Page: 1 2 3 ... 11 12 13
weigen
Date Registered: 08-2004
Location: Wagga Wagga, N.S.W
TOTAL POSTS: 40
|
|
|
|
Driving Lights opinions
Guys,
Being the absolute novice when it comes to most things electrical i was after some info on driving light and what to look for when buying a pair.We have had the factory x-trail ones before but were after something with a bit more kick this time.Any help is appreciated.
Cheers
Russ
|
4/Nov/2004, 2:16 pm
|
|
harryzell
X-TRAIL ENTHUSIAST
Date Registered: 08-2004
Location: Adelaide, SA
TOTAL POSTS: 168
|
|
|
|
Re: Driving Lights opinions
I haven't experienced the factory ones mate, so I can't give you an actual comparison, but I've got a set of Narva Ultima 175 (both pencil beam) and they throw great light. I picked them up for about $120.
Depends what you want to spend, of course
--- ***********
T30 ST manual, Burgundy
http://www.hr4wdclubsa.org.au
|
4/Nov/2004, 2:32 pm
|
|
weigen
Date Registered: 08-2004
Location: Wagga Wagga, N.S.W
TOTAL POSTS: 40
|
|
|
|
Re: Driving Lights opinions
Thanks mate,
I noticed some lights are advertised as pencil beam and other are spread beam? do you know which one is the best for general highway / burning the retena from people who cut you off applications?
What wattage are your mate? are the bulbs replacable or do you have to buy the whole lamp??
Thanks mate.
Russ
|
4/Nov/2004, 2:45 pm
|
|
jalalski
Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: SUTHERLAND, SYDNEY
TOTAL POSTS: 29100
|
|
|
|
Doubled-up topics
Hi Guys,
A number of topics are being doubled-up, so can I please ask you guys to use the search button on the upper right corner and type the word you're trying to find.
Just by typing "driving lights" I got a number of topics and this is one of them:
http://com1.runboard.com/baustralianxtrail.fmainchat.t79
Russ: Now that you got a new accessory free exy, you gonna be searching the old topics more than others to retrieve the information we all posted some time ago, which may be of benefit to you.
If you can't find something, it's easier to use the quick Q&A thread and we'll help you out.
Good luck mate
|
4/Nov/2004, 5:33 pm
|
|
basshead
X-TRAIL HOLIC
Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: Panania, Sydney
TOTAL POSTS: 2852
|
|
|
|
Re: Driving Lights opinions
Russ, as Jalal said, it's good practice to search for topics before requesting further information...
Assuming you've already read the other thread that Jalal pointed out, I can add further comments specific to your questions:
After having the Lightforce 240's for quite a few months now, and got to use them on several occasions, I must say that they definitely stand up to their reputation. I have a set of clear covers (which come standard with the lights) and also a set of yellow "combo/spread beam" covers, which take away some of the intensity of the distance aspect of the lights, but throw lots of light off to the closer wide-angle range. I'm sure after a quick look on the Lightforce website, you'll see an example of wide/spread and pencil/spot beams.
As for real-life driving, my 240's are so bright when a reflective road sign comes up that I have to squint to prevent being blinded by the reflected light. Distance-wise, I think nothing comes close to the 240's - in the country they light up hillsides in the distance like it's daylight. With the clear covers, they're not very practical on roads with lots of corners, which is where I put the wide/spread beam lenses on. I've heard that the 240's are too bright to be used in fog, but because mine are still wired up to come on with the factory high-beams only, it's hard to tell how effective the yellow lens works in fog (I assume you know high-beams reflect back at you in fog so all you can see is white). Experiences in fog so far haven't been too bad, even with the high-beams still turned on. I have also heard that the blue lenses are the best for fog, but I haven't bought any yet to try them out (and I think they would also make my X-Trail more of a target for police - especially if they were turned on!
Mt Annan isn't too far away from me; maybe we can arrange a meet-up one night for you to check them out. I always keep the other set of lenses in the boot...
EDIT: I thought I might add the link to my x-trail webpage so you can check out how they look (in more detail than my avatar on the left) http://members.iinet.net.au/~richnclare/xtrail_index.html
- I also have some more video clips (have a look around in http://ww2.datazap.net/ftp/basshead/) and I hadn't thought about doing some night video footage until a few seconds ago I'm not sure how well it would work out, though.
EDIT #2: I forgot to mention that while you may think they'd deter people from cutting in front of me, in reality, it hasn't made much difference... Maybe because they don't see how big they are until after they've pulled in front of me and look in their rear-view mirror... I have flashed numerous people (I'm sure it's illegal, but how else are they going to get the message they're driving like an idiot?) but the problem with the 240's being a spot/pencil beam is that all you see is two large circles of light on the back of the car in front - they really need to be at least about 50m in front of me before they cop the full blinding ability of the lights as it needs that sort of distance for the beam to disperse abit. The yellow lenses help abit in that regard, but they wouldn't be as bright as the clear ones A couple of times I've had to slam on the brakes really hard because of people cutting-in so badly in front of me, and when I high-beamed them, there was just two circles of light underneath their car because the front of my car was nose-diving so much under hard braking!
