Product test: H4 headlight bulbs

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Product test: H4 headlight bulbs
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Product test: H4 headlight bulbs

Product test
H4 headlight bulbs

Small effort, very big effect – the simplest motorcycle tuning measure does not affect the engine. With the right lamp, the headlight accelerates even more.

Klaus Herder

01/21/2010

A lamp is always a lamp, so of course I choose the cheapest! ”If at all, this motto only applied in the very early days, when only a few brand manufacturers supplied the clear market. So in the six-volt era. Nowadays it is mostly Far Eastern low-cost providers that flood the market. The H4 lamp, which is still prevalent in the motorcycle sector, is already available for less than four euros. MOTORRAD wanted to know exactly whether the quality would be acceptable and sent 14 lamps bought in free stores to the laboratory. Specifically: in the application laboratory of the Philips company. Application means application, and it is used in a pitch-dark room as high as a house, in which the engineers measure precisely how much light hits the road at what distance and whether the legal requirements (e.g. avoiding glare) are being complied with.

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The attentive reader may be surprised that the investigations were carried out at a lamp manufacturer of all places. Simple reason: Appropriate test equipment is not available on every corner. And please don’t worry, the measurements are standardized, all tests are documented in detail and can be reproduced at any time. Possibilities for manipulation would only have existed, if at all, with the test samples, but MOTORRAD concerned and kept a watchful eye on them. The same test would have been possible with the colleagues from Osram, but Philips was ahead of the curve in terms of schedule.

Beru car light


Product test: H4 headlight bulbs


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Beru car light

providers: Beru AG, 71636 Ludwigsburg; bought from Detlev Louis
price: 4.95 euros
Photometry measurement: in order
Geometry measurement: all values ​​within tolerance
Illuminance: 14, 18, 8 lux (75R, 50R, 50V);
Weighted mean value of illuminance: 53 lux

Conclusion:
Short range, little light; mediocre readings – not a great performance. After all, all normal values ​​are okay.

MOTORRAD verdict: Sufficient

Beru Powerlight car light


Product test: H4 headlight bulbs


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Beru Powerlight car light

providers: Beru AG, 71636 Ludwigsburg; bought from Detlev Louis
price: 8.95 euros
Photometry measurement: in order
Geometry measurement: all values ​​within the tolerance
Illuminance: 14, 20, 8 lux (75R, 50R, 50V);
Weighted mean value of illuminance: 57 lux

Conclusion:
Hardly any different from the standard Beru model – what is “Powerlight”? Slightly higher illuminance.

MOTORRAD judgment: Befrboiling

Blue Hammer H4


Product test: H4 headlight bulbs


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Blue Hammer H4

providers: Light Distribution GmbH, 89542 Herbrechtingen; bought at OBI
price: 4 euros (set price 7.99 euros)
Photometry measurement: in order
Geometry measurement: all values ​​within tolerance
Illuminance: 15, 24, 9 lux (75R, 50R, 50V);
Weighted mean value of illuminance: 63 lux

Conclusion:
Solid, but not brilliant (range) performance. Attractive price. “Xenon-Effect” is pure advertising drumming.

MOTORRAD verdict: Satisfactory

Carlex Autobulb


Product test: H4 headlight bulbs


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Carlex Autobulb

providers: no information on packaging (barcode only); bought at A.T.U
price: 3.79 euros
Photometry measurement: in order
Geometry measurement: two of 19 values ​​out of tolerance
Illuminance: 7.21.5 lux (75R, 50R, 50V);
Weighted mean value of illuminance: 38 lux

Conclusion:
Narrow beam of light, still acceptable range. Weakens in geometry measurement and illuminance.

MOTORCYCLE measurement: Poor

Cartrend Halogen H4


Product test: H4 headlight bulbs


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Cartrend Halogen H4

Providers: SystemPartnerAutoteile GmbH & Co. KG, 76229 Karlsruhe; bought at OBI
price: 4.19 euros
Photometry measurement: in order
Geometry measurement: two of 19 values ​​out of tolerance
Illuminance: 7.19.1 lux (75R, 50R, 50V);
Weighted mean value of illuminance: 35 lux

Conclusion:
Very narrow light beam, minimal range in the middle of the lane. Geometry and illuminance lousy.

