Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi,
I'm looking to upgrade my headlamps to halogen since the sealed beams it has are rather dim. I've read in some places that I need to upgrade to an alternator to do this. Is this correct? Looking at the wattages of the halogen lights vs sealed beams they seem to often be similar. So I would think that they would be okay on the dynamo. What do you reckon?

Thanks
James

If you are planning to use the car regularly at night and add any electrical upgrades then I would upgrade to an alternator as it will charge the battery more efficiently.
The halogens are a good upgrade and easy to fit. You only need to modify the bulb connector which is easy enough.

Assuming a "1000" series car, then swapping from sealed beam to halogen is roughly the same power consumption, but with better light. Therefore a dynamo will cope if (a) it is the only swap you do and (b) you do not spend most of the journey at slow speed in traffic. Additional loads such as heated screens may justify an alternator.

To fit halogens you need to fit completely new reflectors and lenses, but the bulb connector remains the same. There are some cheaper halogens units available with a flatter lens, but the Wipac Quad Optic units are closer to the curved lens of the sealed beam; and look, in my opinion, much more suited to the car.

I fitted these, they look the part and work very well - nice and bright and a straight swap.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7-Halogen-Hea ... 5b02f7bd82

Do you run those with a Dynamo panky? They look pretty good. I will upgrade to an alternator at some point but for the moment I'm just hoping to fit the halogens. So I won't drain the battery using them?

simmitc wrote:Assuming a "1000" series car, then swapping from sealed beam to halogen is roughly the same power consumption, but with better light. Therefore a dynamo will cope if (a) it is the only swap you do and (b) you do not spend most of the journey at slow speed in traffic. Additional loads such as heated screens may justify an alternator.

To fit halogens you need to fit completely new reflectors and lenses, but the bulb connector remains the same. There are some cheaper halogens units available with a flatter lens, but the Wipac Quad Optic units are closer to the curved lens of the sealed beam; and look, in my opinion, much more suited to the car.

Halogens use a H4 bulb which is different to a sealed beam connector so you would need to modify the headlamp connector.[frame][/frame]

James k wrote:Do you run those with a Dynamo panky? They look pretty good. I will upgrade to an alternator at some point but for the moment I'm just hoping to fit the halogens. So I won't drain the battery using them?

I did initially but since fitted an alternator but plenty of folk run a dynamo with the halogens. I stress I didn't need to alter the connections at all - the plug that fitted the sealed beam units went straight on the halogens, maybe late models are different - mine's a '71 traveller.

Tricky,
The sealed beams on post 63/4 cars (roughly) had sealed beams with bulbs that have the exact same connector as your above post. Halogen headlamps are therefore a straight swap for them. Pre-64 cars, as standard (I think yours is one too?) had BPF bulbs, which is a completely different pin and so would need a replacement wiring section, not much more hassle to push in 3 bullet connectors though.

Hi,
My car is from 1963 and was a straight swap, the connectors fitted perfectly. If earlier cars had a different connector and yours is an earlier car then just swap the headlamp looms to the later type - links below - as stated in an earlier post it's a simple matter of pushing in three bullet connectors and job done.
Best wishes,
Mike.

http://www.morrisminorspares.net/shop_item.php?ID=2387

Or on eBay:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MORRIS-MINOR- ... 2584c3a48a

Cheers Jack, I did not know that, I assumed that they all had the same fittings. Mine being a 61 car I had to change the connector when I fitted halogens.

I fitted halogens and was pleased with the improvement. I then read a test report on different bulbs and lashed out about £10 on the test winning bulbs (a Philips premium bulb). Wow! Absolutely brilliant with a much improved shape of beam, I was stunned at the difference between them and the cheapo's that came in the conversion kit (and both were the same wattage).
Fully recommend choosing some good bulbs and asking your MOT man to help you set 'em up for maximum effect!
John

Can you post a link to the bulbs you used?

I fitted these Mick. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-0730219 ... B00440CWDK

Sorry, Tysonn, the same item doesn't appear to be still on Ebay. I bought in March :
Phillips Premium Car Van Headlight Lamp H4 (30% Brighter) Performance Bulb at £5.99 after reading an Auto Express bulb test. They are normal white lamps (not Blue) and the beam shape is much better than the cheaper bulbs, as per the test report. The wattage was the same as the cheaper bulbs.
Regards
John

I run halogen headlights on my Series MM charged by a C39 dynamo. With the dipped headlights and heater on the ammeter shows a small charge. Towing the trailer, an extra 22W tail and number plate lights, 42W brake lights and 21W indicators plus the wipers (it was raining), I was stuck in traffic for 1 1/2 hours and managed to flatten the battery

Halogen bulbs are 55 watt - the max allowed for highway use - and actually use slightly LESS power than the 60 watt sealed beams they replace... No need for an alternator. But do have the sense (and courtesy) to switch them off when in town traffic...

"...Switch them off in town traffic....".....!? Dip surely

No -switch off. What's the point of shining headlamps into the back of the car in front ??? Nothing more annoying....well actually, prats that sit with foot on brake pedal are even more annoying.. The old dynamo doesn't charge at idle - so the battery will go down - this is where an alternator scores, and probably is advised if doing town traffic regularly... But still keep the headlamps off !!!

Ifyou think that I am going to risk driving on pin prick side lights in towns, think again! There is no chance of being seen against a background of searchlights

Give me strength. I've never heard anything so ridiculous or dangerous!