In the quest looking for the brightest yet reasonably wattage bulb, I am ordering different sets of bulbs from around the net. I will be running these in my SAAB 900 with e-code replacement housings and H4 bulbs. I also have a high-wattage upgrade wiring harness to handle the extra current.

here are the competitors so far:

Osram Silverstars +50% 55/60w

Narva 90/100w

Xenon boosted 80/100w no color
(http://www.hiperf.com/acatalog/Online_Catalog_Halogen_Bulbs_56.html) 4th set down

Krypton Quartz 80/100w clear
(http://www.hioutputbulbs.com/H-4.htm)

When all these come in I will post results if anyone is interested. I would Also like to throw in the Philips Rally 90/100w, we shall see.

Would be great if u can post results. At least up until now, filament bulbs with similar wattage gives similar output, unless painted with blue color. HIR bulbs may be the only exception here (not avail in H4). The remainding question is just how much value you get before u feel u have spent enough on filament bulbs, before HID based lightsource (and possibly optics) becomes a better alternative.

Without test equipment and laboratory conditions this is purely a subjective single person view point.

How will you test for the following which because they happen to work in a Saab doesn’t work at all in another set

Geometric characteristics of the lamp
5 Axis reference of the filament
Quality of components. Quartz or hard glass, Nickel plated brass or tin
Life of the lamp measured against STD Weibull procedures
Out gassing
Wattage (no the figures on the base have no relevance to reality)
Tungsten evaporation process and Lumen maintenance curve
There are a number of reference points in the beam. Is it good to have a very broight single pooint or a good spread. How will you measure it?
etc. etc.

Unfortunately vehicle lighting is a hugely complicated and complex series of solutions. This is precisely why you pay double for one lamp compared to another.

While I respect your initiative and reasoning it will be costly and inconclusive and quite honestly meaningless except to you, in your car on any given situation (Is it raining or is it clear for example)

This has been done at a basic level over the last few years in a number of independent test in magazines and this is a start with a far higher degree of accuracy

Nick


http://www.hid-online.com/hidonline/

I really do not intend to hold a professional review at all. (is it not obvious?) Its going to be the garage door test to see which one produces the most light and best beam pattern. I do agree that it is not going to be relevant to anybody else, but I thought it might interest some on a quick scan through the forum.

Did you honestly assume (judging by my post) that I was really concerned about "test equipment and laboratory conditions" or, did you feel the need to bash on someone just having some fun?

actually i think the garage door test should post valid results. since he is not gonna post lumens measurements. it is just a side by side comparison of the given bulbs. on that note, what gains there are in his headlamp fixture (% wise), should be applicable to others. just not the absolute values of lumens.

for example,

A bulb + headlamp1 = C brightness for bulb A
B bulb + headlamp1 = D brightness for bulb C

take C - D = difference E

now plug same bulb into a different headlamp, say headlamp2... you should net the same "difference E", if not similar. although C and D itself will be different, the level of gain should be similar... no?

If you are talking about High Quality OE approved bulbs with stringent production quality by a OE supplier maybe your statement has some merit.

However what is a good beam pattern on a garage door?Bright in the middle , bright at the edge, rings of brightness, what level is this brightness etc.
Some of the product listed will vary lamp to lamp as its Asian junk.
There is no rule that says if it works well in this system it works the same in another unless the above is followed.

If its a personal test and a personal investment then fine but it has no further value than this.

If you want to save your money and find out which are the best quality lamps which will give the best results ask somebody that knows. The world is full of technical results which can be accessed and there are thousands of automotive optical engineers who have spent years and years doing this the correct way.

Not against a garage door but in a lab with thousands of lamps to define which and what does what. If you want some real life experience then you could do worse that write to one of the Saab Motorsport organisations to find out what they use. Very rarely when large money is involved ie Motorsport or OE is the product fitted by accident.

If you are set on doing this for your own benefit then you will need to identify a road which gives you a varied terrain. Now drive it as many times as you can in all conditions with your range of products. The one you feel most happy with will mean for you its money well spent.

All a garage door will do is advise if your alignment is close and what the glare is like

Nick

http://www.hid-online.com/hidonline/