new lights + not bright = uncool

[slickemhoundd]

ive got my clears on my 2000 ex with my sylvania silverstars and they arent as bright as my old cracked up pair. (bounced off tree wheelin) What can i do to brighten up brand spankin new light?

 

[99ex22]

you could get HID's for pretty cheap on ebay???? I have syvania silverstars in my factory head lights and they're a ton brighter than the regular bulbs...I dont know whats goin on with yours.

 

[Four0Sport]

are you talking about the headlight bubls or the turn signal bulbs? the silverstar turn signal bulbs are not any brighter than stock, in fact may be less bright. they only have a coating on the glass so that they dont appear amber till they burn. there is no additional light output.

 

[slickemhoundd]

ive got the silverstar headlight bulbs from my old housings in my my new clear housings and the new housings disperse less light it seem

 

[damarble]

Don't mean to be insulting but are they adjusted right?

 

[slickemhoundd]

yes they are adjusted properly. now my question is does this have anything to do with the cap in front of the bulb? i know on the inside of the cap there is no chrome what so ever its all rough and dark

 

[Four0Sport]

alot of it is the fact that the lens is clear.. and not ruffled (make sense?) like the factory housing which helps to refract the light beam to project it.

 

[91exploreron37]

Theres been a few members on here that werent happy with the light output and beam pattern of the clear lenses compared to the factory lenses on 2nd gen explorers.
Heres a couple threads about it:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=148653
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=211008

 

[Four0Sport]

im not happy about light output from the factory 2nd gen lamps either, my 93 puts out such a nicer beam

 

[91exploreron37]

im not happy about light output from the factory 2nd gen lamps either, my 93 puts out such a nicer beam

yea i know what u mean, hate driving my moms 97 ex at night

 

[Sandy]

You might consider the 65/100 watt bulbs, problem is that you should put in a HD Harness to help with the extra current being drawn or possibility build your own harness.

I found the Silverstar's to be poor at best if an increase in the brightness of my headlights is what you want.

 

[Four0Sport]

while silverstarts sacrifice light output for color and clarity i have been happy with them in my vehicles. the ones in my 93 are 4 yrs old, burn brighter and farther than the ones in my 97. i think its the lamp housings.

 

[Sandy]

Has anyone tried the PIAA Fatboys, are they anything like they are cracked up to be ????? Any comments welcome but please hurry ?

I have recently purchased a 2003 Ranger Edge and the stock light are really good. I was thinking about replacing the stock bulbs with the Fatboys Bulbs and a new harness, even through PIAA says you don't one, I will build a new one using relays and separate grounds back to the battery; I am through using the body/frame for grounding.

 

[davesexplorer]

Youre only going to get so much out of a bulb with x.. watts.

 

[Buffalosports]

ive got the silverstar headlight bulbs from my old housings in my my new clear housings and the new housings disperse less light it seem

The clear lenses do not put out as much light because the stock ones have little ridges inside. These ridges help to spread the light out more evenly. I do not know why yours is so much different, I barely noticed a difference in mine.

 

[91exploreron37]

I think it also depends on the quality of the housings. It seems like the sec gens have a few more options on clear lenses.

 

[slickemhoundd]

would this have anything to do with the refractors?

 

[Bill Kemp]

Not sure but I think refractors bend light and are used in telescopes.
Headlights are multi surface reflectors if they have the clear lens. Or the light is directed by the fluting or lines in the lens. And of course projector lights.
The multi surface reflector lights have to be well engineered to make sure each little reflector surface puts the light where it should be. Poorly designed lights cause the dark areas.
The bulb shroud/guard in a well designed MSR light does not interfere with the light beams. It MAY cause some dark areas if the MSR was designed without it and the guard was added later. Which I think is the case with most X clears.