Off-road driving lights...wattage?

[OrangeCrush]

For those of you that have (2) 5-6" round driving lights attached to your brushguard and use them in conjunction with your low beams, what watt bulbs are you using?

I installed a pair of 6" KC off-road lights onto the factory brush guard. It comes with 130 watt H3 bulbs so I purchased a set of the bright white 75 watt bulbs.

I'm wondering what's the highest wattage I can use without blinding everyone and pissing everyone off.

Thanks,

Mark

[OrangeCrush]

Thanks Phil,

I'm afraid you may be correct. The lamps are long range lamps and it seems to me that the only way I'll be able to use them is point them way down.

I'll try and see how it works.

Thanks again,
Mark

[KenP]

HaHa... Phil said "DAZZLE"..... Twice!!! http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[OrangeCrush]

I'd say that brings on "the ghey" but afterall, he was trying to help me in his own little way without belittling his manliness.

http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Mark

[ree]

Mark,
I've got some 6" PIAA 580 driving lights that have 85W H3 bulbs that PIAA claims produce 135W worth of light. I don't know if they're right on this claim, but they are bright.

I've got them aimed just a smidgen above my low beams but I biased them straight and to the right just a tiny bit to get some extra light out in front but not light everything up. This really helps on dark nights or when its raining. I often run run with them on on two lane roads and have accidentally forgotten to shut them off for oncoming traffic, but have yet to have someone flash me. And on a divided highway there doesn't seem to be an issue with opposing traffic.

Provided the lamps are good quality and not scattering light everywhere, careful aim should do the trick regardless of wattage.

[OrangeCrush]

Originally posted by ree:
Mark,
I've got some 6" PIAA 580 driving lights that have 85W H3 bulbs that PIAA claims produce 135W worth of light. I don't know if they're right on this claim, but they are bright.

I've got them aimed just a smidgen above my low beams but I biased them straight and to the right just a tiny bit to get some extra light out in front but not light everything up. This really helps on dark nights or when its raining. I often run run with them on on two lane roads and have accidentally forgotten to shut them off for oncoming traffic, but have yet to have someone flash me. And on a divided highway there doesn't seem to be an issue with opposing traffic.

Provided the lamps are good quality and not scattering light everywhere, careful aim should do the trick regardless of wattage.

Ree,

I'm with ya. I installed some 75 watt bulbs (don't know the actual wattage) but they are bright white and I have them aimed the EXACT same way... just a smidgon above my low beams.

I drove with them for the first time tonight and didn't get flashed so we'll see.

If I turn off my low beams, other than they spread a wider path, you can't tell they are even on.

Well worth it.

Mark