Spyder headlamps.....my take on 'em...and LIGHTING in general

[df2x4]

those look good.......and happy OCD ta boot!
......the black sealant seems to give it a shadowy detail, not bad from my house.

those are some really nice close-up pictures of what the whole shebang will sorta look like too. i like pictures, thanks.

You're welcome! And yeah, I'm liking the shadowy detail too. Makes me want a set of those Spyder headlights even more, though. The fact that those use a black sealant as well makes me think they'd look REALLY good with the DNA parking lights.

 

[shovelbill]

just checked....the harness should be here tomorrow. now let's hope the weather holds out.....it rained the last 3 days but it's gorgeous today.....beautiful blue sky and 48*....my back feels pretty good, i may go out and swap one side out for a comparison.

 

[shovelbill]

ok....i took my PT walk and on my way back to the house i was looking at the truck.....mulling over how to photograph the steps to show the stages of improvement over stock.......well, it turns out i can't even do that. i never even bothered to check the lamps from the first jump......i feel like a complete fu@kin idiot.

You must be registered for see images attach

hmm.
https://www.amazon.com/Depo-332-111...8&reviewerType=avp_only_reviews&sortBy=recent

but it's what i have to work with......and i have no basis to determine if these things even fairly represent actual GM parts. based on my experience with my '90 K/5 i'd have to says these are pretty equal to that quad setup....all that truck had were decent sealed beams, i never got around to doing any upgrades to that truck because LIFE got in the way.

 

[shovelbill]

first order of business will be to take out the grill and see what i have in there.......i guess just changing the bulbs on one side will be the first step.....and progression photos.

as much as i'd like to do a REAL comprehensive test, with a light meter and a proper indoor "laboratory" with correct distance/wall and such to measure everything(lux, lumes, candella etc)...the fact is i don't.....not where i am now and with what i have to work with...i will get voltage though ... what i do have available will at least be repeatable and will have to be done over the course of a few days/nights.....i'll do the best i can with what i have to use.

our calibrated eyeballs will be the determining factor.....based on what the camera captures. i am expecting to see good results......well, results none-the-less.

 

[deejaaa]

.......

our calibrated eyeballs will be the determining factor.....based on what the camera captures. .....

that's all you need.

• You must be registered for see images

 

[michael hurd]

If the camera has a manual setting, it would be best to use the same setting for exposure from one to the other.

Just talked to the stealership here.

GM 25770739 HIR1 ( 9011 ) $ 42 and change.
GM 23342527 HIR2 ( 9012 ) $ 20 and change.

From another post on the Candlepower forum:

9006: 1,095lm +- 15 %
9012: 1,875lm +- 15 % @ 13.2V

9005: 1,860lm +- 12 %
9011: 2,500lm +- 15 %

 

[shovelbill]

• You must be registered for see images

[/QUOTE]

i just spit water all over my keyboard....thanks loads!

 

[shovelbill]

ha....you just had to tell me about the candlepower forum didn't ya? that's where i'v been these last two days.......

i will not buy another flashlight....i will not buy another flashlight....i will not buy another flashlight....i will not buy another flashlight either.

i like the environment there and Virgil is a fuggin pissa......i enjoy his dry sarcastic humor....lots of brilliant folks there too.

i was studying up on the bulbs for sure.....i'm happy with my choice for now. considering i bought them a while before this thread started.....as we talked in the beginning about HIR's, i can always buy them and toss them into the mix for a visual comparison....i'll be needing bulbs down the road anyway. sitting on the shelf for a spell afterward won't hurt a thing. there's a substantial difference betwixt the them.

did i mention i don't need another flashlight?

here's where i started over there:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?428688-AC-Delco-HIR1
and
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?427763-Brightest-9012-bulb-for-2016-Toyota-Rav4

 

[michael hurd]

If factory 9006 low beam was getting 11.0V before any relay system, you would be down to around 597 bulb lumens... lucky if you would have 1/5th of that on the road. Possibly 125 lumens? Less if you have lenses that are cloudy and reflectors that don't. Less if it is not a brand new bulb out of the package.

Moving to a relay system, engine running, alternator full voltage to lights: keeping the 9006 as factory could net you 1356 lumens at 14 volts.

Changing to the 9012 bulb.... at 14v should get you ~2200 lumens.

 

[shovelbill]

If factory 9006 low beam was getting 11.0V before any relay system, you would be down to around 597 bulb lumens... lucky if you would have 1/5th of that on the road. Possibly 125 lumens? Less if you have lenses that are cloudy and reflectors that don't. Less if it is not a brand new bulb out of the package.

Moving to a relay system, engine running, alternator full voltage to lights: keeping the 9006 as factory could net you 1356 lumens at 14 volts.

Changing to the 9012 bulb.... at 14v should get you ~2200 lumens.

that's why i want to test the voltage before and after.....very important to my little brain. i used to know all those numbers for my old Blazer...back when i first found out about Daniel Stern and ECE lamps......the visual difference is remarkable, but i still like to see actual numbers.

i'm so used to bad lights on bikes and this truck....i bet ill be blown away....i PRAY these headlamp have a decent light pattern and some form of cut-off.