MOTORRAD verdict: poor

Eufab lamp box


Product test: H4 headlight bulbs


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Eufab lamp box

providers: Eufab GmbH, 42781 Haan; bought from A.T.U
price: 3.99 euros (box price)
Photometry measurement: in order
Geometry measurement: one of 19 values ​​outside the tolerance
Illuminance: 5, 15, 6 lux (75R, 50R, 50V);
Weighted mean value of illuminance: 31 lux

Conclusion:
Narrow beam of light, left edge of the lane hardly illuminated. Geometry error, lowest illuminance.

MOTORCYCLE measurement: Poor

Narva Range Power Blue+


Product test: H4 headlight bulbs


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Narva Range Power Blue+

providers: Narva Speziallampen GmbH, 08523 Plauen; bought from Detlev Louis
price: 9.95 euros
Photometry measurement: in order
Geometry measurement: all values ​​within tolerance
Illuminance: 19, 26, 10 lux (75R, 50R, 50V);
Weighted mean value of illuminance: 74 lux

Conclusion:
Good range (over 70 meters), good illumination of both halves of the road, decent illuminance.

MOTORCYCLE measurement: Good

Osram original


Product test: H4 headlight bulbs


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Osram original

providers: Osram GmbH, 86167 Augsburg; bought from Autotechnik Sulzberger
price: 7.45 euros
Photometry measurement: in order
Geometry measurement: all values ​​within tolerance
Illuminance: 17, 22, 11 lux (75R, 50R, 50V);
Weighted mean value of illuminance: 67 lux

Conclusion:
Minimally shorter range than the Narva lamp, otherwise the same quality level, but a little cheaper.

MOTORRAD verdict: good

Osram Night Racer


Product test: H4 headlight bulbs


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Osram Night Racer

providers: Osram GmbH, 86167 Augsburg; bought at Heller & Soltau
price: 11.98 euros (set price 23.95 euros)
Photometry measurement: in order
Geometry measurement: all values ​​within tolerance
Illuminance: 18, 31, 11 lux (75R, 50R, 50V);
Weighted mean value of illuminance: 79 lux

Conclusion:
Very good range, average illumination of the oncoming lane. High illuminance, fair price.

MOTORRAD verdict: very good

MOTORCYCLE buyer’s tip

Philips Motovision


Product test: H4 headlight bulbs


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Philips Motovision

providers: Philips, www.philips.com/automotive; bought from Detlev Louis
price: 14.95 euros
Photometry measurement: in order
Geometry measurement: all values ​​within tolerance
Illuminance: 20, 26, 13 lux (75R, 50R, 50V);
Weighted mean value of illuminance: 79 lux

Conclusion:
Similar to Osram Night Racer, a little more expensive, but orange-colored reflection for better visibility.

MOTORRAD verdict: very good

Philips XP Moto


Product test: H4 headlight bulbs


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Philips XP Moto

providers: Philips, www.philips.com/automotive; bought from Detlev Louis
price: 19.95 euros
Photometry measurement: in order
Geometry measurement: all values ​​within tolerance
Illuminance: 26, 33, 14 lux (75R, 50R, 50V);
Weighted mean value of illuminance: 98 lux

Conclusion:
Excellent range (over 80 meters) and wide illumination, outstanding illuminance.

MOTORRAD verdict: very good

MOTORCYCLE test winner

Professional light H4 lamp


Product test: H4 headlight bulbs


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Professional light H4 lamp

providers: no information on packaging (barcode only); bought at A.T.U
price: 3.79 euros
Photometry measurement: in order
Geometry measurement: four out of 19 values ​​out of tolerance
Illuminance: 11, 19, 8 lux (75R, 50R, 50V);
Weighted mean value of illuminance: 50 lux

Conclusion:
Amazingly good range, good illumination of the apron, satisfactory width, but indisputable geometry values.

