Headlight upgrades
::CF Moderator::
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 43,971
Likes: 1,578
From: Prescott, Az
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Just did a Hella Vision Plus swap and built my own wiring harness with relays.
I'm cheap that way. Got some ceramic plugs from Amazon for about $6 and the relays were kicking around from some fog light harness I've built in the past. I've always had rolls of different gauge wire kicking around since like I said I'm cheap that way and I'll often fix something myself instead of paying through the nose for sometimes an inferior Chinese knock off.
Anyways the difference was night and day. Get it?
Before especially if it was raining I would swear I was driving with no lights on at all. Now even the road signs are visible!
Should have done this first before the lift etc.
I'm cheap that way. Got some ceramic plugs from Amazon for about $6 and the relays were kicking around from some fog light harness I've built in the past. I've always had rolls of different gauge wire kicking around since like I said I'm cheap that way and I'll often fix something myself instead of paying through the nose for sometimes an inferior Chinese knock off.
Anyways the difference was night and day. Get it?
Before especially if it was raining I would swear I was driving with no lights on at all. Now even the road signs are visible!
Should have done this first before the lift etc.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Model: Cherokee
First, yes, I'm aware this is an older thread, but when I was researching my options I found these threads invaluable in my decision.
Installed the ARB harness, IPF inserts, and Hella 80/100's
My observations
HOLY SCHNICKES these things pump out the lumens
the ARB harness is far far far superior to the putzco, don't waste your time or money on that piece of garbage
The IPF E-code housings are very nice for the $$, I think on par with the Hella units and not too far off the Cibies
Don't get sucked into the hyper xenon blue super duper special bulb crap
The laws of physics can't be tricked into not applying, it's not possible to put a coating on a bulb without reducing light output
Plain clear glass, quality brand, you'll be very pleased
Aim correctly, Daniel Stern has a nice write up on aiming e-codes, and you can run higher wattage bulbs and not be offensive or dangerous
So far I love it, excellent upgrade
Installed the ARB harness, IPF inserts, and Hella 80/100's
My observations
HOLY SCHNICKES these things pump out the lumens
the ARB harness is far far far superior to the putzco, don't waste your time or money on that piece of garbage
The IPF E-code housings are very nice for the $$, I think on par with the Hella units and not too far off the Cibies
Don't get sucked into the hyper xenon blue super duper special bulb crap
The laws of physics can't be tricked into not applying, it's not possible to put a coating on a bulb without reducing light output
Plain clear glass, quality brand, you'll be very pleased
Aim correctly, Daniel Stern has a nice write up on aiming e-codes, and you can run higher wattage bulbs and not be offensive or dangerous
So far I love it, excellent upgrade
Seasoned Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 499
Likes: 58
From: DFW
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
First, yes, I'm aware this is an older thread, but when I was researching my options I found these threads invaluable in my decision.
Installed the ARB harness, IPF inserts, and Hella 80/100's
My observations
HOLY SCHNICKES these things pump out the lumens
the ARB harness is far far far superior to the putzco, don't waste your time or money on that piece of garbage
The IPF E-code housings are very nice for the $$, I think on par with the Hella units and not too far off the Cibies
Don't get sucked into the hyper xenon blue super duper special bulb crap
The laws of physics can't be tricked into not applying, it's not possible to put a coating on a bulb without reducing light output
Plain clear glass, quality brand, you'll be very pleased
Aim correctly, Daniel Stern has a nice write up on aiming e-codes, and you can run higher wattage bulbs and not be offensive or dangerous
So far I love it, excellent upgrade
Installed the ARB harness, IPF inserts, and Hella 80/100's
My observations
HOLY SCHNICKES these things pump out the lumens
the ARB harness is far far far superior to the putzco, don't waste your time or money on that piece of garbage
The IPF E-code housings are very nice for the $$, I think on par with the Hella units and not too far off the Cibies
Don't get sucked into the hyper xenon blue super duper special bulb crap
The laws of physics can't be tricked into not applying, it's not possible to put a coating on a bulb without reducing light output
Plain clear glass, quality brand, you'll be very pleased
Aim correctly, Daniel Stern has a nice write up on aiming e-codes, and you can run higher wattage bulbs and not be offensive or dangerous
So far I love it, excellent upgrade
Edit: found this one http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/aim/aim.html
Do you have links to where you got the housings and bulbs from?
thanks
Last edited by TeXJ; May 3, 2016 at 02:10 PM.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Model: Cherokee
Link to Daniel Stern's write up?
Edit: found this one http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/aim/aim.html
Do you have links to where you got the housings and bulbs from?
thanks
Edit: found this one http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/aim/aim.html
Do you have links to where you got the housings and bulbs from?
thanks
I got everything off amazon, believe it or not the prices were as good as anywhere else and with the free prime shipping, hard to beat
Key#1 is the harness upgrade, anything will produce more useable light with the upgraded harness
Key#2, E-code housings, the beam is far superior to DOT or SAE housings
I'm a little hesitant to link to someone elses web site, just google Daniel stern aiming e-code and the link to the pdf pops up in the first few results
Banned
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,379
Likes: 18
From: Florida
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: Golen 4.6L
Seasoned Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 499
Likes: 58
From: DFW
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I got everything off amazon, believe it or not the prices were as good as anywhere else and with the free prime shipping, hard to beat
Key#1 is the harness upgrade, anything will produce more useable light with the upgraded harness
Key#2, E-code housings, the beam is far superior to DOT or SAE housings
I'm a little hesitant to link to someone elses web site, just google Daniel stern aiming e-code and the link to the pdf pops up in the first few results
Key#1 is the harness upgrade, anything will produce more useable light with the upgraded harness
Key#2, E-code housings, the beam is far superior to DOT or SAE housings
I'm a little hesitant to link to someone elses web site, just google Daniel stern aiming e-code and the link to the pdf pops up in the first few results
Thank you!
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Model: Cherokee
IPF E-Code housings:
Hella 80/100 bulbs:
ARB harness:
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Model: Cherokee
FWIW, that ARB harness is pricey, costs way more than some of the others out there, but, IT FITS AND WORKS, which is why we buy these things
Has 3 relays, 1 dedicated to switching the power supply, and 1 for each bulb, a really good system
The relays are high quality, not the Chinese junk like in the putzco setup
Has 3 relays, 1 dedicated to switching the power supply, and 1 for each bulb, a really good system
The relays are high quality, not the Chinese junk like in the putzco setup
Seasoned Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 499
Likes: 58
From: DFW
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
IPF E-Code housings:
Amazon.com: ARB (820H) IPF 7" Rectangular H4 Headlamp Insert: Automotive
Hella 80/100 bulbs:
Amazon.com: HELLA HLA-H83140171 H4 12V 100/80W Halogen Bulb Off Road Use: Automotive
ARB harness:
Amazon.com: ARB M002 IPF Wiring Loom: Automotive
Amazon.com: ARB (820H) IPF 7" Rectangular H4 Headlamp Insert: Automotive
Hella 80/100 bulbs:
Amazon.com: HELLA HLA-H83140171 H4 12V 100/80W Halogen Bulb Off Road Use: Automotive
ARB harness:
Amazon.com: ARB M002 IPF Wiring Loom: Automotive
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