Hella 500 Light options

pokefan · **Posted:** Thu Jul 05, 2007 9:42 am

I'm going to purchase the Hella 500's and was wondering if people here are running the Driving Lamps or the Fog Lamps?

What's exactly is the difference? I assume light dispersion?

Gris · **Posted:** Thu Jul 05, 2007 10:19 am

Driving lamps have a pencil beam shaped reflector, means a long narrow beam to project way down the road. Usually a half mile or more.

Fog lamps have more of a balloon shaped beam pattern. They don't go nearly as far, but they spread a lot more to light the side of the road. Maybe 100ft ahead and 60ft to the sides

I have both types, 4 driving lights spread to make a solid wall of lights down the road with 2 fog lights to get the shoulder area around the front of the jeep. So it really depends on what you want if you have to choose 1 or the other.

I'd say get fogs first, then get driving if you want to add more later. Headlights work well as driving lights, they project far enough ahead to see anything on the road. If you compliment them with a set of fogs, you will illuminate the shoulders nicely to be able to see what's lurking in the tree line waiting to jump out.

AbsoluteRenegade · **Posted:** Thu Jul 05, 2007 7:07 pm

i went with driving for the 500's mounted on my cowl.

Gris · **Posted:** Thu Jul 05, 2007 8:03 pm

You GOTTA post more pics of that, and how you did it!

raceinfan · **Posted:** Thu Jul 05, 2007 8:09 pm

I just got 2 fogs for my roof basket & will be getting 2 driving for the basket also ( centerd ) for a total of 4 just not sure which I'll use for the bumper probably driving since I have the factory fogs now

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Thu Jul 05, 2007 9:18 pm

It really depends what you want the lamps to light up for you. I have my lights set up to help me avoid critters, both at higher speeds on backcountry highways, and on the trail. I had also felt like my headlamps just didn't light up enough for me on the trail at night, I often had to get out of the Jeep to look at some obstacle, or to see what the heck was behind me (which I still do...). On the KJ's roof rack I have four 500s with the driving lens and reflector, and Sylvania 100w bulbs. They're each mounted about a lamps distance apart, but the center two are mounted about two inches higher than the outer pair. I have the center pair pointed so the bottom of their beams meet the top end of my brights' beams, and the outer pair pointed to be even vertically with the brights and towards the outside where the brights’ beams weaken horizontally. From the driver's seat, the beam pattern with just the basket lights on is an upside-down U shape that easily goes further and produces more light overall than my headlights/brights. I can see fine on the trail with just the four Hellas, but I obviously like to see a lot of detail directly in front of the Jeep, which is what the headlights and fogs help. The outer pair of 500s tend to point in ditches when I'm on the backcountry roads I frequent. This definitely helps me avoid elk and deer, my biggest concern when going 65 MPH in the middle of nowhere.
I'm a stickler about having my lights pointed correctly :lol:

pokefan · **Posted:** Fri Jul 06, 2007 9:34 am

Gris wrote:

You GOTTA post more pics of that, and how you did it!

Gris, You don't need anymore ideas!! :lol:

I appreciate the help guys. I'm going with the fogs since I don't have factory fogs and to get more light directly in front of me.

KJFROG · **Posted:** Sat Jul 07, 2007 10:16 am

I'm not happy with my 500's, With 24hrs of darkness (during winter) in the NWT, you need as much light as you can on the highway. I'm going with Lightforce 170's next

RQuarte · **Posted:** Sat Jul 07, 2007 11:23 am

I have 6 hella 500's and love them, no complaints.

priell3 · **Posted:** Sat Jul 07, 2007 11:54 am

KJFROG wrote:

I'm not happy with my 500's, With 24hrs of darkness (during winter) in the NWT, you need as much light as you can on the highway. I'm going with Lightforce 170's next

Can't you upgrade the bulbs from 55W to 100W?

KJFROG · **Posted:** Sat Jul 07, 2007 12:32 pm

I did that, still not happy :cry:

, I'm not sure why but they don't seem to put out enough light. with the diffuser they seem to be more of a pencil beam, than a spot, i have seen the lightforce in action (every trucker in the North uses them) they work very well

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Sat Jul 07, 2007 1:43 pm

The brand of the 100w bulb you choose can make all the difference. I got Sylvanias for $5.99/per. I've seen cheaper 100w'ers look like hardly an improvement over 55w bulbs, all in the standard Hella 500 driving lamp.
Diffusers...diffuse the beam, like for fog lights. There is a little diffusion for the driving lights, so the beam is larger overall and less concentrated like a spot/pencil beams, which have no diffusion on the lens. Aren't spot and pencil beams synonymous? Different companies use different terms for the same style of lens and reflector.
Hella 500s were never meant to stand up to LightForce lights. Look at the price! Compare Hella's FF or Rallye Series for anything close to LightForces' performance. I've never seen a LightForce light in-person, but their website makes them look like little safes that light up whatever you want like daylight

KJFROG · **Posted:** Sat Jul 07, 2007 3:26 pm

Price was not a factor (won them in a giveaway :lol:

thru my work) The 100w were piaa, and had a blue tinge to them.
I will install them this weekend and try to get before and after pic's (when it gets dark in the winter)

Hella 500 Light options

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