scoobyboy

does anybody know where i can buy some h4 gas discharge lights that will work with dip and main. all the kits i look at only seem to do main but it's hard driving with no dip!!!

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

www.autolamps-online.
Nick, the top guru there, will set you right: they do a kit with an H4 bulb that does both dip and main.

NOT cheap though:
Alcazar

scoobyboy

cheers for that when it goes on to the site it changes to hid-online.com is that still correct?

Autolamps

I am surprised because most of the kits should be the other way around as the national average time on low or dip beam is 65% of your night driving , if you wish to be pedantic the actual figure is 273 hours per year !!.

The site link is correct and if you are really interested to know why let me know, otherwise we look forward to hearing from you. If you have any question that you think the other members here would be interested please post them and I will do my best to answer.

There is a lot of preconception and folklore based around car lighting and I am here to try an seperate this from the facts (If I can?).

Nick
www.autolamps-online.com

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

<<<There is a lot of preconception and folklore based around car lighting and I am here to try an seperate this from the facts (If I can?).>>>

And he does! Read some of Nick's other posts:
Alcazar

scoobyboy

out of curiosity how is the bulb worked with reference to dip and main. is there two filaments inside like an h4?
also what is the dip pattern like and then main is there a definate difference like the h4s?

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

No, not two filaments, the discharge module(????) physically changes position.
AFAIK, you get the same pattern of dip and main as an H4, or very similar, as the pattern depends mainly on the lens,(or the reflector in clear headlights) not the bulb.
Alcazar

scoobyboy

so theres a moving part to the bulb then does that effect the light output or the longevity of the bulb in the any way i mean how often does this moving part fail especially being around the heat the bulb produces?
sorry about all the questions

Daz WRX

Surely this occurs in the ballast part and not the bulb.

Daz.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Well, I'm pretty sure I've seen a mock up on one of the sites, and it was the actual bulb part that moved.

I'm not sure about longevity. Remember that you're looking at a gas discharge here, and they don't produce the heat of a filament, (that's why they're so much more efficient: more light, less heat). Also, there is no filament to snap.

Perhaps Nick knows the answer to your questions better than I do?
Nick??

Adam M

if I recall correctly, there is a kind of metal umbrella which mechnically moves and insoing changes the path of the discharge spark so that it illuminates and reflects off a different part of the lens.

This is pretty much all that happens with th H4 except that it is done via 2 filaments.

As was said already, heat isnt a big issue, but I wonder how long it last and how quickly you can flash people.

Would be inclided to go for a dip beam h4 and use the posts for main beams.

would like to see a price on the hilow h4s hough.

there wasa group buy but can't remember the price.

scoobyboy

calling nick ?? can you shed any more light on these questions?

Autolamps

Sorry Guys I have been over at a show in Japan.

Up until today nobody make a production version of the basic D2 discharge lamp with two arcs. There is a lot of development work going on but its a few years away yet.

To produce two beam patterns from a single arc (low and high) you have 3 options that I am aware of.

1. The arc in the lamp can be moved by a magnetic field. This changes the focal point of the lamp and assuming the reflector and lens are designed correctly will give you the different light distribution patterns you need.

2. Physically move the arc. This is the option of most of the Asian kits but the reality is the lamp was never designed to move. The lamp is moved back and forwards using a solenoid. However the impact and acceleration, deceleration quickly destroy the lamps.

3. Use a physical shield that moves. This is the option we use and basically the lamp stays still. The shield is a metal electromechanical device which creates the two beam types. Porsche also use this type of system on their Bi-Xenon 996 as you are moving metal which is easy and safe and the lamp is untouched

Hope this helps?

Nick
www.autolamps-online.com

Adam M

whats the exact difference between 1 and 3?

scoobyboy

how does the moving part in your kit affect the speed of going from dip to main and vice versa and also if you flash someone.
cheers nick

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

If it moves as fast as on the mock-up, ie: like a relay, it's pretty fast. Flashing HID's is another matter, as they strike up fairly fast, but don't reach full brightness until a couple of seconds.
Having said that, even first brightness from one is brighter than all but the brightest halogen bulbs, and once they are on full, there's no comparison.
Alcazar

Autolamps

To cover the popints raised above.

The solution 1 and 3.
1 is distorting the arc by using an electro magnetic field. The option 3 is using a metal shield to change the light reaching the reflector and as such chnage the beam pattern.

Flashing HID is no problem as the light from the D2 lamp is faster than a halogen lamp (11/1000ths sec). It is true however that full brightness is not achieved for approx 1.5 seconds but this is not a problem when flashing

Nick
www.autolamps-online.com

scoobyboy

well thats sold me i'll be looking to buy a set of h4s very soon then.
(ps any chance of any discount nick )

Autolamps

I am happy to reopen the Group Buy details and you will get your choice of halogens for your main beams/fog lights and side lights FOC, if your wish?? It depends whats applicable as obviously main beams are not required on an H4 kit.

Nick
www.autolamps-online.com

scoobyboy

it would be the hi lo kit for the h4s as i want hid on dip and main send me an e-mail if thats easier cheers nick