How high is too high? High beam wattage
07-22-2006, 05:04 AM
#1
How high is too high? High beam wattage
A little naive of me no doubt but I just hopped on ebay and looked around for a set of 9005 Xenon Plasma Blue high beam lights. They were cheap so I figured "why not?" I got the bulbs and put them in but then thought twice about it. They're wattage is 100W. The Max manual says to replace with 60W. Am I right to assume that the 100W are too high and they may likely burn out my harness? I've spent some time searching threads but can't find a clear cut answer. Can you exceed your car's speced wattage?
07-22-2006, 09:21 PM
#4
Nightmare = Reality
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Waterford, MI
Posts: 718
wait, arent 9005 High Beam OEM bulbs usually 85w? I DO know that PIAA and Phillips offer high performance bulbs that are specified 55w (OEM wattage on low beam typically) but they perform the equivalent of 85-110w. I guess the concept is that their bulbs adhere to the legal H3 ratings for bulb intensity but are more efficient at producing light. What we really need around here is some kind of Lumens or Candlepower test to assist more people with these lighting questions.
07-23-2006, 03:19 PM
#6
9006 is usually rated at 55w. this is for your low beams. 9005 is high beams, it is rated at 65w. i have ran 85w high beam without a problem but i do have the rewire kit from nissan after you get your headlights stolen. i believe they are slightly thicker though
07-23-2006, 04:19 PM
#7
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Posts: 5,432
i've tried 4 different brands of 9005s and all were either 60w or 65w and none of them worked...they lit up, but were extremely dim...i just gave up, so the stockers are staying in 
07-24-2006, 06:17 AM
#8
Its a shame because the cheap 100W bulbs I had in there looked fantastic. They matched the HIDs almost perfectly (i suppose its no surprise that extra power supplies a brighter, whiter burn). I bought some Silver Stars from Autozone for $20 each and was very dissapointed with how they burned by contrast. I ended up returning them. I'll likely go back to stock myself. I don't use the high beams too often anyway, I did like the look of the blue glint though. Next up is the fogs for me, because those are seen more often.
08-13-2008, 05:23 AM
#9
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 56
100w High Beams
I bought 100w replacement bulbs for my 4th gen, and loved the way they lit up the road. Definitely worth it. No problems with overloading the wiring.
However, the same bulbs in my 5.5 don't seem to be working very well at all. They look to be aimed too high. Too bad, since the low (HID) beams are at the correct height, and raising the high beams would raise them as well.
However, the same bulbs in my 5.5 don't seem to be working very well at all. They look to be aimed too high. Too bad, since the low (HID) beams are at the correct height, and raising the high beams would raise them as well.
08-13-2008, 10:35 AM
#17
08-14-2008, 07:32 AM
#20
08-14-2008, 02:20 PM
#21
08-14-2008, 02:22 PM
#22
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jmlee44
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
8
10-02-2022 02:13 PM
BPuff57
Advanced Suspension, Chassis, and Braking
33
04-16-2020 05:15 AM