ssv bulb upgrade - worse than the originals!

[VNV8]

Gday all,

I used narva blue power bulbs in my VT to great success, a whiter light and stronger beam than standard, so after getting the ssv I thought I would do the same. I'm not after the dramatic results of hids, just slightly better performance and better looks on the low beam bulbs. So I again went for the narva blue power, and after many sore fingers put them in yesterday, only to find they are worse than the stockers. Colour seems whiter, but the beam is very weak. I'm hoping that I've done something wrong, and not wasted my time and effort. Now will the difference be less pronounced then in the VT because these are projector lights? Has anyone used upgrade bulbs to success in them? If I may have done something wrong, how do I tell, what can I look out for?
Cheers.

[zorro]

Headlight design and reflector bares more impact to bulb performance than the bulb itself. You can have a 5 jigawatt bulb and still have average lighting.

The SS lenses are average if you want good lighting put the Calais/ssv/HSV projector headlights in.

[gaz05]

They are crap, anything with blue in it... use the Vision +50 or the +80

[BEARWOOD]

From memory i thought the Blue Power were just to give you a different colour to standard halogen and no real output improvement....I'd say you have them in right and it;s as good as they will get. Bulbs with that blue stuff on the tips of them actually lower output because its just like another filter for light to go through. Decide if you want to look "cool" or have better vision at night then start again.

[VNV8]

zorro, it's already an SSV with the projector lights. Bearwood, the blue power are supposed to give you whiter light and 90% more light, they aren't just a colour change, and are ADR approved so aren't blue in appearance. I don't 'want to look cool' but want whiter, brighter light. Without going to the expense of the philips bulbs. They definitely have 'whitened' the light but the actual beam in woeful, I was wondeirng if this was something to do with the projector lenses as these exact bulbs worked brilliantly in the VT. I'll have another look at them this week, if it doesnt improve i'll just put the stockers back in.

[CLUBRED]

What is the lumen package of the original lamps, what is the lumen package of the new?

I'll say it once again, the bluer you go into the white spectrum the LESS light is produced watt for watt.

[Woodchukka]

They are crap, anything with blue in it... use the Vision +50 or the +80

They have the plus 120 now.

[BEARWOOD]

Try and stick to bulbs under 5000k, they will still look whiter than the standards but wont be losing to much output by going too blue. Id say the plus 120 would be a similar colour to standard.

If the narva's say they give an extra 90% with a whiter light, i think you already worked out thats bullshit. If you have 3000lumens and add 90% you are going to notice it!

[VRIIClubby]

If the narva's say they give an extra 90%

I think if you read the packet its 90% more output than was available on the 120Y....

I put the Narva Arctic Plus in my SSV when I first picked it up as I was the same as you and had excellent previous experience with them, in the 1st few days I thought I had put them in incorrectly as the light appeared very dull, however, after a long distance drive they were as good as I remembered and provided more light (in my eyes) than the standard globes did...still not as much of an improvement over previous vehicles, I too, put this down to the "projector" lenses, HID coming my way shortly!

[VNV8]

I think if you read the packet its 90% more output than was available on the 120Y....

I put the Narva Arctic Plus in my SSV when I first picked it up as I was the same as you and had excellent previous experience with them, in the 1st few days I thought I had put them in incorrectly as the light appeared very dull, however, after a long distance drive they were as good as I remembered and provided more light (in my eyes) than the standard globes did...still not as much of an improvement over previous vehicles, I too, put this down to the "projector" lenses, HID coming my way shortly!

fantastic info mate, thanks very much.

[gaz05]

They have the plus 120 now.

Even better Chukka...... and thats correct Clubred, I have the +80s, great light.

[Woodchukka]

I had plus 80's then one blew and got plus 100's a week later they had the plus 120's. :doh:. They do throw heaps more light then standard and definitely more than standard bulbs or those blue pieces of crap that were in my car when I got it.

[IJ.]

Gday all,

I used narva blue power bulbs in my VT to great success, a whiter light and stronger beam than standard, so after getting the ssv I thought I would do the same. I'm not after the dramatic results of hids, just slightly better performance and better looks on the low beam bulbs. So I again went for the narva blue power, and after many sore fingers put them in yesterday, only to find they are worse than the stockers. Colour seems whiter, but the beam is very weak. I'm hoping that I've done something wrong, and not wasted my time and effort. Now will the difference be less pronounced then in the VT because these are projector lights? Has anyone used upgrade bulbs to success in them? If I may have done something wrong, how do I tell, what can I look out for?
Cheers.

Blue Globes suck hairy monkey balls.... :(

Have opted for the Plus 120's in the Tonner and the "Seldo Mod" in the Wagon.

[XUV]

Watt type of bulbs are in THE SSV. IE H4 , H9, H11 ??
4300k is peak white light, it fades to blue and yellow either side of it and what you should be after, regardless of watts.
http://www.fastlec.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Lighting_Colour_temperature.jpg

[gaz05]

Everybody should read this, the facts about the crappy blue lights... its a good read.

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/blue/bad/bad.html

[VNV8]

The 'blue power' aren't actually blue, I have a strong hatred of the blue bulbs aswell. The blue powers are actually white, there's only a slight blue tinge looking at the actual bulb itself from certain angles. I was after a stronger, brighter light, not a colour. So let's not get all upset about ricer bulbs. Also this thread is over 4 months old, why would you mine a thread just to have a moan? Must be a quiet day at the office.

[IJ.]

Sorry didn't realise there was some unwritten statute of limitations on just how old a thread can be before you can reply....

[Woodchukka]

Sorry didn't realise there was some unwritten statute of limitations on just how old a thread can be before you can reply....

You learn something new every day hey. :yup::lol: