IPF lights

[Slonopotam]

Hi,

Rocky road sells IPF lights, that is lense/reflector for $90 and H4 bulbs for $32.
The site has a link to comparison between stock lights and IPF lights.

I am curios about what their lense/reflector adds.
Has somebody tried their lense/reflector with stock bulb ?
Is it any better than the stock reflector ?

I am also interested whether their bulb is any better than something like HIR from GE.

Thank you,
Andrey

 

[aroncull]

I assume you are talking about the headlights?
I would suggest you go with the Hella E-codes, i run them and they are fantastic.. although you will need a new wiring harness to really take advantage of them.. there is another post sort of related in the modified forum about headlights...

also here is where i bought mine...
harness - www.bigoffroad.com
lens's and bulbs- www.rallylights.com
cost about 150$ altogether but the light output is waaayyyy better..

You could go with the IPF if you wish i am sure they would be better then stock BUT you will need the Harness as i mentioned before..
I would like to add though that the E-codes are going to put out more light then IPF's I think.. maybe...

Aaron

 

[Slonopotam]

You could go with the IPF if you wish i am sure they would be better then stock BUT you will need the Harness as i mentioned before..

Since bulbs consume the same power 55/60, I do NOT need to change the harness.

Andrey

 

[5-90]

Yow! Is it any wonder I don't run IPFs?

Honestly, I've heard good reports from the field on them, but the Hellas cost about half as much, and I get my 90/130W H4s for about a third of the IPF. Susquehanna Motorsports - www.rallylights.com. Tell 'em I sent ya!

Upgrading your harness depends on the year of your XJ and what you plan to do. I've got five RENIX, so I know them best - but the RENIX wiring handles 50/80W bults just fine (I calculated before I ordered...) without upgrading - but ChryCo got a little skimpy with the wiring and I'd not go more than stock in a 1991 or later (AMC did like to design for reliability.)

There are a couple headlamp harness upgrades out there, and I'm working on one myself, but I've been a little sidetracked lately, what with getting back into school and all. I'm taking this summer off, so I should be able to work out a prototype (finally!) and get some production drawings done for other projects I've got in mind, and work on the FAQ, and ...

Do pay attention to what the manufacturer of the upgrade harness gives for a rating, and select accordingly. One reason I'm designing my own is because I want to make it work for ANY H4 bulb you can find readily, and because I'm not wholly satisfied with the installation and construction of most of the other units (not saying they're built badly, but they aren't up to scratch as far as I'm concerned. I tend to design things to be a little tougher...)

Ordering from SMS will give you damn decent pricing - I get replacement bulbs from them, because (even factoring in shipping) they're cheaper than anyone local, including my "pet" parts house that gives me jobber pricing. They even beat International Truck on Fourth Street downtown - and that's hard to do, since IHC is a bigger distributor!

Before you order from RRO, do yourself a favour and peruse the SMS site. If you want to work on a tougher harness, link up with me one week-end and I'll help you get sorted out...

5-90

 

[Slonopotam]

Yow! Is it any wonder I don't run IPFs?

Why, again ?

Rocky Road sells IPF both 50/60 and higher rate bulbs. I am interested only in stock rate.

Could you please give me a link to SMS.

Andrey

 

[ADVNTURR]

Andrey,

I am running the IPF lens with their H4 Magic-J Bulbs. I love them, definately a huge improvement over stock. Because they are still 55/60 bulbs I have not upgraded my wiring harness and have had no problems to date (had them for 6 years or so and just replaced a bulb this winter cause I lost lowbeam). I think they are a great investment and would definately recommend them. The basic H4 bulbs that you are looking at are a little less pricy than the Magic J bulbs, but I like the afterglow affect expecially when out at a campsite or something where I might want to find my Jeep again. If you're really looking for some light their X51s look impressive. Last I remembered they did make something that took more than the 55/60 where you would have to upgrade the harness, but for the extra money you'd be better off adding additional lights at that point.

Hope that helps. Also, I have had descent luck with Rocky Road, not sure where I bought mine, might have been through them.

 

[5-90]

Why, again ?

Rocky Road sells IPF both 50/60 and higher rate bulbs. I am interested only in stock rate.

Could you please give me a link to SMS.

Andrey

Spendy. I just don't have that much "discretionary funding" lying about, and too many things to fix...

There's a link to SMS in my first post, but here it is again - www.rallylights.com. I've not had any trouble with getting things shipped out here, and they'll usually show up in a week, standard (they're in PA.)

Stock output bulbs will still note an improvement when installed in an improved housing, simply because more care goes into the construction of the lense and reflector bowl. I've still got the 50/65W bulbs (or whatever they were...) somewhere, the ones that came with the housings, as "emergency spares." However, SMS is usually cheap enough that I just order a few bulbs in bulk at intervals, and keep them on hand.

5-90

 

[crazy-apes]

Since bulbs consume the same power 55/60, I do NOT need to change the harness.

Andrey

Andrey,

I have an '01 Cherokee. I custom built a heavy duty harness for mine. Since my IPF housings and Narva bulbs were in the mail I went ahead and installed my harness while I waited. There was almost a 2 volt improvement at the headlight connector with my heavy duty harness. Needless to say the performance of the stock sealed beams improved with the harness, so in my opinion it is worth it. Think about the length of wire the factory headlight harness has. I have been running this set-up for two years now and love it.

I have done some business SMS (www.rallylights.com) and they are great. They also have parts to build harnesses too. If you go IPF give James at www.JeepersandCreepers.com a call. Tell him I sent you, very good guy.

This guy here has some great connectors as well. Ordered them for that last harness I built for a friend. http://www.comagination.com/parts.htm

Hope that helps,

Curtis

 

[algeroth79]

I love mine
I think that was my first mod
If I do anything else I might get the wiring kit and redo the grounds for the truck.

 

[Slonopotam]

I have an '01 Cherokee. I custom built a heavy duty harness for mine.

Hi Curtis,

I understand you did not use IPF harness, so you do not have any experience with it. Do you have a write up or a scheme, where you connected and what, what kind of wires were used ?

Thank you,
Andrey

 

[crazy-apes]

I don't have a write up of the install, but I do have a picture of the loom I made.

I used the right headlight female plug for my relay trigger wires, power comes from the junction block by the fuses under the hood, ground by the cruise control diaphragm. The harness runs up to the right headlight and is tied up with the factory fan and light harness behind the grille to the left side. One recommendation is to get the H4 plugs that shoot the wire off to the side like the IPF versus straight out the back. Clearance behind the light is kinda tight when using fat wire. The lights have 14 Guage wire running to them and are grounded to the radiator support with fresh holes and star washers.

THE IPF MOO2 Harness is a very good quality pre-made harness

The only one I think that might be better is Painless.

I am in the process of building another harness using a Hella relay mount

Some super flexible high heat wire

Female H4 connector for right headlight.

Heavy duty H4 connectors

 

[Slonopotam]

Thank you, I added it to my list to think about.

One really stupid question, how non-sealed headlights (IPF) like to be submerged into water ? Is there something that prevents water from coming in ?

Andrey

 

[crazy-apes]

Thank you, I added it to my list to think about.

One really stupid question, how non-sealed headlights (IPF) like to be submerged into water ? Is there something that prevents water from coming in ?

Andrey

They are not sealed. The IPF lights as well as other come with a snug fitting rubber boot that goes on the back of the housing and bulb, If ou tried hard enough it would leak.

Curtis