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Princess Auto 6" lights on the Bull Bar
Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 10:05 am
by Mr. Flibble
I checked with the Ozzies, and apparently there are some mounting points for 6" lights on the top of the series 1 bull bar just under the plastic to support offroad lights.
If not, I will have to find some pipe holders because Princess Auto had these on for $12 each, so I bought four:
- $12 each!
- Princess_Auto_Halogen.jpg (70.77 KiB) Viewed 4936 times
I know that they won't be as good as some of the other lights out there. But, I also know that what really makes the difference is the quality of the wiring and what bulbs are chosen, so those are pretty easy things to modify for a $12 base!
Now, the only problem I have is trying to find covers for the damn things. It turns out these were so cheap that most covers cost more than the lights!
Anyone know of a good source for 6" light covers?
(I will post pics when I attach these guys to the bull bar).
Re: Princess Auto 6" lights on the Bull Bar
Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 12:02 pm
by mararmeisto
Unless I've read it completely wrong, lights on the bull bar, as long as they are BELOW the centreline of the headlights, do not require covers. It's only lights ABOVE headlights, like say on a roof bar, that would need be covered.
Re: Princess Auto 6" lights on the Bull Bar
Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 12:37 pm
by Mr. Flibble
I believe that this is the law as it currently stands:
B.C. - Auxiliary driving lamps
4.09 (1) A motor vehicle may be equipped with 2 auxiliary driving lamps, mounted on the front of the vehicle at a height of not less than 40 cm and not more than 1.06 m, that are capable of displaying only white light.
(2) An auxiliary driving lamp must be directed so that the high intensity portion of the beam is, at a distance of 8 m from the lamp, at least 12 cm below the height of the lamp and, at a distance of 25 m from the lamp, not higher than 1.06 m from the road surface.
(3) An auxiliary driving lamp must operate so that it is illuminated only when the upper beam of a multiple beam headlamp is illuminated.
Fog lamps
4.11 (1) A motor vehicle may be equipped with 2 fog lamps, mounted on the front of the vehicle below the headlamps, that are capable of displaying only white or amber light.
(2) Each fog lamp must be
(a) mounted not more than 30 cm below the headlamps, and
(b) adjusted and aimed so that, at a distance of 8 m from the lamp, the centre of the beam is at least 10 cm below the height of the fog lamp.
(3) The fog lamp wiring and switch must permit simultaneous operation of the parking lamps, tail lamps, licence plate lamp and, if required, clearance lamps.
(4) The operator of a vehicle may use fog lamps instead of headlamps when atmospheric conditions make the use of headlamps disadvantageous.
I am not certain how current that is. Generally though, most officers do not pull you over for too many lights IIRC, they add that on after they have pulled you over for a different offense.
Given that I already have fogs installed, I will have to at least cover 2 of the 4 driving lamps to comply with the law. I was already thinking about wiring 2 switches in, so I could turn on a combination of the lamps at a time, so I may go that route.
Re: Princess Auto 6" lights on the Bull Bar
Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 2:02 pm
by fexlboi
Mr. Flibble wrote:But, I also know that what really makes the difference is the quality of the wiring and what bulbs are chosen, so those are pretty easy things to modify for a $12 base!
so you're saying with the right wire and an expensive light bulb you get almost the same quality product as from well known brands as Hella, PIAA, Lightforce, etc?
Re: Princess Auto 6" lights on the Bull Bar
Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 2:26 pm
by Mr. Flibble
fexlboi wrote:Mr. Flibble wrote:But, I also know that what really makes the difference is the quality of the wiring and what bulbs are chosen, so those are pretty easy things to modify for a $12 base!
so you're saying with the right wire and an expensive light bulb you get almost the same quality product as from well known brands as Hella, PIAA, Lightforce, etc?
Pretty much, unless you go to HID there is not much of a difference. Granted HID is much better than Halogen, but other than minor differences in lens focusing, I really don't see what is different other than the amount of marketing material you get with each light! After all, if your Hella or PIAA lights burn out, you replace the bulb with another bulb, which is the same thing you do with these Princess Auto lights.
Re: Princess Auto 6" lights on the Bull Bar
Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 2:59 pm
by strada-caster
i know lordco has some 6" light covers.
price??? i dunno as I didn't ask
I'm sure they could be found at a cheaper establishment though.
Re: Princess Auto 6" lights on the Bull Bar
Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 9:18 pm
by FalcoColumbarius
As a technicality, I believe its the centres of the fog lamps must be lower than the centres of the headlamps.
As far as HIDs go, I think they are evil and summoned up by Queen Hel herself. Apart from blinding the other driver during the daylight hours and all that ~ they flatten the view. That is: If you shine regular headlamps at a tree in the dark you will see the first branches will be bright, the secondary branches will be less bright, third branches darker, fourth level branches darker still, &c., you will have depth of perception.
Shine HIDs at the same tree from the same distance and the first branches will be blue white, the secondary branches will likely also be blue white and the rest will disappear into oblivion. It will look like a two dimensional image ~ artsy, but sinister.
Falco.
