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About to install a Silverstar H4 Blub.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
jeffgs said:
My last post sounded snotty and that was not my intention. I feel bad actually. But the package does state to expect shorter life. Also and I am open to correction on this, the light is not actually brighter but it is the type of light that helps. You are restricted by the reflectivity of the light housing itself and the ability to throw light out and direct it.
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Didn't see anything snotty on the reply, you just stated a fact on what was on the package. I wished they would have stated how many months, years or what ever the bars represented. One bar is? 4 bars is? no biggie.
 
Grimly said:
There is a greater lumen output from the Silverstar type of bulb, but obviously it will be not be shown to advantage if the reflector and lens is less than optimal - and there are, despite decades of experience and gaining of design knowledge, still many headlamps that aren't what they could be.
However, any time I've fitted Silverstars I've been lucky enough to put them into some reasonably designed lamp housings and the extra light was used to good end. In fact, it was so good on one of them (2001 Transit) I didn't bother putting the 100W bulbs back in, as the Silverstars were illuminating the road just as well, and the 100W ones were tending to overheat the connections in any case.
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They list the out put wattage on the package as still 55/60 watts. They do say the light is a whiter white at that wattage.
 
83GS850L said:
I dont want to derail the thread, but has anyone thought about trying one of the newer Cree LED bulbs?
I'm not sure how well they would work with a longer body and cooling fins on the back, with limited space in the headlight bucket.
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Makes me wonder how much heat is being dumped into the headlight bucket.
 
mrbill5491 said:
They list the out put wattage on the package as still 55/60 watts. They do say the light is a whiter white at that wattage.
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That's power consumed, not a measure of actual light output. Strictly, in legal requirement, the Silverstars are just a way of getting more light for the legal limit of watts, as the power of the lamp (at least in Europe) is limited, and not the lumens. Crazy, I know, but that's the state of the law.
Of course, that didn't stop millions of users fitting 100W (and more ) bulbs, but many more people were happy enough to stick within the law - as who knows what stupidity the insurance company will seize on to get out of paying a claim if the worst happens, and why hand them a gift on a plate by having illegal lights?
 
the reflective material inside the headlight seems to dull over time. i think replacing the lens assembly may help as much as a better bulb. i had to buy a new one for one of my bikes and it seems as good as one of my older headlights with a new silverstar, possibly better.
 
Eli69 said:
the reflective material inside the headlight seems to dull over time. i think replacing the lens assembly may help as much as a better bulb. i had to buy a new one for one of my bikes and it seems as good as one of my older headlights with a new silverstar, possibly better.
Click to expand...
Oh, for sure. And there's a difference between reflector and lens designs such that I prized Kwak rectangular headlamp units of the 80s over all else, for a while. I've still got one on the '80 bike and one sitting spare.
 
GS1150Pilot said:
Silly question, but can one refurbish the reflector?
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I will 'second' this question. It would be good to know some tips to restore the light/lense/reflector/whatever for increased light and/or better visibility.

I got a Hella H4 halogen (stock power ratings) as I heard they were supposed to be good bulbs. How do they compare against the Sylvania's that are being talked about in this thread?
 
There is little you can do about a dulled reflector. They are replaceable. As I said earlier I've had better luck with these: http://store.candlepower.com/naraulhiou60.html The Silver Star bulbs never lasted long for me, in my old Supra or my Passat. Truth be told I was having trouble with overcharging when I tried them on the bike. I read an article about a lawsuit over the Silver Star and it's short life. I would put my money on the Narva bulb unless you go with a LED.
 
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