kashmir67 Posted March 25, 2022 Share Posted March 25, 2022 Hello folks i'm a newbie to this forum and i'd like some info please. I have recently bought a very well looked after Herald 13/60 1970. My question is how can i improve the headlights brightness? I have seen various heralds with spot lights installed, does this indicate the vehicle would have an alternator upgrade to power them? If that's not the case and the factory installed dynamo powers both then it this the way to go? thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobPearce Posted March 25, 2022 Share Posted March 25, 2022 The best thing you can do to improve the headlights is to fit a relay - with new wiring - so that the current can flow properly through the existing bulbs. Sealed beams won't ever be as blinding as modern cars but they can be perfectly adequate if they're working as designed. Second step, if that doesn't give enough improvement, would be to fit H4 halogen units. Neither of the above involve any more power drain than when the car was new, so the dynamo should be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howard Posted March 25, 2022 Share Posted March 25, 2022 As its now legal for classic cars I install LED headlight bulbs rather than halogen. Benefits are significantly lower power consumption and better lighting of the road ahead. There are an awful lot of dubious quality LED's out there but I recommend Better Car Lighting H4 bulbs which I have fitted on my TR7 Cheers Howard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Hunt Posted March 26, 2022 Share Posted March 26, 2022 +1 for decent LED headlight bulbs. The much reduced power consumption means relays are not required to protect the main light switch and an original dynamo can cope easily. I found NightEyes H4 bulbs excellent on my 4A. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hogie Posted March 27, 2022 Share Posted March 27, 2022 +1 for the ;Night Eyes' Roger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DVD3500 Posted March 28, 2022 Share Posted March 28, 2022 Some countries do not allow LEDs (yet) . The (legal) H4 ones I have seen are much brighter and show signs a lot better. They can be a little "blotchy" though but I think it is worth the compromise... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gt6s Posted March 28, 2022 Share Posted March 28, 2022 (edited) BIN THE DYNAMO ! An alternator is FAR more reliable. Years back before aternators became common second hand. I was tormented by garbage dynamos and control boxes. Control boxes so much my local autospark shop called me Mr B90. Edited March 28, 2022 by Gt6s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobPearce Posted March 28, 2022 Share Posted March 28, 2022 Can't say I ever had any trouble with dynamos. I had one bearing fail and one cooling fan disintegrate, over many years and a good few cars. I've certainly had more faults on alternators - brushes, regulators, diode packs. Admittedly I've had more alternator-equipped cars but I don't think the ratio is as wide as the fault history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosbif Posted March 28, 2022 Share Posted March 28, 2022 I too have had a cooling fan disintegrate, what a bang! Then odd vibrations. . . I changed the brushes on the dynamo fitted to my 13/60 a couple of years ago and noticed the manufacture date was a couple of months before that of the car (July 1968). Obviously I have no idea how many times over the 50 years of the dynamo brushes, bearings or whatever have been changed. I don't run power consuming extras but do have a large capacity battery and the dynamo more than copes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kashmir67 Posted March 28, 2022 Author Share Posted March 28, 2022 that's great folks, i'll go for replacement halogens.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosbif Posted March 28, 2022 Share Posted March 28, 2022 1 hour ago, kashmir67 said: that's great folks, i'll go for replacement halogens.... That is what are fitted to my 13/60, 'Cristal' I think they are called. They were fitted as part of work done prior to being imported to France , LHD units in RHD car. No idea if they are any good, never driven the car in the dark 😎 The equivalent of the MOT inspector who had to check the car out so I could get French paperwork was surprised I had done it rather than use the deflectors or sticky tape modification . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted March 28, 2022 Share Posted March 28, 2022 39 minutes ago, Rosbif said: That is what are fitted to my 13/60, 'Cristal' I think they are called. They were fitted as part of work done prior to being imported to France , LHD units in RHD car. No idea if they are any good, never driven the car in the dark 😎 The equivalent of the MOT inspector who had to check the car out so I could get French paperwork was surprised I had done it rather than use the deflectors or sticky tape modification . . . I have some crystal lamps on my spitfire. Osram nightbreaker bulbs, and relays. They are excellent, been on this can and were on my previous spitfire. (did loads of night rallies in that one, the new setup replaced the dim original sealed beams) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosbif Posted March 28, 2022 Share Posted March 28, 2022 1 hour ago, Clive said: the new setup replaced the dim original sealed beams) I've got them in my bits trunk, I have wondered about using them as a 'design' feature in my office/ fumoir 🤔 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppy916 Posted March 29, 2022 Share Posted March 29, 2022 Speak to Duncan first https://www.classiccarleds.co.uk/collections/headlight-led-bulbs/Headlight-Bulbs-&-Adapters?page=1 he supplied all my led's for my GT6 mk3, they are fantastic and no mot problem's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kashmir67 Posted March 30, 2022 Author Share Posted March 30, 2022 led bulbs are favourable/ cheers gents. Nice to be here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glang Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 What about complete replacement LED headlights like these: FOR LAND ROVER DEFENDER 110 90 PAIR BLACK 7" INCH LED HEADLIGHT E MARKED RHD | eBay Says suitable for Minis so should be ok for a Herald/Spitfire/GT6? Even come in 5.75" size for other Triumph models... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobPearce Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 46 minutes ago, glang said: What about complete replacement LED headlights like these Eugh. Ugly. Totally out of character on a classic. No thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glang Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 The classic Alfa in the adverts doesnt look bad with the 5.75 units. Certainly I wouldnt go for the multiple lens/LED type... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DVD3500 Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 There are H4 bulb replacements that are legal on some car here that look the same (apart from the light being more of a cold white rather than warm white). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glang Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 Is there space in the headlight bowl (especially 5.75) for them and of course is the cooling in there adequate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DVD3500 Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 You mean the H4 LED bulbs? No clue. Technically they are not legal in a Spitfire (yet) but when I am close to finishing up I may try to fit them and get them approved by the German MOT (TÜV) so others can use them. My car will have non-standard running gear which mean I have to get TÜV approval for everything else... why not the lights while I am at it?! For the cars for which they are legal (Up! Citigo etc.) they seem to be a straight drop in replacement. Only issue is you can hear the fan at a standstill sometimes. (I think) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppy916 Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 DVD3500 there are no fans on mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DVD3500 Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 These are Philips direct replacement for H4... seems they have a tiny fan (just double checked the posts) https://www.goingelectric.de/forum/viewtopic.php?f=388&t=58689&p=1764201&hilit=lüfter#p1764201 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gt6s Posted April 19, 2022 Share Posted April 19, 2022 (edited) On 30/03/2022 at 13:04, RobPearce said: Eugh. Ugly. Totally out of character on a classic. No thanks. No problem with them. (I have a pair, E marked) Add an interesting look. They are destinctive. Shows an owner prepared to move with the times. Edited April 19, 2022 by Gt6s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosbif Posted April 19, 2022 Share Posted April 19, 2022 39 minutes ago, Gt6s said: Shows an owner prepared to move with the times. So, should I get rid of my 54 year old Triumph and buy a Tesla then? 😁 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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