For Those Running H4 Headlight Conversions...

[rubicontrail]

For any of you running H4/9003 headlight conversions... the Silverstar ULTRA bulbs are now available. The ULTRAs have been out for a while (have been running them in my XK for almost a year now) but they weren't originally available in the H4 size.

I was running the Silverstars in my Rampage MSR housings but one of them blew. I went to get a new bulb yesterday and saw they had the ULTRAs so I picked them up. They are brighter and whiter than the normal Silverstars especially on high-beam.

[FlexyXJ]

I just got done putting true HID conversion in the JK. Its a new style bulb
(H-13/9008) so I have been waiting for them. Its a simple plug and play system that comes with the Capacitor Boxes to get rid of all the problem with aftermarket lighting on the CCD/BUS systems on the new JK. Price is VERY good and the light output vs. amps used is incredible. True HID is the mod of the future and prices are falling!!!


Joe

[ademster]

Hey Joe, I wonder if I can do that in my Cj-7 the head lights aren't the greatest.

where did you buy your kit from and what did it take to do the install? Is it rather basic and straight froward?

[Washington_XJ]

Yeah, is there a kit for the cherokee lights or if its a round light thing...

[rubicontrail]

Washington_XJ, you can get an H4 conversion kit (from Rampage, Hella, and others) and an H4 HIDs but be careful with them. There are no HID aftermarket kit that are DOT approved and can get you a fix-it ticket from you friendly neighborhood police officer.

Also, you typically have to upgrade your wiring with a dedicated harness that goes directly from the battery and is activated by a relay which plugs into the stock plug. If you don't you will have issues with the HID ballast not igniting or else will get a flickering strobe effect. On a Cherokee I would suggest you upgrade your lighting harness anyway... you will see a world of lighting difference just by doing that.

[FlexyXJ]

Washington_XJ, you can get an H4 conversion kit (from Rampage, Hella, and others) and an H4 HIDs but be careful with them. There are no HID aftermarket kit that are DOT approved and can get you a fix-it ticket from you friendly neighborhood police officer.

Also, you typically have to upgrade your wiring with a dedicated harness that goes directly from the battery and is activated by a relay which plugs into the stock plug. If you don't you will have issues with the HID ballast not igniting or else will get a flickering strobe effect. On a Cherokee I would suggest you upgrade your lighting harness anyway... you will see a world of lighting difference just by doing that.

There ARE H4 Conversions that are DOT approved AS LONG AS THEY ARE NOT MORE THAN 6500 Kelvin. The main problem with HID and the "flickering" is the lack of voltage available at ballast start up. I have been installing these particular kits for almost 2 months now and 80% of them have been H4 conversions with ZERO issues. Most of the issues you speak of were of the early conversions that didnt have the "bugs" worked out. These kits are truely a "plug and play" system that is compatible with the Chrysler CCD/BUS systems. If you are REALLY worried about start up voltage, just add one of the capacitor boxes and you will have a fail safe system, although its NOT needed in an H4 system, only lighting that is CCD/BUS controlled.


Joe
Absolute Offroad

[FlexyXJ]

Yeah, is there a kit for the cherokee lights or if its a round light thing...See post above...:D Yes there is a kit for the XJ's.....:)

Joe
Absolute Offroad

[FlexyXJ]

Hey Joe, I wonder if I can do that in my Cj-7 the head lights aren't the greatest.

where did you buy your kit from and what did it take to do the install? Is it rather basic and straight froward?Adam, I keep these kits in stock for most popular bulbs. Its pretty straight forward as long as you have some wiring skills, you should have no problems. If you dont have skills, there are always the instructions......:D


Joe
Absolute Offroad

[ademster]

I have the skills to wiring anything...


Just I dont have the plug in buld I have the whole lamo assy style crap..


I wonder if I buy a tj head lamp set I could then do it.. and wiring everything on a dedicated circuit...

[Markos]

So does anyone feel like arguing the merits of Sylvania Silverstar Ultra bulbs. We can discuss the fact that they are coated with blue film, thereby reducing the light output. Then someone can post a side by side comparison, showing how they 'look' brighter. Just like my LED flashlight looks brighter than my maglight...

[rubicontrail]

There ARE H4 Conversions that are DOT approved AS LONG AS THEY ARE NOT MORE THAN 6500 Kelvin. The main problem with HID and the "flickering" is the lack of voltage available at ballast start up. I have been installing these particular kits for almost 2 months now and 80% of them have been H4 conversions with ZERO issues. Most of the issues you speak of were of the early conversions that didnt have the "bugs" worked out. These kits are truely a "plug and play" system that is compatible with the Chrysler CCD/BUS systems. If you are REALLY worried about start up voltage, just add one of the capacitor boxes and you will have a fail safe system, although its NOT needed in an H4 system, only lighting that is CCD/BUS controlled.


