HID Auxiliary Lighting Configuration

[SockMonkey]

I'm considering replacing my PIAA 1100X auxiliary driving lights with micro HIDs. A pair of the Trail Tech HID SCMR16 (model 4212) is the lamp I'm considering as it's a virtual bolt-on/plug-in replacement for the 1100X, albeit at half the wattage (and half the price of the PIAA-labeled Cross Country). Photos of my current auxiliary lighting configuration are below (BTW: brackets have since been shortened pulling lights closer to centerline):

The Trail Tech HID lamps are rated at 30 watts, 5600k color temperature (~noon/daylight) and 1,850 lumens. Certainly a respectable output and a substantial improvement over the 1100X. My question however is whether to use a pair of spots with a 12 degree beam angle each, a pair of floods with a beam angle of 36 degrees each (comparable beam angle to the 1100X), or 1 spot (left side/centerline) and 1 flood (right side/roadside). Intuitively, I see advantages to a combination of beam angles, but am interested gaining insight from those that are using HIDS and, ideally, have thought through the spot vs. flood configuration (or combination of the two) themselves.

Thanks!

 

[Patriot]

I advise going with the spots...in my experience, the floods do not put any substantial light out in front of the bike.

I found the spots show much more light to the front and I could aim them to put the light where I wanted.

On my cruiser and old Goldwing, I had light bars with THESE OPTRONICS BULLET LIGHTS from JC Whitney or Wal Mart.

My bikes' electrical systems could not handle the 55 watt bulbs x 2, so I changed them out to 20 watt bulbs purchased from Lowes or Home Depot. Bought both the spots and the floods and stuck with the spots ever since.

hope this helps,

Mike in Nawlins'

 

[Allnight]

Before I got the Clearwater Lights, I was looking for a dual-light setup, similar to what you have, and had decided I would do a spot on the left side and flood on the right.

Nice to see someone thinking the same way!

However, I decided on the Clearwater Glenda's instead...love the low power consumption and also realized that since I don't do very much LD riding, hi-vis is more important. I like having the caliper-mounted white LED lights, to have a not so common color and in an "odd" location. I was tempted by the Erica's, but they weren't ready when I was. If I ever decide to add actual running lights for night-time LD, they are probably what I would pick.

Mike

 

[ahchiu]

I would go with spot on top and relocate the 1100x to fork mount location, I have the 1100 on my forks and plan on putting spots on the

upper location, I use the 1100 all the time for visibility for cagers, it's also nice to have them on the forks at night so when I turn the bars at slow speeds I can see where I'm goinig.

 

[SkooterG]

Are you sure you really want those puny little things?

What are you trying to accomplish with your aux lights? Those don't look like they will put out much useable light.

 

[ahchiu]

Are you sure you really want those puny little things?
What are you trying to accomplish with your aux lights? Those don't look like they will put out much useable light.

Don't judge a book by it's cover, HID may be small but it can put out more light than a halogen lamp 2,3 4x the size. led are small and are more intense light than a regular bulb, the light Sockmonkey is looking at is close to the PIAA Cross Conntry HID that retails for $500.00+