[200q20v] an alternative H4 lamp wattage

[Phil Rose]

At 11:26 AM -0500 12/29/00, Paul R Luevano wrote:
>Glen Powell wrote:
>>
>> I find the 80/100W H4s typically last for many years, often more than 5
>> years.
>
>Really?  My experience, albeit limited, has been otherwise.  My 100/80W
>low beams blew at 4 and 5 months respectively.  These were Sylvania
>Osram bulbs, not the cheap bulbs.  My buddy has also had similar life
>with his 100/80W H4's in his Euros on his BMW.
>
>I wonder why the difference?
>

Well, aside from the obvious (i.e., never drives at night?), other lifetime
factors include variability in number (or frequency) of "on/off cycles" and
also the matter of amperage supplied by the wiring. A few tenths volt (more
or less) from wiring losses will have a pretty significant effect on
lifetime (along with brightness), although a factor of 5x seems pretty
great (10 volts?). I wonder if Glenn has been using a relayed wiring
harness?


Phil Rose
Rochester, NY
mailto:pjrose at frontiernet.net