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A frustrating Sunday with headlight boosters

G

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The weather was OK on Sunday, so I thought "right, let's fit these light boosters".

I did the RHS one first, then turned the lights on and - sure enough - it looked brighter than the left, although in daylight that's a subjective assessment. So I did the LHS one too, by which time it was getting dark (more about the delay below).
Then I started her up and thought "hmm, doesn't look a lot brighter to me". So I got the multimeter out and did some checking only to find:
- Engine off, lights bright, voltage at bulb about 2v higher than at battery +ve terminal.
- Engine running, lights no brighter, voltage at bulb less than 0.1v higher than battery +ve terminal.
So what seems to be happening is that the booster gives a constant output voltage ... that as near as dammit matches the peak alternator output voltage (at least on my truck).
Conclusion: it delivered the peak battery voltage to the bulb terminals with no loss, so it performed the job of a "relief wiring harness" both in terms of light brightness and in relieving the load on the stock wiring. But it didn't offer any startling increase in light output, and the claim of "HID like brightness" is laughable.
So if you haven't fitted a relief wiring harness then it's not a bad solution for performing that job, but at around =A360 it is over-priced.
So sorry JB, it should solve your relay blowing problem, and brighten the lights a bit, but it isn't the answer to a maiden's prayer as far as TLC low beam performance goes that I hoped it would be.
I haven't given up hope totally since I think it may be possible to fool it into producing a higher voltage by offsetting the "reference zero" earth to the unit, perhaps using a zener diode. I've taken it all out at the moment pending a more prolonged session on the bench, and I'll report back if I have any joy.
Oh yes, why it was getting dark. You know those rods with a hooked end that hold the battery in? Well, the outboard ones drop very nicely down through the hole into the wing bodywork panel... I spent about 2 hours trying to get the damned thing out before I finally gave up and made a new one.
If anyone has any bright ideas about how to get it out I'd be grateful!
As the subject line says: a frustrating day.
Christopher Bell
Devon, UK
1996 1HD-FT
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Hey Christopher
So our Booster is a voltage regulator/ or some thing else BAH and double BAH
for you I think.
I did look at the brightness of the lights when I fitted it and the lights
did appear to be brighter or different than what I had in.
I checked again this morning and they are different but do you know why thay
are different bulbs altogether. By that I mean they give a slightly whiter
light than my 85w100s.
So now that would explain why I have ajusted the lights a few times since I
put the booster in but never quite happy with the result.
Is it true to say than that my bulbs will not have a short life span after
all as first thought.
Also can I go back to using the 85w100s or is that a no no, with the ????
thingy.
So am I now stuck with the 55w65 bulbs all because of this ??? thingy.
What would happen if I use the 85w100s not that I would but just curious
thats all he he he.
John C
92HDJ 80 1HDT Ireland
 
John
Given what I've found I suspect that bulb lifespan will be OK. Also
you'll probably be OK with higher wattage bulbs, but there is no way of
telling short of trying it - up to you.
Mind you there's probably not a lot to be lost in trying, since if it
does die all you have to do is to connect the relief wiring straight to
the battery, ie join red and yellow wires. I'm still going to see if I
can fool it into producing a higher voltage and, if I do, I'll let you
know how.
I had a bit a bad weekend one way & another what with Landcruisers and
teenage daughter (not necessarily in that order), so I'm feeling really
quite grumpy this am!
CB
| Hey Christopher
|
| So our Booster is a voltage regulator/ or some thing else BAH
| and double BAH for you I think.
| I did look at the brightness of the lights when I fitted it
| and the lights did appear to be brighter or different than
| what I had in.
| I checked again this morning and they are different but do
| you know why thay are different bulbs altogether. By that I
| mean they give a slightly whiter light than my 85w100s.
| So now that would explain why I have ajusted the lights a few
| times since I put the booster in but never quite happy with
| the result.
| Is it true to say than that my bulbs will not have a short
| life span after all as first thought.
| Also can I go back to using the 85w100s or is that a no no,
| with the ????
| thingy.
| So am I now stuck with the 55w65 bulbs all because of this ??? thingy.
| What would happen if I use the 85w100s not that I would but
| just curious thats all he he he.
|
| John C
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Hi Christopher,
Do you have any magnets in the house, you could try fishing for it?
I have a magnet on an extendable aerial that is ideal in that
situation, ok, it does get tricky as it keeps on sticking to the wing,
but you should be able to get it in the end.
--
Regards,
Julian Voelcker
Mobile: 07971 540362
Cirencester, United Kingdom
1994 HDJ80, 2.5" OME Lift
 
