What Lights have you added?

Kugellager · **Posted:** Sat Jul 26, 2008 11:34 am

I have 4x Hellas 500's on a custom lightbar with 100w H-3 bulbs in them.

http://lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=5363 <--- My wiring and install right-up.

I also added 2x 55w lights to the rear of the roof rails for backing down shelf roads at night. This was AFTER I discovered that I do have a need for them. The stock back-up lights suck!

My wife and I have used the lights several times as we like to go up to a mountain pass to have a picnic dinner and watch the sunset. The lights work very well on the way back down. I have pointed the Hellas to start casting their 'pencil' beam at the edge of my where my lowbeams (100 ft or so) sit.

The outer two lights just point slightly to the sides to cover the shoulder areas of the trail. They also shine some light directly to the sides on either side of the vehicle.

I also have replaced the foglight bulbs with modified Silverstar 9005 bulbs. They are much brighter that the stock foglight bulbs. I have had then for 2 years and they are still very bright.

Basically I use three lighting tiers for offroading
1) Foglights with modified Silverstar 9005's for the first 20-30 feet. (great for pointing out the depth potholes just before entering and last minute critter crossings)
2) Lowbeams for ranges out to about 75-100 feet. (better then using highbeams as they just throw diluted light at far distances)
3) Hellas 500's Pencilbeams with 100w H-3 bulbs for the distance lighting. (due to their lens configuration and lightbar placement they also throw light to either side of the vehicle directly next to each front door.

Each tier overlaps slightly giving me very good even-coverage from directly in front of the vehicle out to a distance of about 200 feet and falling off from there.

I have been very impressed at the lighting capabilities and that the 100w H-3 bulbs work very well in the Hellas 500's.

John
];')

fasthid · **Posted:** Sat Jul 26, 2008 11:45 am

Hey, hood297 and others with the Renegade light bar, is the install easy, and do the lights work well?

what is the beam pattern like? :?:

Hood297 · **Posted:** Sat Jul 26, 2008 12:55 pm

the rene light bar is great, the install I would put rate at a 3 out of 5. It requires about 10 holes, and one rather large one.

Dont DIY if your afraid of drilling holes in your roof. But the light pattern is good, its not a long range light, but more of a flood.

It matches well with the SDB-210's high beam function.

tier10 · **Posted:** Sat Jul 26, 2008 12:56 pm

My lightbar is super bright, though I've never seen any other "light bars" lit up from inside a cab before. But they definitely get the job done. I can't comment on the install, I had the dealer throw them in to finalize the deal. They installed it free of charge.

jeepmedic · **Posted:** Sat Jul 26, 2008 1:07 pm

Max Carnage:

Like your light setup. Looking to put more lights on the top of my KJ, but the bike/luggage racks interfere. Your set up would work great !!

Are those lights as bright as the OEM high beams ?
Did you use 2 seperate complete kits ?

thanks

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Sat Jul 26, 2008 3:12 pm

can someone with the Rennie light bar post some night pics of them on from inside the cabin? Iwould like to see how much glare there is on the windshield

dsade · **Posted:** Fri Aug 01, 2008 11:13 am

wow hood's got one bad a** kj

Sport · **Posted:** Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:09 pm

I added a 50w light in the back for night fishing. It also works well as additional lighting when backing up.

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:44 pm

jsc7002 wrote:

can someone with the Rennie light bar post some night pics of them on from inside the cabin? Iwould like to see how much glare there is on the windshield

I can t speak for the rene light bar, but my set-up throws NO glare on the windshield or the hood. The only issue I have is I need to make sure the sunroof is closed and the cover is closed before I turn on any or all of the 600 watts of lights I have on the Gecko rack. REALLY lights up the inside if i forget to close the cover and sunroof.

Remember the scene in Close Encounters where Richard Drifues is sitting in his truck and the light lights up the inside of his truck? BINGO.

flyingwen · **Posted:** Mon Aug 04, 2008 5:51 pm

I added the LightForce 170's (available at www.SierraExpeditions.com ) to my ARB Bumper-

I love these lights!

I have the LightForce Stubby lights mounted to the back of my roofrack for added light when backing up and camping

michael_dba · **Joined:** Tue Jun 03, 2008 1:23 am **Posts:** 64

Replaced the stock headlight bulbs 9007 bi-xenons (the xenon tube pivots to each position) for much better high and low beams.
Just be sure to use the black box so there is seamless switching between the high and low beams. Matches the stock beam patterns.
All ballasts fit neatly inside the engine bay. Triple the lumins output with only 70 watts total drain.

