jeeper albert

Not sure if this is the right thread but I've been looking
at some new light and came across something called a xenon-halo light.
It has square lighting surrounding the housing with a led light in the center.
At first I was hesitant but there are a few that actually look really nice.

I'm not the best at electrical but what should I look out for when buying ?
Some have 6000K and others 8000K.. I don't know what this means
How many amps should they have ?
How many volts ?

I saw a thread where one member made it himself but it seems he could
only make one of the lights work at a time.

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f58/7x...-build-112158/


Thanks and my regards,
Albert

Ianf406

Be careful with unknown lights. I bought a set off eBay that sound similar to what you are talking about and they were trash... lens cracked during install and had the output of a cheap flashlight. Some are probably better of course.

The 6000k-10000k (Kelvin) etc is basically a measure of color. The higher the number, the bluer the light.

I'm not sure of the volt/amp but chances are your stock harness cant handle much more than stock... (if even).

I upgraded my harness to the putco one and it made a marked improvement with the Sylvania silverstars. I recently purchased a set of black mamma LED lights- take a while for him to make but I'm excited for them.

cruiser54

Albert, here's a good read.

Originally Posted by xjsnake https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/hea...151196/index2/ - post2069179https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/headlights-151196/index2/ - post2069179
Upgraded headlights the legal (ish) way...

1) Get a new headlight harness.

You can make your own http://www.go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoHeadlightLoom.htm

Or you can buy one: http://www.eautoworks.com/Putco-H4--...s-PRD7540.aspx

The eautoworks harnesses used to be quite cheap until everyone on this forum started recommending them and the price was raised accordingly.

You can pick them up for $29.99 here http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/csd/full.aspx?Page=48 part number 36-3580. It says it fits a chevy blazer but it's the same as the eautoworks harness and I'm running the LMC harness in my XJ.

There are other more expensive options for pre-made harnesses but I'm not super familiar with those.

2) Upgrade to H4 housings

There are two types of regulations pertaining to headlight housings. There are DOT approved housings which are legal in the US and there are Ecode lights which are European housings and aren't legal in the US although many people use them as they are considered superior housings due to the light pattern.

DOT
Rampage http://www.quadratec.com/products/97009_501.htm
IPF http://www.quadratec.com/products/97017_1600.htm
Delta http://www.quadratec.com/products/97009_121.htm
Hella http://www.quadratec.com/products/97009_02.htm

Ecode
Autopals (look on ebay for Autopal 200mm H4 housing)
Hella http://www.rallylights.com/detail.aspx?ID=744
Cibie http://www.clearcorners.com/products/cibie/

Personally I won't buy housings that have plastic lenses, I much prefer glass but your mileage may vary.

3) Get good bulbs

Some of the above housings come with bulbs included with them. I tend not to recommend bulbs as the choices are extremely vast and everyone has their own preferences as to color and wattage.

4) Aim your headlights properly!

I can't say enough how much improperly aimed headlights annoy me on the road plus you are wasting all that time and effort to upgrade the lighting if you don't aim the light where it does the most good... http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=78017

5) On HID Lights

I do not recommend HID's for use in XJ's... People will show links to cheap HID kits and "Projectors" off of ebay and other sites which will give you a lot of light and will also throw a lot of light in all directions making you very visible to police and possibly blinding other drivers.


Read http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...nversions.html for a well written description of the problems with HID kits.

When using HID's you need a true projector housing. I'm sure people will chime in and say they run HID's and ebay housings and have had no problems but I'm describing the legal (ish) way.

If you want to go down the road of HID's, take a look at what true projector housings cost http://www.kbcarstuff.com/6054-200mm...-p/xd-6054.htm
http://www.brightheadlights.com/hid-upcoming.htm
or you can buy the projectors and retrofit them into existing housings if you are so inclined: https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f58/hea...9/#post1391556

There are a myriad of options available to consumers with the limiting factor being cost. One can spend under $100 and have significantly upgraded their lighting or they can spend $1000 and upgrade their lighting more. It's all in how much money you want to spend.

For those wanting to do some of these upgrades but not necessarily all I would do them in the following order:
1) Headlight Harness (major improvement even with sealed beams)
2) Housings and Associated Bulbs
3) Hid and Projectors (Cost prohibitive to do correctly)


For installation of the harness and housings see this excellent write up: https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f59/my-h4-upgrade-114440/

Disclaimer: Always check your local and state laws as some places have more stringent lighting laws than others... I am in no way associated with any of the above companies and none of what I say should be taken as the absolute truth or only way to do things. Flame on...

PUNISHER

^^^ good stuff right there Cruiser!

Firehawk068

If you want a true white light, you want to stay in the 3500-4500K range.
(color temperature, Kelvin scale) This would be closest to visible daylight.

When you get up around 6000K the light looks blue.

Up around 8000-above, the light looks Purple and Stupid!

cruiser54

You can buy the harness off ebay for under $10.

Firehawk068

Yes........................Yes you can!


http://www.ebay.com/itm/H4-H4-HEADLIGHT-BLACK-BOOSTER-WIRE-HARNESS-K0TG-/201205671223?hash=item2ed8cae537&vxp=mtr

DynoGuy

Sure but those are made in China.

jeeper albert

Thankyou for all the replies guys, I wouldn't know what to do without this forum.
Thankyou Cruiser for your very informative reply, I really appreciate and I really needed it.

Firehawk068

Yup!
Money goes a little farther over there these days..................


You'd probably be surprised at how much stuff you come in contact with on a daily basis, that is made over there............................Then again, maybe you wouldn't?

cruiser54

What isn't?

The Bill Clinton legacy lives on.............