headlight malfunction

[wes0778]

Not long after I got my '99 RSV, I put in a SilverStar Ultra (H4) light bulb. ran it for a while and put in one of the Canadian HID systems. That lasted just under a year. I asked for warrant, but never got it, but that's another story for another time. I then put the SilverStar Ultra back in there. Well last Tuesday, I noticed the headlight, low beam, was out. The passing light were still on, so I knew the fuse was not blown. I have a larger power wire run to the fairing and the headlight is on one relay and the passing lights on another, but both relays are powered by that larger wire. So, I switched to high beam and it lit for maybe 2 seconds at the most. Well I split the fairing and pulled the bulb. Sure enough, both filaments were blown. Well that bulb was several years old, so I thought it had served me well and it was just its' time to go.

I put in a brand new "ultra" and all was well. As I mentioned that was last Tuesday, one day short of a week. Since then I have probably only ridden the bike maybe 2 hours. Today I rode 90 miles to Hattiesburg, so add another 1-1/2 hours and I find the low beam is out, again. I switch to high bean and it comes on and stays lit. With the high beam on, a friend and I ride 5 miles to the DMV for her to take her road test. We get there and now the high beam is out.

My 1st thought is high voltage, but none of the other incandescent bulbs are blown. The only variable that has changed on the bike is I installed the Voyager kit and yes the bike does ride a bit rougher. I'm wondering if that is the problem, OR is it a natural tendency of the SilverStar Ultras to blow the remaining filament when the 1st one goes. I got home too late this afternoon to do any testing, so I'll start tomorrow.

Maybe I just got a bad bulb, but at $26.00 each I don't wanna blow too many of them testing!!!

Any thoughts???

Any had the same experience???

[Marcarl]

Things that come to mind:

- loose connection on bulb, you would see burn marks on the leg(s)

- Bad ground on bulb wire

- Cheap bulb,,, I'm with you, not cheap to test it out

- Check voltage at 3000 rpm, max s\b about 14.5 volts

 

Solution?

Put in a reg bulb for a while and see what happens.

[bongobobny]

Yes, the downside of the Silverstar Ultra, and other bulbs like it, is that the filament is thinner to make it brighter. That is the reason the manufacturer rates them as shorter life than the dimmer ones. You may want to consider one of the less bright lights...

[djh3]

Or if you still have all the goodies for the HID kit, put it back on and order a new bulb for the HID. $20 or so for just the bulb on e-bay for a bi-xenon

[Flyinfool]

Sylvania claims that the ultra should last 150 hours where the standard headlight should last 800 hours.

[wes0778]

Or if you still have all the goodies for the HID kit, put it back on and order a new bulb for the HID. $20 or so for just the bulb on e-bay for a bi-xenon

 

The ballast is the problem with the HID

[djh3]

OK well still about same price to replace.