Marchal Headlights???
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From: Mill Valley CA
Marchal Headlights???
The headlights on my six-volt 53 car were not all that bright, and I think the lights were installed in 1969 or so. I decided to replace the old headlights with two new in the box Westinghouse 6006 headlamps. I pulled one of the old headlights out - it's a Marchal. Kind of neat - looks like the bulb is replaceable. And the headlight contains a mechanism for shifting the bulb from right to left, depending on the direction of traffic.
Here is what is really interesting. After replacing one of the Marchal's with a the Westinghouse 6006, I turned on the light switch to see if the new bulb worked. It did. But the remaining 40 year old Marchal headlight was noticeably brighter than the 6006 headlamp I had just installed.
I am thinking about putting the Marchal's back in. Has anybody else ever used Marchal's, or know anything them?
Here is what is really interesting. After replacing one of the Marchal's with a the Westinghouse 6006, I turned on the light switch to see if the new bulb worked. It did. But the remaining 40 year old Marchal headlight was noticeably brighter than the 6006 headlamp I had just installed.
I am thinking about putting the Marchal's back in. Has anybody else ever used Marchal's, or know anything them?
Melting Slicks
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From: Western Washington
Are they european? I saw something once about some european headlights that could be swapped for left and right depending which country you were in and the side of road you would be driving on. Sorry, don't know any more than that.
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The backlight on my blackberry is more powerful than a 6 volt headlight. How did people drive on country roads at night with 6 volt systems (slowly must be the answer)?
Russ
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And 6 volt lamps are less likely to fail due to vibration, due to the heavier filament (one of the main reasons newer vehicles never went to the proposed 36/40 volt electrical system - lights would have much thinner filaments, and could not withstand vehicle vibration tests).
Plasticman
Last edited by Plasticman; Jul 23, 2009 at 09:14 AM.
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No reason for a 6 volt headlamp to be any dimmer than a 12 volt (if designed correctly). A 6 volt system takes twice the amount of current to equal the same wattage as a 12 volt system, so wiring, controls (switches, relays, etc.), and connections have to be able to handle that higher current (heavier gauge wiring, etc.).
And 6 volt lamps are less likely to fail due to vibration, due to the heavier filament (one of the main reasons newer vehicles never went to the proposed 36/40 volt electrical system - lights would have much thinner filaments, and could not withstand vehicle vibration tests).
Plasticman
And 6 volt lamps are less likely to fail due to vibration, due to the heavier filament (one of the main reasons newer vehicles never went to the proposed 36/40 volt electrical system - lights would have much thinner filaments, and could not withstand vehicle vibration tests).
Plasticman
Well that's interesting. Learn something new everyday. Thanks.
The headlights on my 12 volt 59 corvette seem a bit brighter than the headlights on my 6 volt 53 car. I figured the voltage made a difference. When I look at factory specs, however, I see that the 53 bulbs used 45/35 watts while the 59 used 50/37.5 watt bulbs. Maybe what I am seeing is a different wattage. I suspect a number of other factors could be in play - old wires, imperfect grounds, etc.
Russ
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Michael S. Palmer
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Well that's interesting. Learn something new everyday. Thanks.
The headlights on my 12 volt 59 corvette seem a bit brighter than the headlights on my 6 volt 53 car. I figured the voltage made a difference. When I look at factory specs, however, I see that the 53 bulbs used 45/35 watts while the 59 used 50/37.5 watt bulbs. Maybe what I am seeing is a different wattage. I suspect a number of other factors could be in play - old wires, imperfect grounds, etc.
Russ
The headlights on my 12 volt 59 corvette seem a bit brighter than the headlights on my 6 volt 53 car. I figured the voltage made a difference. When I look at factory specs, however, I see that the 53 bulbs used 45/35 watts while the 59 used 50/37.5 watt bulbs. Maybe what I am seeing is a different wattage. I suspect a number of other factors could be in play - old wires, imperfect grounds, etc.
Russ
Yes, wattage plays the most part, but as you say, old wiring (mostly the connections) can also be at play.
One item most people do not understand is that light output vs. wattage is not linear. As wattage increases, light output increase by quite a bit more (and therefore higher wattage bulbs are much more efficient of the current used, vs. light output).
As an example of wattage differences vs. lumens (light output), of household clear bulbs (all the same brand - Sylvania), a 100 watt bulb puts out a higher percentage of light (1750 lumens), than a 60 watt of the same type (only 880 lumens), whereas a 25 watt bulb only puts out 190 lumens. If it was linear to the 25 watt bulb, a 60 would put out only 456 lumens, and a 100 watt would put out only 760 lumens.
Also, many of the older vehicles had way too small of wiring gauge for the current flow drawn. Adding a set of relays with a direct feed off the generator or alternator will increase light output greatly (ensure that the lights are receiving full voltage).
Plasticman
Last edited by Plasticman; Jul 23, 2009 at 11:25 AM.
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Russ,
Yes, wattage plays the most part, but as you say, old wiring (mostly the connections) can also be at play.
One item most people do not understand is that light output vs. wattage is not linear. As wattage increases, light output increase by quite a bit more (and therefore higher wattage bulbs are much more efficient of the current used, vs. light output).
As an example of wattage differences vs. lumens (light output), of household clear bulbs (all the same brand - Sylvania), a 100 watt bulb puts out a higher percentage of light (1750 lumens), than a 60 watt of the same type (only 880 lumens), whereas a 25 watt bulb only puts out 190 lumens. If it was linear to the 25 watt bulb, a 60 would put out only 456 lumens, and a 100 watt would put out only 760 lumens.
Also, many of the older vehicles had way too small of wiring gauge for the current flow drawn. Adding a set of relays with a direct feed off the generator or alternator will increase light output greatly (ensure that the lights are receiving full voltage).
Plasticman
Yes, wattage plays the most part, but as you say, old wiring (mostly the connections) can also be at play.
One item most people do not understand is that light output vs. wattage is not linear. As wattage increases, light output increase by quite a bit more (and therefore higher wattage bulbs are much more efficient of the current used, vs. light output).
As an example of wattage differences vs. lumens (light output), of household clear bulbs (all the same brand - Sylvania), a 100 watt bulb puts out a higher percentage of light (1750 lumens), than a 60 watt of the same type (only 880 lumens), whereas a 25 watt bulb only puts out 190 lumens. If it was linear to the 25 watt bulb, a 60 would put out only 456 lumens, and a 100 watt would put out only 760 lumens.
Also, many of the older vehicles had way too small of wiring gauge for the current flow drawn. Adding a set of relays with a direct feed off the generator or alternator will increase light output greatly (ensure that the lights are receiving full voltage).
Plasticman
I do not plan to take my 53 #276 back to factory specs any time soon. But I do plan to rewire the car in the next 6 months - I tricked Jim Lookwood into taking on a custom rewire job. I will add a set of headlight relays running off my 6 volt alternator to the To-Do List.
Thanks again for the idea.
Russ
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