Sluggo Posted April 13, 2005 Posted April 13, 2005 You may have already heard of these, but many have not. GE Lighting developed the technology and either licensed or sold it to Toshiba for automotive applications. It's a (almost) drop-in replacement for standard H4 bulbs that offers about 80% higher light output with no increase in electrical current. I've installed them on two cars and am very happy with the results. Right now they're only licensed for use in Vipers, and the Dodge dealer gets $130 each, but there are people out there selling them for around $30. You have to trim one tab slightly to get them to fit, but other than that they're a drop-in replacement.
Sluggo Posted April 15, 2005 Author Posted April 15, 2005 never heard of them got more info? ← They work by capturing the infrared spectrum of the light (which is what we feel as heat), and reflecting it back onto the filament. The filament thus gets hotter without requiring any more current from the car's lighting system. Hotter filament = more light output. And unlike the bulbs that burn hotter/brighter the conventional way (with more current) these actually keep the headlamp assemblies cooler. The bulb, instead of being cylindrical, has a spherical bulge around the filament. Looks like a snake that ate a rat. The bulge section is coated on the inside with a material that reflects the IR and focuses it on the filament. Light output on the low beams is 87% higher than standard, and the high beams are 50% higher than standard. A link with some photos: HIR bulbs I'm using them on my SC4 and my BMW. sluggo
SKperformance Posted April 16, 2005 Posted April 16, 2005 I went to your site them to candlepower and asked them they said it does not work, got pics of your bulbs and your originals as candlepowers website has to be the cheapest annoying site with no proper navagation to it.
bartkat Posted April 16, 2005 Posted April 16, 2005 If those bulbs emit more IR, they might be effective in confusing speed lasers.
bartkat Posted April 16, 2005 Posted April 16, 2005 Here's HIR on Ebay. You can examine the original patent by going to: http://HIRheadlights.com/uspto%20hir%20bulbs.pdf The original GE spec sheet info, for the prototype bulbs they discontinued, is at http://hirheadlights.com/hir%20techsheet.htm http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...sspagename=WDVW
bartkat Posted April 16, 2005 Posted April 16, 2005 GE Spec Sheet http://hirheadlights.com/hir%20techsheet.htm
Sluggo Posted April 16, 2005 Author Posted April 16, 2005 I went to your site them to candlepower and asked them they said it does not work,got pics of your bulbs and your originals as candlepowers website has to be the cheapest annoying site with no proper navagation to it. ← My site? I don't have a website. I was just linking to the info you asked for. If Candlepower says they don't work, it's news to me. I can only guess they say that because they don't sell them and/or because they're only approved for Dodge Viper applications. I can assure you they that they work very well in my SC400 and BMW 850 (after trimming one tab a bit). Thanks to Barkat for the additional info.
leostunts Posted May 8, 2005 Posted May 8, 2005 I went to your site them to candlepower and asked them they said it does not work,got pics of your bulbs and your originals as candlepowers website has to be the cheapest annoying site with no proper navagation to it. ← My site? I don't have a website. I was just linking to the info you asked for. If Candlepower says they don't work, it's news to me. I can only guess they say that because they don't sell them and/or because they're only approved for Dodge Viper applications. I can assure you they that they work very well in my SC400 and BMW 850 (after trimming one tab a bit). Thanks to Barkat for the additional info. ← I bought these and extremely happy and total price was $20.00 shipped Good review in a car magazine. I've been next to cars with hids and they look the same, on the ground and looking at directly. Nice to look out at. here's the link. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...7973358866&rd=1
idrewfelix Posted May 8, 2005 Posted May 8, 2005 Are these bulbs for reals, I mean comon, halogens that "I've been next to cars with hids and they look the same, on the ground and looking at directly. Nice to look out at." Any real pics?
leostunts Posted May 9, 2005 Posted May 9, 2005 Sluggo:Do you have any pics from your car? ← I'll take a pics tonight- gound ,against garage, and directly.
leostunts Posted May 9, 2005 Posted May 9, 2005 Sluggo:Do you have any pics from your car? ← I'll take a pics tonight- gound ,against garage, and directly. ←
melhadri Posted May 9, 2005 Posted May 9, 2005 How long have you had the HILITE bulbs? Personally, I have the impression that all of these aftermarket bulbs burn out within the first 10 months of use. Do they shine a hyper-white with a noticeable bluish tint?
leostunts Posted May 9, 2005 Posted May 9, 2005 How long have you had the HILITE bulbs? Personally, I have the impression that all of these aftermarket bulbs burn out within the first 10 months of use. Do they shine a hyper-white with a noticeable bluish tint? ← 1 month and yes on tint. When I just took pic, I left it on for about an hour and it still was pretty cool to the touch. Top lense cover.
leostunts Posted May 9, 2005 Posted May 9, 2005 How long have you had the HILITE bulbs? Personally, I have the impression that all of these aftermarket bulbs burn out within the first 10 months of use. Do they shine a hyper-white with a noticeable bluish tint? ← Even if it bulb burns out in 10 months. I'll just order another pair for $20.00
Sluggo Posted May 10, 2005 Author Posted May 10, 2005 Sluggo:Do you have any pics from your car? ← I'll try to shoot some pics tonight with one side stock and one side HIR. sluggo
SKperformance Posted May 10, 2005 Posted May 10, 2005 The ebay site sells them for $29 each plus shipping which is "free" right now. Where did you get yours for $20 for the pair?
leostunts Posted May 10, 2005 Posted May 10, 2005 here's the link. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...7973358866&rd=1
leostunts Posted May 10, 2005 Posted May 10, 2005 or this one. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...7973358866&rd=1
leostunts Posted May 10, 2005 Posted May 10, 2005 The link doesn't seem to work on this page. Get the link from page one, it seem to work.
leostunts Posted May 10, 2005 Posted May 10, 2005 The link doesn't seem to work on this page. Get the link from page one, it seem to work. ← 2 more pics.
Sluggo Posted May 10, 2005 Author Posted May 10, 2005 Here's a couple of shots of the lights. Stock is on passenger side, HIR on driver's side. I think the difference would be even more dramatic if my refractor glass wasn't so dirty on the bulb side. Just noticed that tonight, I don't usually look at my lights from the front of the car, lol. sluggo
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