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I did a little homework in the data base here, and found some ca. 2018 posts.  Not altogether helpful. Hmmm . . .  So here is the dilemma -- my H4 bulbs are running really hot. Driver's side is cooking the wire receptacle.  Stinky. Not good.  Actually starting to make a little smoke. Plus the light output is typical of VWs and not all that bright.  I have some very nice driving lights so I can see when I need to as these turn night into day, but the regular headlights need some help.  Found out I know zero about LED and HID replacements, and Google has helped a lot. The market here is awash with all sorts of designs.  I am wondering what folks use to replace the H4 halogens. 

Pertinent background,  Maybe: After I burned up the second cheap Chinese headlight switch with the halogens a couple of years ago, I installed relays to operate the headlights.  I also got a very decent headlight switch, specifically not cheap Chinese. That was an interesting project, and it all worked pretty well. I did notice that my lights were notably brighter after that.  And there may have started my trouble.  The lights are now very short coupled to the battery through the relays, mounted very near by.  So maybe supplying more juice, and making more heat.   LEDs will make more light with much less electricity, so should be a big improvement.  Seeking advice. 

2007 JPS MotorSports Speedster

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look at vintagecarleds.coms.   https://vintagecarleds.com/

Great product, Bright!!!, great customer support.  Many on this site have installed them over the years. I can’t say enough good things about his customer service,

call, write , or send a PM to Thomas Duncan the owner.  @thomas@vintagecarleds.com  

 He knows our site, and our cars.  I have his bulbs on my speedster since 2015, my ‘79 vespa since 2017, and a couple other cars.  

he sells both the bulbs only, of bulb headlight kit. Limited Lifetime warranty. 

here is an example - a review from 2018. 

https://www.speedsterowners.co...eedsters-and-spyders  .there are more if you run a search.
happy shopping!

luis

Last edited by Lfepardo

Some LED headlight bulbs have cooling bits on the back that take up more room than you may have.  My current bulbs have cooling fins on the back end and I use a hole saw on the back of the headlight recess and bonded in a cup to create space for the fins.

The brighter bulbs I am about to install have little fans.

I went with LED headlight partly because I wouldn't have to mess with bigger wires or relays.

Last edited by Michael McKelvey
@El Frazoo posted:

I did a little homework in the data base here, and found some ca. 2018 posts.  Not altogether helpful. Hmmm . . .  So here is the dilemma -- my H4 bulbs are running really hot. Driver's side is cooking the wire receptacle.  Stinky. Not good.  Actually starting to make a little smoke. Plus the light output is typical of VWs and not all that bright.  I have some very nice driving lights so I can see when I need to as these turn night into day, but the regular headlights need some help.  Found out I know zero about LED and HID replacements, and Google has helped a lot. The market here is awash with all sorts of designs.  I am wondering what folks use to replace the H4 halogens. 

Pertinent background,  Maybe: After I burned up the second cheap Chinese headlight switch with the halogens a couple of years ago, I installed relays to operate the headlights.  I also got a very decent headlight switch, specifically not cheap Chinese. That was an interesting project, and it all worked pretty well. I did notice that my lights were notably brighter after that.  And there may have started my trouble.  The lights are now very short coupled to the battery through the relays, mounted very near by.  So maybe supplying more juice, and making more heat.   LEDs will make more light with much less electricity, so should be a big improvement.  Seeking advice. 

I have the Hella buckets euro style and I have H4 bulbs in them with P45T bases.  I managed to get 80/100 bulbs not he 55/60 normal bulbs.  I did burn one once but I have never burned any of these in years.  I carry spares for sure. 

I wonder if the relays and wiring are too low in capacity to power them up without overheating.  I can't see even a chinese switch having much load when you are using a good relay.  Well at least this is my experience.  BTW, a 80/100 watt well aligned is as good as an LED and would not be worth upgrading IMO, on the hand you can throw money at it. 

Last edited by IaM-Ray

OK good input here.  The bulbs have not "burned out" as in went dark, they are just cooking the bakelite connector plug that hooks on the back. The cheap dashboard switches burned up before the relays were installed. They could not handle the current.  I believe the relays are speced to handle the halogen current loads, and I used four of them: one for each filament.  But all will be moot when the LEDs go in.  I'd direct you to HeadlightRevolution.com for lots of info on what the LED and HID market is all about.  Big heat sinks and little wee fans are common, but for my needs over the top.  I do not need a gazillion candlepower and I have only the little caves in my fenders to put everything. .  And most of what's offered out there strives to do just that -- be the brightest badest MFer on the road.  I ended up with CSP minis.  Will give about 2x spec brightness and way less electricity.  And they are truly plug and play, exact same form factor as a halogen H4.  No special heat sink or other crap. its a Work in progress, full report upon completion.

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