RVing Tip of the Day Headlight upgrades — trading dim yellow for bright white by Greg Illes Headlights have only one purpose, to light up the night. Too bad that some RVs are a bit wanting for good light. There are several options for upgrades available, but first lets consider this — there are a few reasons why you DONT need to be concerned about your headlights: • If you are always camped before dark and travel only by day; • If you feel that night driving is risky and more trouble than its worth; and • If you feel that your current lighting is completely adequate. But if you do stretch your driving day on occasion, or find it necessary to make that occasional evening drive, then you may have noticed the weak yellow glow that emanates from the front of your RV. Coach manufacturers have different ideas about what constitutes proper night lighting. Many late-model coaches have modern, clear, bright headlights that are the envy of older model owners. But as we look back in time, lighting standards were driven by earlier technologies and economies. The bottom line is that, while some modern coaches may need little or no doctoring in the headlight department, most older motorhomes are sadly lacking. Most motorhomes have rectangular headlights, in either dual or quad configurations. Well look at two basic methods for upgrading these lights. Basically, all upgrades consist of more light (for the same circuit power) and whiter light (higher color temperature). Plug and play options If your lights are the sealed-beam type, there are some new entries in the after-market that can be appealing. Simply trade out the old low-efficiency, low-temperature bulbs for high-efficiency, high-temperature types. The Sylvania Xtravision is an example, available in both large (6xxx) and small (46xx) series rectangular bulbs. More work, more light If you want more light, you can consider an upgrade from sealed-beam to separate-bulb headlights. These are also available in large and small types, and there are more offerings in the H-series bulbs than there are in sealed beams. These upgrades involve some rewiring due to the different pinouts between the sealed-beams and H-series bulbs. The Hella products are well-made examples. If you really want a cool project, you might be able to convert to HID (high-intensity discharge) lights. These have the advantage of lower power and brighter light (really brighter light). So bright in fact, that they are not legal in some jurisdictions. HID conversions are also different physically and may take some mechanical refitting. Caveats When planning or performing an upgrade, several areas need attention: • Dont exceed your lighting circuit capabilities; • Make sure your new lights are properly aimed; • Make sure all connections are secure and weatherproof; • Make sure the new lights meet state and federal regulations; and • Make sure the new lighting pattern and intensity do not create a hazard for oncoming vehicles. Obviously, even a relatively small project such as lighting upgrades can involve a need for electrical experience and skills as well as good knowledge of motor vehicle codes. If youre not totally confident in these specialties, get a pro to do the job — itll save you in the long run. * * *Thanks to RVTravel for the Daily Tip
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 14:26:18 +0000
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