The Ford Barn

Vanspeed · 09-23-2018, 07:19 PM

Hey guys, been a long while since I posted anything on here but I have a question. Is it normal for the lights to brighten up when accelerating and dim when coming to a stop? I don’t drive my car much at night but had to last night and I kept getting flashed by cars when coming to a stop. My lights would dim down then get brighter as I took off from a stop. Is this normal? I am running the 50 candle power bulbs on a stock generator. Could that be the issue?

Tom Wesenberg · 09-23-2018, 07:26 PM

Sounds normal to me.

eagle · 09-23-2018, 10:52 PM

Watch the ammeter. Should correlate with the brightness of the headlights. A weak battery or a poor connection can make it worse.

BILL WILLIAMSON · 09-24-2018, 05:35 AM

Sounds normal to me. Sometimes, even the HORN sounds FUNKY, at LOW speeds.
A 6 Volt, positive ground, single wire ALTERNATOR will FIX these problems!
Bill Bright

Kurt in NJ · 09-24-2018, 08:16 AM

I had dimming at idle when I used 50cp regular bulbs, I would crank the generator to 18 amps to make them bright going down the road ---then I tried direct fit halogens, the first thing I noticed is the "dimming" at idle was gone, and that I could cut the charge rate back and still have bright lights

Vanspeed · 09-24-2018, 09:57 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Kurt, where did you get the halogens from?

dumb person · 09-24-2018, 04:21 PM

Halogens suck, get LED. Then you can set your charge rate at like ....2 amps? No boiled batteries that way.

Kurt in NJ · 09-24-2018, 08:34 PM

I doubt I am boiling my battery's--- or they like it, last battery I got 4 more years out of 11 year old 12v battery I cut in 1/2

The led ones don't focus properly in original reflectors

I got my bulbs one rainey Hershey, Anthony of classic and vintage bulbs-- Australia, I usually stop and talk with him every year

Tom Wesenberg · 09-24-2018, 09:41 PM

I bought mine at the same place in Hershey as Kurt. Still have them new in the box, and I'd sell them, as I'm satisfied with my original 21/3 bulbs.

eagle · 09-24-2018, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

I bought mine at the same place in Hershey as Kurt. Still have them new in the box, and I'd sell them, as I'm satisfied with my original 21/3 bulbs.

I also am happy with my original style headlights and bulbs. I have been told so many times that they are absolutely no good, but I can see just fine at night. Whats the deal? Maybe some have lost the shine on the reflectors or why do people think they need an upgrade? Work just fine for me.

Mike V. Florida · 09-24-2018, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eagle

I also am happy with my original style headlights and bulbs. I have been told so many times that they are absolutely no good, but I can see just fine at night. Whats the deal? Maybe some have lost the shine on the reflectors or why do people think they need an upgrade? Work just fine for me.

And the chrome aftermarket reflectors are shaped wrong so the beam cannot be focused properly

Badpuppy · 09-26-2018, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanspeed

Hey guys, been a long while since I posted anything on here but I have a question. Is it normal for the lights to brighten up when accelerating and dim when coming to a stop? I don’t drive my car much at night but had to last night and I kept getting flashed by cars when coming to a stop. My lights would dim down then get brighter as I took off from a stop. Is this normal? I am running the 50 candle power bulbs on a stock generator. Could that be the issue?

It's normal for lights to dim when stopped because the cutout opens and throws the entire load to the battery, including the addition of the brake lamps. Since your generator was adjusted for daylight driving, the battery had to provide nearly the entire lighting load for the whole trip. So yes, the 50 CP bulbs were an issue, causing the battery to discharge almost twice as fast. Glad you made it home. And don't leave your battery discharged for long.

Kurt in NJ · 09-26-2018, 12:24 PM

The first thing I noticed with the halogen bulbs is that there was no visible dimming when the generator went off charge at idle, when I was using the 50cp bulbs it was almost like they went out

If you have a good battery and it's fully charged when you turn on the lights you could drive most of the night with the 50 cp bulbs--- even at a discharge

09-23-2018, 07:19 PM	#1
Vanspeed Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Suttons Bay, Mich. Posts: 3,384	Headlights dim when de-accelerating Hey guys, been a long while since I posted anything on here but I have a question. Is it normal for the lights to brighten up when accelerating and dim when coming to a stop? I don’t drive my car much at night but had to last night and I kept getting flashed by cars when coming to a stop. My lights would dim down then get brighter as I took off from a stop. Is this normal? I am running the 50 candle power bulbs on a stock generator. Could that be the issue? __________________ *Respecting and Resurrecting Ford Model A's.*

09-23-2018, 07:26 PM	#2
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Headlights dim when de-accelerating Sounds normal to me.

09-23-2018, 10:52 PM	#3
eagle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eagle Bend, MN Posts: 2,025	Re: Headlights dim when de-accelerating Watch the ammeter. Should correlate with the brightness of the headlights. A weak battery or a poor connection can make it worse. __________________ "There are some that can destroy an anvil with a teaspoon and shouldn't be allowed to touch anything resembling a tool."

09-24-2018, 05:35 AM	#4
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Headlights dim when de-accelerating Sounds normal to me. Sometimes, even the HORN sounds FUNKY, at LOW speeds. A 6 Volt, positive ground, single wire ALTERNATOR will FIX these problems! Bill Bright __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

09-24-2018, 08:16 AM	#5
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,156	Re: Headlights dim when de-accelerating I had dimming at idle when I used 50cp regular bulbs, I would crank the generator to 18 amps to make them bright going down the road ---then I tried direct fit halogens, the first thing I noticed is the "dimming" at idle was gone, and that I could cut the charge rate back and still have bright lights

09-24-2018, 09:57 AM	#6
Vanspeed Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Suttons Bay, Mich. Posts: 3,384	Re: Headlights dim when de-accelerating Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Kurt, where did you get the halogens from? __________________ *Respecting and Resurrecting Ford Model A's.*

09-24-2018, 04:21 PM	#7
dumb person Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: South pacific island Posts: 1,724	Re: Headlights dim when de-accelerating Halogens suck, get LED. Then you can set your charge rate at like ....2 amps? No boiled batteries that way. __________________ <Link> This is how we roll<Link> "I'm Convinced that no one really reads posts anymore; they just fabricate what they think the post says then ramble on about red herrings."--Bob Outcasts rules of old cars #1 Fun is imperative, mainstream is overrated #2 If they think it is impossible, prove them wrong #3 If the science says it impossible you are not being creative enough. #4 No shame in recreating something you never had #5 If it were not for the law & physics you would be unstoppable

09-24-2018, 08:34 PM	#8
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,156	Re: Headlights dim when de-accelerating I doubt I am boiling my battery's--- or they like it, last battery I got 4 more years out of 11 year old 12v battery I cut in 1/2 The led ones don't focus properly in original reflectors I got my bulbs one rainey Hershey, Anthony of classic and vintage bulbs-- Australia, I usually stop and talk with him every year

09-24-2018, 09:41 PM	#9
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Headlights dim when de-accelerating I bought mine at the same place in Hershey as Kurt. Still have them new in the box, and I'd sell them, as I'm satisfied with my original 21/3 bulbs.

09-26-2018, 12:24 PM	#13
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,156	Re: Headlights dim when de-accelerating The first thing I noticed with the halogen bulbs is that there was no visible dimming when the generator went off charge at idle, when I was using the 50cp bulbs it was almost like they went out If you have a good battery and it's fully charged when you turn on the lights you could drive most of the night with the 50 cp bulbs--- even at a discharge

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