is there a problem with installing something like the Nokya Arctic Purple headlights and foglights?

i read somewhere that they were higher voltage or amps or something and that there was the possibility of overheating the wiring in the xB due to that....

is that really something i need to be worried about?

thanks!

 

i dont suggest to use those bulbs...u cant see anything in the rain and fog...

 

I have been selling aftermarket bulbs for years. NOTHING ever works right with the exception of PIAA.
ONLY use PIAA, you will either burn out way early, fry harnesses or have dramatically reduced light if you use anything else, ESPECIALLY NOKYA!

 

Ok, so say i go with the PIAA's, what about the higher Amp/voltage problem?

don't PIAA's have the same problem?

thanks!

 

Actually Sylvania silverstars are aewsome also. I know of tons of people running those in other cars with no problem.

 

Never had any problems with harnesses at all with PIAA.

 

Consider that the wiring of your Scion is basically designed to work with 50 watt filaments.

Let's say that you decide to go to 100 watt filaments, which is the minimum change that will produce noticably brighter light, since our perception of light intensity isn't linear.

Since power is determined by the product of voltage and current (P=IV), doubling the power will double the current through the wires.

Now, doubling the current in the wires will also double the voltage drop due to the resistance of the wires, which depends upon Ohm's law: V=IR. Since R stays constant, and I doubles, then V (the voltage drop) has to double. This means that there will be less voltage available at the filaments so lamps rated at 100W won't actaully reach their design potential unless the wire gauge is increased.

Doubling the voltage drop in the wires and doubling the current will not do good things either. Since power dissipation (which we see a heat) is dependent upon the power formula: P=IV. Doubling both I and V means that the power dissipated by the wires will be quadrupled.

Since power dissipation is a linear function of the difference between wire temperature and air temperature, that means that the temperature difference has to quadruple. If the wires ran 20C above air temperature with regular bulbs, they'll run 80C above air temerature with the powerful bulbs. Insulate the wires inside a wiring harness and you have the potential to melt things.

Now, what does this mean in terms of your question? If you are installing "legal" bulbs, it is unlikely that they will draw much more current than the original bulbs. They might have a slightly different tint or color temperature, but the power will be the same. No problem there.

If you are installing "off road use only" bulbs that consume more power you may cause a problem. The usual way around this is to install a heavier wiring harness to support the lights, switching the lights using relays controlled by the original harness. This way, the original lighter wires only supply relay current while you can design the current-carrying wires to handle the increased load with minimal voltage drop. The bright lights will get full voltage and everybody will be happy, as long as they are aimed properly.

George

 

Thanks for the in depth explanation George!

the lights i am looking at range from 80w-110w and they say they can replace OEM bulbs....are these what you would call 'legal' bulbs? they do not say anything about off-road only....

do you think bulbs like this will draw enough current to work well, or will they not get the full power they truly need unless you refine the wiring somehow....

 

George, you make muh brain hert. :mrgreen:

But thanks for the good info.