Headlight bulb failure

[Blackbird]

This is (errr….was) a 100W halogen H7 bulb from the dipped beam on my Blackbird. It's an accepted upgrade and is well within the electrical capacity of the bike. Before it failed, it had probably run for about 60 hours from new. I was scrupulous in keeping it clean when I installed it, and made sure that the connector block was pushed home firmly.

This is the first bulb I’ve had fail on the ‘bird so I have nothing to compare it with, but judging by the distortion, it got bloody hot! I don’t actually know when it failed but wonder whether the impact when I arsed off in our driveway at Xmas might have initiated the failure mechanism.

My question is…. is this a normal failure mode which other people have seen, or is it something out of the ordinary?

Cheers

Geoff
:2thumbsup

[dangerous]

Is that one of those new 'artic blue' bulbs? cos I was thinking of trying one of them.

[Zed]

This is (errr….was) a 100W halogen H7 bulb from the dipped beam on my Blackbird. It's an accepted upgrade and is well within the electrical capacity of the bike. Before it failed, it had probably run for about 60 hours from new. I was scrupulous in keeping it clean when I installed it, and made sure that the connector block was pushed home firmly.

This is the first bulb I’ve had fail on the ‘bird so I have nothing to compare it with, but judging by the distortion, it got bloody hot! I don’t actually know when it failed but wonder whether the impact when I arsed off in our driveway at Xmas might have initiated the failure mechanism.

My question is…. is this a normal failure mode which other people have seen, or is it something out of the ordinary?

Cheers

Geoff
:2thumbsupGidday there,

I used to sell these type of bulbs and there was a reasonable failure rate, some would last longer than others. There are always lemons in the batch. Your spill on your driveway might have initiated the failure?

Also, there are lower wattage bulbs available in a Xenon technology which are recommended if you have trouble with 100+w bulbs. :wacko:

http://www.hella.co.nz/newprod/xenon_ultra/index.html (http://www.hella.co.nz/newprod/xenon_ultra/index.html)

Hope it's a help.


Zed

[speedpro]

Reminds me of one of those old flash bulb things

[mccool]

The mighty VTR has blown two bulbs in 4 years, both in Palmerston on different Brass Monkey weekends. Cosmic or what? They just had the usual broken filament though, not the major meltdown like yours.

Are you using 100/55w bulbs or have you got high wattage on low beam also? If low beam is 90 or 100 that might increase the tendancy to fry.

Seeya
larry

[Motu]

Well I dunno,but I think 100watt is illeagal,I'll do some checking tomorrow.That's a good start - what does Honda put in,if they don't say 100w,then you know the answer.

Don't them like that often,but have seen them,often poor quality bulb - just because it says Hella or Bosch on the packet doesn't mean that's what is inside.If it didn't say a German name,then the chances of crap are even more likely.

Another cause is overcharging - you have a Honda,say no more...nudge,nudge,wink,wink.

[Blackbird]

Thanks for all the feedback guys - will have to do some more checking. Most of the Blackbird guys in the UK run 100 - watters so it's not a widespread problem. I run 100 watts on both main and dip. Might just be a random occurence. With respect to Honda having a lower wattage as a standard fitment, it means nothing. Manufacturers will always err on the conservative side, apart from not wanting to melt the eyballs of oncoming traffic, that is.

It's not an arctic blue - they don't show up the greenery so well. I fitted these for last years' 1000 miles Grand Challenge and there's a lot of greenery in the dark on that ride :)

Thanks for the link Zed - will follow up.

Geoff

[Blackbird]

Forgot to answer your other question Zed about arsing off. Of all things, I stalled it trying to get round a car on the steep drive of our bach in Coromandel :angry2: I was close to the end of the queue when legs were handed out and would have needed a pair about half a metre longer to hold it up on the camber of the drive. Damage to bike was minimal but damage to ego was nearly terminal as the neighbour and her million visitors saw the whole sorry affair :weep:

[Zed]

Forgot to answer your other question Zed about arsing off. Of all things, I stalled it trying to get round a car on the steep drive of our bach in Coromandel :angry2: I was close to the end of the queue when legs were handed out and would have needed a pair about half a metre longer to hold it up on the camber of the drive. Damage to bike was minimal but damage to ego was nearly terminal as the neighbour and her million visitors saw the whole sorry affair :weep:
:doh: ...it's happened to the best of us!

