Re: What are these lights?

[Aleksander Mierzwa <alex@matrix.pl>]

At 08:52 18.11.98 -0800, Paul Matsuda wrote:

>blue lights explained.
>
>http://lighting.mbz.org/tech/info/blue_bulbs/
>
>the philips all weather bulb mentioned in the article is now available:
>
>http://www.autooptiks.com/products/dichroic.html
>
>from what i understand these are the only "blue" bulbs
>that are DOT compliant.

I have Philips Allweathers on my car. They actually don't produce blue
light. They have a slightly blue tint to them when you look at the car from
outside, but when you drive behind them, the light being produced is clear,
*white* light. I believe this is because the ordinary H4 bulbs give
slightly yellowish light, so the Allweather's increased output in blue
frequencies just makes the light appear more uniform white. 
I believe the bulbs that really produce *blue* light are nothing more than
a poseur item for people who want to have cool looking car. Here in Poland
you can even buy blue plastic "condoms" that you put on the ordinary bulb
(which decreases effective light output probably by half or more). I had
even once seen a real idiot: guy had his headlights *painted* with some
kind of blue transparent paint!

Aleksander Mierzwa
Warsaw, Poland
mailto:alex@matrix.pl
87 Audi 5000CS turbo (mine)
88 Renault Medallion wagon (mom's)
91 mountain bike (just in case both cars broke at the same time :-)