Topic: The most powerfull headlamp

[speedracer741]

Chriss

Thats HID and reflector is the dogs do dars, does the reflector dip to the right side? If it dips flat I'll go for a couple of those.

Thanks

Graham

I finally tested it out on the street and it has a symetrical beam pattern, not dipping to one side more than the other. I does have kind of a strange pattern which is to be expected from such a low priced H4 conversion headlight that wasn't really intended to have an HID bulb installed. It still concentrates most of the light in front of the bike but sends some lines out to the sides. It may cause some glare to oncoming drivers but still not as bad as a high beam would. But holy crap does it light up the road!!!!!!!

[speedracer741]

Hrm. 2 Questions:

a) It's a circular, not rectangular light, right?

b) What are you doing with the second one?

I'd love to put something like this on my bike, but my headlamp is rectangular.

Francis

I purchased automoitive kits for both the HID system and the H4 conversion headlight so I have 2 of everything. The total cost for one bike is just under $100.00 including the shipping! Well worth it if you ask me. I have a thread going on the install:

http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=19912.0

This headlight is the 7" round type but it's an H4 conversion that replaces the sealed beam unit. The HID kit is a separate system that uses an H4 bulb so it can be mounted in any lense assembly that uses H4 bulbs, including the rectangular type. If your bike uses these than it should be plug and play. If you have a sealed beam then you can buy the rectangular H4 conversion lense. The HID thread has a couple of links to the stuff I bought to do the conversion. The seller that I purchased the lense assembly from also offers the rectangular type. I will be using the other kit on my CB550. 

[francisew]

Yeah, my ('83 CB650 SC) light is a modular one with an H4 bulb and a reflector.

So I guess I would only need the H4 conversion kit.

I hadn't realized that my headlamp was 55W, and the HID's are 35W. That's going to save me from a lot of battery drain issues.

When I read your first posts, I first thought that the H4 conversion lens was a reflector meant for a higher temperature. Now I realize that it's just because you needed to convert to an H4 plug mounting reflector, then use the H4 HID kit.

Great thread.

Thanks again,
Francis

[francisew]

By the way, LED's have a forward directed output profile that's very different from filamented bulbs. However, if you want them to be omnidirectional, you can sand down the bulb surface a bit (LED's are usually cast in a clear epoxy package for protection), and the light will scatter more. Not 100% efficient, but a good way of solving the power draw issue, and still having visibility...

For example, the following link is to a PDF data sheet on a high-intensity LED series. If you look at pages 10 & 11, they show the angular dispersion pattern (spatial radiation power) - ie. how much light is emitted at each angle. It won't damage the LED if you roughen the surface of the Epoxy lens casing (the LED's plastic casing is made rounde at the front to act as a lens, however, you can modify the lens yourself).

http://rocky.digikey.com/WebLib/Agilent/Web%20Data/HLMP-EGxx,EHxx,EJxx,ELxx.pdf

Francis

Re Leds, I agree with their use to drop demand on the system always a good thing, but the one ive tried from virtual village on ebay do not spread the light as well as a conventional bulb. Maybes you could mail me a link of the ones you have

[motorpsycho67]

I know you listed the size of wire to use for this mod., but I'm not familiar with those terms. Could you tell me what 'gauge' wire I need to use? I.E., 14AWG or 16AWG, etc.

[savannahcafe]

Ive been considering going H.I.D. on my cb550 however I can only order them in pairs. If anyone else wants to go halfies, Ill do it. Ive found a set for about 200.00 Youll lose the high beam option, but how cool would your bike look coming down the road with an H.I.D. people will assume its some new bike and then see a sweet vintage Honda fly bye. Let me know if youre interested.

Mark