55w vs 100w hellas
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Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Norfolk,Va
The wiring he installed will work just fine. P =I x E or Watts = Amps x Volts
Watts / Volts = Amps. 100 / 13.8 = 7.25 and since he is running the lights in parallel that number is multiplied by 2 which = 14.50 Amps.
Rule of thumb:
Total RMS power output is based on 60% efficiency and a battery voltage of 13.8 volts.
wire: current flow: total amp power: RMS power
0 awg 334 amps 2763 watts
1 awg 265 amps 2193 watts
2 awg 210 amps 1740 watts
3 awg 167 amps 1381 watts
4 awg 132 amps 1096 watts
5 awg 105 amps 870 watts
6 awg 83.4 amps 690 watts
7 awg 66.2 amps 548 watts
8 awg 52.5 amps 435 watts
9 awg 41.7 amps 375 watts
10 awg 33.1 amps 273 watts
11 awg 26.3 amps 217 watts
12 awg 20.84 amps 172 watts
13 awg 16.54 amps 137 watts
14 awg 13.13 amps 109 watts
15 awg 10.42 amps 86 watts
16 awg 8.27 amps 69 watts
17 awg 6.56 amps 54 watts
18 awg 5.21 amps 43 watts
19 awg 4.13 amps 34 watts
20 awg 3.28 amps 27 watts
21 awg 2.60 amps 21 watts
Watts / Volts = Amps. 100 / 13.8 = 7.25 and since he is running the lights in parallel that number is multiplied by 2 which = 14.50 Amps.
Rule of thumb:
Total RMS power output is based on 60% efficiency and a battery voltage of 13.8 volts.
wire: current flow: total amp power: RMS power
0 awg 334 amps 2763 watts
1 awg 265 amps 2193 watts
2 awg 210 amps 1740 watts
3 awg 167 amps 1381 watts
4 awg 132 amps 1096 watts
5 awg 105 amps 870 watts
6 awg 83.4 amps 690 watts
7 awg 66.2 amps 548 watts
8 awg 52.5 amps 435 watts
9 awg 41.7 amps 375 watts
10 awg 33.1 amps 273 watts
11 awg 26.3 amps 217 watts
12 awg 20.84 amps 172 watts
13 awg 16.54 amps 137 watts
14 awg 13.13 amps 109 watts
15 awg 10.42 amps 86 watts
16 awg 8.27 amps 69 watts
17 awg 6.56 amps 54 watts
18 awg 5.21 amps 43 watts
19 awg 4.13 amps 34 watts
20 awg 3.28 amps 27 watts
21 awg 2.60 amps 21 watts
Last edited by Alpheus; Mar 24, 2009 at 01:36 AM.
Moderate User
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,003
Likes: 21
From: Albany, NY
Dirty, can I just catch a break from you every once in a while?! ha, lol. When I did my installation, I went with 14 gauge wiring, with a 30A rocker, and a 30A in line fuse. I knew I would want to upgrade, and be a little better than stock. Can never keep something the way it came, of course.
I saved a few errands for tonight, and realized how much I really like those danged lights. I ran with them on and no headlights for a minute, then lit the street up with all four. They work great.
Alpheus. My lights are not the FF series. These are the regular 500 series driving lights. At first, I tried to bend the hump up, then realized I was wasting my time with those dikes staring me in the face.
I think I might need to start beefing my electrical system up because im running my winch, radar detector, lights and stereo off of my battery. Think its too much? lol possibly an upgraded alternator.
I saved a few errands for tonight, and realized how much I really like those danged lights. I ran with them on and no headlights for a minute, then lit the street up with all four. They work great.
Alpheus. My lights are not the FF series. These are the regular 500 series driving lights. At first, I tried to bend the hump up, then realized I was wasting my time with those dikes staring me in the face.
I think I might need to start beefing my electrical system up because im running my winch, radar detector, lights and stereo off of my battery. Think its too much? lol possibly an upgraded alternator.
LOL...hehehehehe NOPE. that's what I'm here for.....lol
ANyways, i would pull out that 30amp fuse and replace it with a 20 amper but no higher than 25. The 30 is too much for the 14awg wire. That wire WILL melt before that fuse gets burnt. You only have like 17amps pulling at all times so a 20 will do, besides the 14awg can't handle any more than 20amps of current draw.
On the excesive draw concern.... Do you have factory tow package? If so then you have a 750cca battery and it's bigger for a littl emore reserve too. if your noticing short battery life when your truck isn't running or excessive drain on the battery, i would suggest upgrading to an Optima Yellow Top. They have lots of reserve power. almost double the Redtops.