Hi Christopher,
Do you have any magnets in the house, you could try fishing for it?
I have a magnet on an extendable aerial that is ideal in that
situation, ok, it does get tricky as it keeps on sticking to the wing,
but you should be able to get it in the end.
--
Regards,
Julian Voelcker
Mobile: 07971 540362
Cirencester, United Kingdom
1994 HDJ80, 2.5" OME Lift
 
Julian
| Do you have any magnets in the house, you could try fishing for it?
|
| I have a magnet on an extendable aerial that is ideal in that
| situation, ok, it does get tricky as it keeps on sticking to
| the wing, but you should be able to get it in the end.
Thanks for the suggestion. I thought of that, but you'd never get a
magnet to drop down inside that hole without sticking on the wing
because of the shape of the panels: they curve every which way except
vertically downwards.
I've got a great device which is a flexible shaft about 20" long with a
retractable grab (driven by a plunger inside the shaft) on the end, but
even that won't get it.
My main worry is that it will eventually drop out of the hole at the
bottom front, which is right in front of the wheel, and end up in the
tyre. But I think that comes under the "no point losing sleep over it"
heading.
CB
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Failing that go for the old coat hanger trick to see if you can catch
the hook - actually wait for your son to get back from school and get
him to do it in return for a suitable - saves your patience!
--
Regards,
Julian Voelcker
Mobile: 07971 540362
Cirencester, United Kingdom
1994 HDJ80, 2.5" OME Lift
 
Failing that go for the old coat hanger trick to see if you can catch
the hook - actually wait for your son to get back from school and get
him to do it in return for a suitable - saves your patience!
--
Regards,
Julian Voelcker
Mobile: 07971 540362
Cirencester, United Kingdom
1994 HDJ80, 2.5" OME Lift
 
Can't you just pop the side light unit out and go in through there or
have I misunderstood where it's trapped?
Best regards,
Jon.
-----Original Message-----
From: [Email address removed] [mailto:[Email address removed]]
On Behalf Of Christopher Bell
Sent: 05 December 2005 12:45
To: [Email address removed]
Subject: RE: [ELCO] A frustrating Sunday with headlight boosters
Julian
| Do you have any magnets in the house, you could try fishing for it?
|
| I have a magnet on an extendable aerial that is ideal in that
| situation, ok, it does get tricky as it keeps on sticking to
| the wing, but you should be able to get it in the end.
Thanks for the suggestion. I thought of that, but you'd never get a
magnet to drop down inside that hole without sticking on the wing
because of the shape of the panels: they curve every which way except
vertically downwards.
I've got a great device which is a flexible shaft about 20" long with a
retractable grab (driven by a plunger inside the shaft) on the end, but
even that won't get it.
My main worry is that it will eventually drop out of the hole at the
bottom front, which is right in front of the wheel, and end up in the
tyre. But I think that comes under the "no point losing sleep over it"
heading.
CB
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Jon
I didn't think of that, and it might work. Or at least it might enable
me to see where it has got to.
Thanks!
CB
| -----Original Message-----
| From: [Email address removed]
| [mailto:[Email address removed]] On Behalf Of Jon Wildsmith
| Sent: 05 December 2005 15:57
| To: [Email address removed]
| Subject: RE: [ELCO] A frustrating Sunday with headlight boosters
|
|
| Can't you just pop the side light unit out and go in through
| there or have I misunderstood where it's trapped?
|
| Best regards,
| Jon.
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