Head Lamp Options

[ThisGuyUKnow]

What exists out there? Is the best thing to do the KISS factor and stick with a decent bulb like slyvannia or are there any options out there that have better illumination.

 

[BusaDave9]

There are lots of head light options: Tungsten-halogen, Halogen infrared reflective (HIR), HID (xenon), LED. All of these are brighter than the standard tungsten lights but you can also spend hundreds of dollars upgrading your headlights. Here in the US our high beams can have a maximum of 55 watts. In Europe high beams can be 100 watts. 55 watts really isn't too bright. The law regulating our high beams to 55 watts is very old. Back then head lights couldn't be directed and aimed as easy as new head lights. That is the key to why Europeans don't blind each other with their lights. Headlights of now-a-days are better directed onto the road.
Instead of increasing the wattage of head lights they let manufactures use the before mentioned technologies to make 55 watt lights as bright as 100 watt tungsten bulbs. I always agree with the KISS philosophy. There is the option of installing 100 watt tungsten bulbs in your Jeep. They say they are only for off-road use. They are not legal. But they are no brighter than the lights mentioned earlier. As with any extra bright bulb make extra sure they are aimed properly and you won't get any complaints (or tickets). These high watt bulbs will draw more current than the OEM lights but I have run high watt bulbs in my cars and motorcycles for many years without any problems.

 

[elwood blues]

Like BusaDave said, there are tons of options. H4 upgrades are very popular, Hella, IPF and Delta all make a conversion kit to run and H4 bulb out of the 7" round light;

There is also the HID option, but a lot of time they're pretty pricey, there's also a 7" LED conversion

But they're also pretty expensive. The biggest thing to remember about upgrading the headlights in your CJ is that you are going to have to rewire the headlights. I asked the same question a while ago, check out this thread http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f49/headlight-upgrade-2637/

 

[ThisGuyUKnow]

80-86 JEEP CJ7 7" ROUND HEADLIGHTS 10000K HID 83 84 85: eBay Motors (item 300486204779 end time Nov-26-10 05:19:15 PST)

What about a kit like this?

 

[Old Dog]

2 things that would turn me off about thoes, low beam only and they burn blue. blue is a sure ticket around here.

 

[jamie]

my buddy has a set of hid's in his tj and they are AWESOME!!! they wernt too expensive. under 100 dollars i think

 

[dslywalker]

See if this link helps you
Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

 

[BusaDave9]

2 things that would turn me off about thoes, low beam only and they burn blue. blue is a sure ticket around here.

LOW BEAM ONLY!!!!!
You really have to look carefully at those ads!
No matter how bright they are low beams are never directed too far ahead of you.

my buddy has a set of hid's in his tj and they are AWESOME!!! they weren't too expensive. under 100 dollars i think

I agree HID is nice but you need high beams too.

 

[jay59l]

I have a set of Round Eye conversion lamps that put out alot more light than the factory stuff.

 

[BrockGrimes]

See post #29 here:
http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f49/useful-info-thought-id-share-665/

Do 2 things, 1st make sure your wiring is up to snuff, 2nd get some good 7" H4 type lights.
Get ones with a glass lens not plastic. Then use a standard 55/60w bulb.
Hit up vw beetle parts sights for better prices but they can be found on e-bay.
3rd see step 1!!

 

[ThisGuyUKnow]

Anyone have a decent.link to a b4 conversion that has high beams?

 

[elwood blues]

KC, Delta, IPF or Hella, take your pick;

KC HiLites Performance 7” Round Headlamp Kit for 45-06 Jeep® CJ, Wrangler TJ & Unlimited - Quadratec

Delta Tech 1-1199-50X - Delta 7" Round Quad Bar Xenon Headlamp Kit for 97-06 Jeep® Wrangler TJ & Unlimited - Quadratec

IPF 920H - IPF H4 Headlamp Upgrade for 45-06 Jeep® Wrangler TJ, TJ Unlimited & CJ - Quadratec

Hella Lighting 002395301 - Hella Vision Plus 7" Round H4 Conversion Halogen Headlight for 45-86 Jeep® CJ & 97-06 Jeep® Wrangler TJ & Unlimited - Quadratec

 

[ThisGuyUKnow]

I have a set of Round Eye conversion lamps that put out alot more light than the factory stuff.

Those are exactly what I am looking for. How do they compare to slyvannia silverstars? Did you change anything in your wiring? Do they have high beams?

People have mentioned adding a relay to the lights. Does anyone have a wiring diagram made for that? I thought the lights already ran off the main 12 volt feed so what is the benefit?

 

[muffler bearing]

I have an HID kit in my DD and it is the Hi/low kit ($80 Ebay). I do have High beams but they work a little different. They have magnets on the back of the bulbs and it redirects the light but does not make it brighter. I like them I have the 6k kit (more white then blue). I have the H4 white box headlight kit for my CJ ($40) But I do not know if I want that look in my classic Jeep.

 

[BrockGrimes]

See my post above for wiring etc