aftermarket bulbs:color temperature and usable light output - Page 4

SilverY2KCivic · 06-17-2004, 01:26 AM

Amen to that eckoman_pdx. Also of note, unless your headlight housing is MADE from the factory for HID, then it isn't going to project the light from an HID kit correctly, thus causing blindingly bright light, an improperly aimmed light beam, and will attract more attention by cops, of where here in CA where I live, aftermarket HIDs are now illegal anyways, and is absolutely means for them to give you a nice fat ticket.

BTW, REAL OEM HID doesn't exist for US Hondas exception of the S2000 as that's the ONLY USDM Honda that ever came from the factory with HID. Most Acuras however have an HID option, but if you're getting an Acura, you'd be already getting that HID option, and not springing for a CHEAP immitation tue HID kit.

Misleading a consumer won't gain anyone more sales.

Lastley, HID's are out of the budget of many people, and defeats the purpose of this thread. Preach on about HID's elsewhere, this is to inform people about the best HALOGEN bulb options out there, not HID.

Buzz1167 · 07-25-2004, 08:52 PM

Great website, its for cameras, but it tells alot about the theory of color temperature, and has some cool pictures and java applets.

http://www.olympusmicro.com/primer/p...mperature.html

Hth

S.C · 07-25-2004, 09:41 PM

Nice link, it explain it all. And teach u some photographic stuffs.

glennbtw · 09-30-2004, 04:22 PM

from what i have read, both the silverstars and the piaas are good headlights. i have a friend that can get me a set of piaa bulbs for around $50 or so, or i could buy the silverstars online for around $30. which ones are reccomended for the price that i can get them at?

eckoman_pdx · 10-01-2004, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glennbtw

from what i have read, both the silverstars and the piaas are good headlights. i have a friend that can get me a set of piaa bulbs for around $50 or so, or i could buy the silverstars online for around $30. which ones are reccomended for the price that i can get them at?

I prefer the PIAA's, though neither is a bad choice. Both SilverY2Kcivic and I run PIAA Super Plasma's (he runs the Super Plasma GT-X, I run the regular Super Plasmas). Before he ran the PIAA's he ran silverstars. I would perfer the PIAA's myself, and th Super Plasmas or Super Plasma GT-X would be my choice. Also, which PIAA's is it he says he can get you for around $50 a set? If thats the price for a set of Super Plasmas, jump on it.

locusto03 · 10-08-2004, 02:50 AM

Hmmm...

I currently run Silverstar low beams (9006) and have been considering getting some PIAA's... either the Xtreme White Plus or the Super Plasmas (maybe GT-X).
The color of the light doesn't really matter to me much... just the brightness.
I am wondering if you guys have any recommendations as to whether or not I should get some PIAA's or just stick w/ my Silverstars.

Also, I am finding it quite difficult to find any pictures of some PIAA's lighting up the road.
Would it be possible for anybody to post some pix of the light of the Silverstars on the road, in addition to some PIAA's?
This would be very helpful to me, and I'm sure many others would appreciate this also.
Thanks in advance.

eckoman_pdx · 10-08-2004, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by locusto03

Hmmm...

I currently run Silverstar low beams (9006) and have been considering getting some PIAA's... either the Xtreme White Plus or the Super Plasmas (maybe GT-X).
The color of the light doesn't really matter to me much... just the brightness.
I am wondering if you guys have any recommendations as to whether or not I should get some PIAA's or just stick w/ my Silverstars.

Also, I am finding it quite difficult to find any pictures of some PIAA's lighting up the road.
Would it be possible for anybody to post some pix of the light of the Silverstars on the road, in addition to some PIAA's?
This would be very helpful to me, and I'm sure many others would appreciate this also.
Thanks in advance.

So you don't care about color output, correct? You don't care how they look, you just want to see better? Although you'l may see a little better with certain PIAA's, I don't know if it's worth the extra $$ to you since you already have silverstars (both are far better than stock). If you were looking for a pair and hadn't bought any yet, I'd say look into PIAA. I myself would spend the money and get PIAA's (Super Plasmas), but thats me. Now I could be wrong, but I believe the Super Plasma in a 9006 and 9005 is more spendy than in some other bulb types ($115 or so vs $70 for H3, H1, H4 (9007), etc), so if moneys an issue Extreme White PIAA's or Silverstars might be more up your alley. You might want to look into all this.

