More on headlights...
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,349
Likes: 233
From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
More on headlights...
A recent thread on high-performance headlights for our C4's brought up a question...one that I put to Danial Stern, he of http://www.danielsternlighting.com/home.html
Here's the gist of it:
One question that I can't find an answer for is the +30/+50/+100
destignation on some H4 bulbs. Can you explain this?
These high efficiency bulbs, as a type, are not magic or BS -- the H4 itself has been around since 1971; the state of the art has advanced and these high efficiency bulbs are simply the result of applying what's been learned in developing newer types of bulbs back to the older bulb designs, in terms of filament metallurgy and winding, filament focusing, fill gas constituents, etc.
BTW, there are no "+100" H4 bulbs, despite the misinformed claims of a particular vendor.
Also note that like "Xenon", the "Plus-number" terminology has migrated from legitimate products to 3rd-world trash. Shop VERY carefully, be VERY choosy, and don't assume anything, even when faced with what seems like a legitimate brand name.
Even though he tells us not to assume anything, I guess we are to assume that a +30 is better than a non-plus bulb, and a +50 bulb is "better" in some way(s) than the +30. ??
Larry
code5coupe
Here's the gist of it:
One question that I can't find an answer for is the +30/+50/+100
destignation on some H4 bulbs. Can you explain this?
These high efficiency bulbs, as a type, are not magic or BS -- the H4 itself has been around since 1971; the state of the art has advanced and these high efficiency bulbs are simply the result of applying what's been learned in developing newer types of bulbs back to the older bulb designs, in terms of filament metallurgy and winding, filament focusing, fill gas constituents, etc.
BTW, there are no "+100" H4 bulbs, despite the misinformed claims of a particular vendor.
Also note that like "Xenon", the "Plus-number" terminology has migrated from legitimate products to 3rd-world trash. Shop VERY carefully, be VERY choosy, and don't assume anything, even when faced with what seems like a legitimate brand name.
Even though he tells us not to assume anything, I guess we are to assume that a +30 is better than a non-plus bulb, and a +50 bulb is "better" in some way(s) than the +30. ??
Larry
code5coupe
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,349
Likes: 233
From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
More info:
"Here's manufacturer data, from internal engineering databases, for output and lifespan at 13.2v for H1 bulbs. The numbers here are a composite of values applicable to the products of the big three makers (Osram-Sylvania, Philips-Narva, Tungsram-GE). Each manufacturer's product in each category is slightly different but not significantly so. I picked H1-type bulbs for this comparison, and while the absolute numbers differ with different bulb types, the relative comparison patterns hold good for whatever bulb type you consider. Lifespan is given as Tc, the hour figure at which 63.2 percent of the bulbs have failed.
H1 (regular normal):
1550 lumens, 650 hours
Long Life (or "HalogenPlus+")
1460 lumens, 1200 hours
Plus-30 High Efficacy (Osram Super, Sylvania Xtravision, Narva Rangepower, Candlepower Bright Light, Tungsram High Output, Philips Premium):
1700 lumens, 350 hours
Plus-50 Ultra High Efficacy (Philips VisionPlus, Osram Silverstar, Narva
Rangepower+50, Tungsram Megalicht, but not Sylvania Silverstar):
1750 lumens, 350 hours
Blue coated 'extra white' (Osram CoolBlue, Narva Rangepower Blue, Philips BlueVision or CrystalVision, Tungsram Super Blue or EuroBlue, Sylvania Silverstar or Silverstar Ultra, which is just a rebrand of the Silverstar product, also PIAA, Hoen, Nokya, Polarg, etc):
1380 lumens, 250 hours
Now, looking over these results, which one would you rather:
(a) Buy and drive with?
(b) Sell?
The answer to (a) depends on how well you want to see versus how often to change the bulb. If you want the best possible seeing, you pick the Plus-50. If you don't care as long as it works and you don't want to hassle with it, you pick the long life.
The answer to (b) is determined by how rich your company's shareholders want you to be, and is obvious: You want to sell the bulb with the shortest lifespan, highest promotability and highest price. That'd be the blue unit, e.g. Sylvania Silverstar."
At last, some facts. Interesting, to say the least.
Larry
code5coupe
"Here's manufacturer data, from internal engineering databases, for output and lifespan at 13.2v for H1 bulbs. The numbers here are a composite of values applicable to the products of the big three makers (Osram-Sylvania, Philips-Narva, Tungsram-GE). Each manufacturer's product in each category is slightly different but not significantly so. I picked H1-type bulbs for this comparison, and while the absolute numbers differ with different bulb types, the relative comparison patterns hold good for whatever bulb type you consider. Lifespan is given as Tc, the hour figure at which 63.2 percent of the bulbs have failed.
H1 (regular normal):
1550 lumens, 650 hours
Long Life (or "HalogenPlus+")
1460 lumens, 1200 hours
Plus-30 High Efficacy (Osram Super, Sylvania Xtravision, Narva Rangepower, Candlepower Bright Light, Tungsram High Output, Philips Premium):
1700 lumens, 350 hours
Plus-50 Ultra High Efficacy (Philips VisionPlus, Osram Silverstar, Narva
Rangepower+50, Tungsram Megalicht, but not Sylvania Silverstar):
1750 lumens, 350 hours
Blue coated 'extra white' (Osram CoolBlue, Narva Rangepower Blue, Philips BlueVision or CrystalVision, Tungsram Super Blue or EuroBlue, Sylvania Silverstar or Silverstar Ultra, which is just a rebrand of the Silverstar product, also PIAA, Hoen, Nokya, Polarg, etc):
1380 lumens, 250 hours
Now, looking over these results, which one would you rather:
(a) Buy and drive with?
(b) Sell?
The answer to (a) depends on how well you want to see versus how often to change the bulb. If you want the best possible seeing, you pick the Plus-50. If you don't care as long as it works and you don't want to hassle with it, you pick the long life.
The answer to (b) is determined by how rich your company's shareholders want you to be, and is obvious: You want to sell the bulb with the shortest lifespan, highest promotability and highest price. That'd be the blue unit, e.g. Sylvania Silverstar."
At last, some facts. Interesting, to say the least.
Larry
code5coupe
