I'm mounting a pair of Hell 500's on the top of my front stock bumper. These lights come with fifty watt bulbs. If I upgraded to 100 watters, would they be WAY too bright for road use?

 

The actual housing is steel with a plastic outside shell. There is a small air gap between the two. I'll give it a try and see what happens.

 

Couldn't that run the risk of damaging the wiring? I could be completly wrong in this though, just an idea.

 

Best as I can tell, the amp draw difference between the two lights is not taht much different. Either size should work well with the 10 amp fuse that came with the kit.

When I do this install ( and the marker light mod ) tomorrow (maybe) I'll take pics and do a write up.

 

Thanks Dan, I never could get that calculation right. I think I'll just go with the 55's.

 

I am considering adding driving lights...it seems the choices are 55w, 100w and 130w.

The 55 w choices are relatively inexpensive while the 130w can go $300 or more. I don't plan on having to use them often, but I don't want something useless when I do need them.

If I went with 55 w will I be sorry? How bright are they, say, compared to stock headlights (that are not that bright anyway). Are 100 w or 130 w over kill for only occasional use?

 

I bought a set of Hella 500's at Wal Mart with 55 watt bulbs for around $65 the other day. I also bought a pair of H3 100 watt bulbs to put in. (The 100 watt bulbs have an extra tang on one side that needs to be cut off with diagonal cutters.) I wired up just like the instructions stated except that I used the headlamp highbeams as the trigger for the relay. This way, the Hellas only come on with the highbeams on. I have a bad habit of forgetting to turn off the driving lights. The included 10 amp fuse needed to be upgraded to a 20 amp. I had them constantly on for over an hour the other night and when I checked the hot wire to the Hellas, it wasn't very warm at all. The 100 watt bulbs in the Hellas are a huge improvement over the Silverstar bulbs I put in the headlamps 3 months ago. the Hellas fill in the void in the stock headlamp pattern very well. I used the Silverstar in the 04 Tacoma I had prior to the JK and they were great in it, the JK light diffusion just really sucks.

This set up works well for me because most of my driving is in town. I only live 1 mile from work. Even though I leave for work after sundown and get home before sun up. I never use the brights on that trip.

I also did the side marker lamp mod and it came out great.