good...but imma have to try that relay thing..
 
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Old May 6, 2011 | 12:37 AM
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I put in Philips Xtreme H13 bulbs and added the Dfuser direct wiring harness to the battery. Big improvement over stock. Then I added some driving lights wired into the high beam circuit -- Euro beam (wide beam that throws a pretty good distance), KC Highlite 130 watt bulbs (you can go with 50 or 100 watt also). A lot better on dark country roads and you don't blind people on low beams.
 
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Old May 6, 2011 | 10:08 PM
  #10  
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Do you guys know if there is a relay for a sealed beam application?
 
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Old May 7, 2011 | 04:48 PM
  #11  
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Best thing I've done to several of mine is the 9005 fog light bulbs with relays. Headlights don't make much difference with them and surprisingly I never get flashed.
 
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Old May 7, 2011 | 04:52 PM
  #12  
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Originally Posted by wizardsr
Best thing I've done to several of mine is the 9005 fog light bulbs with relays. Headlights don't make much difference with them and surprisingly I never get flashed.


Can you explain what you mean? You use 9005 fog light bulbs in your headlights or 9005 bulbs in your fog lights?
 
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