Soon to add Hella high beams from a E30 BMW....they fit in KC Daylighter housings, use 9005 bulbs (highest lumin rated stock halogen auto bulb), and have very good wide and long range beams...and street legal. They can be retrofitted with xenon conversions also.

For some inexpensive extemely bright lights, check out some GE 4537 aircraft landing bulbs...13volts 100watts, they burn white, but short life. They fit in par46 housings...like the Hella lights described above. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4537-Lig ... 0223909494

*******************************************************************************

Just say no to blue tinted halogen bulbs! They're expensive, suck too much power, and aren't as bright as stock in most cases. That blue coating robs a lot of the visible light. Get the real deal, HID/xenon, you won't regret it, and they're getting cheaper.

I've worked with emergency vehicle lighting since I was a teenager, from carbon-arc searchlights, to opticom strobes....modified all kinds of lights, and for now, HID is as good as it gets. Just beware of crappy optics.

Kugellager · **Posted:** Fri Aug 08, 2008 12:23 am

michael_dba wrote:

For some inexpensive extemely bright lights, check out some GE 4537 aircraft landing bulbs...13volts 100watts, they burn white, but short life. They fit in par46 housings...like the Hella lights described above. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4537-Lig ... 0223909494
optics.

You can also just put H3 100W bulbs in your Hella 500's or other lights that take the common H3 bulb. The Hella 500's have no problems handling the 100w H3's and they are available at most auto stores. They have got to be easier to get than the aircraft landing lights. The price is comparable w/o the shipping cost. The H3's have lasted me several night trips so far with no burnouts.

John
];')

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Aug 08, 2008 12:35 am

most people laugh at me when I say I run aircraft landing lights :shock:

been doing it for over 20 years and no problems , well except for the one highway patrol man that I spotted over a mile down the road :wink:

Easy to get, not that high priced, most NAPAs can get them, throw a lot of light for sure!

Kugellager · **Posted:** Fri Aug 08, 2008 12:42 am

What does the beam pattern look like on them. I have the Hella 500 'Pencil Beam' housings. They have a nice spread pattern to them. When I am in a bowl in the mountains I have been able to see the other side that was at least 1/2 mile away...thought it was dimly lit.

When you see the beam on an aircraft it seems very narrow. Is there still decent spread or do they form small patches at distance?...say 200-300ft?

John
];')

Dje Ryu · **Posted:** Fri Aug 08, 2008 1:13 am

He's not talking about the lights on the plane. He means the ones on the ground that pilots need to be able to see through thick fog/clouds/snow, etc. no matter where he's at in relation to the landing zone. (very bright/wide beam dispersion)

michael_dba · **Joined:** Tue Jun 03, 2008 1:23 am **Posts:** 64

The pattern of the 4537's are rectangular with a hotter smaller rectangle in the center...its the mirror image of the filament shape. I have some Hella 500's with 100w H3's and they're not bad, but not as bright as the aircraft landing lights. I have a few around and will try to get a beam pic.

There are also 150 par46 sealed beams available but I don't see THAT much more light coming out to justify the power and heavier wiring/relays. You can also get a 4.5" (par36) 100w aircraft landing light that fits in those rubber tractor housings...they have a slightly wider beam because of the smaller reflector. Guaranteed waterproof!

I think they're #4509

Kugellager · **Posted:** Fri Aug 08, 2008 9:17 am

michael_dba wrote:

The pattern of the 4537's are rectangular with a hotter smaller rectangle in the center...its the mirror image of the filament shape. I have some Hella 500's with 100w H3's and they're not bad, but not as bright as the aircraft landing lights. I have a few around and will try to get a beam pic.

Thanks, you've answered my question exactly.

John
];')

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Aug 08, 2008 9:34 am

Dje Ryu wrote:

He's not talking about the lights on the plane. He means the ones on the ground that pilots need to be able to see through thick fog/clouds/snow, etc. no matter where he's at in relation to the landing zone. (very bright/wide beam dispersion)

I use the ones that are used on the plane, nice beam , can see a loooonnngg ways! :wink:

Fouros · **Posted:** Sat Aug 09, 2008 10:22 am

i have the rene light bar and 2 Hella Ralle 4000 compacts with 100w globes they throw a LOT of light

LibertyFever · **Posted:** Sun Aug 10, 2008 10:09 pm

I've got four Hella 500 driving lamps (55W each) on a Surco roof rack. They light up the trail great but due to their height & quantity they aren't street legal. I'd like to use at least two for highway driving so I'm going to have to either move or buy another pair for the bumper.

please ignore the "water line" in the pic

What Lights have you added?

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