A class headlights

[AlunandFelicie]

Is there a way to increase the luminosity of A class headlights ,I’m finding it difficult to cope with the poor illumination they provide whilst driving at night are they even legal at the light they provide?
I noticed on another thread a comment about A class lights so I presume it’s not only me who struggles

 

[Guigsy]

What bulbs are they? If they are incandescent, just changing to a good brand like Osram Nightbreakers can make a big difference.

 

[Figaro]

Could you add a couple of driving lights ?
Mine seems to be ok for the odd occasion I drive at night. It's really only ever for an early tunnel departure

 

[AlunandFelicie]

The bulbs are the same ones as when I bought the van just went to Halfords for identical replacements

 

[Guigsy]

The bulbs are the same ones as when I bought the van just went to Halfords for identical replacements

Don't get the electric blue ones. And I wouldn't be tempted by off-brand ones that claim silly brightnesses as they'll burn out quickly. But Osram and Philips premium models are noticeably better than generic Halfords ones.

Other options are to get LED conversion kits. They aren't cheap though.

You might find that your lights are Hella and there are LED versions that can be swapped in... But that'll be very expensive.

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[phil1946]

It might also be worth checking the voltage at the lamps, a small voltage drop will significantly reduce the amount of light given off by the bulbs. Also, if you do decide to fit extra (driving) lights you should ensure that, having cut into the power supply, you have not reduced the voltage at the headlights. I would suggest wiring everything through relays with fused heavy supply direct from the battery.

 

[AlunandFelicie]

I think I’ll take your advice and try some new lamps and see if that’s the answer

Other option is to have the wife to shine a torch on the road as I drive

 

[nicholsong]

I think I’ll take your advice and try some new lamps and see if that’s the answer

Other option is to have the wife to shine a torch on the road as I drive

Have your wife walk/run ahead with a strong hand-held torch.

 

[Verteuil Man]

Depending weather you need better illumination on dip or full beam, I have seen these light bars fitted to rally cars connected to full beam. They don't half chuck out some light.

12V LED Work Light Bar Flood Spot Lights Driving Lamp Offroad Car Truck ATV SUV | eBay

Light Beam: Combo: 100 degree Wide Flood Beam / 30 degree Spot Beam. Quick cooling heat sink effectively extends the bar's lifespan beyond 30,000 hours. Apply to: Pickup, Wagon, UTB, Cab, ATV, SUV, Jeep, Truck, Boat, Bus.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Guigsy]

Depending weather you need better illumination on dip or full beam, I have seen these light bars fitted to rally cars connected to full beam. They don't half chuck out some light.

12V LED Work Light Bar Flood Spot Lights Driving Lamp Offroad Car Truck ATV SUV | eBay

Light Beam: Combo: 100 degree Wide Flood Beam / 30 degree Spot Beam. Quick cooling heat sink effectively extends the bar's lifespan beyond 30,000 hours. Apply to: Pickup, Wagon, UTB, Cab, ATV, SUV, Jeep, Truck, Boat, Bus.

www.ebay.co.uk

300 watts of LED....!

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[Orion]

300 watts of LED....!

Dunno how accurate those eBay descriptions are but ……….

Allegedly 400w (equivalent) from this four row LED combined spot and flood on the little Honda - it does light up the fields nicely though!

 

[cyberyacht]

I've heard a cataract operation can do wonders for dim eyesight.

 

[AlunandFelicie]

I've heard a cataract operation can do wonders for dim eyesight.

But I don’t want to have cataracts put in

 

[cyberyacht]

 

[nicholsong]

I've heard a cataract operation can do wonders for dim eyesight.

I can confirm that as I had both eye cataracts removed and new lenses inserted last year. Great improvement - now I do not need glasses for jut walking around.

Now I am talking to the brain surgeon about my dim brain

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[Platelet]

Osram Nightbreakers are very good if they’re halogen type bulbs. Fitting replacement bulbs with led/Hid ones is illegal and is a MOT fail. I have replaced my complete headlight units with leds, the transformation is remarkable (compared to the L/R candles) I also have a large LED strip light on top of my land rover, it has 144x3w led’s. A bit OTT for a MH? The range is about 1/3 mile in clear conditions, any mist/haze there is a lot of bounce back, It is very close to daylight!

 

[Jezter]

Have your wife walk/run ahead with a strong hand-held torch.

