Which Bulbs? (Nightbreaker blew!)

Overlag · 7 Mar 2013 at 21:25

Orionaut said:
However.....!

These are old vehicles! One is 30 years old the other 20. As such the voltage regulators on the alternators are designed to produce a pretty much constant voltage.

Totally agree, I increased the life of mine by not turning lights on till the engine was started and "stable". Still I think 14.5volts is too much for nightbreakers.

thecremeegg · 7 Mar 2013 at 21:36

Theophany said:
Not at all, just been down Halfords for some bulbs. £25 for 2x of their 'ultra brilliance' main beams, £30 for 2x of their 'ultra brilliance' dip beams.

Came home, bought Osram Nightbreaker Plus main (H1) and dips (H7) for less than £30 all in and delivered.

Fair enough, they were £20 for the ultras when I bought them a couple of years ago. Good luck getting that long out of some Nightbreakers

IAmATeaf · 8 Mar 2013 at 12:30

Another unhappy Nightbreaker and Nightbreaker + user here

I got my bulbs in December, 1 was intermittent right from the start and then around 3 days later just stopped working, took it out and found this, the filament is intact but if you look at the contact in the circle it's broken, the other stopped working 2 weeks ago, failed the bloody MOT as a result

I've given up on them now to be honest, Osram QC and their Nightbreaker product is just pure crap. I've gone back to OEMs for the time being, less light output but at least they work and continue to work.

DiNZi · 28 Jan 2015 at 00:09

Anyone using Philips new range of WhiteVision rated 4300K with 60% more light?

I'm considering them along with OSRAM Cool Blue Intense rated 4200K with 20% more light and Philips Crystal Vision rated 4300K no idea how much more light on this one.

Really interested in the WhiteVision, specs wise they look pretty ideal, as we recently bought a used Mercedes C Class and the front headlights were giving out two different colors, one side warmer than the other.

I'm trying to achieve a Whiter effect.

thecremeegg · 28 Jan 2015 at 09:00

Just to add to this, I got some Osram Nightbreaker Unlimiteds off Amazon and one of them failed after just two months. Amazon have replaced it but I'm not sure I'd buy them again.

DiNZi · 28 Jan 2015 at 10:18

thecremeegg said:
Just to add to this, I got some Osram Nightbreaker Unlimiteds off Amazon and one of them failed after just two months. Amazon have replaced it but I'm not sure I'd buy them again.

Amazon are quite good for that. I'm tempted to pick up a pair of White Vision's and try them out, if there's a problem I'll just return them.

Orionaut · 28 Jan 2015 at 10:32

As I pointed out earlier in this thread. The relationship between operating voltage and filiment life is a dramatic one (V^-16! IIRC). If somebody is blowing bulbs all the time, I would look to the charging voltage rather than the bulbs!

thecremeegg · 28 Jan 2015 at 12:47

Well prior to this failure I had the Halfords bulbs still from 2013 so I'm blaming the bulb

Liquidfox · 28 Jan 2015 at 13:05

Orionaut said:
ISTR that the normal "design life" for headlamp bulbs is around 100 hours. With incandescent bulbs the compromise has always been life Vs Performance so 75 Hrs may not be too bad. it is also worth checking the alternator output. Even a small over-voltage can have a dramatic effect on bulb life

75 hours? I'd be replacing them every other month in the winter if that was the case!

Orionaut · 28 Jan 2015 at 13:32

thecremeegg said:
Well prior to this failure I had the Halfords bulbs still from 2013 so I'm blaming the bulb

"High Output" bulbs work at a higher temperature, that is how they generate higher light levels without breaking the rules on power consumption.

As such they are running closer to the ultimate limit, and as such they are likely to be more sensitive to the applied voltage.

Some modern "intelligent" charging systems will run as high as 15 volts (Or even more) under certain conditions. If you have your lights on when these conditions apply I would expect the bulbs life to be severely restricted.

gt_junkie · 28 Jan 2015 at 13:41

Overlag said:
I'm getting osram extra life bulbs these days, H4 lasted 2 years so far, got fed up changing extra bright bulbs every month.

