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Driving Lights

Submitted: Wednesday, Feb 02, 2005 at 21:58

Paul

Hi,

Looking at purchased some IPF 800's or 900's and notice you can but the kits in

2 x Spot
2 x Flood
or 1 x Spot 1 x Flood

What do people perfer? Why? is there any difference whether they are round or square or it it just a personal preference?

Paul
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ThreadID: 20055 Replies: 13
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AnswerID: 96350   Submitted: Wednesday, Feb 02, 2005 at 22:08

Member - Blue (VIC) replied:

I've got 1xspot and 1xflood, salesman recommended it so I bought it. In the past I have had all floods and I think I prefer it that way. Just like lots of light on the roadside where the giant grass hoppers hang out. I also bought cheapies($170 narvas) as I had a set of IPF's nicked a couple years ago and didn't want to go through the heartache again. I think it is something you have to suck and see... Got mates with differing setups? Drive their cars and see what you like best.

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Reply 1 of 13
AnswerID: 96351   Submitted: Wednesday, Feb 02, 2005 at 22:10

Quino replied:

Hi Paul,
Ive got IPF900's 3 across the bull bar, most people prefer to have 1xspot 1xspred [flood] because you mount the spot [pencil beam] on the right side inner side centre of the HWY to spot straight down the line and the flood to lite up the shoulder of the HWY so you can see skippy sitting there.Thats the practical setup but its up to the individual and so is the round and square look no difference in performance.. just what suits factory lights i guess.
Hope that helps.
Reply 2 of 13
AnswerID: 96356   Submitted: Wednesday, Feb 02, 2005 at 22:18

Mike-TS replied:

1x flood for close up vision and 1 x spot for long distance. Also, "in my opinion", round always look better. The square ones always sit off level and they look crappy.

I went through this a while ago. Narrowed down to IFPs, Hella 4000's and Lightforce.

Lightforce are pretty impressive have you looked at them?

By the way at the end of it all I decided that I never drove at night anyway so it wasn't worth buying lights!!! Posers...
Reply 3 of 13
AnswerID: 96357   Submitted: Wednesday, Feb 02, 2005 at 22:18

Truckster (Vic) replied:

Legally you are supposed to have 2 of the same.

Get Lightforce XGT/240's.. you just turn them to be spread or spot, and they eat IPF's in light.
Reply 4 of 13
FollowupID: 355169   Submitted: Thursday, Feb 03, 2005 at 13:35

signman posted:

The XGT's may be a fairly good light off the shelf. I've recently seen 3 separate example of XGT & other Lightforce with the silver delaminating off the reflector after less than a years service.
I've also seen Cibie Super Oscar & even crappy ole Hellas with many years service still looking pristine on the reflector.
FollowUp 1 of 5
FollowupID: 355180   Submitted: Thursday, Feb 03, 2005 at 14:08

Truckster (Vic) posted:

Mine are 2 yrs old, been completely underwater more than 4 times, still fine. same as the 18 other pr's that I bought for the crew..

I have heard of one set on outerlimits doing this, but turps' ones were 3 yrs old.

Lightforce sent him a new set - no questions, or reciepts required, and a replied paid parcelbox to send his old ones back in.. Cant ask better than that.

YMMV
FollowUp 2 of 5
FollowupID: 355183   Submitted: Thursday, Feb 03, 2005 at 14:30

signman posted:

2 or 3 years old..big deal. I'm talking Cibies about 10 years old ..and the Hellas older than that.
But then if ya got the money to spend and happy with planned obsolescence... go for it.
I'm still using a pair of Oscars on my fourbie (not the plastic backed Super oscar) that were originally fitted to my Round Australia Rally car in August 1979, and they've been used continuously since then- there is slight 'matting' (but no delamination) of the original reflector. And yes, they have been submerged on quite a number of occasions!!!!
FollowUp 3 of 5
FollowupID: 355253   Submitted: Thursday, Feb 03, 2005 at 22:19

Truckster (Vic) posted:

Planned obsolescence?? LMAO... Too many shandys dude.

You can assure me every set of Lforces wont be going in 10 yrs time?
Didnt think so...

You can assure me every set of Super Os will be going in 10 yrs time?
Didnt think so...

Your point? That every single individual light, of every model light of every make is not the same, isnt that what you really mean? Some may last 100 yrs, some may last 1 yr? Correct.. you are right on that statement.

I've also seen Hella 2000/4000s, Super O's, Narvas that are black inside the reflective material well inside 5 yrs.. My hella 181s for example....

Ive also seen 2 4bs roll completely onto Lightforce lights, roll the car onto wheels, straighten up the lights and drive off... One set have been buried 2 times.

I'll also have my 240's against super o's in the bush anyday.. night run up toolangi, the only lights that were better than any of the 240's were aircraft landing lights on some dudes 80 series and 1 set of predators.

Not the ones that were in dynamite jack murrays rally car 40000 yrs ago either.
FollowUp 4 of 5
FollowupID: 355290   Submitted: Friday, Feb 04, 2005 at 08:04

signman posted:

Hook...line & sinker
FollowUp 5 of 5
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AnswerID: 96358   Submitted: Wednesday, Feb 02, 2005 at 22:19

Member - Roachie (SA) replied:

Paul,
I know you're looking at IPF, but please consider Lightforce b4 you buy. They are adjustable and you can also add different filters to adjust spread/pencil....Much better light IMHO. I went from IPF to Cibie Super Oscar and then to Lightforce......each time getting a better result than the previous light.
Cya mate

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Reply 5 of 13
AnswerID: 96370   Submitted: Wednesday, Feb 02, 2005 at 22:43

conman replied:

Hi Paul,

round lights give better spread ( square lights are round with the top anb bottom cut off). I've had square ipf's not too bad but your better off with 2 spread beams in my opinion.
Reply 6 of 13
AnswerID: 96375   Submitted: Wednesday, Feb 02, 2005 at 23:09

Member - Captain (WA) replied:

Hi Paul,

I currently have a set of IPF 900's (twin spreads), but preferred my old Cibie Super Oscars (1 spot, 1 spread). While I haven't actually used Lightforce spotties, everyone who has them raves about them and reckons they are a step up from the Super Oscars (which are in turn a step up from the IPF 900's). Lightforce will be what I will try next time around.

Cheers

Captain
My 200 GXL TTD + Camprite
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Reply 7 of 13
AnswerID: 96400   Submitted: Thursday, Feb 03, 2005 at 08:15

Member - Ross P (NSW) replied:

Seems every ones different. I had 2 IPF pencil beam spots on my previuos 4by (the round cheaper version). I now have the expensive IPF 900s, 1x spot + 1x spread.
I think the cheaper 2x pencil beam were better!!!
Lightforce got the nod in a 4WD mag test last year but I prefer the look of the IPF.
When I bought my lights last year I got the choice of tamper proof lock nuts or acrylic covers in the deal. I took one free and paid for the other. The acrylic cover already as star shape crack in it and the lights haven't been pinched!
Reply 8 of 13
AnswerID: 96402   Submitted: Thursday, Feb 03, 2005 at 08:18

flappa replied:

As some others have noted , Look at the Lightforces , because then it doesn't matter (spot or spread) , they are adjustable.

I have 2 IPF 900 spots , and compared to my little LF 170's , dont get close. The 240's are vastly superior still
Reply 9 of 13
AnswerID: 96405   Submitted: Thursday, Feb 03, 2005 at 08:22

old-plodder replied:

Still run 2 x super oscars (both driving with 100watt bulbs) I bought in 1976. Ocassionally would like a little more distance so thinking of a spot in the middle.
The driving lights are good on a twistier road.
They are getting an old design now and it seems there are better lights out there.
The cibies seem to have a reasonably good distance in the centre and also good spread to the sides. More spread and distance than the standard high beam.
Used to run 3 lights on the old car, 2 outside ones (driving) slightly crossed and a spot up the middle.
I have put 90/100 bulbs in the headlights, but I think I need to upgrade the wiring to get full effect. Usually have low beam set a little higher than standard and the high beam ends up is a little high, good for dips and hills.
Might go through and solder up the spade connectors on the cibies too. It does make a difference.
Reply 10 of 13
FollowupID: 355268   Submitted: Thursday, Feb 03, 2005 at 23:56

Member - muzzgit posted:

I know this thread is a few days old but I just had to point something out to you.

It would be advisable to upgrade your wiring loom fairly quickly, because the dipper switch in you car will not last very long with high wattage globes in your headlights. Dipper switches are not cheap.

Happy driving.

Cheers'

Muzz
FollowUp 1 of 1
AnswerID: 96417   Submitted: Thursday, Feb 03, 2005 at 09:38

Tuff60 replied:

To answer the original question on IPF lights. I use three square ones, two points and one flood. The 60's headlights have all been upgraded(4by 110/130) so there is already plenty of flood light, hence the two points. If the headlights provide good spread directly in front of the car, go for points, if not go for one of each(which seams to be the most common setup).
And Paul, if you haven't already noticed, 4WDriving is an accessory sport, so it is guaranteed someone will always have product A, which is vastly superior to your product B and so on. I chose square IPF's, cause I like the look, my truck my choice.

And guys please don't use a 4WD monthly to argue a point, it is 90% advertising these days so “impartial” and “unbiased” are no longer in their vocabulary.
Reply 11 of 13
AnswerID: 96489   Submitted: Thursday, Feb 03, 2005 at 17:16

Member - Sand Man (SA) replied:

Paul,

I have a pair of IPF 800's. The reason I chose them over the Lightforce brand was purely because I could get the rectangular ones, which fitted better on my bullbar.
The rectangular lights also look similar to the main headlights on the Jack.

As far as floods v/s spots, the logic is that a flood, mounted on the left hand side will illuminate the near side of the road better, while the spot, mounted on the right hand side, beams "straight down the middle" to illuminate distant objects.

Can't say I can fault this logic. A pair of IPF 800's in flood/spot configuration give all the illumination I need.


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Reply 12 of 13
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AnswerID: 96581   Submitted: Friday, Feb 04, 2005 at 07:18

Utemad replied:

We have IPF 800 or 900 (square ones) on our work utes and Nightstalker 175 (round ones) on my ute.
IPF - $350/pr
NS - $165/pr
I have to say I wasn't impressed with the IPF lights considering they were no better than my 3yr old Nightstalkers.

I wouldn't waste my money on IPF. Either save money and get Nightstalkers or spend more and get a better light.
Reply 13 of 13