I need brighter bulbs in the rear lights and bought some 32W/4W bulbs today.

I need to change them from 2 pins on the bottom to just one.

If I solder the two pins/filaments together what wattage will they become? This is the easiest way to get them to fit.

Do I need to just use the 32W filament on it's own?

The standard bulb is 21W but couldn't find any single filament bulbs of higher wattage and can't remember my ohms law!

 

ohms law, V=IxR Where v = volts, I = current and R= resistance

 

theres another law which may be helpful, P=VxI where P = power (in watts)

 

 

[This message has been edited by scoops (edited 03-02-2002).]

.

 

[This message has been edited by scoops (edited 03-02-2002).]

resistance in parallel is

 

1/r1 + 1/r2 + .... + 1/rn = 1/r total

 

So 2 2ohm resistors in parallel is 1 ohm.

 

Work out the resistance of your two filaments

use P=IV to find I, V =12-13 you know your power.

 

Then sub these currents into R = V/I

 

The put these two values in parallel to get an overall resistance then work the power backwards using I=V/R then P=IV.

 

Simple.

 

Do the same for series r1 + r2 + ... + rn = rtotal.

 

Which ever gives the highest power use that.

 

Okay?

Cheers mateys.

You wouldn't believe I have a HND in electronics and computing... LOL

Haven't used it in the 12 years since doing the course!

 

 

I have an HND in aeronautical engineering and I haven't a clue what it's about really, 8 years ago.

 

More recently did a Comp Sci degree, did well but cant remember any of the stuff that I dont use now.

 

I have a 'Last In First Out' memory.

 

Besides which what I wrote could be total bollocks

 

 

So am I right in thinking a 32W and 4W filament in parallel gives a 48W total?

Bloody hell that took some working out and still not sure! LOL

 

No.

If you connect them in parallel then you just have to add the wattage.

32W + 4W = 36W

 

If you would connect them in series then you would need Ohms law.

 

Maciej

Originally posted by ChrisC:

So am I right in thinking a 32W and 4W filament in parallel gives a 48W total?

Bloody hell that took some working out and still not sure! LOL

 

Dunno how you got 48, I just did it and got, 36W, which is right, as pointed out by Mr ChrisC.

 

Thinking logically about it, it you have a string of lights.

 

In parallel they are all as bright as their rating, so the total power is the sum of the ratings.

 

If you put lights in series they are dimmer, eg 3 lights only use a 3rd of their power rating each and hence only a 1/3 as bright.

 

So you have to put them in parallel to get the most light. However I cant see that an extra 4W willmake that much difference. Would be better to make a DC step up transformed and stick 15v accross the 32W element. Would need replacing more often though.

 

Oh why are you doing this again?

 

Jezz.

 

Jezz.

 

 

I've blacked out the rear lights so need brighter bulbs to shine through.

The only bulbs I could find that fit the standard tail light/indicator socket are either the normal 21W single filament indicator bulb, 21W/5W dual filament tail/brake light and a more unusual 32W/4W dual filament.

The only problem is for the indicator you need a single terminal on the end of the bulb. By soldering across the 2 connectors it sits on the terminal in the socket correctly and gives a 36W output.

I've done this and put them in but it doesn't look any brighter really...

n/m

 

[This message has been edited by ChrisC (edited 04-02-2002).]

Originally posted by ChrisC:

I've done this and put them in but it doesn't look any brighter really...

 

Mmm. stab in the dark, but pehaps the flasher unit will only deliver enough power to light it a certain amount.

 

There is a guy called pointblank on our board who have blacked out his lights, ask him what he did.

http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/Forum1/HTML/003151.html

 

Jezz.

 

 

does this give any indication as to why that 10 quid can maybe would have done both lights ?

 

maybe you went a little too dark ?

Originally posted by craig:

does this give any indication as to why that 10 quid can maybe would have done both lights ?

 

maybe you went a little too dark ?

 

Indication. Very droll.

 

LOL

 

 

[This message has been edited by Jezz_S13 (edited 04-02-2002).]

They are very dark indeed ie jet black and look the biz on my silver Z but I would have thought that a bulb thats nearly double the wattage would look brighter than it does...

They look OK in the dark but the pigs may have something to say in strong sunlight.

Na! Chris they would never catch you not even in an unmarked Scooby Doo LOL !

 

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The only way they'll catch me is when I brake and indicate to turn off and they run up my arse from not seeing any lights!