PIAA Super White H4 Bulbs & Heat

[RedShift]

I have a hankering to improve my headlight intensity.  I noticed that bulbs like the PIAA Super Whites are advertised to give a 100/110w shine with the regulation 55/60w power.

Do these bulbs run hotter than the stock bulb, or is there better technology to account for the whiter light?

My rather basic understanding of electricity leads me to believe that if it's still using only 55/60w, then it's just producing a different frequency of the visible spectrum.  True?

A curious mind needs to know.  Anybody make this change?  Pray -- tell?

[Rema1000]

I think that same wattage, more light would mean less heat.  However, it seems that what makes a bulb "good" is subjective:

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/?http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carcare-newsection/carcare_menu.php3

They also reviewed H7s, where they panned the PIAA supers:

http://www.zx-12r.org/Motorcycle_info/Information%20Pages/Auto%20Express%20H7%20Bulbs%20Test.htm

Those tests didn't include Sylvania's "silverstars", but it's been mentioned favorably here.

[Focer]

http://www.costore.com/performanceshop/productenlarged.asp?peid=34&pid=298199

Silverstars... The only bulb I buy. Everything I drive or ride has them. Run stock wattage, stay cool, and are clear as can be.

[Susuki_Jah]

use what your wiring is rated for "the same wattage of your stock bulbs"

using a higher wattage bulb can cause you to blow fuses even burn up wires. trust me , ive experienced it in cars. to get around this they have kits or you could rewire and put a higher inline fuse in to handle the wattage.

[Eklipse]

I used silverstars for a while. Then I got some Superwhites off of EBay and they have a better color (8000k Xenon color... exactly or really close) than the silverstars, and they shine brighter. Haven't had any problems.

[RedShift]

So far is sounds like you're agreeing with me -- that they don't run hotter, just whiter than yellowish.  That's really the answer I was looking for.

As to brand loyalty, we all do it, it's personal, subjective and useful to know.  Thanks for the input.

Susuki_Jah, don't be concerned.  I don't have any plans to draw more power than stock bulbs.  No need to stress the alternator and wires if it's not needed.  

Better life through technology -- bring it on...

[manofthefield]

Check our Pablo's post here (almost to the bottom)

There may be some other posts out there too if you search more

[pantablo]

Check our Pablo's post here (almost to the bottom)

There may be some other posts out there too if you search more

this is what I said...

I ran a PIAA 80/80 SuperWhite and it burned out in about 4-5 months. When I went to replace it I noticed the plug end had melted a bit. This was significantly brighter and whiter than stock, and also not road legal.

note that I was actually running more wattage, not just brighter.

[RedShift]

Thanks, Pablo.  Your web pages are legend in this forum.

[roguegeek]

From what looks like a lot of other people here, I too am using SilverStar bulbs.

[Dom]

I've been running dual 80 watters for the past few months and the wiring is fine.  I wouldn't worry about it drawing too much off just one bulb.

[pantablo]

Thanks, Pablo.  Your web pages are legend in this forum.

Thank you. I'm glad they help.

I've been running dual 80 watters for the past few months.

notice mine were also fine for about 5 months...be careful. I didnt know they melted a bit until I checked them...

[gs500fromnb]

im running silverstars... but im thinking of switching to higher end PIAAs this riding season... anybody tried both? what kinda difference? I dont care about the price, i'll gladly pay alot more if theres a difference. I'm planning on sticking to the same wattage.

[lesh24]

Just get some HID conversion kit which can sell for like $250USD and the whole kit is just plug and play......you will love the light out put.....once you go HID you dont go back........

I put a kit in my car and I love :mrgreen:    it........it is initially more expensive but in the long run it draws less power then your stock bulb and you get more lumens of light.......


Here is a great place to pick them up....... www.xenondepot.com

[Rema1000]

Yow, $250 and they give you a ballast and plug-and-play bulbs... not bad.  But they say that bikes with only one headlight will lose highbeam function.  So you'd want to do a dual-headlight conversion first.

But something tells me that this would look cheesy on an unfaired GS500... kinda like an old VW bug with HID lights  

[Focer]

:lol:  I was thinking the same damn thing!

[dgyver]

....I noticed that bulbs like the PIAA Super Whites are advertised to give a 100/110w shine with the regulation 55/60w power.....

I run similiar type bulbs as you mentioned in my TLR. I have over 10,000 miles since installed and the only problem I have had was when a connector melted but this was due to corrosion on only one of them. I replaced it with one from a GS that I had and this is when I noticed that the wire gauge is about 2 sizes smaller on the TL than the GS.

[tdan553527]

I bought some superwhite APC 90/100 watt bulbs, look great and no problems on mine.

[RedShift]

Well, looks like the consensus is that the Super Whites or SilverStars of the same wattage are no problem.  Thanks for the feedback.

I'm curious as to the benefit of spending $250 for a High-Intensity Discharge solution.  How much different is that over just a different H4 bulb like the SuperWhites or SilverStars?  We're talking about spending some 8X for HID.  Questions for you who bought in;

Why are they worth the extra cost?  Do you get more lumens?  Do they last longer?

[lesh24]

Well, looks like the consensus is that the Super Whites or SilverStars of the same wattage are no problem.  Thanks for the feedback.

I'm curious as to the benefit of spending $250 for a High-Intensity Discharge solution.  How much different is that over just a different H4 bulb like the SuperWhites or SilverStars?  We're talking about spending some 8X for HID.  Questions for you who bought in;

Why are they worth the extra cost?  Do you get more lumens?  Do they last longer?

You do get alot more lumens compared to halgean or even xenon charged bulbs

HID will also draw much less current from your battery and bike overall I think it is 55W for halagon and 35W for HID.

You will also get a much longer life span out of HID (BUT MAKE SURE YOU DONT TOUCH THE BULB WITH BARE HANDS OR OIL WHEN INSTALLING THEM)

I did alot of research into getting HID's for my car and it was well worth it.  When I installed it in my car I insulated the wire some more to protect it from the elements under the hood.  Also it produces less heat which can help when you are on long rides.....

You can get BI-XENON HID kits which will do your high beam but the low beam HID is just so much by itself......

I have already odered my HID kit and as soon as I pick up my bike its gonna be my first MOD!

If you wanna wait until I get some pictures thats cool, ill be more then happy to share....my girl everytime she is in my car and goes back to hers she hates it because she is so used to the light output at night in my car.

I know that im gonna hate night driving on the bike without HID it will produce a nice white lightout put. I would recommend to get 4300K temprature bulbs which have the most lumens but you can also get 6000K bulbs which I have in my car and have a bluish tinge to them but comparable lumens to the 4300K.