Headlight diameter question
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,760
Likes: 211
From: Manila, Philippines
Headlight diameter question
Given the same bulb, does the 7" headlamp put out a significant amount of more light than the 5 3/4" headlamp? Since the bulb is the same wattage, the only difference is the reflector, but I have not lined up to bikes to check if there is a lot more light from the bigger housing.
I am interested in switching to a 7" with LED.
Thanks,
Don
I am interested in switching to a 7" with LED.
Thanks,
Don
Banned
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: Coastal Ga
A 55 watt bulb puts out X amount of light. Does not matter if you put it into a 3, 4, 5 or 7 inch reflector. You still only have X amount of light. What changes is the pattern. You can change your 5 in reflector for one that spreads the light or one that centers it. That is where the difference is. You can also change from the standard yellow tint to the true white at 55 watt and it will seem brighter but what you are really seeing is a whiter light.
As with the LED, at building supply they have Soft white, True white, bright white etc What they do is change the colors you see. True white or Natural is more like sunlight which covers more of the spectrum of color than the others.
The LED actually put out more lumen than a standard bulb.
As with the LED, at building supply they have Soft white, True white, bright white etc What they do is change the colors you see. True white or Natural is more like sunlight which covers more of the spectrum of color than the others.
The LED actually put out more lumen than a standard bulb.
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,760
Likes: 211
From: Manila, Philippines
Thanks. Thats what I was thinking. A bigger reflector with same wattage will just change the pattern. Will probably look into aux lights as I already have LED in the 5 3/4.
A 55 watt bulb puts out X amount of light. Does not matter if you put it into a 3, 4, 5 or 7 inch reflector. You still only have X amount of light. What changes is the pattern. You can change your 5 in reflector for one that spreads the light or one that centers it. That is where the difference is. You can also change from the standard yellow tint to the true white at 55 watt and it will seem brighter but what you are really seeing is a whiter light.
As with the LED, at building supply they have Soft white, True white, bright white etc What they do is change the colors you see. True white or Natural is more like sunlight which covers more of the spectrum of color than the others.
The LED actually put out more lumen than a standard bulb.
As with the LED, at building supply they have Soft white, True white, bright white etc What they do is change the colors you see. True white or Natural is more like sunlight which covers more of the spectrum of color than the others.
The LED actually put out more lumen than a standard bulb.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 7,138
Likes: 26
From: Southern Oregon
Ive heard others on here say the same thing. I bought one... just havent installed it yet
Former Sponsor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,968
Likes: 54
Part of the equation is what kind of reflector is in the headlamp, and the other the size of the reflector. the other thing I alwyas do is get rid of the diffuser. You can break it off.
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Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 626
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From: The Coma
In a recording studio we have "apparent" volume "actual" volume. Apparent volume is how loud something seems to sound, whereas actual volume is how loud it is actually measured in dB.
I swapped out my OEM light for a 7" bucket. Definitely more "apparent" light as well as a wider field of vision. I don't know of it's actually any brighter, but when I'm riding and it comes to me potentially seeing something flying my way at 30-100 MPH, I'm OK with it "apparently" being brighter. Plus I liked the look of the 7" bucket better.
I swapped out my OEM light for a 7" bucket. Definitely more "apparent" light as well as a wider field of vision. I don't know of it's actually any brighter, but when I'm riding and it comes to me potentially seeing something flying my way at 30-100 MPH, I'm OK with it "apparently" being brighter. Plus I liked the look of the 7" bucket better.
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