Yesterday I picked up some Narva 100W H1 bulbs. They claim to be 4200K colour temperature and close to day light.

I installed them in place of my current high beam bulbs.

The result was less than spectacular. I'm not sure they are any brighter than my original bulbs and they are much yellower than my HID low beams.

Before I take them out is my lack of improvement due to the limitations of the existing circuit? Anyone know for sure if running them via a relay and wired direct from the battery will result in better light?

 

Catz makes a kit for non HID equiped cars that si the alternative to HID. It is a ballast that increases the power to the bulb. this may be an option for S2000 high beams. It's call the Catz Zeta system. Nopi sells the system, the ctz zite doesn't have the information on the site.

 

The stock hibeam circuit is through a relay. As long as the wiring can handle the added current, than the circuit shouldn't be the problem. If the circuit can't handle the added current, than you may overstress some of the wire. The first sign will probably be blistered wire insullation somewhere. If the wire really gets overstressed, the copper may get cooked and completely fail, but a fuse would probably blow prior to that happening.

Are the new bulbs less yellow than the stock?

 

I doubt the wiring is over stressed as the output isn't markedly different.

And the new bulbs aren't much different to before. At least nothing to brag about.

I'll pull one out and compare to the stock ones tonight.

[Edited by AusS2000 on 02-04-2001 at 10:53 PM]

 

Wayne, it wouldn't be a circuit problem. If this was the case then I would expect you to see a marked improvement in brightness before a very quick fade to no lights at all.

The circuit is designed to be able to handle brief periods of high load such as when you flash your high beams with the low beams already on, at night.

 

I saw a review of headlamps that was enlightening. Basically the best light for the buck comes from premium versions of well known brands: Osram and Phillips. If you want to cross the boundary of legality and risk melting wiring harnesses, you can install higher wattage bulbs, but results are not assured.

Note that watt is not a synonym for lumen, and that on top of that, you need to consider not only how much light you get but also spot area, geometry, light density and color temperature. You can make an apparent brighter light by concentrating it's spot, but you may see less as a result.

 

I installed some rice type blue 100watt equal to 130watt output highs and they are somewhat brighter than the 55 watt stocks. The color is only slightly whiter. The package says 3850 degree color. I suggest not running them for extended periods. The salesman noted they are not legal for street use but I very seldom use the highs and I don't think anyone will check my highs when I have HIDs for lows.

 

I used to have APC Superwhites in my Corvette C5. They were very much like the 'blue-white' light you are probably looking for.

I got mine from a place called Los Angeles Performance Division (LAPD) - not the CA Police! Go to http://www.thelapd.com and ask them if they have an application for the S2000.

Cheers,

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by AusS2000
[B]...The circuit is designed to be able to handle brief periods of high load such as when you flash your high beams with the low beams already on, at night.

 

And here they are:


Turns out they aren't Narva's at all, but cheap Korean knockoffs. Still doesn't mean they shouldn't work.