99 f150 xlt 4x4

I'm debating rather to add some 4" lights behind my grill. I've seen many of the members on here do this.

My question is this:

How much in Watts do the factory light put out?
Trying to compare a set of 55w offroad driving lights to the factory lights.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Blazer-Baj...White/15111230

or these

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...x_x#fragment-1

I would add 2 of them behind the grill.

I'm looking to get as much light as stock or perhaps even a little more light.
I would use these along with my stock lights. (stock lights dont put out very much anymore since the lense is smoked).


Also, once I have the lights mounted, is there a better bulb I should replace them with?

With eiter of the ones above, will they create enouph heat to melt the grill?


Thanks for the input.

 

the second ones are biger and put out more light but nothin to wild

 

Yea i figured since they were 100w vs 55w. With either of them put out the amount the stock ones do, or more?

Thanks,

I'm leaning toward the second set since they look a bit darker and wont be as noticable behind the grill, plus they look like they give out more light too.

 

I wouldn't even look at 55w, 100w or bigger is the only way to go. With 4 lights, you can aim 2 into the sides and 2 straight down the road for good coverage. Best of luck!

 

Thanks! I think if my searching did well, factory wise it's right around 35/45w per light. So I'm assuming the 100w lights will be better than before.
I guess the only issue will be they are usually for long range vs short range.
Perhaps if I point them down a little it'll cover some of the short range too.

Not looking to add 4 of them, only 2.

 

First off, wattage is not a way to measure light output. Wattage is the amount drawn by a bulb itself. Your stock 9007 bulb is 65W high/55W low with a lumen (what you really want to compare) output of 1400lm high/1000lm low.

While they both use the H3 bulb, the 100W consumes more wattage, and therefore more amperage (and sice halogens output can be defined on a graph by a factor of 3.4 exponentially) thereby increasing its intensity.

55W H3- 1450lm
100W H3- 2300lm

The 100W will have about half the service length of the 55W, but H3's are relatively cheap. Also, 100W bulbs are not DOT-compliant, so technically they are illegal to use on-road. But you have a 1 in a 100 chance of getting pulled over even if they're aimed high.

From my perspective, the bottom one is better. But if you have more money to play with, there are even better lights out there.

-Alex

 

thanks.....I figured the 100w would be brighter than stock and a chance of getting pulled over. I'm hoping to take the truck out at night on a long road with lots of trees and then find the right angle so it also lights up some of the road.

I like your lights.....but dont wan to play around with that kind of cash right now. Not on my 99. If I had a newer truck or wasn't liking the dark headlights I would look into the HID/Projectors lights like the retro kit you did. Just looking to add some light to make up for the black out on the light.

Looks like the lower set won. Trying to stay under $100 or $80 really for everything including the wiring. Like I said really just want the same light output or more if I can. If you have suggestions around that range, please PM or post some up here.

Thanks for the reply and technical info.

 

KC daylighters. You can get a complete kit for about $100

 

As has already been stated, I wouldn't waste your time with 55 watt bulbs. That said, I'd worry more about the quality of the lights themselves than the bulbs. I well designed light can do wonders with even just 55 watts. I've always liked Hella lights and have had them behind the grill on all of my F-150's since 1997. (Before that I used to put them on the front bumper.) I haven't been disappointed yet.

 

not saying youre wrong but it depends on the state. i know for a fact in PA that the law TECHNICALLY states that any light that was not put on the vehicle from the factory is illegal. this means cab lights, driving lights, lightbars, fog lights, off road lights(legal but must be covered while driving on road), etc. it applies to ANY added light TECHNICALLY. also tinted lights are not TECHNICALLY legal in PA. just depends on the state and REALLY it all comes down to the police officer if you get pulled over. tho you are probably correct about the chances of being pulled over. so the lights behind the grille that a lot of you guys have are technically illegal in PA if they arent covered up. and you WILL get pulled over if they arent covered...if you dont you are VERY lucky..

 

I would say having tinted headlights are illigal everyone !
I'm hoping no tickets come my way since I'm really liking the way it looks right now.

I would think the 100w off road lights can't be as bright as the projector lights more newer cars have. I know my MDX projector lights are freaking bright and light up everything in it's path.

I'm only planning on using the off road lights when it's dark out. My guess would be it's be hard for an officer to notice I have them on vs regular ones. Perhaps I'm wrong and those 100w ones are a lot brither.

Anyone have a comparison of night driving from factory to a set of 100w off road lights? post up a link if so.

Thanks,

 

It's not an issue of brightness, it's beam pattern. Driving lights will blind the heck out of every driver on the road. Including that cop you're trying to avoid

Why would you use them during the day?

It will not be hard for a cop to see you driving down the road with 2 100w off road lights from behind your grill. They are a lot brighter then stock lights and have a different beam pattern.

On top of all of this you will be blinding every car that's coming at you.

 

^2 on what he said. HID projectors are easily twice as bright, but then again they are aimed for a flat cutoff a few feet above the road, not a pencil beam aimed on the horizon like you would with off-road lights.

Like stated above, there are some lights out there that will do wonders with a 55W H3. Just search around and ask the off-roader guys, ask for output beams, etc, etc. I can give you electrical help, but when it comes to looks or reflector performance, I'm clueless.

 

Why would you be driving around other traffic with your extra lights on? Do you leave your high-beams on all the time too??

 

^He's not saying he does directly, he's being metaphorical.

And yes, there are a few people around where I live that run off-road lights on the roadway. Generally those older Chevy's with ****-poor OEM lighting systems.