Driving lights

Submitted: Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 20:23

ThreadID: 85518 Views:2578 Replies:5 FollowUps:6

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Driving Lights

If you plan to do any night driving in the outback then a strong reliable light source is a must. Bad weather, night driving and the possibility of stray animals all demand the need for a clear view

Damoo

Hey guys, I made a thread here:

http://www.exploroz.com/Forum/Topic/84555/Lightforce_driving_lights.aspx?p=%2fForum%2fDefault.aspx%3fs%3d1%26ky%3dlightforce%26pn%3d1

Asking about which driving lights I should get, I ended up with Hella Rallye 4000 Compacts:

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/5750/carxkv.jpg

Anyways, I've got them on my car and I wish to adjust them as they're a bit out, do I just adjust them on my garage door and how should I aim the beams? They're both spread beams lights.

I would like to illuminate the sides of the road more, so I'm thinking angling the lights towards the sides.

Thanks much.

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Reply By: Member - Joe n Mel n kids (FNQ - Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 20:59

Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 20:59

Only real way i have been able to do it is a lonely long stretch of road and adjust them whilst parked .....
The way we used to do it in the workshop was on a flat concrete floor and drive right up to the wall with lights on, mark the center of the beams on the wall with a cross and drive back making sure the steering wheel is dead ahead and see if they move off the mark, you can then set them slightly down and off to one side so it will go to the edges like you need, just remember that one inch of adjustment at a short distance is a lot over a long distance.... then take it for a drive to see how it looks....
Cheers
Joe

AnswerID: 450730

Follow Up By: Member - Josh- Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 21:36

Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 21:36

Would agree Joe, best way is on a dark night, straight lonely road. Tried doing ours at home but they were never right when out on the road. Got them exactly were I wanted them on the road. I covered one light and set the other where I wanted then covered it and set the other one.

Josh

FollowupID: 723201

Reply By: nick b - Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 21:38

Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 21:38

If there like the old Hella Rallye I would say take them out on a quite road to adjust . also some people like to cross them over for better angle.

Cheers Nick b

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AnswerID: 450733

Reply By: Damoo - Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 21:53

Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 21:53

I was on the road just before but it was sort of hilly, so wasn't a good indication, so ones kinda pointing to the sky now LOL.

I'll have to take it on a long flat road in the middle of nowhere, might do it tomorrow night.

I'll grab my spanner as well so I can angle them left or right, they have two little knobs on them too which i undo and angle up/down.

I'll also check if the globes are in right, they seem rather "spot" than spread.

AnswerID: 450737

Follow Up By: Damoo - Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 21:56

Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 21:56

Also they came with 100W H1s from Hella, but one bulb was faulty with the kit so I chucked in some 55W H1s I had new in a pack instead, I might buy some more 100W ones though, but after I align them all and fix it up.

FollowupID: 723204

Reply By: Alllan B (Sunshine Coast) - Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 00:21

Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 00:21

Yes Damoo, I agree... align them on a flat road.

But bear in mind that they should be aligned with the vehicle fully loaded as it will be when you are using them. If you do it unloaded then load it up for a trip the alignment may be out as the weight lowers the vehicle rear.

Cheers
Allan

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Follow Up By: Fab72 - Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 14:46

Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 14:46

Agree fully with the loaded comment. The truck I drive had new lights fitted. The fitters didn't factor in load, so on my first trip out I kept every Koala awake from Adelaide to Wilmington and back.

Fab.

FollowupID: 723262

Reply By: Flighty ( WA ) - Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 02:15

Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 02:15

Damoo.
I have 2 x 4000 hellas on my buggy good gear!!
Retro fitted HID to these and it turned both of them to a great gear.
To set them is a personal thing ie; "your vision & how you want to see what is in front"
best you take your lights as said and try on a flat road to set,then take them on a "scenic" road, the difference you will find, I believe will be totally different, Then that should give you a good idea of what you are after.
I should point out that mine are both pencil beam units and "cross" @ about 125 M
which gives great vision throughout northwest WA ,for cattle & roos
Cheers & Regards
Paul

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AnswerID: 450747

Follow Up By: Damoo - Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 10:58

Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 10:58

Oh ok, right, I was going to angle them both outwards so I can see whats happening on the sides more, does crossing them work better? Mine are both spreads though.

FollowupID: 723240

Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 12:24

Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 12:24

if theyre spreads then just fire them both down the road, dont worry about crossing them unless you are going to be doing a LOT of windy road driving

.
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Follow Up By: Damoo - Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 15:24

Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 15:24

Alright, thats awesome.

I think I have an issue also where I had to use spacers when mounting the lights as the back of the housing was fouling on my bumper, so they are slightly higher and the fact I'm using 55W lights instead of 100W that came with it is giving me a "spot" effect.

I'll see tonight when I attempt to align :)

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