Higher wattage bulbs (Vectra B)

identiti66

So, I understand that there is a risk of melted wiring and fire and stuff if too high a wattage bulbs are fitted in the headlights but, how high is too high?

Sjdickso

I wouldn't go higher than 55W.

evocarlos

wirings ratted to 55w 🙂

identiti66

No tolerance built in??
So at what point would it be instant meltdown?

evocarlos

i just would not advise going over 55w the headlamps are plastic
if you want brighter then just go 35-55w hid kit 🙂

identiti66

I'm looking at HID now..
I just want decent headlights.
Saw a decent recommendation on a few sites for the Osram 65W Rally bulbs so I ordered 4.. they arrived but they are 80W, not 65W..
I have them fitted, been in there a month or so without issue, but the output is disappointing. I know why that is (now), but was wondering about just what the wiring is rated at.

Looking at £42 for 2 H7R HID kits, replacing the bulbs with some Osram or Philips performance bulbs is going to cost me at least £25, near double that for the Philips, so I may as well look at HID..
Just not mad keen on finding a home for the ballasts.

figo126

hid all the way mate ,veccy c lights are pants too ,,, got some hid and never looked back , tried higher wattage bulbs just melts the wiring ,,,,

identiti66

What colour temp you run?? 6000?
Not doing it if I have to butcher my wiring to fit them but most are supposed to be plug and play now..

figo126

I got 5000 but wish I got 6000 difference with hid too standard is amazing ,,,,,,,,,,

identiti66

Got the option of
4300k OEM white (piss yellow)
5000k Extreme White
6000k Diamond White

Hoping I'm right in thinking that the '01 Vectra doesn't need a canbus kit coz I can't afford it if it does (have been told it doesn't)

figo126

don't think it does mate ??( diamond white)

evocarlos

6k defo
altho mine are 4100 osrams ds2 bulbs in the sharkeyes

identiti66

Ok.. I'm sold on the idea.. not getting canbus ones, the vectra has a bulb checking thing but is only canbus-ish.. a half-arsed attempt at it by all accounts.
Be nice to have decent headlights for once.

Still think finding a home for the ballasts is going to be a bitch.

evocarlos

its not even can bus related its just a resistance based test at ignition on
and you can get 55w hid kits
dont get the thin black ballasts they dont last

identiti66

There were some melting issues with 55W HID's and Vectra lights.. but it may have been fog lamp units, I forget..
The ones I'm looking at are slimline silver ballasts and the bulbs have metal bases, apparently this stops a problem that occurred with plastic based bulbs.. I dunno, it's all Greek to me.
Just waiting for confirmation that I won't need to cut my wiring.

identiti66

evocarlos said:
its not even can bus related its just a resistance based test at ignition on
and you can get 55w hid kits
dont get the thin black ballasts they dont last

Dude.. I have a check light on my puter thingy.. the only bulb that's blown (well, missing) is the n/s fog bulb. But someone said fogs aren't part of the check system, do you knkw if they are?

evocarlos

dont think they are on astra g vec b
i wont use the slim ballasts there shite ive got 2 brand new ones at the side of the desk there both different after the supplier messed up the replacement 2 times untill he sent the right one hella style lol

identiti66

Wonder why I've got a lamp check error then.. all the stuff it checks is fine... odd..

This is the kit I'm looking at.. it was the only one I could see that supplied metal based bulbs and was UK based.. couple of negatives on the feedbck aren't a concern but the bottom of the listing states they supply show/off-road use only.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252083706908?euid=98b15f320b264f228976ab6cdf1243ac&cp=1&exe=12742&ext=32470&sojTags=exe=exe,ext=ext

evocarlos

this the only style ballast i trust i ran them for 7 years faultless there still working just no on the car anymore
this is the kit i once had 55w 6k h7
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HAWA-GENUINE-AC-XENON-HID-CONVERSION-KIT-H7-6000K-AC-55W-STANDARD-BALLAST-/111348386127?hash=item19ece1894f:g:yrgAAOSw2XFUarrF

i had the black slim ones for 8days before they shut down from failure
these are the ones to avoid!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/35W-55W-HID-Xenon-Bi-xenon-Conversion-Kit-Slim-Digital-Ballast-Headlight-Bulbs-/121352369911?var=&hash=item1c412a36f7:m:mvVhSyUp6UNAOWxkbCk_A-A

identiti66

Found some H7R with Hella ballasts.. do you think these are a better bet than the ones in my original link?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/XENON-HID-CONVERSION-KIT-H7R-4300K-6000K-8000K-10000K-AC-35W-standard-ballast-/261425091398?hash=item3cde265346:g:s4YAAOxygLxSWrY3