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Auxiliary lights and their wattage

2K views 6 replies 6 participants last post by  Jeeperitis 
#1 ·
I'm looking at the 8" KC Rally 800 halogen round lights. I'm basically wanting them to be used as a second pair of driving lights mounted on my bumper. It has 130W. Is that good or bad? I don't want to blind other people going down the road
 
#2 ·
95% of the auxilary lights out there are not approved for normal driving. If lighting is your worry, replace your headlights. It can be as cheap as $120 like the swap I did up to many hundreds like JW Speaker LEDs.

130W is a powerful light and unless these say they can be used on normal use, you'll get pulled over and ticketed.
 
#3 ·
130w is not legal to use except as supplemental lighting ----- you'd need to rig them to only come on with your highbeams and turn off when you go to lowbeam.
Then you wouldn't be blinding anybody.

But like Hockey said, upgrade your headlights first and run from there.
 
#4 ·
Stock headlights are typically 45/55 watts to give you an idea of how much more powerful those 120 watt lights are going to be on the road.

I've got 2x100 and 2x150 watt KC's on my old SUV and they're light-up-the-night sunshine. I would never consider using either set on the road.
 
#5 ·
6" classic aux. lighting...

This is what I did. A fun project,makes the Jeep look totally awesome, and is totally functional and convenient. I now have a choice of lights to run in any given situation. From Aux. off,in town, street lights and all, the stock headlights are plenty. Apolo Fogs on the front bumper for all types of inclement weather..or just as a supplement to my headlights on country roads....to the windshield mount daylighters,in driving beam for trails country-dirt roads or paved back roads, to light up the way. All independently switched....so I can choose (Choice ..it's a good thing!!!) when and when not to use them. This is the way I went with my lighting, and I couldn't be happier. I get all kinds of great compliments as to how cool the Jeep looks with the classic auxiliary 6" rounds...AWESOME!!

My Build VVVVV !!
 
#6 ·
130W Halogen lights will put out a lot of light, and they'll draw quite a bit of current (amps) too. 130W/ 12V= 10.8A (per light). Compared to the LED equivalent, that is quite a bit.

having said that, I also realize that the halogens tend to be a bit cheaper than the LED versions. Either way, the current draw can be dealt with, so long as you're aware of what your needs are.

I agree with everyone else, the 130W lights are probably too bright to be used on the road, unless you set them up in such a way as they can be quickly and easily turned off when you meet another vehicle.

There were some good suggestions above on ways that they could be used, just please, be careful if you do intend to run those lights on the road

Exco
 
#7 ·
Choice and independent switching...

There were some good suggestions above on ways that they could be used, just please, be careful if you do intend to run those lights on the road

Exco
Yes as with all "brights" care and ease of being able to switch off are both important.

Aiming the lights properly is key as well. The Apllo Fogs are aimed at the bottom cut off point of the low beam headlights,measured 30ft. from a wall,and being a diffuse light,I have had no,notta,non, flashing of high beams at me while using them in conjunction with the low beam headlights of the Jeep on back roads at night. They also work well in conjunction with the high-beams at night on back country roads..again choice is awesome!!

The windshield mount daylighters are aimed(again measured and aimed 30ft. from a wall) at the bottom cutoff point of the Jeep headlights on high-beam....and again...can be used in conjunction with the high-beams of the Jeeps headlights...or,just with the low beams...again my choice.

Both can be used in all these ways...and can be shut down immediately when needed!!!

I'll say it again..."choice is a good thing"!!! And they look awesome on the Jeep!!!
 
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