Ideas for extra lighting solution - endurance racing

[banana]

We have a few Caterham's running in this years Race of Remembrance in November at Anglesey. Part of this years race will be a session in the dark, and we are looking at options to run with some 'cost effective' additional lighting solutions.

3 areas for attention

1. existing headlight bulb upgrade - any suggestions or recommendations?
2. some form of LED array similar to these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201233388104 - maybe mounted where number plate usually sits.
3. Enhancing rear lighting - probably use of LED strips down the roll cage diagonals.

Just wondered if anyone had tackled a similar task and had any learnings or experience they would wish to share? We have cars running relay for approx 1 hour each so the solution has to be realistic in terms of cost.

Thanks

[Canuck7]

The Osram Nightbreaker unlimited or similar H4 bulbs seem to do well for the price. That's the cheapest mini upgrade.

You could even source some high wattage bulbs for the event...
If you have tiny alternators, then running offroad high wattage bulbs may not work, or multiple incandescent bulbs.

The best bet for most bang for watts is LED, but I would be leery of the performance of a cheap ebay "cree" system. Mind you, if it only has to run for an hour, it's better than nothing. The LED bars that go for 3 times the cost out of american offroad manufacturers, are pretty impressive. I think Rigid industries might be one maker.

There are some cree based H4 led replacement bulbs for about $130 - they may not fit in the headlight bowls. They have fans in the back of the unit to keep the LEDs cool.

After LED technology, the best light for the wattage is HID... you might find little HID units to clamp to the radiator mounts or roll bar.

Lots of red LED strip lights that are adhesive backed, for the roll bars.

I did an aftermarket HID upgrade to my main 7" headlights, which is quite a change, but I hear that isn't allowed in England.

[KN02LEY]

I fitted Philips X-treme Vision +130% H4 bulbs and Crystal Halogen 5 3/4" headlights kit. I think that's as far as you can go with the standard lighting set up.

[Toaster]

The 2002 R400 at Nuremberg had additional lighting for endurance racing http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=252...

[e21jason]

We find that fitting apex light is more important than headlights if you racing at night

[fergus]

Toaster said:

The 2002 R400 at Nuremberg had additional lighting for endurance racing http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=252...

they did endurance racing at the site of the war trials?

[nigelpugh7]

Vincent Beltoise, had HID lamps mounted on the top of his roll cage that seemed to work well.

http://youtu.be/XILdYQ21iNc

You can see the HID amp unit mounted on the windscreen upright of the roll cage.

LEd light bars are great, but hideously expensive if you want long range brightness.

I personally would go with this option of HID units, there are plenty of suppliers too, such as Cibie and PIAA.

[Toaster]

fergus said:

they did endurance racing at the site of the war trials?

It would seem so

[Steve-B]

The Phillips Clear Blue H4's are what a lot of us fitted in the early 2000's and they're still one of the best bulbs out there.

I have also rectangular driving lights in our grille/nosecone which fill in very nicely at night in high speed driving w/o ruining the look of the car.

[ben5575]

+1 for HIDS. I run them on the tin tops and campervan and they are great for around £20/30. Never had a problem getting through an MOT and let's be honest if you've found a garage that'll pass your Caterham, then I'm sure the HIDS won't be a problem either

Go for 4300k and 35W if for road, 55W for what you're after but they will seriously ps off other road users if you're back on the road afterwards...

[k20erham]

I put the PIAA HID kit in mine, very very good but very expensive compared with a say 140/90 H4 bulb, If I remember the kit was about £500.00 but the big plus is the system does not consume the amps like big wattage bulbs do (I run a tiny Brize alternator) so a lot kinder on the electrical system and there is quite a fair amount of wiring to lose when you fit as they don't recommend shortening the wiring,

[CR500Dom]

Id be tempted to swap the lights for something like a set of Super Oscars or PIAA equivalents

Its not like you are going to be worried about dazzling other drivers.

If you want more lighting power / less current drain then a Xenon upgrade will give more light for less watts and can be fitted to the Cibie / PIAA lights too

[banana]

Sorry I've not been back earlier to respond. Thanks for all the recommendations and advice.

As with most things motorsport its a balance of cost verse performance. We only need a solution for an hour, but run the risk of a cheaper system not being up to the job and us finding the tyre barriers or worst case another competitor.

We'll do a test rig with some 'budget' systems and report back with our findings.If they are no good its going to have to be £400+ I guess installed.

One question though, in respect of mounting the lights on top of the roll cage. If its raining, which for on Anglesey in November is a chance - is there the risk of the beam reflecting back off the rain and affecting vision?

Thanks

[CR500Dom]

Relay the headlamp loom (Both dipped and main beam) to make sure the bulbs are seeing full voltage, Fit 180/100 H4 bulbs, that will be your quickest, cheapest solution.
And easy to revert back to road use after, with better performance than standard lighting due to the relays, even on standard 60/55w bulbs.

If you still find you need more, then a single one of these:

http://www.lazerlamps.com/home/triple-r/triple-r-1...

mounted to the Rollbar would be ample I suspect (especially once you angle the headlamps slightly wider to give you a better cornering spread)

I am seriously considering one to mount in the grill opening on mine

Edited by CR500Dom on Wednesday 16th September 11:27

Edited by CR500Dom on Wednesday 16th September 11:28