Headlight Globe Power Rating

[KEBOOM]

If the standard golbes in my headlights are rated at 60/55W, can I run higher wattage globes (eg 100/55W) without changing the wiring? Or is it necessary to keep the same rating?

Cheers for any help,

Alex

[oldcorollas]

you probably can, but unless your car is not so old, you might find it is a good idea to run new wiring, relayed directly off the battery, with dedicated return earth.

other issue is heat... may not be a problem, but overtime could damage plastic lenses...

halogen "plus" globes are a good start
oh, and good quality lenses....

what car?

[KEBOOM]

Thanks for the quick reply. It's a KE70.
What would be the difference in lighting brightness in the globes anyway? Would it be seriously noticeable to be worth the effort of running new wiring?

Cheers

[oldcorollas]

depends how bad the wiring is now
i guess you could measure voltage at the battery, and then at the headlight feedwire and see any difference...
also, check resistance of the ground wire for the globes.

you could just use the original wires for the relay trigger... then you just need an earth wire to battery and a fused power from battery.
i dunno.. every bit counts but if there is no problem witht he current wires, then leave them (but consider earth wire straight to battery)

the plus50 and plus60 globes seem to be a fair bit brighter than normal 55/60.. i like the philips plus60's.

if your reflectors are dirty or crap, then changing globes isn't going to help too much

[KEBOOM]

Hmmm...food for thought anyway. The reason I'm changing globes is that one has blown so it's a necessity.
The reflectors are relatively clean, only upgraded from sealed beam about 2 years ago. I'm not sure about the quality of the wiring, the old girl is 25 years young after all
I might have a look at these 'plus' globes.

Thanks for the help,

Alex

[LeeRoy]

I'm gunna guess that it should be alright for you to put slightly larger globes in there as the wiring should have been over engineered slightly.

Also worth checking the wire though for its size and then looking up its current rating first though. Do a google on AWG and current rating and you should find a table.

In regards to the power usage of the globes use the formula p = vi so if u have 100w globes with 12v your current usage will be around 8.3 amps. Just check to see if the wire can accomodate this and also keep in mind that your hi beams might also keep the lows on a bit also.

- LeeRoy

[BradW]

I would suggest fitting relays if you are going to fit higher wattage globes as your headlight switch wont like the extra current draw through it.
As suggested by OC, plus 50 or plus 60 globes are a very good alternative to higher wattage globes. We use Tungsram plus 60's at work and have only had good reports on them, in both cars and trucks.

In regards to the power usage of the globes use the formula p = vi so if u have 100w globes with 12v your current usage will be around 8.3 amps.

Just to add to this, this figure (8.3 amps) is for one 100w globe.

[WDE_BDY]

Definitely upgrade the wiring, even if you aren't upgrading bulbs. I have done this in a few cars now, only worry is burning the reflector housings, but I was running 130/100W bulbs. The one car I didn't upgrade wiring on melted the fusible link. If you have good quality housings you should have no problems with the hotter bulbs, may need to consider legality though as in NZ for example technically you can't run over a 70W bulb.

Callum

[reecegze]

Definitely upgrade the wiring, even if you aren't upgrading bulbs. I have done this in a few cars now, only worry is burning the reflector housings, but I was running 130/100W bulbs. The one car I didn't upgrade wiring on melted the fusible link. If you have good quality housings you should have no problems with the hotter bulbs, may need to consider legality though as in NZ for example technically you can't run over a 70W bulb.

Callum

sorry to revive thread but would you happen to no if the ae86 levins headlights would be able to handle 100/90w globes? I've upgraded my harness and trying to avoid melting my reflectors. Oem is 60/55w

[WDE_BDY]

It will probably eventually burn the reflective material off the housings, they are a standard size though and cheap to find so its not a big problem.

Callum

[reecegze]

Thanks for the reply, I wasn't aware the ae86 reflector was standard size , what other cars have the same desgin

[MWP]

Consider the Narva "Blue Power" 60/55W globes as well.
They are a *lot* brighter than standard 60/55's, and you dont need to upgrade wiring, etc to use em.
They are expensive though... but worth it i think.

That said though, upgrading the wiring is a good idea even with the same rating globes.
Most Toyota's run the headlight power back to the stalk instead of using relays in the engine bay. This causes voltage drops and decreases brightness.
I added a couple of relays and thicker wiring in my Celica and got quite a large increase in brightness when using the same 60/55 globes.

If you do go up to 100/55, etc, make sure you never have high-beam on while the car isnt moving.
Youll melt the headlight power socket, wires and reflector (if plastic) very quickly.

[oldcorollas]

i would suggest not using anything with blue shit on it it makes it look whiter, but not as much light..

fwiw, legal size is 55/60, anythign higher is not legal...

also, better housings (Hella/Cibie?) will make a difference too

[MWP]

i would suggest not using anything with blue shit on it it makes it look whiter, but not as much light..

The Narva Blue Power globes are not really blue at all.
I think the name was done for marketing to appeal to all the people that wanted blue lights a few years ago.
Trust me, they are awesome globes. Better than any other 55/60 I've tried.

[CrUZida]

Most Toyota's run the headlight power back to the stalk instead of using relays in the engine bay.

Are you sure?
Every Toyota I've had has had a 'HEAD' relay in the engine bay fuse box.
It would be common to run all the tail lights off the stalk, but not the headlights.