H4 headlamp I want to fit LED bulb (2021)

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I recently fitted a H4 headlamp unit into my 74 mk2a to replace the original that used a strange old bulb. It’s all fitted nicely, but now I would like to fit an LED replacement bulb in place of the halogen bulb for the obvious power saving aspect of it, then I can run a headlamp full time without too much worry about running the battery down.

Can I simply fit an ebay special c.£6 or will I need to get something specific for a positive earth machine c.£40 ?

btw, if anyone is interested/worried it is no longer an MOT failure having LEDs fitted.
 
Some of the ebay ones are shit. Many have terrible beam patterns / spread. Paul Goff is your man.

Unless you’re running negative Earth, then you can use a Cyclops.

www.accessnorton.com

LED Headlights Goff vs Cyclops

I received the Cyclops Ultra LED headlight ‘bulb’ today, so I stopped work and went out to the shed to fit it into the Harley. No can do. The Harley has a nice fashionable 5.sumthin inch headlamp and the Cyclops comes with a bit of ‘hardware‘ included. I tried y’all, but it would not go in ...
www.accessnorton.com www.accessnorton.com
 
I bought my last one off ebay and it was called and had the Phillips trademark. It was 5v to 24v and was +ve and -ve earth compatible as it has internal rectifiers and voltage converters as most do, beam pattern is excellent but that was 3 years ago and no doubt even better bulbs are available. Paul Goff selects the best bulbs but then adds a margin, with a bit of research you can buy direct.
 
TBH I found just an LED pilot bulb sufficed to increase visibility. Along with LED instrument bulbs and a Paul Goff rear light board I can leave all on with minimal current drain....
 
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I've bought a few different types and found that stuffing them into the headlight shell is a challenge. It depends somewhat on which lens you're using. Even with Goffy's 5K LED I had to bend the bottom contacts of my headlight switch else it would hit the bulb base. The ones with a remote heat sink simply wouldn't fit. Some of the dual polarity bulbs will "leak" current out the main beam terminal when in dip mode and find a ground path through your high beam indicator light. I fussed quite a bit before I had something that worked.
 
kommando said:
I bought my last one off ebay and it was called and had the Phillips trademark. It was 5v to 24v and was +ve and -ve earth compatible as it has internal rectifiers and voltage converters as most do, beam pattern is excellent but that was 3 years ago and no doubt even better bulbs are available. Paul Goff selects the best bulbs but then adds a margin, with a bit of research you can buy direct.
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That’s why I buy from Goff. To me, unless you enjoy the process of researching this stuff, and the trial and error, paying a small margin to someone who’s already done, and continues to do that, is very fair and worthwhile.

Plus, one wrong bulb bought and all those savings have gone anyway!
 
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Landspeedracer said:
Can I simply fit an ebay special c.£6 or will I need to get something specific for a positive earth machine c.£40 ?
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I have a Paul Goff Daylighter 2S - absolutely brilliant ( pun intended! )
Seriously though - I would thoroughly recommend you go that route!

Edit - a standard halogen 60W pumps out 1600 lumens - the Daylighter 2S is 5000 lumens - and it only uses 30W!
 
Landspeedracer said:
I recently fitted a H4 headlamp unit into my 74 mk2a to replace the original that used a strange old bulb. It’s all fitted nicely, but now I would like to fit an LED replacement bulb in place of the halogen bulb for the obvious power saving aspect of it, then I can run a headlamp full time without too much worry about running the battery down.

Can I simply fit an ebay special c.£6 or will I need to get something specific for a positive earth machine c.£40 ?

btw, if anyone is interested/worried it is no longer an MOT failure having LEDs fitted.
Click to expand...
Goffy does them to fit in the holder of a strange old bulb too! Sometimes referred to as British pre-focus! ;)

I have fitted Goffy's bulbs on my '56 AJS. Positive earth. But I have a conundrum with my '56 MG which has British Pre Focus holders and positive earth too, which are fitted with adapted Halogen bulbs sourced from Australia!! They were the thing for a lighting upgrade a few years back before LEDs took over. But the 'Lucas Tripod' reflectors need replacing, and those on offer today are made for Halogen Bulbs! Doh! Hopes of interchangeable bulbs dashed!

