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Old 10-24-2002, 11:43 AM   #1
Kha0S
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Question 100/80W HB5 bulbs with stock harness?

North Ursalia indicated to me that the 100/80W bulbs from Hella and such should work just fine in the stock WRX headlamp harness without melting.

Has anyone tried this?

Thanks,

/Andrew
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Old 10-24-2002, 12:11 PM   #2
suber
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Whassa matta you?? Don't trust his advice???
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Old 10-24-2002, 12:14 PM   #3
paultg
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I'd say "no". The stock WRX headlights are plastic, not glass.

That would concern me, and I haven't heard of anyone using a stock harness with those wattages. Maybe 65W/100W, but 80W/100W is pretty risky.

Pau G. <--aren't you an electircal engineer?
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Old 10-24-2002, 12:16 PM   #4
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No I have no first-hand experience with it.

What's "should" being based on there? Nothing? Something?

He didn't seem too sure 8 months ago
Quote:
Originally posted by North Ursalia
I have 100W in mine and I shut them off if I have to stop for even a red light, so they don't heat up.

...

Do you have to do it, no. Do I? Yes . I'd rather be safe and not melt my wiring if I don't have to
There are many reports of the stock wiring melting 2 weeks to 6 months down the road. I'd tend to believe those people reporting that their harnesses did melt would not be lying.

<Now everyone can commence "Jeff has a vendetta against North Ursalia" speculation and stupidity>

EDIT: Fixed "Np" to be "No"

Last edited by jblaine; 10-24-2002 at 12:47 PM.
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Old 10-24-2002, 12:31 PM   #5
Kha0S
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He said that he's been running the 100/80s in the Morettes for a while, and he certainly doesn't do that "turning-off" thing anymore, so perhaps his confidence level has gone up.

A lot of people on here are running with the 100/80s, and there are a few reports of melted harnesses... it seems to be a luck-of-the-draw kind of thing, unfortunately. It also seems that the people melting harnesses are using no-name 100/80s, versus name-brand (like Hella).

The 100/65s will still be dissipating 100W on high-beam, so if anything is going to melt the harness, the 100 on either the 100/65 or 100/80 will do it.

The headlamp fuse also won't go at 100/80, which leads me to believe that Subaru's engineers end-to-end certified the circuit for the fuse level. Hmm.

Thanks for the tips, folks...

/Andrew
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Old 10-24-2002, 12:38 PM   #6
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I don't know the issues with the plastic, but you can add in a relay for at least the high beams, or 2 to include the low and your own power from the battery, fused, then to the headlights. I regularly do this on my cars to make hi, lo and fogs come on with the high beams. I use 12AWG wire. Way overkill, but I have the wire anyways.

Check the size of the headlight fuse. Fuses are generally rated twice the expected current rating. Now take 100W/12V for 8.33A. Double that to about 17A. If the fuse is smaller than 17, use a relay.

jack
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Old 10-24-2002, 12:48 PM   #7
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That's another thing to consider, Andrew -- what Jack mentioned, but more generally just getting better harnesses altogether. I have to believe they can be had from somewhere or made(?).

Oh, I also agree that it seems hit or miss. That, to me, might as well be 100% "miss" though. Not something I'd gamble on. But by all means, feel free to let us all know how it goes

Last edited by jblaine; 10-24-2002 at 12:53 PM.
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Old 10-24-2002, 12:53 PM   #8
Kha0S
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Yeah, I know. But it starts getting spendy at that point. I'm basically trying to compute how much I can get away with in the stock harness... it appears that the wiring is in the ballpark of 14-16AWG, which should be enough for 8.3A...

I'm mainly looking for the experiences of other locals with the higher-wattage bulbs in the stock harness, more than look for a specific solution for myself.

/Andrew
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Old 10-24-2002, 01:00 PM   #9
BrysImpreza
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Well... 100/80 Hellas melted my harnesses
I upgraded to a generic Pep Boys harness for $3.99 each and have not had any problems with my new 130 / 100 watt lights

*Yup, I'm that ******* who blinds you at night*

Bry.
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Old 10-24-2002, 01:07 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally posted by jblaine
He didn't seem too sure 8 months ago
That was for my foglamps silly . The headlamps have alot more room in them to dissipate heat. I worry about the heat in the foglamps, not the wiring harnesses . The wiring in the Morette's is most likely far superior to what I pulled out.

Brian
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Old 10-25-2002, 09:09 AM   #11
Ginseng
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I have Hella Optilux 100/80 in the headlamps and yes, I melted, fried, burnt up one of the stock connectors. The wiring was intact but the plug the bulb plugged into looked like someone took an oxyacetylene torch to it. This happened about 3 weeks into it. I replaced it with an aftermarket plug from Advance Autoparts and it's been fine ever since. I also have 100 watters in the fogs and have had no problems with them. But then again, I don't use them unless really necessary.

Wilkey

Note: I've been running 100/80s in the Forester for almost two years without incident.
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Old 10-25-2002, 10:33 AM   #12
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how does one go about replacing the harness? is it straight forward?
AO
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Old 10-25-2002, 10:41 AM   #13
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Sweet. I'm ordering them today. If I melt the connector, I don't care, I'll just get another one, and I can always rewire.

Crimpers don't scare me.

/Andrew
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Old 10-26-2002, 04:45 AM   #14
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I tired 55/100's in mine for about a day. When I would switch to high beam, it would take about a second for the lights to get to full intensity. It looked like it was struggleing to put out the 100W. Took them out.

Curt
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Old 10-27-2002, 10:05 AM   #15
Ginseng
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Aaron,

The harness looks to be a bear. Although I've read that a dealership can replace the whole "Front Wiring Harness" in about 30 minutes. There are 43 connectors on that harness of which two are headlamp, two are turn signal, two turn indicators and two foglamps. I would not mess especially since a lot of it is taped up and in plastic convolute (lflex-loom).

The three wires coming out of each connector are easy to splice using 3M weathertite connectors but that still leaves the rest of the wiring running back to the high beam relays, DRL relays, dimmer switches and other stuff. I wouldn't want to mess. Don't aftermarket lights use relays wired directly to the battery? Sorta like the Hella Supertone horns?

Wilkey
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