Re: Windshield stuff, gas?

[Bernie Strub <bstrub@silverlink.net>]

"Meron" sed:
>>and they now have 130/100 watt outers with stock inners.  I don't have 
>I have been reading continuously from all of you "high wattage fans" and do
>not yet understand this infatuation with high watt bulbs, the effectiveness
>of the light in much more connected to the >SHAPE< of the prism and it's
>>LOCATIO< than it is to high wattage, you are not improving the light (by
>much), you are mostly causing discomfort to other drivers on the road
>(using those ungodly powerful bulbs!!!!!), regardless of how well you
>lights are aimed!!!!!!!!!!!
>Why not just do a side by side comparison 55-60 versos 130-100 and maybe
>you will see that it is NOT much of an improvement!!!!

I guess it is my turn to enter the fray.  My qualifications to comment are
that in September, I installed the single-bulb "euro" type lights in my 87
4kq, replacing the stock US spec housings and bulbs.  I upgraded the wiring,
installed relays, and put in  80/100w H4 bulbs.  The differences before and
after are *quite* noticeable.
  1)  The sharp beam cutoff on low beam allows a lot of light to be
accurately placed on the road, without interfering with the vision of other
drivers.
  2)  The upgraded wiring allows (nearly) all of the voltage to reach the
bulbs.  When I cut into the stock harness, I was rather shocked to discover
the gauge of the wire, to be generous, *might* be 20 ga.  Mine is now 10 ga.
  3)  The color, and covering power of the light is significantly improved.
I attribute this to a >50% increase in the wattage (and thus candlepower
output) of the bulbs.

Mr. Meron is internally inconsistant with his statement above.  He first
states that the difference is in light beam control, then says that
additional wattage only blinds other drivers.  If the beam is controlled,
and the wattage is increased, the pattern on the road will become brighter.
This higher candlepower will not somehow leak out and attack other drivers.
Poor beam pattern control (or, ghod help us, poor aim) will result in
blinding other drivers.  Agreed, if you add in higher wattage bulbs, this
will be exacerbated, BUT the hi-watt bulbs do not cause the problem.  One
only has to look at an oncoming recent Ford SUV to know that legal wattage
can blind other drivers, due to poor pattern.

It would seem that there is a great deal of confusion about wattage and
pattern.  If *I'm* not confused, the wattage does not change the location
(direction, whatever) of the light coming out of your headlights, just the
color/brightness.  The _location_ of where all this light goes is affected
by the geometryfluting, and aim of the headlight units.

>Nomex on, flame me all you want!!!! (I am dead anyway, since I don't buy
>into this synthetic oil religion we have on the list!).

I don't buy your martyred attitude with this.  There is no religion here,
only diverging opinions.  You are not the only person to put non-synthetic
oil in their Audi.  Perhaps if you were a bit less melodramatic, and more
rooted in the facts of your arguments, the responses you get would be more
reasoned as well.

>Avi Meron
>86 5Kcstq

PS If you propose to "love" everyone on this list, my definition and usage
of the word "love" is _much_ different than yours...BTW, there is nothing in
this post intended as a flame, merely reasoned discussion, or commentary...
>>>>>Bernie
87 4kcsq alpine white/light grey cloth
QCUSA #1765
Member #47 NW Region AQC