The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Halogen bulbs...

...as a replacement for tungsten in 54 AD headlights running on 12v--any advice, dos/don'ts? (I don't want to prat about with relays etc. Just swap bulbs.)

Danke donuts.

ohpants,
I just recieved the 2005 fall LMC catalog last night. On the cover is a close-up of a AD headlight assembly with a very cool looking lamp in it. www.lmctruck.com


Stuart.

Replacement bulbs come in different wattages. If you want to avoid messing with relays you'll want to stay with the lower wattage versions because they will require fewer amps.

had this post a while back, some say go ahead, some say relays, some say if you have good wiring probably no problem.. just go ahead and let me know how it turns out. This will be my next deal

If the wiring and headlight switch is adequate for the standard bulbs you are using now, and you do not replace them with higher wattage bulbs, you will not need relays.

If your wiring and switch is inadequate for your existing headlights, switching to halogen is not going to help.

Cool. Thank you, gentlemen, I'm crap at electrics.

About all I know is if you don't keep plugs in the wall sockets of your house the electricity leaks out.

so that is why my electric bill is so high,, thanks for the tip......and a little tip about electrics, you will need a battery for those lights Fred

Pants...

If you're running 12-volts, the easiest switch for your headlights is to get a 12 volt halogen sealed-beam at your local auto store...

Not sure if the number is H6014 (could it be that simple?), but I used these in my '72 C-10 and my '61 Willys pick-up.

I have used both Wagner Power-Beams and Sylvania's versions...both are much brighter than regular 12-volt sealed beams. Unless someone bother to read the lettering molded into the lens, it's very hard to tell they're not OEM.

As for your wiring, '54 trucks were the first year for plastic wiring insulation, and the six-volt wiring ought to be "twice as heavy" as is necessary for 12 volt "watt for watt" upgrade.


I wish they would make a six-volt halogen sealed-beam...

Good luck !


PS: you can also get composite Euro-type headlight envelopes that use the H-4 bulbs, but the ones I've seen so far have a much flatter lens than a traditional PAR-56 glass sealed-beam, and just don't look right in a 1940's-'50s US car/truck...IMHO.

GE's 7" round (H5024?) (available at Wal-Mart or many FLAPS) is the way to go.
It's a long-life lamp, and the closest thing you'll find to a true "high output" 7" round.
Sylvania's SilverStars are nice, too; but they use a "blue" bulb to make the light whiter (not brighter), and are significantly more expensive.

Relays are a nice touch, but usually not necessary if your stock wiring (including grounds!) is in good shape.

There are no 6V Halogen 7" round headlamps that I know of; and last I checked GE was the only one making the incandescents domestically (the GE bulbs are also boxed for and sold by other brands.)

Don't worry about relays, just make sure all of your connections (including grounds) are clean; and use the "light bulb grease" on the connections when installing the new bulbs.

Cheers,
mark.

When the time comes, I'm going to Hella H4s - even if they will probably look a bit odd.

I have always liked these guys because they have some, off the wall, hard to find lighting that is very hard to locate. I have several of the lamps that fit into my antique bikes that frankly NO-Body else has! But the key here is a simple phone call. Just cause you don't see it on the web page ..... ask them.
Contact PUMA and ask them if they have in stock the illusive 6-volt bulb. Many of our vintage bikes and sports cars still use 6 - volt systems. I have made many a recommondation about this company to many. Let them know who and what club you belong to and the use this will fit. They have always been helpful to us.
Hella's are one of the nicest lens around. The way the lens is fashioned helps to illuminate the side of the road as well as many other features. Actually the H4 is the type of bulb.

REMEMBER : NEVER TOUCH ONE OF THESE MODERN BULBS W/ YOUR GREASY FINGERS...
It WILL shorten the bulbs life. Clean w/ alcohol if you do B4 placing the bulb into operation

Check w/ puma access @ http://www.puma-access.com/cgi-loca...hp?L+scstore+ndhq3725ff937a93+1138284440

This model has a ''parking bulb'' along w/ the low/high beam added inside the lamp assy. CHECK IT OUT
see the conversion lamp:
http://www.puma-access.com/cgi-loca...ml?L+scstore+ndhq3725ff937a93+1137893642

Ps many of the autozone,kragen,schucks,pepboys, etc stores have halogen replacements

H4 is indeed the bulb type - but you need an H4 housing to use them.

I put halogens in my 54 ... with relays (why not?) ... all my notes are Here

What a great difference!

We can always count on Alan for practical "how-to's"!

Thanks, Larry.

And not just about trucks, about guitars, too.

LOL! Guitars and trucks ... isn't that ALL it's about?

and let's not forget women Alan, otherwise there'd be nothing to write songs about!

LOL! Man, that's the GREATEST truth!

Alan, I need to check out your website for a few things. Trying to get my '40 National archtop in shape so I can learn to play.

All my musical stuff starts Here , bro'.

To ask a bunch of questions and get a bunch of great answers, check out my Yahoo group Here