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Nancnharv Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2012 Posts: 13 Location: NY
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Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2016 2:01 pm Post subject: Brighter headlights |
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I have a 66 beetle and need brighter headlights without 6volt/12volt conversion. I was told 8 volt battery will help with that issue. Also was told Optima 6 volt battery will help as well. I need input and ideas on this. I don't need it for cranking or radio etc. just brighter lights. Thanks |
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rcroane Samba Member
Joined: January 03, 2013 Posts: 1996 Location: Springfield, Virginia
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Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2016 2:17 pm Post subject: Re: Brighter headlights |
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Do a search on "brighter headlights". This topic has been well covered. Good luck and welcome to The Samba. _________________ '65 Sunroof Bug |
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KTPhil Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006 Posts: 33875 Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2016 2:23 pm Post subject: Re: Brighter headlights |
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Search is well worthwhile.
Also, short answer: Fix all connections (clean, tighten, and perhaps solder and heat-shrink), including grounds (all of them), and check wiring for correctness per the wiring diagrams in the technical section. Check your generator and regulator for proper operation and output. If all that is good, next step is a set of Hella H4 lamps to replace your sealed beams. 6V bulbs are still available.
Last edited by KTPhil on Mon Jul 18, 2016 3:35 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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rsthj Samba Member
Joined: December 16, 2015 Posts: 65
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Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2016 2:32 pm Post subject: Re: Brighter headlights |
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An 8 volt battery is just a bandaid. A stock 6 volt system in good condition has bright headlights. If yours are dim, you very likely have a bad connection some where. Best thing to do is to use a meter and start measuring the voltage at the headlight and work your way back from there. Absent a meter, you can turn your lights on, wait a few minutes, and then carefully start feeling connections/wires/switches with your hand. If any are warm/hot, you've found your culprit |
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EVfun Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012 Posts: 5445 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2016 5:06 pm Post subject: Re: Brighter headlights |
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Nancnharv wrote: |
I have a 66 beetle and need brighter headlights without 6volt/12volt conversion. I was told 8 volt battery will help with that issue. Also was told Optima 6 volt battery will help as well. I need input and ideas on this. I don't need it for cranking or radio etc. just brighter lights. Thanks |
The lights will be brighter if you clean all the connections from the connection at the voltage regulator all the way to the headlight plugs. Every connection in that path needs a good cleaning after 5 decades.
That will help, but your headlights will still be less than powerful for a couple reasons. One is that many 6 volt headlights are incandescent but not halogen. They put out less light per watt and the typical 6006 bulb is 40/50 watts. The 12 volt incandescent bulb (6014) is generally 50/60 watts. Most 12 volt headlights are halogen though, and they will put out more light at less watts than incandescent bulbs. The bottom line is that you can expect about 2/3 the light at best with sealed headlights.
You can buy H4 6 volt bulbs and use a modern headlight with a replaceable bulb. My '57 has Bosch H4 optics and runs 6 volt 55/60 watt bulbs. I'm running those in my mostly stock '57. I'm surprised the little generator hasn't complained at night -- just the headlights draw most of the available output. _________________
Wildthings wrote: |
As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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Eric&Barb Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2004 Posts: 24670 Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2016 5:06 pm Post subject: Re: Brighter headlights |
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Ditto! Clean all the connections in the wiring, starting with both battery cables and the transaxle to body ground cable, clean BOTH ends of all of those!!! Apply dielectric grease to keep oxygen and thusly corrosion away for as long as possible from any connection.
Search out how to solder connections inside the fuse box and if you are using the early bell shaped headlight switch solder the internal connection in that also. _________________ In Stereo, Where Available! |
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Digger89L Samba Member
Joined: May 16, 2013 Posts: 1130 Location: Western Canada (SK)
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Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2016 5:33 pm Post subject: Re: Brighter headlights |
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Important tip about using 'dielectric grease' ...it is an 'insulator' ...not a 'conductor' ...so DON'T apply it directly to the electrical connector where the connection is being made ...apply on and closely around the connection once the connection has been tightened down. As it says when you google 'is dielectric grease conductive?': Dielectric grease is a non-conductive, silicone grease designed to seal out moisture and, therefore, prevent corrosion on electrical connectors. Being non-conductive, it does not enhance the flow of electrical current. _________________ "If you can't fix it with pop rivets, crazy glue and duct tape, or hold it together with zip ties, velcro or magnets, it REALLY is broken." |
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60ragtop Bonneville Belt Bitch
Joined: March 13, 2006 Posts: 7800 Location: Big Wonderful WYO 82401
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Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2016 5:40 pm Post subject: Re: Brighter headlights |
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once you get everything else mentioned done , try these
https://www.amazon.com/Wagner-Lighting-H6006-Sealed-Beam/dp/B00CBZ4HQK _________________ Rick
Certified Mechanic by the State of Michigan in 1977
ASA certified in 1987
Certified Hunter Wheel Alignment Master Technician 1986
tasb wrote: |
I've restored a large number too, but I don't toot my horn quite as loud.
