Wrong bulb wattage

mirrorimg

Well-Known Member
I picked up some piaa fog bulbs which I thought I was getting a deal on, and I ended up paying slightly less than what I could have gotten at wally world. Well I didnt realize it until just now, but the bulbs are 85 watt, not 55 watt, like the previous burnt out bulb was. I have 2 to replace both the lights, but is it going to be safe to use these bulbs?

Are they going to pull more amps and put a strain on the wiring/ blow the fuse? Or do damage to the housing from excess heat?

Im not going to be putting them in anytime soon, due to the fact that I took one headlight housing apart to remove the broken yellow capsule, and wont be able to order new ones until monday.

They are PIAA 12v H3 bulbs, part number 13085.
 

tilegend

New Member
those bulbs are meant for their fog and driving lamps lol.

as far as wiring goes, probably only safe way is to use a relay harness.

as for the housings getting damaged, not sure but i have come across a couple reflector housings that were damaged due to over-wattaged bulbs.
 

mirrorimg

Well-Known Member
those bulbs are meant for their fog and driving lamps lol.

as far as wiring goes, probably only safe way is to use a relay harness.

as for the housings getting damaged, not sure but i have come across a couple reflector housings that were damaged due to over-wattaged bulbs.
I dont understand what you mean? My SIR-G headlights have the fog integrated in the headlight, like the JDM ITR headlights. I may upgrade some of the wiring to accomodate the higher amperage flowing through to reduce resitance. I think that would reduce the heat produced in the wiring.
 

tilegend

New Member
oh sorry... i meant that bulb was specifically made for their (PIAA) aftermarket driving and fog lamps.
 


mirrorimg

Well-Known Member
Oh, I see. So youre saying this is a replacement bulb for the kits PIAA produces, but nonetheless, granted the bulb type is correct (fits in the housing) and is powered off of the correct power source (12v) the bulb should work.

I just want to know if I could cause harm to my system by running them. Im thinking of changing the wimpy 16ga wire that plugs into the fog wires to some 12ga hookup wire I got from radio shack.
 

J_Jay_B

teg driver
even if you replace the wiring harness you run the risk of damaging the housing itself... and that is no good. i would say dont install them, but i dont have any experience with them. but the higher wattage will produce more heat from my understanding of electricity.
 

mirrorimg

Well-Known Member
Yea, I have over 60 days to return the bulbs from the place I bought them, has a return shipping label already on the invoice. I may just exchange them for some 55w, because I dont want to have to spend $300 later down the road to replace the housing itself.

These guys should put out a crap ton more light than the 55w'ers, but I guess better safe than sorry.
 


Top