P.S.: Did I mention that I don't like them?
Re: Princess Auto 6" lights on the Bull Bar
Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 10:29 pm
by jessef
Mr. Flibble wrote:fexlboi wrote:Mr. Flibble wrote:But, I also know that what really makes the difference is the quality of the wiring and what bulbs are chosen, so those are pretty easy things to modify for a $12 base!
so you're saying with the right wire and an expensive light bulb you get almost the same quality product as from well known brands as Hella, PIAA, Lightforce, etc?
Pretty much, unless you go to HID there is not much of a difference. Granted HID is much better than Halogen, but other than minor differences in lens focusing, I really don't see what is different other than the amount of marketing material you get with each light! After all, if your Hella or PIAA lights burn out, you replace the bulb with another bulb, which is the same thing you do with these Princess Auto lights.
Not sure where you got your info from but it's incorrect.
Taking the same bulb out of my 9" Lightforce mammoth offroad lights and put them in a 9" Procomp housing (same as yours from PA) and the difference is staggering. The procomps looks like a dinky kids flashlight compared to the Lightforces which can burn a hole in your pants.
Re: Princess Auto 6" lights on the Bull Bar
Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 11:05 pm
by fexlboi
Mr. Flibble wrote:...other than minor differences in lens focusing, I really don't see what is different other than the amount of marketing material you get with each light! After all, if your Hella or PIAA lights burn out, you replace the bulb with another bulb, which is the same thing you do with these Princess Auto lights.
Well, you will see the difference once you have your lights for a while. The housings, seals and mirror will corrode away. Oh and try to throw a rock against your light and against a Lightforce housing :)
I agree Falco. HID is hard on your eyes when you see other cars with it. BUT it's absolute amazing as an offroad light. Just so much brighter.
Re: Princess Auto 6" lights on the Bull Bar
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 9:43 am
by Mr. Flibble
fexlboi wrote:Mr. Flibble wrote:...other than minor differences in lens focusing, I really don't see what is different other than the amount of marketing material you get with each light! After all, if your Hella or PIAA lights burn out, you replace the bulb with another bulb, which is the same thing you do with these Princess Auto lights.
Well, you will see the difference once you have your lights for a while. The housings, seals and mirror will corrode away. Oh and try to throw a rock against your light and against a Lightforce housing :)
I agree Falco. HID is hard on your eyes when you see other cars with it. BUT it's absolute amazing as an offroad light. Just so much brighter.
Well, yes, this is true! There is no Fresnel on the lens, and I bet you are right, the glass is much thinner. So, I expect the direction of the light to not be as good as it could be with a better lens. But then again, I get 4X the bulbs/lights for an equivalent PIAA lamp price. (I have 2 PIAA foglamps on my Deli). 4 cheaper halogen lights will beat a single Hella or PIAA halogen light.
I also know that the rear sealing behind the cable on these lights (they have not arrived yet) does not exist, but I can fix that with a little caulking. So, as long as the mirror coating does not flake off (that is a valid concern!) then these lights should do me just fine. After all, I only want them for lighting up logging roads at night, or making logging trucks very aware of my presence during the day. (The fact that 4 lights on top of my bull bar looks really cool is probably the most important reason...)
Re: Princess Auto 6" lights on the Bull Bar
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 9:56 am
by jessef
Mr. Flibble wrote: 4 cheaper halogen lights will beat a single Hella or PIAA halogen light.
Estimate your amp draw as well so it's not too much on the alt.
Re: Princess Auto 6" lights on the Bull Bar
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 10:18 pm
by Chewy
The biggest Issue I see aside from them projecting light very poorly is that they may leak. I've seen these before and as soon as it's been damp for a while (which it usually is 9-11 months out of the year) they have water and or fog in the lense.
Falco: Despite being totally turned off by vanity coloured HID's, yellow HID's appear to be magical and ostensibly cast daylight due to being more in the center of the UV spectrum so we can actually see the light, especially in the proper projector housing.
Re: Princess Auto 6" lights on the Bull Bar
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 10:57 pm
by Mr. Flibble
jfarsang wrote:
Estimate your amp draw as well so it's not too much on the alt.
Oh yes, I will be keeping an eye on the voltmeter when they are on!
chewy wrote:The biggest Issue I see aside from them projecting light very poorly is that they may leak. I've seen these before and as soon as it's been damp for a while (which it usually is 9-11 months out of the year) they have water and or fog in the lense.
Yes, I expect you are correct about this. When I saw them I noticed the bases were not sealed where the wire comes in, and that is why I plan on caulking that point to keep moisture out. I had even considered hiding desiccant gel packets in the housing for that reason. If I seal that point and then take care with the rest of the body I think that they will function ok. As for corrosion, it is a risk, but we will see how that pans out.
I felt around under the plastic of the bull bar today, and found the mount points hidden under the plastic for the 6" lights. They felt smaller than I would have expected, but the Ozzies say that they are working for them. Apparently the hardest part of putting 6" lights on the bullbar is getting the plastic cover off.
(I have not figured out how to get the plastic cover off yet).