The only diff. between the 500's are FF which mean FreeForm. It has a totally clear lens. The reg 500 has the older style beveled glass front to refract the light and make it appear brighter. I have to ask....How did you get them to aim so low to the ground? When I mounted mine they only aimed downwards as low as the highbeams. I couldn't go any lower until I notched the underside with a dremel and even then i could only drop as low as the lowbeams...??? regardless i like them up a bit higher since they are so bright and travel a long ways.
Last edited by dirtydog; Mar 24, 2009 at 09:46 AM.
Record Breaker
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,676
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From: Kansas
LOL...hehehehehe NOPE. that's what I'm here for.....lol
ANyways, i would pull out that 30amp fuse and replace it with a 20 amper but no higher than 25. The 30 is too much for the 14awg wire. That wire WILL melt before that fuse gets burnt. You only have like 17amps pulling at all times so a 20 will do, besides the 14awg can't handle any more than 20amps of current draw.
On the excesive draw concern.... Do you have factory tow package? If so then you have a 750cca battery and it's bigger for a littl emore reserve too. if your noticing short battery life when your truck isn't running or excessive drain on the battery, i would suggest upgrading to an Optima Yellow Top. They have lots of reserve power. almost double the Redtops.
The only diff. between the 500's are FF which mean FreeForm. It has a totally clear lens. The reg 500 has the older style beveled glass front to refract the light and make it appear brighter. I have to ask....How did you get them to aim so low to the ground? When I mounted mine they only aimed downwards as low as the highbeams. I couldn't go any lower until I notched the underside with a dremel and even then i could only drop as low as the lowbeams...??? regardless i like them up a bit higher since they are so bright and travel a long ways.
ANyways, i would pull out that 30amp fuse and replace it with a 20 amper but no higher than 25. The 30 is too much for the 14awg wire. That wire WILL melt before that fuse gets burnt. You only have like 17amps pulling at all times so a 20 will do, besides the 14awg can't handle any more than 20amps of current draw.
On the excesive draw concern.... Do you have factory tow package? If so then you have a 750cca battery and it's bigger for a littl emore reserve too. if your noticing short battery life when your truck isn't running or excessive drain on the battery, i would suggest upgrading to an Optima Yellow Top. They have lots of reserve power. almost double the Redtops.
The only diff. between the 500's are FF which mean FreeForm. It has a totally clear lens. The reg 500 has the older style beveled glass front to refract the light and make it appear brighter. I have to ask....How did you get them to aim so low to the ground? When I mounted mine they only aimed downwards as low as the highbeams. I couldn't go any lower until I notched the underside with a dremel and even then i could only drop as low as the lowbeams...??? regardless i like them up a bit higher since they are so bright and travel a long ways.
And I read state laws on lights, and it really didn't say anything, other than measuring the light heights.
Good writeup on this. You can tell from the picture the right one goes a little further, but I bet that it's a lot brighter actually seeing it.
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Record Breaker
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Bakersfied, CA
Dirty, Im going to have to look up your writeup again, and see why yours is different. I remember you stated that you would have to notch out the bottom, and I never had to. BRB.... You know what, I have no idea. Whats funny is, my truck has a rake in the front, so I would have to tilt mine more to get them to point that low. I thought maybe the brackets were designed different, but you can clearly tell it isnt. I will be putting a 20 fuse in there real soon also.
Im just worried I might be putting quite a load on my charging system with all of my crap hooked up to it. I will probably be going to a redtop, even though they are like $200, arent they? Anyways, well worth it.
About melting the grill. Im trying to, it the only way I can justify a new one.
Teacher, thank you for noticing the loom. I thought it made a hell of a difference. Overall, I am happy with the 100w upgrade, it worth the extra 15 dollars or so. Not too mention, all the hella-less rams in town are jealous. Got three awkward looks from ram owner last night. Hey, I will install em for them... $140 a pop. I will even order the lights!
Im just worried I might be putting quite a load on my charging system with all of my crap hooked up to it. I will probably be going to a redtop, even though they are like $200, arent they? Anyways, well worth it.
About melting the grill. Im trying to, it the only way I can justify a new one.
Teacher, thank you for noticing the loom. I thought it made a hell of a difference. Overall, I am happy with the 100w upgrade, it worth the extra 15 dollars or so. Not too mention, all the hella-less rams in town are jealous. Got three awkward looks from ram owner last night. Hey, I will install em for them... $140 a pop. I will even order the lights!
