Lighting

[FIS53]

I have been looking at trucks to buy for the last few months (becomig fleet owner). One thing that has bothered me has been some of the lighting systems on many of the trucks. They seem .... well sort of lacking. Now reason I say this is that in most trucks we sit higher and farther back than a car, but we get with many trucks a lowend lighting system as stock and have to spend hundreds getting it upgraded for the highway. I can spend 30000-35000 on a euro or jap car and get a better lgihting system than most trucks come stock. I know not all truckers need the fog lights and driving lights (to me driving light is narrow or pencil beam), but damn I do like to see where I'm going.

Now another point for us in the rush business is that most of us are over 40, and 40+ eyeballs are not as good as 20 year old ones. So we need more light to catch the problems on the road. Having said that I know it isn't just my old eyeballs are the problem.

So why don't these nifty $60000 and up trucks come with better lighting????

Just curious Rob

 

[greg334]

Long version - never mind....

Short version.... the buyers of the trucks do not asked for or demand better lighting. I have seen more improvements with EU and Canadian trucks than I have NOT seen here in the states. I think that we are far far behind the curve on lighting technology and seem to be afraid to try things.

HID lighting should be standard on all vehicles with no exceptions and LED lighting should be moving forward out of the testing lab and on to the road - both of these are big improvements over conventional IC lighting for both safety and comfort.

How many straight trucks here have real HID headlights?

 

[Paul56]

You may not be looking for this much truck; however, HIDs are available on the Kenworth T660 as a factory option.

 

[ATeam]

Our Volvo came standard with PES low-beam bulbs. I have no idea what PES means but, by golly, we got 'em.

I can say that night driving is a joy in this truck compared to others we have driven. The headlamps bathe the road in front of you with even light. Fog lamps light the shoulders well. High beams let us see further ahead than any truck or car we have ever driven.

 

[greg334]

Projector Ellipsoid System Halogen Headlamps

 

[pelicn]

Greg,
I just did a search for Projector Ellipsoid System Halogen Headlamps, and all I came up with was links for "automobiles" do you have a link for these for big trucks?
Am I being stupid? Does it matter the vehicle?

 

[greg334]

Greg,
I just did a search for Projector Ellipsoid System Halogen Headlamps, and all I came up with was links for "automobiles" do you have a link for these for big trucks?
Am I being stupid? Does it matter the vehicle?

Nope, no link but I have several lighting product engineering manuals and Volvo is one of the assemblies that is described (I had to cheat and look up the full definition because I am too lazy to think enough to type, sorry). This lighting system is exactly like the BMW Ellipsoid system that they use on their cars going back to the 80's. The newer ones have a halo effect (called angel eyes) in them and are kind of really cool (see attached file, first picture).

Today as I am so bored, I was going over HID designs looking for an after market lens that can be used for an HID conversion on my fl70 but I have not seen a lens that falls under the DOT requirements I need and the E code lights don't qualify. So I pulled out the manuals and by chance Phil reminded me of the PES because they are used with HID lamps and can focus the light the right way AND they are already use on BMW's (and lexus and something else) with HID lamps, so I may have found my solution. The thing is, can put on the truck DOT lights from another vehicle, they of course pass DOT regs and using the lights from a BMW which will not require too much in the way of mounting mods may look very cool and if I get assemblies with the Angel eyes, then that would really look cool

 

[ATeam]

PROJECTOR ELIPSOID SYSTEM... Yhoo! Hoo!

"Light bulbs" are soooo 20th Century.

 

[greg334]

PROJECTOR ELIPSOID SYSTEM... Yhoo! Hoo!

"Light bulbs" are soooo 20th Century.

Phil, don't get too excited.... settle down there ... the system still uses a light bulb , it is the way the reflector and lens disperse the light that is exciting or should be for Volvo owners.

Can you imagine if you had the HID setup on your truck, how much of a difference that would make. I think they may also offer them on the 2008 Volvos which means you can put them on your truck legally.

 

[ATeam]

Reflector and lens ... Yhoo! Hoo!

 

[FIS53]

Thanks greg for the info re hids. i know there are conversion kits out there for them so a thought for the near future.

Paul56 thanks for that info re KWs I actually was in their dealer looking but at the t300 series. Got sticker shock, it was reasonable....

So my search continues. Found a few units that I kinda like but definitely will have to upgrade most of the lighting..

Rob