What globes are best to upgrade standard lights

Drivesafe,
Where are they available from?

What percent lighting improvement do you get from upgrading the globes compared to upgrading the reflectors? I ask because I assume globes would cost about $20 and the ARB reflector upgrade is about $200.

I'd be interested to hear thoughts from anyone who has invested in the ARB (or similar) upgrade light kits.

Cheers,
Alex

Hi Drivesafe
Thanks for the info. What wattage globes did you put in?
Are they freely available?
Regards
Andrew

Hi Alex and Esplanade, all the globes I use are H4 and H7 type Philips Crystal Vision which are 55 watt power rated and 110 watt light output rated and are straight replacements.

You can get them at a number of places but I’ve found Bursons to be the cheapest. It still pays to shop around.

Note, these globes give out white light light that is NOT as bright as 100 or 130 standard globes but the white light is brighter and gives much clearer vision than the yellower type globes.

I have two IPFs which I use to run 130 watt standard globes and got a marked visual improvement when I changed to the Crystal Vision 55 watt globes.

Cheers.

Second that Teabag

The fatboys are a different technology and are most powerful approved
headlight globes for the wattage input and can nearly double your light output.

They do draw a liitle more at 75w.

They are best available until HID becomes fully spec'd at a reasonable
cost for headlight use.

Robin Miller

G'day again Teabag.

Seems this discussion on lighting won't go away...hahaha
I also have the Fatboys in my GU...and again was a little disappointed....Mind you just a little, Do ya think my expectations are to high....haha. Previously had the Philips Crystal Vision globes and liked em' but didn't think the Fatboys were THAT much better. Philips Crystal Vision globes = $30pair Fatboys = $130pair. I think it was because the dude at ARB wouldn't shut up about how good they were. He said you don't even need driving lights they are that good ((rubbish)) I think it was the expectation that they would perform like a driving light on High.
Well the smoke and mirrors worked I bought a set. Ohhh and the wattage is actually the reverse, they are 60/80 and beleive it or not....they are actually SUPPOSED to perform like a 150 watt on HIGH, and 190 watts on LOW.

Cheers Macca

was over 20 years ago, you can only have 55 watts on driving lights, Bumperbar type

did you know Toyota's have 2 different ways of wiring their headlights,

I did hear something in another post re this - I'm going to go to an auto sparkie for the installation, I'm pretty below par when it comes to electrics..

Cheers
Rich

Are you aware that headlights have to be self leveling if HID lights are fitted?

Phil I

As a famous red-headed politician once said..."Please explain?"
Sorry man, have not heard of self-levelling headlights..

Rich

OK - Now i KNOW I'm a goose. Bought the HID kit from ebay and it arrived, looks great etc...took it to the auto electrician as I don't have time/patience to play around with things I know little about (ie electrics) and he gives me the bad news that the globes are not hi/lo beam a la regular globes, they are a single beam only and therefore would suit the highbeam lights on a dual headlight arrangement (early Hi-lux, Peugeot 504 etc) but not any regular single headlight setup..

I feel such a fool - at least I only blew $160 - ish......

Live and learn
Rich