Me too. My Focus regularly ate bulbs (roughly every 6 months) so got these. About as bright as stock fit (acceptable to me) and they've been in over 2 years so far...

3 year warranty too so still covered if they go in the next few months.

thecremeegg · 28 Jan 2015 at 17:57

Orionaut said:
"High Output" bulbs work at a higher temperature, that is how they generate higher light levels without breaking the rules on power consumption.

As such they are running closer to the ultimate limit, and as such they are likely to be more sensitive to the applied voltage.

Some modern "intelligent" charging systems will run as high as 15 volts (Or even more) under certain conditions. If you have your lights on when these conditions apply I would expect the bulbs life to be severely restricted.

Fair enough, valid point.

andy_mk3 · 28 Jan 2015 at 18:03

My nightbreakers have lasted well so far. I fitted them 2 years ago to one car which they were in for 6 months as dipped beam, then that was scrapped and they were moved to my current car as main beam, which I use a lot on country roads.

bainbridge · 29 Jan 2015 at 07:45

Halfords 'Heavy Duty' bulbs have been in for 3 years and still going strong. Acceptable amount of light but not as bright as the 'super brilliant' ones which tended to blow once per year. When one used to go the other would go about a month later. Halfords always had their 2 for one offer on the most expensive brilliant ones so I got stuck in a cycle of buying them every year for about 3 years.

The original Ford bulbs lasted 7 years but the amount of light they put out was pathetic.

I guess that the flame that burns twice as bright really does only burn half as long (though newer xenon technology is probably different).

DiNZi · 29 Jan 2015 at 13:12

http://www.powerbulbs.com/product/philips-whitevision-h7-twin
http://www.powerbulbs.com/product/philips-whitevision-w5w-twin

I'm planning to purchase the Philips White Vision H7 and will use for Dipped/Main beam. I'll also pick up a set of White Vision's W5W for Side/Parking lights.

Which of the three below would you say I'd be best going with for Front Fog lights?.. as there aren't any White Vision's.

http://www.powerbulbs.com/product/philips-blue-vision-hb4-9006-hid-car-headlight-bulbs
http://www.powerbulbs.com/product/crystal-vision-hb4-9006
http://www.powerbulbs.com/product/diamond-vision-hb4-9006-single

Charlie Bravo · 29 Jan 2015 at 19:34

The White Vision H7's come with sidelights.

I fitted them to my Leon earlier on and will be leaving for work at 4am tomorrow so will report back.

For info, I used to have a Crystal Vision in my Yamaha FZ6 and Diamond Vision in my Toledo.

Orionaut · 29 Jan 2015 at 21:29

thecremeegg said:
Fair enough, valid point.

Thinking about it, it may well be the case that "High output" bulbs may not work well in modern cars. The charging strategies might just kill them off just too damn quick.

Perhaps "High Output" filament bulbs are only really appropriate for older vehicles!

(Doesn't bother Me! For Me, 20 years is new!

)

Flukester · 30 Jan 2015 at 07:03

Phillips have just released a Extreme Vision +130% ....much less prone to blowing the Osrams.

Charlie Bravo · 30 Jan 2015 at 15:18

Overall I'm pretty pleased with the White Vision bulbs. They replaced some standard Philips bulbs and def cast a whiter light onto the road as well as being slightly brighter. I see no sign of blue when they are on as I did with both my Crystal Vision and Diamond Vision.

Not bad at all for £24.99.

DiNZi · 30 Jan 2015 at 18:17

Charlie Bravo said:
Overall I'm pretty pleased with the White Vision bulbs. They replaced some standard Philips bulbs and def cast a whiter light onto the road as well as being slightly brighter. I see no sign of blue when they are on as I did with both my Crystal Vision and Diamond Vision.

Not bad at all for £24.99.

Awesome, cheers mate, appreciate the feedback.