Joe
Absolute Offroad

Joe, I know of no DOT approved ones still being manufactured. There were the Sylvania Xenarc lights that fit Cherokee's and Wranglers but they have ceased manufacturing of the Cherokee ones. If you can give me some links to the H4 DOT-approved ones that would be great. Kind of weird that they would prohibit ones above 6500kelvin. The light output of the lower degrees is typically brighter than the one of the higher degrees (degrees refers to light color not brightness).

And Markos, the Silverstars ULTRAs are brighter (from within the cabin -- ie. more light output, not just side by side head-on viewing) than the Silverstars or stock factory lights or the Hella replacements.

[Markos]

And Markos, the Silverstars ULTRAs are brighter (from within the cabin -- ie. more light output, not just side by side head-on viewing) than the Silverstars or stock factory lights or the Hella replacements.

Sorry, Silverstars produce less output. I don't disagree that you *think they are brighter. Not only that, they burn out quicker...;)

[rubicontrail]

Sorry, Silverstars produce less output. I don't disagree that you *think they are brighter. Not only that, they burn out quicker...;)

Ok, whatever you think. I know I could barely see 4 feet in front of my vehicle with the factory lights. Now I can see much further.

http://www.sylvania.com/content/display.scfx?id=003693263

I don't know about you but I see a lot more in the bottom photo than the top.

[Markos]

Rubi:

You've been a great help to me, especially with the OME questions that I threw your way. I'm not trying to piss you off or anything, just stating the facts. It's not just what I think, it's true. A marketing photo on the sylvania website isn't convincing enough for me. If we are going to look at website content, let's compare OSRAM websites. You probably already know that Osram owns Sylvania. So down below, I'm comparing two osram products, the Sylvania Silverstar versus a plane jane H4 bulb. Light output is measured in Lumens, and the figures can be found below. Once again, i won't argue that they may look brighter to you, but I assure you that they are not...

Note: I rearranged some of the text for readability. All data found in links below:

Sylvania SilverStar
http://www.autothing.com/images/Products/AutoLight/Pro-Light-Head/Nokya/Magnum%20Cosmic%20White/Nokya-Bulbs-MCW-H4.jpg

Sylvania Website (http://www.sylvania.com/cgi-bin/MsmGo.exe?grab_id=85&EXTRA_ARG=FILTERNAME%3D%2540URL%00%26FILTERVALUE%3 Dwww%252Esylvania%252Ecom&host_id=42&page_id=8128512&query=H4+silverstar&hiword=H4+silverstar+SILVERSTARS+
H4 SilverStar Headlight)
High Performance Halogen Headlight - Dual filament for both high beam and low beam - For Motorcycle Use - part number: H4ST

Technical - Life 60W 55W
Design Volts 12 Rated Life 150/50

Lumens:
Low 910 +/- 10%; High 1500 +/- 10% Low 55; High 60 ~4000K

Osram Standard Line 12v
http://www1.conrad.de/xl/8000_8999/8500/8520/8520/852013_BB_00_FB.EPS.jpg
Osram Website (http://catalog.myosram.com/zb2b/b2b/start.do?browsername=mozilla%2F4.0%2520%2528compat ible%253B%2520msie%25207.0%253B%2520windows%2520nt %25205.1%253B%2520infopath.1%253B%2520.net%2520clr %25202.0.50727%253B%2520.net%2520clr%25201.1.4322% 253B%2520.net%2520clr%25203.0.04506.30%2529&browsermajor=4&browserminor=4)
EAN/ Product : 4050300001470
Product description: 64193 60/55W 12V P43T FS1
Technical - Electrical Data
Nominal voltage (product) 12 V
Nominal wattage (product) 60 W

Technical - Life 60 W 55 W
B3 at test voltage 14.0 V 110 / 175 h
Tc at test voltage 14.0 V 220 / 400 h
B3 at test voltage 13.2 V 250 / 400 h
B3 at test voltage 13.5 V 180 / 290 h
Tc at test voltage 13.2 V 500 / 900 h
Tc at test voltage 13.5 V 365 / 650 h

Lumens:
Low 1000 +/- 15%; High 1650 +- 10% Low 55; High 60 ~3270K

[cross_007]

Joe,

How much is this kit for the JK?

Chris

I just got done putting true HID conversion in the JK. Its a new style bulb
(H-13/9008) so I have been waiting for them. Its a simple plug and play system that comes with the Capacitor Boxes to get rid of all the problem with aftermarket lighting on the CCD/BUS systems on the new JK. Price is VERY good and the light output vs. amps used is incredible. True HID is the mod of the future and prices are falling!!!


