Spots, yellow or white

[scott2007nomad]

I'm preparing to purchase Chuckster's spotlights and I'm leaning towards yellow lenses, if he can get them.

My current theory is that the yellow lights are more noticeable to other motorists during the day yet I will gain sufficient extra visibility at night.

Please share you opinion as to which color you prefer.

Thanks,
Scott K.

[rflnomad]

I did a post about the same question. Do a search on the differences between the clear & yellow.
I forgot how I titled it. Getting old I guess....

[macmac]

A search here won't turn up much I fear it's sorta busted last I knew.

I couldn't decide either and so run both yaller and white. White makes the most light and I use that in night. I hope yaller is seen in day time.

The white lamps I got in walley world. They mimic the run/sig lamps well. The bolt up was easy, pull one for each lower and install the lamp in that set of holes.

Both sets ON
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll275/Mac_Muz/Nomad/2010_Spring/2010BikeFender008web.jpg

Closer up, but not intended to be a close up. The intent was a show and tell, how to use Idaho's lift adapter
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll275/Mac_Muz/Nomad/2010_Spring/2010BikeFender013web.jpg

[macmac]

Any auto parts store can get yellow bulbs in 2 flavors, a clear lense and or a fluted lense. Mine are fluted. These are cobra passing lamps which came with white lights, and I have them boxes up somewhere. I think there is H-3 bulbs in them.

The Cobra set up grounds the bulb holder lense to the bucket to the stem to the bar to the forks, so if you go that way be sure to run a ground wire from the forks to the bike frame. Other wise ground passes thru the head bearings and will kill them.

With yellow lenses you will have to run a ground from the sealed beam connector made for a ground since the whole bulb is glass. With the cobra buckets i had to pull a bead insulator and drill the hole for the wires a size or 2 bigger to pass 2 wires thru it. I made the hole large enough to take a rubber grommet.

[Netnorske]

Yellow for the reason stated....better daytime visibility. I want grandma to see me comin'.... http://s2.images.proboards.com/tongue.gif!

[trip]

Having yellow spots on my Nomad has actually yielded some positive results.....like people pulling over during the day thinking I'm a cop. I guess that proves they are more visible during the day. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[usranger74]

I don't know why yellow lights would have more visibility than white in day light (or at night). A simple test of a white and yellow lights of the same size and at distance will demonstrate that white is more visible.

Following is a post I found on the subject:


For expert advice, I contacted the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) on Fort Wainwright. Captain John Craig of that group then arranged to have a computer search made on the subject of light penetration in fog and mist from CRREL's headquarters in Hanover, New Hampshire. As a result, I obtained a list of over 200 references and abstracts of articles published by researchers all over the world.

Not a single one asserted that yellow light has superior penetrating qualities, but several specifically stated that it did not. To quote from one Russian article, for example:
"Investigations and practices of automobile traffic do not confirm any substantial advantages of yellow light over white light. The advantages ascribed to it may take place only in very thin fog or may be subjectively received by some drivers owing to their individual peculiarities of vision. Therefore, it does not make any sense to switch over headlights to yellow light, although the use of yellow light in special fog lights does not raise any objections." End of quote. The phrasing is quaint, but the meaning is clear.
I had long thought that the yellow sodium-vapor street lamps that are becoming common were used specifically because they cut through fog better. I found out that there actually is a specific reason for their use, but that it is because they operate on only about half the power of conventional lamps.

So, unless you just happen to like yellow, save your money and forget about so-called "fog-lights." They don't exist.

[rewindgy]

I got's yellow cause they are cool! So there. Nah nah nah!

[wiz]

Does anybody have a good source for yellow lenses for the CWI billet driving lights?

[usranger74]

I got's yellow cause they are cool! So there. Nah nah nah!

I am good with "cool"!!

[mcdaddy]

Not a single one asserted that yellow light has superior penetrating qualities, but several specifically stated that it did not. To quote from one Russian article, for example:
"Investigations and practices of automobile traffic do not confirm any substantial advantages of yellow light over white light. The advantages ascribed to it may take place only in very thin fog or may be subjectively received by some drivers owing to their individual peculiarities of vision. Therefore, it does not make any sense to switch over headlights to yellow light, although the use of yellow light in special fog lights does not raise any objections." End of quote. The phrasing is quaint, but the meaning is clear.
I had long thought that the yellow sodium-vapor street lamps that are becoming common were used specifically because they cut through fog better. I found out that there actually is a specific reason for their use, but that it is because they operate on only about half the power of conventional lamps.

