Question about bulb wattage
04-05-2005, 02:49 PM
#1
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Question about bulb wattage
My friend needs new bulbs for his Del Sol and he is interested in These bulbs. Someone on another forum said I would have problems since the wattage is higher?
As far as the bulbs in question:
Thoes bulbs are rated at a much higher wattage than your wireing harness will allow. You'r car's harness is only designed for a 12volt 60/55watt bulb. Go too much higher in the wattage scale, and your liable to start a fire, or a wire meltdown. You can get an upgraded harness though. Read the package carefully though. It has a rating too. This can cure most of thoes problems. The issues tend to occour at the socket. By replacing that socket with an upgraded harness, you can avoid most of the danger. There is always the chance of melting to occour. But you'll be safer than if you don't change it. I've seen the harnesses at places like AutoZone, and some speed shops. I know PIAA also Makes one. But if I were you I wouldn't go that high with the wattage. I'd keep it to about 110 to 115.
When you change the wattage:
The light is designed to opperate at 12volts, with a draw of 60/55 watts.
when you require a higher wattage, you are requireing more heat. You do use more energy, and could also create a higher draw for voltage too.
Is that true?
As far as the bulbs in question:
Thoes bulbs are rated at a much higher wattage than your wireing harness will allow. You'r car's harness is only designed for a 12volt 60/55watt bulb. Go too much higher in the wattage scale, and your liable to start a fire, or a wire meltdown. You can get an upgraded harness though. Read the package carefully though. It has a rating too. This can cure most of thoes problems. The issues tend to occour at the socket. By replacing that socket with an upgraded harness, you can avoid most of the danger. There is always the chance of melting to occour. But you'll be safer than if you don't change it. I've seen the harnesses at places like AutoZone, and some speed shops. I know PIAA also Makes one. But if I were you I wouldn't go that high with the wattage. I'd keep it to about 110 to 115.
When you change the wattage:
The light is designed to opperate at 12volts, with a draw of 60/55 watts.
when you require a higher wattage, you are requireing more heat. You do use more energy, and could also create a higher draw for voltage too.
Is that true?
04-05-2005, 04:24 PM
#3
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Basically you need to consider a basic equation for power.
P=VxI.
Power equals voltage (in volts) times current (in amperes).
When upgrading to bigger bulb with more wattage, you will have more current flowing through your wires because the voltage is always constant at 12V. A wire that takes more current must be upgraded to a thicker size otherwise, the wire could heat up and melt away. You will have to check the current rating of the wires you have now based on the wire's thickness and material (copper, steel). Then see if this will match the amount of current your new bulbs will require.
But there are other things in the civic I'm not sure how they connect like the load sense box on the driver's side. This too may need an upgrade. Just check everything that is in line with your new lights to make sure it can handle the current in amperes. You may want to also over-design by a factor of 1.5 to handle 1.5 times the required current just to be sure.
Your alternator should hopefully be able to handle this additional current too.
Good luck. It's a good thing you're considering this.
P=VxI.
Power equals voltage (in volts) times current (in amperes).
When upgrading to bigger bulb with more wattage, you will have more current flowing through your wires because the voltage is always constant at 12V. A wire that takes more current must be upgraded to a thicker size otherwise, the wire could heat up and melt away. You will have to check the current rating of the wires you have now based on the wire's thickness and material (copper, steel). Then see if this will match the amount of current your new bulbs will require.
But there are other things in the civic I'm not sure how they connect like the load sense box on the driver's side. This too may need an upgrade. Just check everything that is in line with your new lights to make sure it can handle the current in amperes. You may want to also over-design by a factor of 1.5 to handle 1.5 times the required current just to be sure.
Your alternator should hopefully be able to handle this additional current too.
Good luck. It's a good thing you're considering this.
04-05-2005, 05:14 PM
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It says that it uses 55/60 watts of power but the output is 135/125W So woundnt the harness only be getting 55/60 watts? Will that still fry/melt the harness?
04-06-2005, 01:53 AM
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I checked a few websites to understand what is meant by having 135/125W output and use only 60/55W. What wattage is the stock bulbs? If it's the same, then there is no problem. If you check this link, http://www.prolightstar.com/lightbulbs/piaa_15224.html
it says that they give off enough light as if you would be using 135/125W.
BUT, before you go buy those bulbs, please read with pleasure the following link and weep!!! Stock bulbs beat those and other bulbs.
http://www.overboost.com/story.asp?id=102
Have fun.
it says that they give off enough light as if you would be using 135/125W.
BUT, before you go buy those bulbs, please read with pleasure the following link and weep!!! Stock bulbs beat those and other bulbs.
http://www.overboost.com/story.asp?id=102
Have fun.
04-06-2005, 12:11 PM
#6
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stock is 60/55 for most hondas.
BUT most aftermarket bulb companies power draw claims are a little on the misleading side. AFAIK, OEM bulbs are power rated at 13.2volts, A lot of aftermarket companies rate their power usage at 12volts. (60 watts at 12 volts = 5amps, 60watts at 13.2 volts = 4.5amps)
Since everyones car tends to run down the road at 13.8-14.2volts, aftermarket bulbs like this will eat any weak link in your cars harness with typically smokey results.
I highly recommend going to an aftermarket headlight harness or simply setup your own relay system. Which in turn will run the bulbs brighter, save your wire harness/plugs and the bulbs will actually last longer.
BUT most aftermarket bulb companies power draw claims are a little on the misleading side. AFAIK, OEM bulbs are power rated at 13.2volts, A lot of aftermarket companies rate their power usage at 12volts. (60 watts at 12 volts = 5amps, 60watts at 13.2 volts = 4.5amps)
Since everyones car tends to run down the road at 13.8-14.2volts, aftermarket bulbs like this will eat any weak link in your cars harness with typically smokey results.
I highly recommend going to an aftermarket headlight harness or simply setup your own relay system. Which in turn will run the bulbs brighter, save your wire harness/plugs and the bulbs will actually last longer.