Joe

[rubicontrail]

Rubi:

You've been a great help to me, especially with the OME questions that I threw your way. I'm not trying to piss you off or anything, just stating the facts. It's not just what I think, it's true. A marketing photo on the sylvania website isn't convincing enough for me. If we are going to look at website content, let's compare OSRAM websites. You probably already know that Osram owns Sylvania. So down below, I'm comparing two osram products, the Sylvania Silverstar versus a plane jane H4 bulb. Light output is measured in Lumens, and the figures can be found below. Once again, i won't argue that they may look brighter to you, but I assure you that they are not...

Note: I rearranged some of the text for readability. All data found in links below:

Sylvania SilverStar
http://www.autothing.com/images/Products/AutoLight/Pro-Light-Head/Nokya/Magnum%20Cosmic%20White/Nokya-Bulbs-MCW-H4.jpg

Sylvania Website (http://www.sylvania.com/cgi-bin/MsmGo.exe?grab_id=85&EXTRA_ARG=FILTERNAME%3D%2540URL%00%26FILTERVALUE%3 Dwww%252Esylvania%252Ecom&host_id=42&page_id=8128512&query=H4+silverstar&hiword=H4+silverstar+SILVERSTARS+
H4 SilverStar Headlight)
High Performance Halogen Headlight - Dual filament for both high beam and low beam - For Motorcycle Use - part number: H4ST

Technical - Life 60W 55W
Design Volts 12 Rated Life 150/50

Lumens:
Low 910 +/- 10%; High 1500 +/- 10% Low 55; High 60 ~4000K

Osram Standard Line 12v
http://www1.conrad.de/xl/8000_8999/8500/8520/8520/852013_BB_00_FB.EPS.jpg
Osram Website (http://catalog.myosram.com/zb2b/b2b/start.do?browsername=mozilla%2F4.0%2520%2528compat ible%253B%2520msie%25207.0%253B%2520windows%2520nt %25205.1%253B%2520infopath.1%253B%2520.net%2520clr %25202.0.50727%253B%2520.net%2520clr%25201.1.4322% 253B%2520.net%2520clr%25203.0.04506.30%2529&browsermajor=4&browserminor=4)
EAN/ Product : 4050300001470
Product description: 64193 60/55W 12V P43T FS1
Technical - Electrical Data
Nominal voltage (product) 12 V
Nominal wattage (product) 60 W

Technical - Life 60 W 55 W
B3 at test voltage 14.0 V 110 / 175 h
Tc at test voltage 14.0 V 220 / 400 h
B3 at test voltage 13.2 V 250 / 400 h
B3 at test voltage 13.5 V 180 / 290 h
Tc at test voltage 13.2 V 500 / 900 h
Tc at test voltage 13.5 V 365 / 650 h

Lumens:
Low 1000 +/- 15%; High 1650 +- 10% Low 55; High 60 ~3270K


Markos, I know you aren't trying to piss me off. The Osram ones you listed are Euro-spec. They make Osram Silverstars that have the the same lumen output... Part Number: 64193SVS 60/55W 12V P43T FS2PET

Unfortunately, I do not know of a source to get the Osram Silverstars here. If you do, hook me up.

If you look at the lumen outputs of US-spec Sylvania bulb you will see that it is the same as the US-spec Silverstar. However the Silverstar puts out those same lumens in a whiter light which makes nighttime visibility that much better. Perhaps "brighter" is not the technical term because they have the same lumens but to the driver they are "brighter" because the whiter light exposes more of the detail in front of them.

[Markos]

Euro-spec OSRAM bulbs aren't difficult to get a hold of. Personally, I run Hella Bulbs in my Jeep and my VW.

My Jeep has Hella 55/60's. Like the OSRAM bulbs, they put out 1000/1650 lumens.

The VW has 55/100's. I like these because they are like 80/100's, without pissing off oncomming drivers with your lowbeams on...

You can get decent euro bulbs all over the internet. This is a great resource for lighting:

http://www.rallylights.com/hella/H4.asp

I get my 55/100's from here. I haven't changed my bulbs in years though:

http://www.germanautoparts.com/Volkswagen/Jetta/Lighting/113/2


I'm sure you've read all about it, but here is an artical from the infamous lighting expert (some say Nazi) Daniel Stern, that discusses Sylvania Silverstar Bulbs...

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/blue/good/good.html

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/blue/bad/bad.html

[Markos]

Unfortunately, I do not know of a source to get the Osram Silverstars here. If you do, hook me up.


Sorry I forgot to mention:

You can get OSRAM silverstars from here (Free shipping worldwide):
http://www.powerbulbs.com/product_detail.asp?prod=91

Since they aren't coated with a blue filter, They won't produce the 'white light' that you are after.