The ole Blackbird must be a blast!


Zed

[What?]

Yes, 100W is illegal. Not that that stops me running them, and the VTNZ dorks still give me warrants with them in...

Blackbird, I would say your bulb did fail pursuant to the drop. What has happened (I think) is the gas has leaked out, so filament temperature has gone out of control, but has actually lasted extaordinarily well - most would have burned out well before melting the glass.

[Hitcher]

Don't forget that W equals Watts which is an energy (heat) unit. Your bulb sits in a confined space, designed by the manufacturer to take a bulb producing about 60W. Increase that by 40% and, unless you can diffuse most of that extra energy, something is going to give. It may be the bulb or it may be any plastic in proximity that decides to melt. Cause and effect.

[SILVER SUZI]

Fuck the bulb, you need to get longer legs!!! :lol:

[White trash]

Fuck the bulb, you need to get longer legs!!! :lol:
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[Blackbird]

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Hahahaha - well said. Maybe it was a message for me to buy a Harley or a moped :sick:

[Andrew]

Generally with tungsten halogen incandescent bulbs can be quite temporamental. Even with a 5% over voltage, it can shorten the lamp life by half.

[Zed]

Yes, 100W is illegal.
Who says so? Surely if 100watt is illegal then all retail outlets, service stations included, would have to remove them from their shelves? Not to mention the 130w bulbs that are also available for sale. :shit:

Can someone provide some sound evidence that 100+watt bulbs are illegal or not in NZ?


Zed

[Motu]

You will find the packet of a 100w bulb will say ''off road use only'' or words to that effect.If a 100w bulb doesn't say that then it has got on our market by a back door - I have people walk in my door hawking bulk packs of bulbs,cheap sir,very cheap.

Often one of my suppliers will do some sort of bulk purchase deal - like buy this assortment of popular bulbs and you will get this stainless steel cofee mug I am now drinking out of - but when I open the box I see I usualy have a couple of 100w H4 headlamp bulbs....marked for off road use only.I use them,no problem - put them in some POS,with glass lens and metal reflector of course.

[Hitcher]

[QUOTE=Andrew]temporamentalQUOTE]

Does that mean you dunk them in batter and deep-fry them?

[Big Dog]

Hahahaha - well said. Maybe it was a message for me to buy a Harley or a moped :sick:
Having the extra leg is not always a good thing I have on several occasions been relieved to see my leg will reach only to regret it on realising this now means that the entire weight of my bike is now supported by one testicle :thud:. A tough call at the best of times.

[Blackbird]

Having the extra leg is not always a good thing I have on several occasions been relieved to see my leg will reach only to regret it on realising this now means that the entire weight of my bike is now supported by one testicle :thud:. A tough call at the best of times.

I have no testicles after 31 years of marraige :shit:

Just joking Darl, honest thud.....

Gee Hitcher, that was a bit deep, there'll be lots of people scratching their heads over that one, hehe

[Big Dog]

I had to go and read it in context but it made sense in the end.
I'll have mine wrapped around some snapper.

[Big Dog]

I always find it amusing the amount of physical / mental abuse we will put ourselves through to protect our inanimate objects.

[What?]

Who says so? Surely if 100watt is illegal then all retail outlets, service stations included, would have to remove them from their shelves? Not to mention the 130w bulbs that are also available for sale. :shit:

Can someone provide some sound evidence that 100+watt bulbs are illegal or not in NZ?


Zed
Get on the LTSA website and have a look for yourself.
Legal limit for road use is 75W (per side for cars and trucks).
High power bulbs are perfectly legal off road, and that is why the packaging states "for off-road use ony" or similar.

[Zed]

Get on the LTSA website and have a look for yourself.
Legal limit for road use is 75W (per side for cars and trucks).
High power bulbs are perfectly legal off road, and that is why the packaging states "for off-road use ony" or similar.
Ok fine.

It helps to name your source of information when you state a fact sometimes. You educated lot learned this lesson in school! :bleh:


Zed

[Hitcher]

Somebody please save me from humourless pedants...

[aff-man]

Reminds me of what the buld on the old vt250 looked like after the reg/rec blew. Windinding it up in second revs about 1.5k off redline and switch to high beams big flash and that was it. Luckily i was only 1 km from home.