Driving lights
Submitted: Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005 at 18:18
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26653
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Jason M
I am in the market for a set of extremely
bright shining, long distance
driving lights.
I came across a set of PIAA 180 / 135 watt high/low pencil beam lights some years ago that lit up the road signs and reflectors up to 2km ahead of me and upset on comming traffic up to 7km ahead of me. They made night look like day and the reflection as I passed road signs would hurt my eyes. These lights were smashed in an accident and I can not find another set anywhere.
I have been told that the latest Hella Preditors will do the job I want but they are $1500-00 each.
Can anyone suggest another more cost effective solution, or at least tell me what comparison there is between the brand lights that are readily available in Australia. What is the best and brightest light?
Please excuse my ignorance, but I really only understand brightness in terms of distance. Naturally, if all lights were rated in terms of candle power, then I wouldn't have such a great problem. I do believe that, although my previous PIAA lights were 180 watts, there may be other lights that shine brighter and longer at 55 or 100 watts.
All comments will be welcomed. Many thanks in advance.
Reply By: Exploder - Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005 at 18:22
Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005 at 18:22
If you require distance, Lightforce 240XGT is the only way to go, cost about $250 each.
Sound’s like you old set were aircraft landing light.
AnswerID:
131217
Follow Up By: Featherfoot - Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005 at 19:00
Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005 at 19:00
I believe IPF 930's have 170/100 w high & low beams
hope this helps
cheers
FollowupID:
385583
Follow Up By: Member - JohnR (Vic)&Moses - Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005 at 19:10
Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005 at 19:10
The IPFs sound less than legal or practical.
It's amazing how just 100w globes in 240 Lightforce lights can do the same as suggested above too with the road signs and reflectors. I could see the shadows of the roos on the gravel road rather than the roos them selves. They are also adjustable and designed in Australia go to Lightforce here and are used in military and many other civil situations. 100 watts means lower electrical power than the 170 watts others talk about so easier to keep going too.
FollowupID:
385587
Follow Up By: Member - Chrispy (NSW) - Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005 at 19:34
Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005 at 19:34
I would think that anyone who installed a set of these IPF's would run the risk of burning their loom pretty quickly. I'm not even sure, like you John, that 170 watts is legal.
I have the L/F 240 Blitz (original design) and I suffer the same problems - blinded by reflective road signs and annoying people coming towards me that are still on the far horizon. Lightforce are VERY
bright - and all on a 100w xenophot bulb.
FollowupID:
385592
Reply By: Diamond (Vic) - Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005 at 19:02
Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005 at 19:02
value for money and great light.
night stalker
cheap and boy are they
bright.
cheers
ps around $150 a pair.
AnswerID:
131226
Follow Up By: ACDC - Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005 at 19:24
Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005 at 19:24
Yes i have night stalkers great value for money.just as good as most top brands twice the price.
FollowupID:
385589
Follow Up By: Rob from Cairns Offroad Training & Tours - Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005 at 21:56
Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005 at 21:56
Night Stalkers do seem like good value initially but they are the ones we most often see self destruct up this way. As with most things you get what you pay for. Cheers Rob
FollowupID:
385629
Follow Up By: Scoey - Thursday, Sep 22, 2005 at 08:59
Thursday, Sep 22, 2005 at 08:59
I have nite stalkers on my 80 and only just notice a difference over the high beam. They don't get my vote. Lightforce seem to be the way to go, The old man has a set of 170's on his Jackaroo and they're simply amazing.
FollowupID:
385679
Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005 at 19:31
Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005 at 19:31
See my Rig picture, I've got good ones. Doesn't matter what brand though.
I have set up
camp and removed the cork from my favorite beverage
well before it get's dark enough to use them:-)
AnswerID:
131230
Reply By: ToyMotor - Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005 at 21:25
Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005 at 21:25
Lightforce - 100W is more than sufficient to make your eyes ache when passing road signs, if that's a requirement. ;-)
Cheers
AnswerID:
131265
Reply By: Bonz (Vic) - Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005 at 21:42
Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005 at 21:42
you are joking surely...7km? hahahaha if you think that then I have a bridge in
Sydney you may be interested in buying.....
AnswerID:
131278
Follow Up By: bundyman - Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005 at 22:00
Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005 at 22:00
I've only got a pair of old IPF's and on the road west of Dubbo there are some VERY long straights and I've had cars flashing me (to dip lights) and then passed them about 5 minutes latter!! Someone can do the maths but you would travel more than 7km in 5 minutes doing (combined) speed of 220km/hr.
So I can imagine that a really good set of lights will dazzle people at those distances and some. Worst thing is trying to drive for 5 minutes at night out here on low beam without hitting a roo!!
Cheers,
Hughesy
FollowupID:
385630
Follow Up By: gramps - Thursday, Sep 22, 2005 at 00:03
Thursday, Sep 22, 2005 at 00:03
Yep, I can agree with that on the road from
Bourke to
Nyngan. Not a good drive at night if your lights are iffy!!!
FollowupID:
385654
Reply By: Mad Dog (Australia) - Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005 at 22:04
Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005 at 22:04
Not too sure what your're trying to achieve with these lights Jason but may you will probably get better answers from a car rally
forum rather than a 4x4/travel
forum.
AnswerID:
131284
Reply By: Member - Matthew L (NSW) - Thursday, Sep 22, 2005 at 06:03
Thursday, Sep 22, 2005 at 06:03
just a thought, at 1.8 meters the horizon is 7 klms away?
AnswerID:
131300
Reply By: Jason M - Thursday, Sep 22, 2005 at 11:39
Thursday, Sep 22, 2005 at 11:39
Many thanks to all who were kind enough to reply.
I now know what lights to buy, that Bonz (Vic) has a bridge for sale, and that I am actually better off pulling over for a beer instead of driving at night.
All constructive assistance has been greatly appreciated
AnswerID:
131334
Reply By: robak (QLD) - Thursday, Sep 22, 2005 at 11:40
Thursday, Sep 22, 2005 at 11:40
Jason
The PIAA are a very good light, but are very expensive and unfortunately, not available in aus. I've got a set of PIAA fog lights which came with the car (an import) and they are great. PIAA bulbs usually give off as much light as other bulbs of double their wattage. However many of the high watt bulbs have been superseded with HID technology.
You can get the ones you want from overseas for about $250 per lamp and if you want the 180/135W bulbs, they will set about $150 each.
PIAA LAMPS
PIAA BULBS
PIAA HID
R.
AnswerID:
131335
Reply By: Brad G (SA) - Thursday, Sep 22, 2005 at 17:52
Thursday, Sep 22, 2005 at 17:52
Hi all
I've just fitted a pair of Lightforce 170 lights one with a spread beam and one with a spot. Immense difference over the standard high beams. Worth every cent. Viewing distance extended by up to about 800 metres on flat roads and out to about 40 metres width with the spread beam.
Cheers Brad
AnswerID:
131383
Reply By: ShnogDog - Thursday, Sep 22, 2005 at 21:19
Thursday, Sep 22, 2005 at 21:19
I have the Lightforce 240 XGT's and they are awesome. I have found that the reflection off signs with the clear covers on, to be pretty strong. But the kind of roads you mainly use the clear lenses on shouldnt have too many signs. The combo lenses (spot and spread) I find to be a beter general set up. Still light up 600m+ with good spread. The clears are a narrow beam, and scorch everything for 1200m+ but wont give you as good a spread. Beauty of these lights is that you can change the covers/lenses/filters to suit the conditons. And they are an Australian Product.
AnswerID:
131421