Re: Halogen bulb headlights

Posted by John Regan on August 31, 1998 at 11:04:29

In Reply to: Halogen bulb headlights
posted by Jim Upton on August 31, 1998 at 08:26:05

: One ofour club members is considering installing halogen bulbs in his '29 Model A.He has a 6 volt alternator on the "A".Outside of consideration as to parking lights in the headlight, are there any other problems?Comments pro and con are welcomed.
Contrary to popular notion, Halogens don't offer much to the antique car hobby.For the same power they offer the same initial briteness as an ordinary bulb.The only real difference is near "end of life" when the halogen will still be brite as new while the ordinary bulb will have dimmed about 10%.Life of both bulbs is the same since they essentially use the same filament structure.Halogen and ordinary bulbs are not offered as equal in all bulb numbers so I am referring to the technology.Since an antique car is hardly ever driven long enough to burn out a bulb and since changing a bulb is no big deal it hardly seems worth all the trouble if you ask me.
An ordinay bulb and a halogen differ mainly in that the H bulb is filled with halogen gas which prevents the slow build up of carbon on the inside of the glass envelope which is what causes the slow loss of briteness in an ordinary bulb.To accomplish this task the halogen bulb must operate at a very hot temperature and they are easily damaged.Again I ask what are you trying to accomplish in an antique car.A 50 CP (candle power) ordinary bulb is the same initial briteness as a 50 cp Halogen bulb and they have the same life expectancy and draw the same number of amps.
I am sure I will be flamed for this opinion but Halogens just aren't that big of an improvement for the antique car hobby.
They are generally being pushed by non technical people as being the greatest thing since the yo yo for all cars but I don't think so since there are skads of halogen bulbs to pick from where I work and I don't have any desire to convert my car to them.I you put in a new bulb every 3 years you will likely never see a difference in briteness.Spend the money on replating your reflectors if you want briter lites.
Just my $.02
Model A Voltage Regulators for 3 Brush Generators

Follow Ups:
Re: Halogen bulb headlights jim upton September 01, 1998 at 11:30:50(0)
Re: Halogen bulb headlights Dennis Pierce August 31, 1998 at 22:34:37(1)
Re: Halogen bulb headlights John Regan August 31, 1998 at 23:42:12(0)
Re: Halogen bulb headlights Halowe August 31, 1998 at 13:39:21(0)

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