QUICK.. need answer: if i change to 100w bulbs

[chivas]

should i amp up the fuse from 7.5 to 10?
thanks!

[M42Technik]

If you're talking about your headlights, and you change to 100 watt bulbs, you will melt your housings. Stick to 55w.

[moatilliatta]

lol. i got a 100W in my highs and i bumped up the fuse. they've been fine for over a year now.. I dont use my high beams all the the time also so i also have had a problem them melting my housings.

[Mike325]

The 100w bulbs will melt the wires. Do not use them. They are a waist of money. Get some silverstars or something.

[ZM Blue Devil]

why do you need 100? even with the big @ss hella fogs?

[DaveSmed]

Wow, awesome.

OK, To start out with, NEVER put a bigger fuse anywhere not designed for it. Are you replacing all of the wire from the other blade of that fuse to the front of the car? No? Leave it alone. If it pops, you are at the safe limit for that wire. Are you screwed? No! Use a relay. Run correctly sized wire from the power point on the firewall, fuse it, and use a relay controlled by the old headlight wire to turn the lights on and off.

Melt your housings? My Hella 130w bulbs are fine. Are you guys using US ellipsoids, or euro? If euro, Hella or Bosch? What melted?

Waste of money.... Silverstars and any other gay tinted rice bulb are a waste of money. High wattage bulbs with clear glass are a great way to increase light output.

And HIDs. Yep, love mine. Love the 130w halogen high beams too. ;)

[chivas]

found a little ditty on another forum (surprisingly, a Honda forum http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread/1812043):

Halogen Fog Light Bulbs – Watts, Amps and Voltage

The regular fogs use 12v 55w Bulbs this is a draw of ~4.6amps (55w/12v=4.58333amps)

Since both fogs are on the same circuit the total load is actually 110w. This translates to a draw of ~9 amps.

However, brighter after-market bulbs are usually 12v 100w bulbs this is a draw of ~8amps (100w/12v=8.333amps)

Since both fogs are on the same circuit the total load is actually 200w a total of ~17amps!

The fuse in the after-market fog-lights is rated at 15amps!

A draw of 17amps should blow the fuse, however the load is actually less than 17amps due to resistance in the wiring and variance in voltage which explains why the fuse does not blow.

now, for honda's, they run on the same line. for the e30's, they are separated. but either way, the 7.5 isn't enough to power the up'ed bulbs. when the weather gets better, i'll rewire them with thicker wires but for now, they are on only when i need them.

[Mike325]

Just get an HID kit. They look better, have better light output, will last 100x longer than the bulbs you are getting and you will not have to rewire anything. In fact, an HID kit uses about 35w instead of the stock 55w and way less than the bulbs you want. You have ellips right? Not sealed beams. It will not work on sealed beam because you can not change the bulbs in sealed beam headlights.

[chivas]

Just get an HID kit. They look better, have better light output, will last 100x longer than the bulbs you are getting and you will not have to rewire anything. In fact, an HID kit uses about 35w instead of the stock 55w and way less than the bulbs you want. You have ellips right? Not sealed beams. It will not work on sealed beam because you can not change the bulbs in sealed beam headlights.

i am thinking about HID'ing my hella 500's but with the 100W bulbs, they are actually brighter then the elips HID"s i already have in the low beams.

[Mike325]

Why do you need these bright ass lights? You can get 55w hids from understeer.com. They are supposed to be a decent amount brighter than regular hids.

[bolognablake]

Just upgrade the wiring to your head lights. I know 4 or 5 people made kits for Jeep Cherokees, so I'm sure that someone makes them for the e30.

FWIW, I converted my sealed beam in my Cherokee to IPF housings with IPF Fatboy H4 bulbs, and it was one of the best things I'd ever done.

[chivas]

Why do you need these bright ass lights? You can get 55w hids from understeer.com. They are supposed to be a decent amount brighter than regular hids.

Jersey roads. that's all i gotta say about needing lights to see. after i installed these lights, i can clearly see how you can me a multi-millionaire just by fixing bent rims.

[chivas]

Just upgrade the wiring to your head lights. I know 4 or 5 people made kits for Jeep Cherokees, so I'm sure that someone makes them for the e30.

FWIW, I converted my sealed beam in my Cherokee to IPF housings with IPF Fatboy H4 bulbs, and it was one of the best things I'd ever done.

more info please!

[Sean]

I'm with DaveSmed on this one.

Anyone that changes fuses to a higher rating is clinically retarded. Do you WANT your car to burn to the ground?! SERIOUSLY. That's just stupid.

Do Hids, like TJ said, much more worthwhile.

[Paul318iS]

22 gage wire is enough to carry 10 amps to a single bulb with a fair safety factor, the e30 wiring harness for the headlights is approximately 16-18 gage; it is adequate for much higher power delivery. This of course does not take into account the ambient temperature affects nor bundling temperature effects. And of course one needs to look at the relays and other circuits to assure that there will not be negative outcomes from increasing the current. I have been running 4 100W bulbs for my high beams for several years now, no problems yet.