Headlight Lens Pattern - School Me Please

[77TLCFJ40]

Lighting experts, please take a look at the pic below and help me understand the different patterns Hella put in this lens. The pattern is different on the right and left. What does this do? Are there left and right hand lenses? The two I have are exactly the same. I assume the upper and lower patterns help focus both the low and high beams? What are your thoughts on using these lights in a housing with high/low H4 bulbs as auxiliary lights? What watt high/ low is recommended? How about a wiring diagram to build a harness? Thanks in advance.

 

[Tapage]

google is your friend ..

 

[Corbet]

The pattern in the lens is to focus the light where needed for both the high and low beams. There is not a right and left lens they should match. But there are right and left hand drive patterns depending on the side of the road you drive on. Meaning the light pattern for say Australia would be opposite the USA.

Anything higher than a 60w bulb would be too bright for low beams. Search Hella's site but I think the housings can handle a 140w bulb from memory. I used the IPF version in my FJ60 with 60w HIR bulbs. It was a huge improvement over standard lighting.

 

[Mark W]

The fluting in the glass is slightly different from the left to the right side of the glass, because there is a "kickup" on the right side for the low beam pattern... basically the cutoff is higher on the right hand side (assuming it is a headlight for use in a 'drive on the right hand side of the road country). This provide better illumination of roadsigns and the should of the road while not impacting oncoming traffic as much.

The fluting is different from top to bottom because the low beam uses the top of the lens more and the high beam more so the bottom.

Hellas are decent headlights. IPFs are better... Cibies are best. I do not see any DOT marking on your lens, so I assume that those are E-code patterns (Tighter cutoff for the low beams)

No matter how big a bub you put in them, they are headlights, not fog lights or driving lights. real fog lights have a lower cutoff and wider spread than low beams and real driving lights have a tighter focus than high beams.

I run 100/130 watt bulbs in similar lights and have for years. properly aligned these are not a problem for oncoming traffic whatsoever (I always double check my alignment by having a friend drive the rig toward me not just looking at the pattern on a wall, so I know exactly what the oncoming drivers are seeing.

Toss some bulbs in them and use them as the headlights that they are. You should be pleased with the results compared to any standard headlight. Buy driving or fog lights to use as driving or fog lights.


Mark...

 

[FJ40-GARAGE]

Mark hit the nail on the head 100%


In german its called *Asymmetrisches Abblendlicht* known as Euro Light Pattern in most other countries.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headlamp#European_system

 

[77TLCFJ40]

Thanks for the great education guys.

These lights are military surplus. I bought them for the housings, but may run the lens/reflectors for a while to see how they work for me. I like the idea of the high/ low beam choice and aiming them will be easy. I will be using them in addition to the old headlights in my 40. The surplus lights will be mounted just above the bumper but set back as much as possible without blocking the pattern. I'll post some pics of the housings later today. Thanks again.

 

[Corbet]

They look like the standard inserts that should fit in your FJ40 headlight buckets. I'd put them there and then buy a set of driving or fog lights even if they are a basic set. The end result will be much better.

 

[Mark W]

Ditto


Mark...

 

[77TLCFJ40]

I would do that but the new Hellas are only 6 inch diameter.

Considering a test fit of some 100w sealed beam aircraft landing lights into the housings. No high/low, but I have a complete Hella harness that would plug and play.

What's the value of a pair of 6" E-Code Hellas without bulbs?

Thanks

 

[77TLCFJ40]

Pics of the surplus lights. They consist of a 6" headlight and a 3.25 x 1.25 blackout light in a stout aluminum waterproof housing with a clamp on protective lens and lots of thick gaskets. The two mounting positions are shown. The bolt-on mount is heavy brass and is easily half of the total weight. I don't plan to use these mounts.

 

[77TLCFJ40]

These things are well built!

 

[77TLCFJ40]

Opened up

 

[77TLCFJ40]

This is how I plan to mount them. I will fab a U shaped bracket that will bolt to each side of the blackout housing and allow the tilt up/down adjustment. The U bracket will have a center bolt to mount to my 40. I considered modifing the covers and using the blackouts as running lights/turn signals with an amber bulb. Even considered mounting the whole thing on my fenders in place of my OEM '77 signals. I think they are too big and heavy for that. I will need to find a pair of additional plugs. Each light only came with one since the other hole is where the wires exited the housing through the brass mount.