You seem a bit like me, if you made purchasing decisions in a different order you might save a little cash, but it is more fun this way!!

Yes, paying a little more for an LED headlight does work with the right supplier.
 
Landspeedracer said:
I recently fitted a H4 headlamp unit into my 74 mk2a to replace the original that used a strange old bulb. It’s all fitted nicely, but now I would like to fit an LED replacement bulb in place of the halogen bulb for the obvious power saving aspect of it, then I can run a headlamp full time without too much worry about running the battery down.

Can I simply fit an ebay special c.£6 or will I need to get something specific for a positive earth machine c.£40 ?

btw, if anyone is interested/worried it is no longer an MOT failure having LEDs fitted.
Click to expand...
Would the strange old bulb have been a 463? These were indeed a strange mid 70’s interim before the advent of H4 halogens, I have struggled to find an LED replacement.
 
I’ve been in touch with Paul Goff and have ordered both LED headlamp bulb and a tail lamp board replacement. Not cheap, but I hope they’re nice and bright for safety as I’ll be using “lights on” while riding the same as my modern bikes.
 
Landspeedracer said:
I’ve been in touch with Paul Goff and have ordered both LED headlamp bulb and a tail lamp board replacement. Not cheap, but I hope they’re nice and bright for safety as I’ll be using “lights on” while riding the same as my modern bikes.
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They are more than ‘nice and bright’! You will not be disappointed.

The tail light will be brighter than the old stop light.

The headlight will make the old one look like some dim yellow glow.

Good LED headlight bulbs are very good for nighttime riding but there biggest benefit is day time visibility. Same for the rear, especially at night. Something that is more important now than ever in my opinion.
 
Just a reminder everyone, no matter what headlight you have, during the daylight, high/main beam will keep you alive.
The occurrence of an oncoming motorist turning in front of you, or pulling out from a side street is diminished 100:1.
 
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concours said:
Just a reminder everyone, no matter what headlight you have, during the bright mid day sun, high/main beam will keep you alive.
The occurrence of an oncoming motorist turning in front of you, or pulling out from a side street is diminished 100:1.
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Whilst I concur... would also point at that when the sun is low in the morning/evening is another time for squinting motorists and an upturn in the 'sorry I didn't see you' probability....
 
EstuaryBoy said:
Whilst I concur... would also point at that when the sun is low in the morning/evening is another time for squinting motorists and an upturn in the 'sorry I didn't see you' probability....
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Absolutely agree.
An ESSENTIAL part of safety equipment, SUNGLASSES, (relatively inexpensive) is so often overlooked/IGNORED by a significant portion of motorists who are indifferent about driving.
 
Just don't run a high beam LED warning light, brighter than the original H4 headlamp bulb!
 
not that I’m expecting to travel much at night, this will mean I won’t need to be worried about not actually seeing where I’m going. The LED pilot bulb is already significantly bright. My Shorai 22ah Lithium arrived today - so maybe I need to christen the darkness?

On my previous ZZR1400 I fitted HID dip beams, and then angled them very slightly higher than stock, and then I could see oncoming motorists take notice of them - possibly because they’d appear to flash as I went down the road surface towards them. They were 35w units, I wonder how much brighter the later 55w ones are in comparison if I fit some to the current one?
 
I installed the Auxito unit below yesterday in my positive ground Commando and so far it works well for daytime riding, high beam (which I always use during daylight hours) is very bright but does have a cutoff. I have yet to test it at night but I very rarely ride my Norton after dark anyway, generally use a modern bike for night rides. Only draws about 18 watts on LB or HB. Fitment is snug in a Bosch H4 reflector and the backside is not bulbous so no clearance problems in the headlight shell.

H4 headlamp I want to fit LED bulb (2021)
 
I fitted a great unit on Derek Wilson's advice to the stock positive ground system.
3 items , all easily ordered in from Amazon.
DZGH4 Bulb.
IPC CWC-70006 7 " Plain conversion lens.
Dorman 84790 Headlight socket ( 2 pack ).
 
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