MOTORRAD verdict: poor

Iceblue ring


Product test: H4 headlight bulbs


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Iceblue ring

providers: no information on packaging (barcode only); bought at A.T.U
price: 6.50 euros (set price 12.99 euros)
Photometry measurement: OK, the minimum values ​​just barely reached
Geometry measurement: two of 19 values ​​out of tolerance
Illuminance: 6, 15, 8 lux (75R, 50R, 50V);
Weighted mean value of illuminance: 35 lux

Conclusion:
Short range and little light, inhomogeneous illumination of the area in front of the vehicle. Geometry and illuminance lousy.

MOTORRAD verdict: poor

Unitec H4 halogen


Product test: H4 headlight bulbs


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Unitec H4 halogen

providers: Inter-Union Technihandel GmbH, 76829 Landau; bought at Toom Market;
price: 3.79 euros
Photometry measurement: in order
Geometry measurement: two of 19 values ​​out of tolerance
Illuminance: 6, 16, 9 lux (75R, 50R, 50V);
Weighted mean value of illuminance: 38 lux

Conclusion:
Short range and little light, narrow width. And when it comes to geometry and illuminance, there is also darkness.

MOTORRAD verdict: poor

This is how MOTORRAD tests


Product test: H4 headlight bulbs


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Supporter during the test: Claudia Kuckelkorn at the geometry measuring device

MOTORRAD bought all lamps in stores. For the illuminance measurements, they were mounted in a Yamaha Fazer headlight, which was vertically adjusted to the maximum permissible glare value before each measurement. The measuring device (“Gonio-Photometer”) determined among other things. the illuminance values ​​at 75 and 50 meters on the right edge of the lane (75R, 50R) and at 50 meters in the middle of the lane (50V). The “weighted mean value of the illuminance”, a quality factor, is calculated from this. During the photometric measurement, it was checked whether the total amount of light emitted corresponds to ECE regulation R37 and whether the power consumption is correct. The geometry measurement was about whether all components are correctly positioned in relation to one another at 19 measuring points.

Interview with the lighting professional


Product test: H4 headlight bulbs


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Jurgen Melzer (47) is a graduate engineer and freelance consultant for vehicle lighting technology – among others. for Philips.

MOTORCYCLE: How does a lamp manufacturer manage to bring 80 percent more light onto the road with a premium H4 lamp than with standard H4 lamps??

Melzer: Explained using the example of the Philips XP Moto: A more compact, but brighter filament is used here. The “spot-like” light from this filament can be better used by the reflector – the light comes onto the road exactly where it is needed.

MOTORCYCLE: Why can’t other lamp manufacturers do it??

Melzer: A hotter and therefore lighter filament generally has a shorter service life. In order to be able to compensate for this effect, a special gas filling and a higher gas pressure are required. And Philips only uses quartz glass for this, which is particularly temperature and pressure-resistant and thus guarantees a longer service life.

MOTORCYCLE: What is particularly annoying to you as a lamp specialist and vehement advocate of brand manufacturer quality in the “lamp scene” at the moment??

Melzer: That many low-cost providers copy the product claims of the brand manufacturers (e.g. Philips and Osram) without being able to offer their quality at all. The cheat offers often offer a lot less than normal standard lamps.

MOTORCYCLE: Keyword cheat offers: What does the promise “with xenon gas” for H4 and H7 lamps have to do with real xenon light?

Melzer: Nothing. In contrast to halogen lamps, the light in xenon gas discharge lamps is generated by an electric arc. Halogen lamps can also contain small amounts of xenon gas, but this has no effect on the color temperature of the light. At most, a bluish coating on the glass bulb provides a “xenon effect”. In terms of luminous efficacy and light color, however, the halogen lamps do not come close to the excellent properties of real gas discharge lamps.

MOTORCYCLE: What to think of heavy duty lamps?

Melzer: Heavy duty lamps are usually particularly robust, they are subjected to a special vibration test. Such lamps make perfect sense for special operating conditions such as city traffic with regular “curb abuse” and, of course, frequent off-road use.

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