first CFL headlight mod attempt - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

modmonster · 10-24-2010, 06:33 PM

hi

I finaly got round to attempting to swap my headlights for CFL energy saving bulbs. i picked the 100W (20w) straight not spirally wound type. they fit inside the housing well. i used a cigaret lighter inverter to make the AC needed to power them and took the 12V from the head light power. i made it all reversible so that i could swap it back if needed.

the light kept flickering for some reason. i couldn't figure out why. i checked all the connections (soldered) and the voltage of the battery was 11.59V. maybe the initial draw was too much and took the voltage below the low voltage cut off of the inverter. i didn't have the engine on so that could have been it. there may be a problem with full beam as it seams to swap the polarity round to the pins.

the light was as bright as the halogen bulb and only drew 1.7amps, 20watt.

Clev · 10-24-2010, 06:39 PM

Cool idea. Pics?

RobertSmalls · 10-24-2010, 06:51 PM

There are a large number of reasons why this won't work out.

CFLs really hate the cold and vibration. They take 30s to reach full brightness, which is totally unacceptable for a headlight. The light dispersion pattern from a halogen headlight bulb doesn't match that of a CFL, so even if the CFL made enough light, it wouldn't be pointing in the right directions.

Could you troubleshoot it in the driveway by substituting an extension cord for the inverter?

Leadfoot · 10-24-2010, 07:24 PM

Some Factory HIDs take 30 Seconds to reach full brightness...
but yeah there is no way to aim it.

Zerohour · 10-24-2010, 08:22 PM

http://www.ddmtuning.com/

They sell "HID" conversion kits that use 30W per bulb. I know several people who have used them with good results. Its all asethics to them to get the "white" light or "blue" light look. But these directly plug and play with any common size bulb 9004, 9005, 9006, etc, and H1, H4, etc. Look around and see what they have for your Corsa.

tjts1 · 10-24-2010, 08:29 PM

I can't wait to see a picture of this.

basslover911 · 10-24-2010, 09:38 PM

I REALLY want to see a picture of this...

NeilBlanchard · 10-24-2010, 10:03 PM

The flickering is probably from the inverter frequency interacting with the PWM electronic "ballast" in the bulbs.

RobertSmalls · 10-24-2010, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

The flickering is probably from the inverter frequency interacting with the PWM electronic "ballast" in the bulbs.

Oh, that just jogged my memory. Some cheap inverters actually put out the world's worst imitation of alternating current. Instead of sine waves, you get square waves. Adding some capacitance may help.

cycleguy · 10-25-2010, 09:39 PM

Nice idea, but the CFL ballast will expect a real sine wave-not poor AC from an inverter. This will not only create flicker but will drastically reduce bulb lifetime. As others have pointed out, HID lamps are a much better solution. Also, I have found some 25W LED arrays that could be promising if they didn't cost so much (around $150/bulb without driver or heat sink). The CFL is not going to meet the legal light output requirement which is something on the order of 1500-2000 lumens or more, I think... I understand where you are coming from as I have an underdrive pulley on my Metro that makes it to where the alternator can barely keep up with the stock sealed beam lights.