1997MAXZ

So I know the factory bulbs i had were 55w/12v, I have replaceed them with bulbs that are 100w/12v. now my question is are the bulbs going to get 100w or are they limited to the output of the car/wire harness. Also if they are only getting the stock55w is it possible to boost the wattage?? Thanks for any input.

Mr. Brett

iTrader: (7)

The bulbs will draw what they need from the wire just fine. What bulbs are we talking about? There are quite a few of them on our cars.

I'm assuming your fogs, in which case, they'll be just fine. Worry more about melting your harnesses from the excess heat than the bulbs being underpowered.

1997MAXZ

I was talking about the headlights, i have no fog, wish i did. I just wanted to see if the new headlight bulbs were putting out there full potential.

nalc

iTrader: (11)

They will not be getting anything close to their full potential.

Stock A32 headlight wiring harness sucks for the factory 45w bulbs. It's like 18ga or 20ga wire. No way that stuff is good for 100w.

1997MAXZ

so they will not be receiving 100w, but is there a way to upgrade??

bigpopaj369

iTrader: (2)

if u can afford it i would just get a bi-xenon hid kit, ddmtuning.com has kits like 70 bucks shipped with a lifetime warranty. ive wasted at least a 150 bucks buying different halogen bulbs and wasnt/still not happy, to be honest i kick myself in the a$$ all the time for not going hid in the first place.

1997MAXZ

Ok but i have also read on here people saying to get hid's without projector lenses was a waste or to much glare?? what do you think?

bigpopaj369

iTrader: (2)

honestly i mite be doing the same thing, its completely fine to do, no matter what u do people on the internet will bash u in some way lol retro's are nice and very impressive but also expensive. there is nothing wrong at all with using hid kits in the stock housings. as for glare its not going to be to the point where ur blinding people or it looks bad so i wouldnt worry much about that at all and its most definitely not a waste, u will be much brighter than any halogen bulb.

nalc

iTrader: (11)

You can buy a 9004 relay harness that will let you get more voltage to the bulbs (powers them right from the battery with heavy-duty wire)

You have your bulbs already. a 9004 relay harness shouldnt be more than $25, and it should help a lot.
also, get the 3M headlight restoration kit if your lenses are yellowed or scratched or foggy. cleaning up the lenses will improve the light a lot.

HID kit is a terrible, terrible idea. 9004 is a garbage bulb design, and there will be huge amounts of glare.

http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...-housings.html

1997MAXZ

I"m getting some mixed reviews, I am really gonna have to weigh my options.

anomaly117

iTrader: (3)

the wattage pertains to the output and operating temperature. they are going to draw 12V from the battery, cuz that's all the need to operate. They're going to be about twice as bright and twice as hot, as the 55W's. Take it from me, do not run 100W bulbs without replacing your harnesses with heavy duty harnesses. THEY WILL FRY.

Put the 55W's back in, higher wattage bulbs FTL. Or get a cheapo ebay HID kit.

1997MAXZ

where might this relay be available, also would this mean an alternate headlight switch?

nalc

iTrader: (11)

Negative. They don't "draw" any voltage from the battery. They "draw" current from the battery. The current they draw is directly proportional to the voltage available from the harness or the battery.

If they have 8v, they'll light up, but be dim and brown. If they have 12v, they'll light up decently, a nice yellowish white. If they have like 14v, they'll be very bright, and white.

The harness is there to make sure the stock wiring doesn't fry. The harness is also there to make sure they get the highest voltage possible (whatever the battery voltage is). With stock wiring, it's thin so it drops some voltage. Relay harness is heavy duty thick wire that won't drop nearly as much voltage.

The wattage the bulbs use is proportional to the square of the voltage. For instance, let's say they're rated 100w at 12.8v. Run them at 11v (let's say for instance the stock harness can only get 11v because its voltage drop is so big), they're now only using 74w. Run them at 14v (right to the battery), they're now using 120w.

Still use stock switch, all of the wires are just near the battery, nothing into the cabin. Something like this would do it:
http://www.streetbeatcustoms.com/ADS...-Relay/532242/

1997MAXZ

seems like some people still really have some mixed opinions on the subject but thanks for all the input it really helped.

bigpopaj369

iTrader: (2)

honestly if u are just trying to have brighter lights without making things too complicated then i would just get an bi-xenon hid kit. there is plenty of people out there running them. people like i told u are going to give u crap and say this and that. u see tons of cars with hids/stock housings. IMO playing with harness upgrades to run higher wattage bulbs isnt the best way to go. it all depends on what ur looking for, if u simply want brighter lites i would just run an hid kit. if ur looking for insane output with crazy focus and cutoff then go retro, again people are always going to tell u different things

1997MAXZ

Last question, where can '' if I were going to" get a n HID kit that is plug and play, every time i see them online the bulb design does not look like it would fit in the stock housing with out jimmy rigging a way for the bulb to stay in the opening in the housing, or are they just generic pis of the kits and the actual 9004 kit would come with the 9004 sytle bulb/clip design.

bigpopaj369

iTrader: (2)

ddmtuning.com is amazing they offer a lifetime warranty and all their kits are plug n play no issues, u would need a bi-xenon kit so u have hi/lows, they have 9004 kits their kits fit directly in the stock housings. heres a link http://www.ddmtuning.com/index.php?p...d=102&parent=0

1997MAXZ

ONE MORE- 35W or 55W?????

bigpopaj369

iTrader: (2)

if u want extra bright id go 55w its 10 bucks more but its worth it! just keep in mind that 55w kits tend to washout the color so if u like the slightly blueish 6k kit then go with a 8k kit in 55w. personally im going to get the 55w 8k kit

bigpopaj369

iTrader: (2)

the 55w kits are 40% brighter than the 35w kits from there

nalc

iTrader: (11)

do you want 4 times as much glare as factory headlights, or 6 times as much glare as factory headlights?

that will decide whether to go 35w or 55w HID in stock housings.

Leo_Koneval

iTrader: (4)

I think either way wouldn't you need to get projectors? Because a 100W halogen bulb would probably shoot the lights everywhere just like HIDs without projectors.

People who did the 9004 to 9007 bulb mod, had to aim their lights down, and that is just a 10W difference from the 9004 bulbs.

bigpopaj369

iTrader: (2)

^technically no, sooo many people run hid kits in stock housings and its just fine. its not anything out of the ordinary its becoming more common everyday

nalc

iTrader: (11)

That doesn't mean that it's legal, or that it's safe. No matter how many people do it or how common it is. It's a huge annoyance to other drivers, and a safety hazard.

That's because the 9007 conversion, like the HID conversion, completely destroys the beam pattern and just makes it a vague blob of glare.

100w 9004s have less glare than 55w 9007s or 35w HIDs.

bigpopaj369

iTrader: (2)

here in MA theres so many cars on the road that go through a state inspection every day that have hids in stock housings. im not tryin to be a D**k but the point im tryin to make is that if ur just tryin to upgrade headlight output without braking the bank hid kits are a good way to do just that. ive gone through so many different halogen bulb setups, different wattage and brands and was never happy and id hate to see somebody else do the same, ive always been on a budget so projectors were always out of the question. but i do agree that retroing headlights or buying projector headlights is the best way to go but its not totally necessary. i havent seen any cars with hid kits in the stock housings that had a redic amount glare to the point where it was unsafe and ive seen alot of cars doing this