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sb001 wrote: |
maybe he just snapped cause his car sucked |
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Eric&Barb Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2004 Posts: 24670 Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2016 6:33 pm Post subject: Re: Brighter headlights |
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Digger89L wrote: |
Important tip about using 'dielectric grease' ...it is an 'insulator' ...not a 'conductor' ...so DON'T apply it directly to the electrical connector where the connection is being made ...apply on and closely around the connection once the connection has been tightened down. As it says when you google 'is dielectric grease conductive?': Dielectric grease is a non-conductive, silicone grease designed to seal out moisture and, therefore, prevent corrosion on electrical connectors. Being non-conductive, it does not enhance the flow of electrical current. |
Really it does not matter that it is a non-conductor. Having a tightened connection will cut right thru it. Use it on all our VWs and have less than .2 volts of drop thru the electrical system. Even with the longer wiring of the Buses we have. _________________ In Stereo, Where Available! |
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Digger89L Samba Member
Joined: May 16, 2013 Posts: 1130 Location: Western Canada (SK)
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Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2016 8:06 pm Post subject: Re: Brighter headlights |
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Eric&Barb wrote: |
Really it does not matter that it is a non-conductor. Having a tightened connection will cut right thru it. Use it on all our VWs and have less than .2 volts of drop thru the electrical system. Even with the longer wiring of the Buses we have. |
Lots of un-informed debate around this issue, but, when it gets right down to it, dielectric grease was NOT designed to be a conductor, in fact, it was developed to be the exact opposite: an insulator. We'll have to agree to disagree. _________________ "If you can't fix it with pop rivets, crazy glue and duct tape, or hold it together with zip ties, velcro or magnets, it REALLY is broken." |
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Eric&Barb Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2004 Posts: 24670 Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2016 6:47 am Post subject: Re: Brighter headlights |
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Digger89L wrote: |
We'll have to agree to disagree. |
Afraid not, we agree it is an insulator, but what we are saying is it is not an armor plating. Metal easily cuts right thru it and makes plenty of good electrical contact.
Still not convinced??? Then test your theory. Take apart the connection between the battery ground cable and the body. Polish the bolt, washer cable end, and body point and then apply plenty of grease to all of those parts, bolt back together and then try to start the engine or turn on headlights, or wipers, horn, etc.. If they worked before, they will work just fine with dielectric grease.
Go ahead, we double dog dare you.
Air is a good insulator also to low voltage DC, but we allow air around connections all the time, and still have electrical flow. Problem with air is is does cause corrosion of the metal surfaces so adding the dielectric grease acts as a barrier to oxygen getting to the cleaned metal surfaces and connections stay much better for longer. _________________ In Stereo, Where Available! |
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sjbartnik Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2011 Posts: 5986 Location: Brooklyn
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Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2016 7:04 am Post subject: Re: Brighter headlights |
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An 8v battery is an unnecessary band-aid. Fixing the symptom but not the problem.
Take a Saturday and go through the whole electrical system cleaning up connections and terminals, removing oxidation and corrosion. Pay special attention to the big battery terminals and both ends of the battery ground strap as well as the ground strap between the transaxle and the body.
Pull the fuse box, clean all that mess up. Pull the headlight switch, clean all that mess up too.
Pull all your light bulbs out, clean the terminals in the sockets. Clean up the ground points for all your lights. If you find your light housings don't have separate ground wires (brown) then that means they ground through the screws that hold them to the fenders which in turn ground through the bolts that hold the fenders to the body. Clean up those screw mounting points to bare metal.
Pull your headlights. What connector do you have, the old kind with spring terminals that clamp the bare wire ends? Or the more modern push-on spade terminal type? If the former, you'll want to upgrade those.
Originally your parking light/taillight bulbs were 4 watt and the brake/turn signal bulbs were 18 watt.
On a 12v car the standard is 5w for the running/tail lights and 21w for the brake/turn signal lights. You can get 21w 6v bulbs from places like Wolfsburg West.
