Hi all,
just wondering if anyone has any info about the headlight pattern (which bulbs are illuminated during low and high beam)? In the standard 3rd Gen headlight there are two bulbs (not counting the parkers), a H4 for low beam, and a H1 for highs.

Now the H4 is a dual filament bulb (correct me if I'm wrong), which has both a low and high beam filament. My lows are pretty good at illuminating the road ahead for about 20 metres or so, and my highs are good at illuminating anything past about 15 metres, but when I switch from low to high I lose most of the good illumination up to about 15 metres.

It would appear that the H4s switch to high beam and the H1s turn on, and you lose the good illumination at less than 15 metres. I have found that if you pull the light stalk towards you but don't let it click, you can have all of your lights on (i.e. both H4 filaments and the H1) which gets you the best visibility, but I think this may be overpowering the H4 as I don't think they're meant to have both filaments lit at the same time.

Any info or opinions would be helpful.

cheers,
.wook

Hi all,
just wondering if anyone has any info about the headlight pattern (which bulbs are illuminated during low and high beam)? In the standard 3rd Gen headlight there are two bulbs (not counting the parkers), a H4 for low beam, and a H1 for highs.

Now the H4 is a dual filament bulb (correct me if I'm wrong), which has both a low and high beam filament. My lows are pretty good at illuminating the road ahead for about 20 metres or so, and my highs are good at illuminating anything past about 15 metres, but when I switch from low to high I lose most of the good illumination up to about 15 metres.


Yes, H4 is a dual filament bulb - the reason why you lose the lows when the highbeams is simple - foreground illumination kills long distance vision. If you have both on, you lose sensitivity to the light furthur ahead.



It would appear that the H4s switch to high beam and the H1s turn on, and you lose the good illumination at less than 15 metres. I have found that if you pull the light stalk towards you but don't let it click, you can have all of your lights on (i.e. both H4 filaments and the H1) which gets you the best visibility, but I think this may be overpowering the H4 as I don't think they're meant to have both filaments lit at the same time.

Any info or opinions would be helpful.

cheers,
.wook

This is correct - only the highs are on (on both bulbs) for the reasons stated above - the visibility isn't actually better - the high amount of light in the foreground confuses you - much like driving with fogs on 'seems better' it isn't.

With both filaments of the H4 on, you are also drawing more current down the shared return - but this isn't the main issue. Nor is the increased heat production. The reduced long distance visibility is...

Its a very simple mod to do if you must - simply use a decent diode between the high and low beam terminals of the bulb (obviously it has to be the right way around).

Cheers
Heath Young

Thanks Heath. I was also thinking of getting driving lights to fill in the closer area, but if it really hurts long range vision, I probably won't.

cheers,
.wook

Thanks Heath. I was also thinking of getting driving lights to fill in the closer area, but if it really hurts long range vision, I probably won't.

cheers,
.wook

From experience, you do not want to hold that stalk in the position that lights up all three
sets. I did it once in my old KS and I started smelling burnt plastic smell coming from the
steering column.

From experience, you do not want to hold that stalk in the position that lights up all three
sets. I did it once in my old KS and I started smelling burnt plastic smell coming from the
steering column.
I have actually done it quite a few times without any kind of burning smell. I am not going to do it anymore, no matter how much that loss of short range visibility annoys me.

.wook