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Converting the Lightforce
Offroad Lights
into 23,000 volt Flame Throwers
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For years I've used the Lightforce Offroad Lights
on my 4x4 vehicles and have always been impressed by their
performance and durability. Especially so after comparing
them to many other types of offroad lights I've previously bought
and used, most with mediocre results. So I've already been
sold on the Lightforce brand, that's a given. But when Dick
from Offroad Lights in Washington told me about a conversion kit
he developed specifically for the Lightforce lights where the
Halogen bulbs where replaced with an High-intensity discharge
(HID) system and Xenon bulbs I was intrigued.
He kept insisting that he was blown away by the difference in
performance over the Halogen bulbs and even more so when the
wattage consumption was taken into account; much less with the
Xenon kit. I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical at the
reported gains but I wanted to give them a shot and try out the
conversion, so I ordered up a set for my RMDL170L Lightforce
lights mounted on my CJ-7. I travel across mountain
trails, many times at night and a good set of high power auxiliary
lights is a huge benefit to see well on those dark nights.
I got the kit rather quickly and was pretty eager
to check it out. The kit comes with the following:
Pre-assembled:
2 RMDL-ARM (replaces the exisitng Lightforce part)
3 feet of wiring with Extra protective nylon
sleeving
2 D2S HID Bulbs
(Bulbs are replaceable) |
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| 2 HID Ballasts and 2 mounting assemblies |
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The installation was going to be pretty
straight forward. I'm already using the
Lightforce RMDL170 'STRIKER' 170mm diameter lights,
which are mounted to my CJ-7's windshield hinges. The two
2 RMDL-ARM assemblies were going to replace my
existing Lightforce parts. The two
2 RMDL-ARM assemblies have the HID bulbs mounted in
them along with a good length of wire. These wires
will run to the 2 HID Ballasts. The Ballasts will be
mounted somewhere using the supplied mounting brackets.
The power that currently runs to each of my existing offroad
lights will be diverted to each of the ballasts and powered
from a fused and switched relay. |
| Before installing the kit, I took the time to check
everything out and take some pictures including some
controlled pictures of the Halogen lights in action in a
fixed position. I'd later take pictures in the same
location using the Xenon lights. To the right is
one of the ballasts and it's mounting bracket along with the
wire lead that feeds 12 volts to the ballast. |
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| The ballast, made by Zooty, will run on DC voltage
ranging from 8 volts to 32 volts with a maximum draw of 8.5
amps. It's normal running amperage draw is 3.5 amp
with an output of 35 watts per ballast (per light).
That's much better than the 100 watt drain on my system per
each Halogen light. |
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| The bulbs are interesting. Below to
the left is a typical Halogen bulb and one from my current
lights. This is a 100 watt bulb. It's bright,
bright enough to light up the nighttime trail pretty well.
Below to the right is one of the 35 watt Xenon bulbs.
These bulbs do not contain a filament as the Halogen bulb
does, rather within these bulbs is is the gas Xenon and
metals. HID lamps produce light by striking an
electrical arc across tungsten electrodes housed inside a
specially designed inner fused quartz or fused alumina tube.
This tube is filled with both the gas and metals. The
Xenon gas aids in the starting of the lamps. Then, the
metals produce the light once they are heated to a point of
evaporation. As with Halogen bulbs, do not tough the
Xenon bulbs. The reason you do not want to handle them
is the oils on your hands can cause the bulb to un-evenly
heat and crack. |
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| 100 watt Halogen bulb |
35 watt Xenon bulb |
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Purchased from:
Off-Road
Lights |
Give them a call at:
360-210-4693
for a great price on a set.
www.off-roadlights.com
Lightforce@offroaders.com
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Home-built
Serious Skid-Plate protection for the Oil Pan for under 20 bucks!