A 21W bulb in a 6v car is just as bright as a 21W bulb in a 12v car, it just draws twice the current in a 6v car. But it's only as bright if the connections are clean and the grounds are good.
While you have the lenses off check the condition of your reflectors. They make a big difference to the perceived brightness of the bulb. If they are cloudy you may wish to polish them up or you can line them with HVAC foil tape and polish that up.
This way toward brighter lights is not the fast way but it is the right way. _________________ 1965 Volkswagen 1500 Variant S
2000 Kawasaki W650 |
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erivaj Samba Member
Joined: July 19, 2016 Posts: 8 Location: Cadiz
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Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2016 12:25 am Post subject: Re: Brighter headlights |
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I bought a couple of halogen 6 volts bulbs by internet and results are excelent. My car has european light, no sealed beams so may be not a solution for everybody |
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onetuza Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2012 Posts: 579 Location: Sebastian, FL
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Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2016 6:12 am Post subject: Re: Brighter headlights |
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For what it's worth. '65 Beetle, 12V, Alternator.
Was getting 12.2 volts at the headlamps with car idling.
Cleaned all fuses and fuse holders and all spade connections on fuse block and installed a new foot switch I had sitting around. Voltage was now 12.75.
Installed a new light switch from WW. Now getting 13.9 volts at the headlamps. _________________ When I die, I want to go peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather . . . .
Not screaming, like the other passengers in his car! |
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sjbartnik Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2011 Posts: 5986 Location: Brooklyn
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2016 5:49 am Post subject: Re: Brighter headlights |
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^ this.
Keep in mind that a 6v system is more sensitive to poor connections/increased resistance because the current is doubled for a device of equivalent power (for example a 21 watt bulb draws 1.6 amps on a 12V system but 3.3 amps on a 6V system).
Poor connections leads to voltage drop which leads to dim lights. _________________ 1965 Volkswagen 1500 Variant S
2000 Kawasaki W650 |
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carcrazed Samba Member
Joined: November 15, 2007 Posts: 957 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2016 6:07 am Post subject: Re: Brighter headlights |
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I actually bought my 6 volt bulb replacements for my '61 from NAPA and are made by Phillips. They are as bright as my 12 volt bulbs in my '65, but...as said...you have to have clean connections and grounds. _________________ 1965 Herbie Replica. 1776cc dual Kads.
1961 Beetle 33,000 Original Miles
"Just When you think you are getting ahead, you're always wrong." |
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EverettB Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000 Posts: 69733 Location: Phoenix Metro
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2016 7:44 am Post subject: Re: Brighter headlights |
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sjbartnik wrote: |
Poor connections leads to voltage drop which leads to dim lights. |
...which leads to the dark side.
onetuza wrote: |
installed a new foot switch I had sitting around. |
Yes, don't forget to check out this switch too.
The one in my '61 was getting hot it had so much build-up.
I replaced it with a good used one that had close to zero resistance once the terminals were cleaned. _________________ How to Post Photos
Everett Barnes - [email protected] | My wanted ads
"Water is the only drink for a wise man" | "Communication prevents complaints"
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
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sjbartnik Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2011 Posts: 5986 Location: Brooklyn
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2016 8:22 am Post subject: Re: Brighter headlights |
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EverettB wrote: |
sjbartnik wrote: |
Poor connections leads to voltage drop which leads to dim lights. |
...which leads to the dark side.
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Literally! _________________ 1965 Volkswagen 1500 Variant S
2000 Kawasaki W650 |
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KTPhil Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006 Posts: 33875 Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2016 8:44 am Post subject: Re: Brighter headlights |
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EverettB wrote: |
onetuza wrote: |
installed a new foot switch I had sitting around. |
Yes, don't forget to check out this switch too.
The one in my '61 was getting hot it had so much build-up.
I replaced it with a good used one that had close to zero resistance once the terminals were cleaned. |
The '66 uses a relay, not a foot switch. But just the same, check those relay connections for the same issue. |
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Mr. Mike Samba Member
Joined: January 30, 2015 Posts: 512 Location: Shoreline, WA
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2016 8:11 pm Post subject: Re: Brighter headlights |
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More of the same, yes clean all electrical connection, all of them. Clean them thoroughly with a wire wheel on a rotary tool or fine sandpaper. Repair poor wire connections. If you're repairing/replacing connections, I recommend soldering these repaired connections as well crimping them. Then, cover all those in dielectric grease. While you're at it, clean up the pan to transaxle ground strap and inspect the battery to starter connections.
Cheers!
Mike _________________ 1964 Sedan 6 volt |
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