80/90 headlights, what do you think?

[quk@isham-research.demon.co.uk (Phil Payne)]

In message <199710040655.GAA27092@out2.ibm.net> "Bruce Bell" writes:

> Remember doubling the wattage doesn't double the light output, it generally
> results in burned connectors and wiring - even with added relays (BTDT).

Well, it _does_ double the light output - try a good lightmeter - but the human 
eye doesn't perceive double the brightness.  Same as dB in sound.  Beware also 
of scatter - if you put too much stray light on the roadside, your eyes 
compensate and the extra brightness on distant objects is wasted. 

However - I've not seen any connector or wiring problems with the auxiliary 
harness in my car.  The main downside is that uprated bulbs run hotter and 
don't last anything _NEAR_ as long as stock bulbs.  I changed one bulb in three 
years before going to the monsters, but now I'm changing each bulb every four 
months.  So the bulbs aren't just twice the price of stock - they're a dozen or 
more times the price.

I agree on the reflectors.  Anyone who's ever ridden behind DOT-approved candle 
substitutes will be stunned by the light put _on_the_road_ by the same wattage 
in Euro reflectors.  Stealthy, too - whereas add-on lights (probably the way to 
go if you want _optimum_ lighting) are very unstealthy and attract too much of 
the wrong kind of attention.

-- 
 Phil Payne
 Committee Member, UK Audi [ur-]quattro Owners Club