I think it's about time I got some air-horns, too!
Last edited by basshead, 5/Nov/2004, 4:03 pm
--- Rich. X-013(c)
'04 S2 ST Auto. Nudge_roofracks_tow_tints_Lightforce_GME_YokoGeoA/T-S_TBS_bashplate_50mm-spacer-lift
Click here to see >300MB of photos and videos All For His Glory.
|
5/Nov/2004, 9:44 am
|
|
weigen
Date Registered: 08-2004
Location: Wagga Wagga, N.S.W
TOTAL POSTS: 40
|
|
|
|
Re: Driving Lights opinions
Sorry for the ignorence guys,i will know to search next time
Thanks for the info Jalal,i can feel some quality computer time coming up.
Rich, thanks for the offer mate.I wil go through the information and i'm sure it will cover everything i need to know.
Love your lights,is it true they can be seen from the moon??
|
5/Nov/2004, 1:06 pm
|
|
harryzell
X-TRAIL ENTHUSIAST
Date Registered: 08-2004
Location: Adelaide, SA
TOTAL POSTS: 168
|
|
|
|
Re: Driving Lights opinions
quote: weigen wrote:
Thanks mate,
I noticed some lights are advertised as pencil beam and other are spread beam? do you know which one is the best for general highway / burning the retena from people who cut you off applications?
What wattage are your mate? are the bulbs replacable or do you have to buy the whole lamp??
Thanks mate.
Russ
Hey Russ,
I think the pencil/spread debate is a fairly subjective one - depends what you like. My Dad bought the same Narvas as I did - he got the combo pencil/spread set, and he's been threatening to pinch one of my pencils ever since, to replace his spread.
I feel that the Exy high-beams throw a pretty good spread, but not much distance, so I like the pencils. But hey, that's my opinion
Couldn't tell you the wattage mate, and I hopefully assume that I can change the bulbs!
Cheers,
Brenton
--- ***********
T30 ST manual, Burgundy
http://www.hr4wdclubsa.org.au
|
5/Nov/2004, 8:32 pm
|
|
jalalski
Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: SUTHERLAND, SYDNEY
TOTAL POSTS: 29100
|
|
|
|
Re: Driving Lights opinions
Hi Guys,
If you haven't yet checked the new fines and demerit points structure of the NSW RTA that is commencing on 1/7/2005. I suggest you have a look before you buy your next set of driving lights.
There is now an enforceable fine for Protrusions on bull bars of $225 and 3 demerit points that anybody could potentially get for having lights that can be considered too large or sticking-out of the bull-bar in unsafe manner (this I guess will be determined by the policeman stopping you)
Just thought I'd let you know.
I have also printed the whole list of the new fines and some things that have been included in there made me raise my eyebrows more than once.
Did you know that you could be fined for not having a log-book in your car? LOL
|
27/Jun/2005, 10:56 am
|
|
David M
X-TRAIL FANATIC
Date Registered: 02-2005
Location: Taylor's Hill (Melbourne)
TOTAL POSTS: 466
|
|
|
|
Re: Driving Lights opinions
My 2c worth.
What effect do really bright driving lights have on your night vision? When I go walking at night, I resist the temptation to use the torch because I lose my night vision straight away. I think the "two candle power" headlights on the X Trail do quite well. On the long relatively quiet roads I often travel in Northern Victoria, every now and then a car comes the other way: if I had bright driving lights turning off as well when I dip the lights, would I feel like I was in the dark with just the low beam lights?
I did have a bit of a worry for you Rich when you indicated that you wanted to be able to flash your driving lights at people who came toward you with lights on high beam. Those 240's look great and must light your way well. When someone comes toward me with lights too high, it seems to me that either they're not concentrating to remember to dip them, or their vehicle is badly maintained and they're out of alignment, or they've put a bit much weight in the back (gathered too much firewood?). None of these are good to have coming toward me at an approach speed of 200kph with the intention of passing within a vehicle's width of me.
A quick flash of the high beam wakes them up if they're not concentrating, or reminds them in a friendly way they should check their lights/balance their load better/pop into Pedders and get some heavier springs for the rear. A reasonable chance of improving the situation.
But if I flash super bright driving lights at them, I momentarily blind them and probably annoy them if they can't do anything about the situation immediately (they're already dipped). Then I would have a blinded, annoyed driver who was not concentrating, or has a badly maintained vehicle, or one that is overloaded/badly balanced, coming towards me at an approach speed of 200kph with the intention etc.
So I appreciate all the information about wiring and things you've nutted out, but I was sort of relieved when you said the "flashing the driving lights" wasn't going to work.
Just keeping the conversation going.
David M
--- David M (X095)
ST Auto (series 1) 180,000 kms
Nissan nudge, fog lights, towbar, floor mats, K&N filter, Cooper CS4s, electric trailer brake controller, GME TX3220
|
27/Jun/2005, 2:34 pm
|
|
Page: 1 2 3 ... 11 12 13
|