a few halogen questions

[MoggyBlue]

Heya guys

Sadly one of my sealed beam headlight units failed and now in the process of replacing but felt it was best to upgrade to halogen

My only confusion though is after searching many units. Some are sealed beam halogens and some are not but it seems that you can still replace the bulb.... so what is a sealed halogen beam are they better than normal ones do they require certain bulbs?
Thanks
Jordan

[bmcecosse]

Sealed beam halogens are rare and unusual - get a pair with halogen bulbs.... Plenty on ebay.

[mike.perry]

A sealed beam headlight has an integral bulb, ie it is all one unit. Normal headlights have replaceable bulbs

[MoggyBlue]

I know the whole unit would need replacing on a standard beam maybe if I send you links to them you may see what I mean

This is a sealed beam halogen
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.vi ... 31&alt=web

And this is normal
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.vi ... 60&alt=web

they are the same seller same unit by the looks of it but one is sealed and the other is not
As you can also see, the bulb is replaceable

[bmcecosse]

The first one is NOT ' sealed beam' - it has an H4 bulb - like almost all halogen units... It is a replacement for a 'sealed beam' headlamp...

[MoggyBlue]

The first one is NOT ' sealed beam' - it has an H4 bulb - like almost all halogen units... It is a replacement for a 'sealed beam' headlamp...

Well that's what I almost thought But being a price difference and being the same unit I thought maybe there was a difference but couldn't work out how the heck a sealed beam would have a replacement bulb

But there are loads more like iit all saying sealed beam so I don't know

[mike.perry]

You should get a pair of Wipac Quadoptics, far better than certain other makes.
That should pursuade Wipac to send me a couple of 21W double pole single filament bulbs as a good will gesture as they apparently do not sell them retail

[whyperion]

On these units (I have bought , but not fitted), for earlier cars, would you run the side light wire into them, leaving the Front flasher only on the existing sidelights ?)

[MoggyBlue]

You should get a pair of Wipac Quadoptics, far better than certain other makes.
That should pursuade Wipac to send me a couple of 21W double pole single filament bulbs as a good will gesture as they apparently do not sell them retail

Haha have been thinking about getting quadoptics but at £40 without bulbs pr anything I don't know if it's really worth it but yes I know they are a safety thing but the only reason I am upgrading is that my sealed beam has died so yeah.... I have debated it though

[MoggyBlue]

On these units (I have bought , but not fitted), for earlier cars, would you run the side light wire into them, leaving the Front flasher only on the existing sidelights ?)

Sorry not 100% sure what you are asking

Have you got the sidelight and indicator combined if so then yes you can just change the wiring to go to the headlight or you can wire both up if really wanted

[mike.perry]

The side light wiring on the headlight is for Minis or other cars with combined head/sidelights, no need to use it

[bmcecosse]

But of course you CAN - and get a better 'side' light - or even use them as DRLs..

[whyperion]

Thanks,

actually other than parking on a unlit road a night what is the point of front sidelights anyway (extreme useful when the headlamp bulb blows and one does not have a ready replacement ) ?

[MoggyBlue]

Just an update
I have just won a pair of Wipac headlights for £20 with £3.50 postage very happy
it has no sidelight which is what I wanted and the description only said wipac but on closer inspection of the lenses they say quadoptics and they also include the bulb so I'm happy now

Thanks for all the help given damn ebay titles

[bmcecosse]

The point of 'sidelights' is that in town traffic - you shouldn't be driving around with your headlights on - blinding the car in front! Same idea as not blinding the car behind by by driving around with 'fog warning' lights on - or sitting with foot on the brakes !!!!! Sadly -few seem to follow these very basic and simple courtesy actions....

[MoggyBlue]

The point of 'sidelights' is that in town traffic - you shouldn't be driving around with your headlights on - blinding the car in front! Same idea as not blinding the car behind by by driving around with 'fog warning' lights on - or sitting with foot on the brakes !!!!! Sadly -few seem to follow these very basic and simple courtesy actions....

Well to be honest Roy when I was learning to drive my instructor always said it was illegal to use sidelights when moving

[bmcecosse]

And he is wrong! Outside a built up area - yes, but in the built up area - no.

[MoggyBlue]

And he is wrong! Outside a built up area - yes, but in the built up area - no.

Haha ahhh right ok well tbh if I used sidelights I'd get pulled over so ill stick to headlights

[bmcecosse]

Obviously - going through a quiet village with no traffic about, you would have the headlights on. But nose to tail in town traffic - crazy to have headlights on - and will flatten your battery if you have a dynamo!

[mike.perry]

I think that I will stick to dipped headlights in built up areas. I don't fancy filling out a claim form saying that the other driver claimed he did not see my side lights against the background of headlights when he pulled out in front of me.