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PIAA bulbs?

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by SCFirefighter, Sep 12, 2010.

  1. Sep 12, 2010 at 7:02 AM
    #1
    SCFirefighter

    SCFirefighter [OP] on idiot patrol ;)

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  2. Sep 12, 2010 at 7:05 AM
    #2
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    What are you looking for? More light output? Blue tint?

    Keep in mind, and coloring on teh lens, is essentially a filter, and blocking some of the light. Therefore, reducing its total output. ALso....When PIAA claims "60/55W=135/125W" There is NO WAY you can make a 60 watt bulb put out 135 watts. It would have to be a magic bulb that can ignore physics (Power in = power out, if 100% efficient).
     
  3. Sep 12, 2010 at 7:11 AM
    #3
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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  4. Sep 12, 2010 at 7:28 AM
    #4
    Jimmyjohn

    Jimmyjohn Well-Known Member

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    Smitty Blt Bull Bar& Skid Plate, PIAA 525SMR lights
    I've run Piaa bulbs and had no problems. I've also run Sylvania Super Star Bulbs They work well
     
  5. Sep 12, 2010 at 7:33 AM
    #5
    Jigzor

    Jigzor Well-Known Member

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    Nice looking bulbs Chris, but all of them would require him to upgrade his wires and install relays. At least that's what it says. What would you recommend for simple plug n play?
     
  6. Sep 12, 2010 at 7:40 AM
    #6
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    ANy bulb running less than 100 watts is fine with OEM wiring. I ran them for a few years with no issues. Going over 100 watts can cause the wires to run hot. IIRC, Painless makes a harness for higher wattage light bulbs.
     
  7. Sep 12, 2010 at 7:54 AM
    #7
    MJonesTrumpet

    MJonesTrumpet Well-Known Member

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    I use those PIAA bulbs in my taco now. They are great. I just wanted my head lights to match my fogs and all 6 of my PIAA aux. lights
     
  8. Sep 12, 2010 at 7:54 AM
    #8
    SCFirefighter

    SCFirefighter [OP] on idiot patrol ;)

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    I know our stock headlights are huge, but 100W sounds like it would generate a lot of heat. Any known issues?
     
  9. Sep 12, 2010 at 7:58 AM
    #9
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    I never had issues. IIRC, I was running the 80/90 bulbs. They worked great! MUCH more light output than the OEM 55/60's
     
  10. Sep 12, 2010 at 7:59 AM
    #10
    SCFirefighter

    SCFirefighter [OP] on idiot patrol ;)

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    Thanks for the links Chris
     
  11. Sep 12, 2010 at 8:10 PM
    #11
    epa4wd

    epa4wd Well-Known Member

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    Clazzio Seat Covers OR Wheels 40% tint Side Steps KC Fog Lights
    I would be careful, the output wattage of the bulb is not the main issue, its the consequence of it being higher. If you increase power while keeping voltage constant, then you are increasing current. Passing more current trough a wire which is probably not rated for that = heat, heat + run time = melt, not to mention that resistance of wire goes up as it gets hotter. If the bulb says that its recommended to upgrade the wiring, I would definitely take that advice.
     
  12. Sep 13, 2010 at 2:22 AM
    #12
    tribalb

    tribalb Member

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    ive ran both the piaa's and the sylvania high intensity. the piaa's were ok. lasted a good year. the sylvania on the other hand lasted only half a year. very disappointed. right now im running some cheaper sylvania's till i find a suitable replacement....thinking of getting these halo branded lights. not sure. otherwise im gonna wait it out when i get more funds for hids
     
  13. Sep 16, 2010 at 3:35 PM
    #13
    yosh2000

    yosh2000 Well-Known Member

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    picked up a 80/100 bulb at napa today, PN: BP1210/H4. it is packaged as "wagner" brand. i'll do some testing tonight and see how much more light it gives off. supposedly the OEM 55w bulbs give off 1000 lumens, whereas this 80w gives off 1700, so we'll see.

    i'll be ordering some ceramic H4 connectors on egay and making my own upgraded wire harness w/ relays to ensure i dont melt any wiring...now hopefully i dont melt any lenses!!

    i'll report back here when all is completed.
     
  14. Sep 16, 2010 at 3:57 PM
    #14
    jtav2002

    jtav2002 Kenny Fuckin Powers

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    I ran PIAA's in my Impala SS before going to HID's and they were a decent upgrade, nothing special though. Equivalent to what a Silverstar would give you, but naturally they're just going to be just whiter and not really brighter since it's the same wattage.

    And FWIW, I'd never run anything higher than a stock bulb on the stock wiring. Just a general rule of thumb I've always went by with my vehicles. What might not give one person problems could cause someone else headaches. That's just me though.
     
  15. Sep 16, 2010 at 4:05 PM
    #15
    GSRON

    GSRON Well-Known Member

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    I've got the "intense white" bulbs in my 06 TRD as we speak. When the roads are dry they work OK. Low beam is really good but the blue tint takes enuf away to make high beam worse than stock. The blue tinting offers NO advantage over a "clear" bulb other than bling appeal.

    The biggest problem/concern I have is when it rains. The light output is so "white" that there is NO contrast and other than the reflectors on the lane markers you can't see shit, might as well turn the lights off as there's very little difference in visability. I know, I tried it.

    After the rain we had here in Chico last week I'll NEVER run a blue tinted bulb again..... I'm also on the hunt for a quality set of yellow bulbs for the fogs.

    Winter weather is almost here so I'm going to run some Hella Bulbs. They have more output than std bulbs, NO blue tint and are rated at the same amp draw as stock.

    The Hella part # is H83140091 and you can get them from Amazon....
     
  16. Sep 16, 2010 at 4:08 PM
    #16
    yosh2000

    yosh2000 Well-Known Member

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    ^ check out phillips x-treme vision bulbs...$33 shipped. great clear bulbs, i really like them! i'll get pics comparing them and the BP1210's 80 watter i picked up today.
     
  17. Sep 16, 2010 at 4:10 PM
    #17
    yosh2000

    yosh2000 Well-Known Member

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    your right on the edge of the conservative limit of the wiring w/ the 100w bulbs, but i completely agree w/ you. this is why i am going to run the ceramic plug as well...better to spend a few extra bucks then have fried wiring!!
     
  18. Sep 16, 2010 at 6:14 PM
    #18
    SCFirefighter

    SCFirefighter [OP] on idiot patrol ;)

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    I ordered two of the [SIZE=-1]"Hella HLA-H83140171 H4 12V 100/80W Halogen Bulb Off Road Use".
    They'll get here Saturday.
    [/SIZE]
     
  19. Sep 16, 2010 at 6:19 PM
    #19
    yosh2000

    yosh2000 Well-Known Member

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    ^ sweet!!

    i just picked up a set of these ceramic connectors to use for my custom 14 gauge wire harness w/ relays i will be making! i'll be doing a writeup in a few weeks when i get everything and have time to install.
     
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  20. Sep 18, 2010 at 5:52 PM
    #20
    SCFirefighter

    SCFirefighter [OP] on idiot patrol ;)

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    so I got the [SIZE=-1]100/80W Halogen Bulb Off Road Use[/SIZE] today. They're the higher wattage bulbs. Honestly I'm not sure what I expected to see, but here are the before and after pics. I don't see a difference. Maybe it will be obvious when driving and looking at longer distances.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    I'm closer to the garage door in the second picture, so the light spot is bigger because of that.
     

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