Headlight relay & halogen bulb pics

50C8DAN
50C8DAN Senior Contributor
edited November -1 in HUDSON
I finally got around to installing my 6V headlight relay and replaced the standard sealed beams w/ reflectors and 6V dual filament halogen bulbs. I have never been really happy driving my '50 at night since it has such a short light reach. So here are the before and after pictures, not great but I think you get the idea. In use it is even more dramatic. I would recommend this upgrade to everyone!



histock.jpg



hirelay-halogen.jpg



lostock.jpg



lorelay-halogen.jpg

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Now you need to get a halogen bulb in the grill ornament. :D I assume you used housings that you can simply plug bulbs into. Looks great.
  • 50C8DAN
    50C8DAN Senior Contributor
    Yes I used the new type of plug-in bulbs with a reflector body that fits the stock fixtures, you would never know it was not stock until you light them up.
  • Richard E.
    Richard E. Senior Contributor
    Dan, I also have a '50 Commodore, but mine is a 6. I have considered this upgrade for the same reasons that you mention. Where did you get your new system and how much did it cost? I have used halogen bulbs in my tail lights and brake lights for many years, so at least I can be seen from behind.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    I did the same thing on my '37 TP, but have yet to add the relay. The wiring system ia all-new, and is 12V with a GM alternator. The relay will be a big help in getting light out! My setup uses the socket and light for the Halogen bulb, and they are fit into a slightly modified stock reflector, and I even use the stock lens, so the alteration is completely unnoticeable to the untrained eyeball. Looks great!
  • 50C8DAN
    50C8DAN Senior Contributor
    I got my reflectors and bulbs from Daniel Stern lighting, although there are other sources. DS seemed to have the best description, etc. I got my NOS relay off of ebay for $7. The 6V relay is the toughest one to find, but they are available from a number of places for around $20 or so.



    http://www.danielsternlighting.com/products/products.html
  • Richard E.
    Richard E. Senior Contributor
    Thanks. I saw a Daniel Stern display at a GoodGuys event here in CA and I did pick up a flyer on it. It looks like a good setup. Why do you need a 6v relay? Doesn't the lighting system already have that>
  • 50C8DAN
    50C8DAN Senior Contributor
    I am not aware of any Hudsons using a relay in the headlight circuit, although some in the 40s may have, someone else probably can answer that question. The headlight circuit typically pulls all the current through the dimmer switch. Geoff Clark had a writeup in the WTN some months ago covering this issue, and why a relay can make a big difference on its own. With the relay you are pulling the current directly from the battery through the relay to the lights, a lot less spots for resistance and voltage drop.



    BTW the reflector housings were $62 ea. and the bulbs H4s were $12 ea. Of course the reflectors are a one time purchase, since now you would have a plug in bulb not a sealed beam setup.
  • J Spencer
    J Spencer Expert Adviser
    50C8DAN wrote:
    I finally got around to installing my 6V headlight relay and replaced the standard sealed beams w/ reflectors and 6V dual filament halogen bulbs. I have never been really happy driving my '50 at night since it has such a short light reach. So here are the before and after pictures, not great but I think you get the idea. In use it is even more dramatic. I would recommend this upgrade to everyone!



    histock.jpg



    hirelay-halogen.jpg



    lostock.jpg



    lorelay-halogen.jpg



    The pictures look impressive from the front, too bad you didn't take pictures on a dark street from inside the car to show the real difference in brightness and beam pattern + distance.



    Do you know wattage the bulbs are? I am assuming they are higher wattage than original.



    Jim Spencer
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    I had used the 6 volt halogens for about a year in my '37 Terraplane with great success, up to last June. They fit right in the original socket (this is a PRE sealed-beam era setup, of course, not sealed beams like the Step-Downs). I bought the lamps from a guy in Australia, and the Little British Car Company is his agent here in America.



    I do have a relay in my system to take the strain off the wiring and the original dash and dimmer switches; that way, the power goes directly from the battery, through the relay, and directly to the lights, without travelling through miles of uncertain wires and switches that may have been barely adequate when they were new.



    I also GROUNDED each light socket to the frame, rather than depending upon a possibly-rusty connection to the body.



    The result of all this was quite illuminating (especially for a pre-War car). Right up til the first week in June, when I turned on the light switch and both bulbs blew out.



    I'm still not sure why that happened. I've changed the voltage regulator (thinking that it might have allowed a voltage surge) but rather than risk the two $25 halogen replacement bulbs, I'm now running the original-type tungsten lamps.



    I'd be curious to know if anyone else ever has this same problem (both halogens suddenly burn out).
  • 50C8DAN
    50C8DAN Senior Contributor
    The halogen bulbs are H4s 6Volt, 60/55W. Although I did not take a picture, the light reach is similar to what you can expect from most modern headlight setups, not projector type bulbs but typical 12 halogen beam bulbs. I feel a lot more confident driving my car after dark now than before.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories

In this Discussion