SilverY2KCivic runs PIAA Super Plasma GT-X's now, but he run Slverstars before that (I think he keeps em in the glove box now as spares)b. I am pretty sure he prefers PIAA, as do I. Silverstars, though, are a good light if you arn't going with PIAA. I have tried to get a good picture in the past of my PIAA's, and what they'll light up at night (They do light up A LOT). However, my camera flash always seems to mess this up. Maybe I'll try a digital camera and see if thats better.

Also, hit up SilverY2KCivic, he might have a picture or 2, hit him up with a PM and ask.

Sorry I don't have a good pic to post up right now.

potsdamcartel · 10-24-2004, 10:09 PM

can anyone tell me if yellow fog lights are better than white? i have researched but have found no concrete evidence on which type are better. many say they are, many say they aren't. i keep getting conflicting answers from forum users and researchers.
can someone tell me from experience which ones work better in fog/snow? i don't care about how they look, i only care about performance.

here are some sites i've used regarding my question: http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasc...9/phy99xx4.htm

http://www.gi.alaska.edu/ScienceForum/ASF5/593.html

http://lists.off-road.com/pipermail/.../msg11853.html

thankz

kcg795 · 02-15-2007, 05:55 PM

I work at Fred Meyer as a cashier. We do sell the GE Nighthawk and the GE Nighthawk Sport bulbs. The "Sport" has the blue tint on them. Sometimes I will get those through my line. I'll ring them up and bag them, then I'll say "You sure you want blue bulbs? The tint really reduces the light output quite a bit." So far, I've been successful at talking them out of it. I told them to get the regular Nighthawks instead and explain that the blue tint is just gonna cause more glare in poor weather conditions.

digimark · 01-02-2008, 01:31 PM

Has anybody here tried these bulbs from this place?

They claim that their bulbs are similar in output to the Osram Silverstar bulbs but cheaper. Just wondered if anybody had tried them.

http://www.autowirez.co.uk/h4-cool-b...p-1-pr-77.html

eckoman_pdx · 02-04-2008, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digimark

Has anybody here tried these bulbs from this place?

They claim that their bulbs are similar in output to the Osram Silverstar bulbs but cheaper. Just wondered if anybody had tried them.

http://www.autowirez.co.uk/h4-cool-b...p-1-pr-77.html

I am not in Europe, but over here in the states, Sylvania (Osram is parent company) makes those Cool Blue bulbs. Here, they are a little higher color temp than the regular bulbs...but they are a lower color temp than Silverstars and PIAA. I prefer PIAA's over the cool blue here in the states, but if you don't want to spend Silverstar or PIAA money (or can't afford it), I think they are certainly nicer than the standard OEM replacement bulbs. I've ran the Cool Blue in 2 different cars vs OEM replacement, and I liked them better. I still like PIAA's/Silverstars better, but those aren't always an option due to the price.

I've never used the Osram Silverstars, but from what I read, they are better, I hear they last longer (longer rated life) than the US spec silverstars. I'll have to look that up at some point and see what I can find.

I hope I was some help

awdrifter2 · 04-08-2008, 02:52 AM

Has anyone been able to find how much lumen the PIAA 9005 bulbs puts out? I don't really believe those 55w=80w bs. If it's really that bright, they would probably publish the lumens rating right? So far I'm using modded Sylvania Xtravision 9005 in my low beam, they puts out 1700 lumens and only cost $10 per bulb. But the downside is their expected life are only 350hrs.

akboss · 06-23-2009, 01:24 PM

Silverstar Ultra bulbs are half the price of PIAA and work just as well. No need to buy anything else.

eckoman_pdx · 07-25-2009, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akboss

Silverstar Ultra bulbs are half the price of PIAA and work just as well. No need to buy anything else.

US Spec Silverstar and Silverstar Ultra's also last a heck of a lot shorter lifespan wise than most PIAA bulbs (though there are some PIAA bulbs with shorter life than Silverstar Ultras.

I'm not bashing the Silverstars, but I wanted to point out some people may not like the shorter lifespan, and in the end, since you have to replace the bulb sooner, costs even out at the very least.

Also, PIAA's always had a 1 year warranty, something Silverstars don't have. There's more to a purchase than just price

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