HID lights...

[Xpress]

So I have began piecing parts together for my Tecate to begin building it up.

However the first thing I need to know is how to do the assembly for a battery. I drew up this diagram, wondering if anybody could comment on it:

http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/7084/dcbatterylighting.jpg

Now comes the part I am wondering about. Is it better to run 2, 35 watt HID's, or to run one 55 watt HID?

I figure that with the 35W bulbs I can get wider coverage with less distance covered, but with the 55W bulb I get a long distance beam that's not as wide.

Another thing is for the 2 bulbs, I would need to get the stator re-wound for higher output, but that's not a problem.

Thoughts? Opinions?

[RubberSalt]

If you want brightness, LED is the way to go. The cree XML-T6 easily puts out 1000lumens for 10 watts of power, 12 watts if you use a regulator(needed for leds). A HID is around 60lumens per watts, this gives the 35wat bulb 2100lumens and the 55wat a good 3300 lumens. Halogens are 30lumens per watt.

Now I've got a couple of Cree XML-T6 LEDS, 1 is more than enough for a headlight. They run 3.6volts at 2.8amps. I've got mine at 4 amps. I've had signs light up over a mile away. TONS AND TONS of flood and insane throw.

I you don't like the messing with LEDs and what not, then I'd shoot for that 55watt. With the right reflector and lens, it shouldn't have a problem with flood and throw.

[RubberSalt]

The LED (http://www.dealextreme.com/p/xmlawt-1000-lumen-led-emitter-white-light-bulb-3-0-3-5v-51989) That will need heat sinking, a small computer heat sink is fine.
3-4 of these (http://www.dealextreme.com/p/18v-5w-cree-circuit-board-for-flashlights-16-8mm-5-5mm-26110) in parallel will be enough to power it.

Most LEDs accept 3-4volts. I run a lot of mine at 4.2 just fine.


These (http://www.dealextreme.com/p/cree-xp-g-r51b-7000k-350lm-emitter-with-16mm-base-44306) use just 3.7 watts with those drivers. And a few of these would make for a nice light bar.

55 watts of power for lighting.. lets see how we can do this. 1 XML driven at 3 amps+85percent efficiency on the driver is 13watts(rounding up). If focused right, it makes a monster throwing light and monster flood. Well thats NOT enough.. right? :) This leaves us with 42 watts of power. Lets make a nice neat little light bar designed for flood. Get 6 of the cree XP-G leds, and focus 3 to either side of the machine. These are small enough they can fit on the handle bars, just take some fab work to make them nice looking. anyways, 6 of these at 1 amp, this is 6*3.7*1=22.2 and factoring the inefficiency at 85%.. gives us 25 watts total.

Next, how do we focus these? Well i rigged up a reflector off a $3.50 lantern (light with 6 volt battery) from walmart on the xml. It came with the lens, reflector, housing. All i need to do is mount it, it looks like a headlight in a headlight bucket :)

Now for the XP-g LEDS. Use these http://cgi.ebay.com/2pcs-LED-Lens-CREE-Lumens-Seoul-15-degree-Plain-/220670830015?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336101a5bfto focus them. They are about 1.25cm tall and 2cm wide. SMALL - you can hide them almost anywhere :). Now the frame can be used as a heatsink itself honestly. Just remember, the base of each led is conductive, so make sure there is paint or something between the base and the bike!


This is now 3100 lumens for total brightness. just 200 lumens shy of that 55watt HID. While leaving you with 13 watts of power. Something to run a whip light or maybe your tail light (http://www.tmart.com/15-SMD-LED-Strip-Car-Flexible-Light-Bar-Line-Red-12V_p84784.html), or led light strips (http://www.tmart.com/15-SMD-LED-Strip-Car-Flexible-Light-Bar-Line-Green-12V_p84783.html). ect.

I like LEDs as you can see lol. www.candlepowerforums.com (http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/forum.php). If anyone can help you with awesome ass lighting, it's them.

Orders from dealextreme take about a month to get to the US. I've never had bad service with them and I've placed over $400 in orders.

[Xpress]

I would rather not mess with LED's, I've had them fail in high vibration situations before, where they basically just burnt out from the vibrations. That is why I want HID's, I haven't heard of one fail from vibrations, and the Tecate vibrates insanely.

[RubberSalt]

The 55wat HID would be my choice then!, the nice throw is always nice. Of course Only my YT had a headlight, the stock 1 at 25w old school. Barely see at night - was scary awesome flying in the dunes in 4th gear with a crap light lol.

If your HID has to much throw, you can make a diffuser for it.. The YTs lens was decent, actualy made a light in the shape of a rectangle out in front, decent amount of flood. The light would be fine in you know.. 2nd gear lol

It's lighting circuit is regulated by the tail light and head light. It's ac current, and i cant toss anything else inline with regulating it to 12 volts first.

[Xpress]

was scary awesome flying in the dunes in 4th gear with a crap light lol.

LOL :lol:

TBH, the headlight on the Tecate feels more like a spotlight than it does a driving beam, and there's not a lot of light directly in front. Mainly I'd like something to shine far and light up the area directly in front of me, maybe a diffuser would be the best...

Any materials out there that won't melt from a 55W HID?

[RubberSalt]

None that i can think of, unless they are put on the outside of the lens.. but that wouldn't look right.

Try putting the 55 HID in another housing, different reflector. Most LEDs are on a circuit board, the boards crack and they fail. The 1s i posted, that just a tiny heatsink. I haven't had any fail from vibrations or falls. I tested 1 of my junk lights by dropping it 3 stories, works fine still lol.

[KASEY]

Your diagrahm makes no sense............................................. ..

[250rmanfmf]

I would go with a 35W HID's as that will be plenty of light. Trust me. my F350 Superduty has 35w HID's and I get flashed (not the good flashing:( ) all the time because they are bright.

Tyler

[Xpress]

^It is either dual 35W HID's or one 55W HID. My friends are running HID's in their trucks, one is running 35W and the other is 55W, but they're 10,000K which hurts like hell after a while, and the 55W are noticeably brighter.


Your diagrahm makes no sense............................................. ..

Yeah, it was a guess. I have discovered I will need a trail tech AC to DC Voltage Regulator Rectifier. Did you run a capacitor in your lighting system or no? Also where did you get them sweet headlight casings from on that 250R sand trike project you just did?

[KASEY]

NO CAPACITOR .. the lights are caterpillar..... how many watts is a tecate stator? with all the problems with those i would leave it alone.

[Xpress]

Mine is 65W currently, Ricky said it wouldn't be a problem to rewind it for a pair of 35W HIDs. Stator and lighting coil are 2 separate windings BTW.

[KASEY]

NOW THATS FUNNY!!!! your telling me about something i have already done?????? FUNNY... LET ME KNOW HOW YOURS TURN OUT,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, MAKE SURE YOU POST PICTS OF THESE LIGHTS TOO,,,,

[RubberSalt]

I'd go for something in the 6000k color temp. It's alot closer to sunlight, easier on the eyes for everyone. I know i couldn't see worth crap at the dunes with the exception of head on traffic. I had to crawl lol.