Headlight beam pattern

[Kurt in NJ]

I was playing last night and did a comparison between 35 watt quartz halogen headlights and 32cp old USA production bulbs
Low beam--- high beam--- no lens
Without the lens both low and high beam look the same just different positions
I don't know why the pic turned-- or how to fix

If you look the lines in the siding show the different positions of the beams

 

[Kurt in NJ]

This set is of the 32-32 regular. Bulbs , no focus adjustments
These tests were done at 6V, engine not running, first is no lens, same pattern as with the halogen bulbs, but you can see that they look more yellow, don't know why the flash went off, it was late , I can do more experiments
No lens, low, high

 

[updraught]

"I was playing last night and did a comparison between 35 watt quartz halogen headlights and 32cp old USA production bulbs
Low beam--- high beam--- no lens
Without the lens both low and high beam look the same just different positions"

 

[updraught]

"This set is of the 32-32 regular. Bulbs , no focus adjustments
These tests were done at 6V, engine not running, first is no lens, same pattern as with the halogen bulbs, but you can see that they look more yellow, don't know why the flash went off, it was late , I can do more experiments
No lens, low, high"

 

[Kurt in NJ]

This is the halogen bulb I am using, the filament shape is different than the original bulbs---the original filaments are in a V shape not near straight ----I guess for further testing I need a grid pattern and was thinking of a small solar panel to measure light----but perhaps that will need a filter to just measure light we see, not what will make electric on the solar panel

It doesn't show as well in the pictures, the original bulb does hace better concentration and definition of the beam, but it isn't near as bright

I have some nos 6V seal beams, and a Benz H4 to play with, and a set of 50watt halogens for the next series

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

I like how the regular bulbs give more surrounding light, rather than most all the light in the direct pattern.
They are also easier on the eyes of oncoming traffic.

 

[Kurt in NJ]

The pictures that show the house are when the flash went off, the original type bulb has better cutoff lines, but less light, the 32cp and the 35watt halogens take about the same amperage

 

[MikeK]

...

 

[updraught]

I'll dig this thread up again ...

Be good if people with LED bulbs could add photos of low beam at night from about 20 feet or so on a wall. Good lenses and Brattons or original reflectors so we can see the spread. A compact camera works fine with a finger over the flash.

Also, Ron Francis "Brite Bulbs" 12 volt 125/75 so we can all compare.

 

[Kurt in NJ]

I saw a led pattern for the 2 led sideways shining replacement bulb, it made a figure 8 pattern, the modern cars with led headlights have sort of a rams horn shaped reflector

I was looking at a factory reflector for H4 bulb (from Mercedes) ---the H4 bulb has filament for high, low at different focal points, tge H4 reflector has 2 seperate curves, the center for one filament, the other the outer section----looking in without lens you can see the filament if the filament location matches the reflector,

I have old headlight aiming screen with brightness meter, good enough for comparison ---but I am not going to buy bulbs/reflector I won't use just for testing, if anyone wants to contribute samples I will set up and test

 

[J Franklin]

Do you have pics of both headlights on? I only see one beam or they are aimed to the same spot.

 

[Kurt in NJ]

I was only using 1 headlight, didn't want the beams overlapping , both will light up reflector signs 3 tenths of a mile away (1 counted light poles, about 8)

 

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Probably why Sealed Beam Conversion Kits were SO POPULAR. They don't REALLY look too bad. Partly depends on the color of the outer spacer ring. Saw a set where they were CHROMED, Dull Aluminum sprayed, is not too bad. SAFETY is the most important concern!
Bill W.