So, unless you just happen to like yellow, save your money and forget about so-called "fog-lights." They don't exist.


The help stand out not because of the greater power or penetration but becasue they are different .. ie: don't get lost among all the other daytime running lights on the cars around you.

[macmac]

As I see it yellow cuts snow fall when it is heavy and or lighter fog, while reducing white glare. My Opinion.

Lamps come in standard sizes, so measure the bucket opening, rather than seek a lamp for a specific brand of bucket.

Armed with ther measuremant across go to any auto supplies stores and tell them white/ yellow and see what they can get. In yellow these will be basic old fashioned incadesent lamps a sealed beam.

I white you can get a sealed beam or have choices in halogen. Sealed beams will usually be in 30 and 35 watts each. In halogen there are more choices. Maybe 25 watts too better than 55watts.

(2) 35 watts are under 7 amps and cane be run from tjhe constant acc wires switched.

(2) 55 wats each can not! That is just under 10 amps and too close to the acc circuit and will likely work but in time fry either the fuse box or the key switch maybe both.

Either way a dedicated circuit is best and maybe with a relay depending on what you want.

I stole these diagrams

[macmac]

I don't know how to put 2 files in one text reply yet, or if one may.

[chuckster131]

You have mail Scott.. I can get the yellow one's as well, so that way you can run either style.




I'm preparing to purchase Chuckster's spotlights and I'm leaning towards yellow lenses, if he can get them.

My current theory is that the yellow lights are more noticeable to other motorists during the day yet I will gain sufficient extra visibility at night.

Please share you opinion as to which color you prefer.

Thanks,
Scott K.

[Netnorske]

Not a single one asserted that yellow light has superior penetrating qualities, but several specifically stated that it did not. To quote from one Russian article, for example:
"Investigations and practices of automobile traffic do not confirm any substantial advantages of yellow light over white light. The advantages ascribed to it may take place only in very thin fog or may be subjectively received by some drivers owing to their individual peculiarities of vision. Therefore, it does not make any sense to switch over headlights to yellow light, although the use of yellow light in special fog lights does not raise any objections." End of quote. The phrasing is quaint, but the meaning is clear.
I had long thought that the yellow sodium-vapor street lamps that are becoming common were used specifically because they cut through fog better. I found out that there actually is a specific reason for their use, but that it is because they operate on only about half the power of conventional lamps.

So, unless you just happen to like yellow, save your money and forget about so-called "fog-lights." They don't exist.


The help stand out not because of the greater power or penetration but becasue they are different .. ie: don't get lost among all the other daytime running lights on the cars around you.

I agree with McDaddy here. Conclusive scientific light-penetrating data aside.... http://s2.images.proboards.com/tongue.gif...the yellow lights are just something different from the sea of ordinary white ones....and therefore MAY provide just that little extra something that catches a careless cagers eye.

I'm just sayin'..... http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif!

[usranger74]

"I agree with McDaddy here. Conclusive scientific light-penetrating data aside.... ...the yellow lights are just something different from the sea of ordinary white ones....and therefore MAY provide just that little extra something that catches a careless cagers eye. "

10-4 on that. That is why may PDs use Blue or Red for emergency light. Being different does have it's advantages.

[bkmaxvrb]

I run the fluted amber, sealed beam lights on my CWI light brackets. Why? Because I like the way they look. They have a 50's era / nostalgic look to them.

Here's a copy of something I posted in the garage section about tracking down my electrical gremlin. I had to buy another set of lights. I had GE lights but, I found every manufacturer has a slightly different tint to their lights. Anyway, here are the places I have found to get the lights and the qoute:

"In case you're wondering, they are part number 4415A. NAPA, CarQuest and A&A Auto carry them. They will probably have to order them but, they'll get 'em in the next day. Advanced Auto does NOT carry them. They don't even show a cross reference on their computer. The guy behind the counter didn't even know what you'd use an amber light for (fog, duh!). I'm not too impressed with Advanced. They don't seem to know their parts, this wasn't the first time they didn't know what I was talking about, even though I had the light in my hands.

Anyway, NAPA carries them for $18, the other two carry them for $20 and change, a piece."

I hope you find this useful if you decide to get amber sealed beam units. It's easy to re-wire the inside of the light buckets, very easy.