Come on, that's not humane. We're better than that sort of cheap suggestion.

The trick is to put a long pole out forward from the roof of the van, and then you can hang your wife and torch off that in a harness.

 

[AlunandFelicie]

Come on, that's not humane. We're better than that sort of cheap suggestion.

The trick is to put a long pole out forward from the roof of the van, and then you can hang your wife and torch off that in a harness.

Sorted ! I’ve duct taped a wheelbarrow to the the front it’s easier for her to put her coat on if it gets a bit cold

 

[Jezter]

Sorted ! I’ve duct taped a wheelbarrow to the the front it’s easier for her to put her coat on if it gets a bit cold

I'm shedding a tear, here. Such love and consideration.

 

[Guffy60]

I think I’ll take your advice and try some new lamps and see if that’s the answer

Other option is to have the wife to shine a torch on the road as I drive

This place sells upgraded halogen, the types we use in motorsport. https://www.powerbulbs.com/

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[Machbuster]

Is there a way to increase the luminosity of A class headlights ,I’m finding it difficult to cope with the poor illumination they provide whilst driving at night are they even legal at the light they provide?
I noticed on another thread a comment about A class lights so I presume it’s not only me who struggles

Have same problem on Hymer A-class, really bad at night.

 

[AlunandFelicie]

Have same problem on Hymer A-class, really bad at night.

I’ve just bought Osram nightbreakers as suggested above £27 for two on Amazon will give them a try.

 

[SIFTA SAM]

Have same problem on Hymer A-class, really bad at night.

I was going to fit Leds to mine, and refit the original bulbs prior to any MOT if there was going to be any 'problem' which I was assured there would not be.

 

[Brains]

I was going to fit Leds to mine, and refit the original bulbs prior to any MOT if there was going to be any 'problem' which I was assured there would not be.

Do check the law re replacing headlight bulbs with LED's.

As I understand there are some issues with LED replacement headlights in A class motorhomes that will result in instant MOT failure.

I'm sure someone will be along soon to clarify my hearsay.

 

[68c]

Why is this an A Class problem? Surely the manufacturers use the base vehicle headlights. Would not be good sales technique to use an inferior light just for cosmetic reason.

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[Guigsy]

LEDs kick out a lot more lumens than an incandescent. The problem is that the spread of that light from the bulb might not be the same. The reflector in the headlight is assuming the light is coming from a certain point and distribution. Putting in an LED might mean you've got dangerously worse lighting in some bits of the beam and potentially also blinding oncoming traffic.

 

[Platelet]

Do check the law re replacing headlight bulbs with LED's.

As I understand there are some issues with LED replacement headlights in A class motorhomes that will result in instant MOT failure.

I'm sure someone will be along soon to clarify my hearsay.

99% of led bulbs do not project the correct pattern required for the MOT. This leads to dazzling to oncoming traffic, this also applies to using Hid bulb replacements but worse due to the brightness of them. Hid’s must be fitted to a self levelling vehicle fitted with a headlight wash system.

 

[Manic]

Why is this an A Class problem? Surely the manufacturers use the base vehicle headlights. Would not be good sales technique to use an inferior light just for cosmetic reason.

No, most A Class use different headlights from the base vehicl, my 2001 Fiat based Hymer has small round Hella light units.
I fitted night breaker bulbs, they help a little.

 

[Guigsy]

Why is this an A Class problem? Surely the manufacturers use the base vehicle headlights. Would not be good sales technique to use an inferior light just for cosmetic reason.

When headlights are designed for a specific vehicle and they know they're going to build a hundred thousand of them, they get heavily optimised for that application.

When Hella design a light, they are going to sell far fewer units and where they'll be on a vehicle will be pretty diverse. So generally you aren't going to get as good lighting on an a-class.

Saying that, the lighting on mine is generally pretty good. But they are Hella LED units. The line they project to is very sharp though. Good illumination to a good distance away, then it blinkers very suddenly to nothing. A bit more edge spill would be useful as I get a very sudden pop-up effect driving on country lanes.

 

[Platelet]

No, most A Class use different headlights from the base vehicl, my 2001 Fiat based Hymer has small round Hella light units.
I fitted night breaker bulbs, they help a little.

Has the projector (the bowl the bulb fits into) degraded ie lost its mirror finish or glass/plastic front misted over?

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