Catz Zetas... - Subaru Enthusiasts Car Club of the Sierras

JC · 2004-03-24, 06:26 PM

Can someone explain how these damn things work? I don't get it.

http://www.fet-usa.com/products/zeta.html

JC

tysonK · 2004-03-24, 07:02 PM

it looks like they are really! bright ass! h4's.

JC · 2004-03-24, 07:07 PM

Ya they are pretty cool. Not as bright as HIDs, but much cheaper and hopefully still legalish.

Dean · 2004-03-24, 07:44 PM

My guess based on what they are describing as balasts is that either they are doing a DC to DC conversion, or a DC to AC conversion.

Also since they plug in place of the fuses, I would bet they are drawing more amps than the plug is rated for. The installation manual on the top ones even says you may need to upgrade your fuses... Bad idea...

You can't get Lumens without spending Watts in an incandescent light. You can change filament material or inert gas that may make more light per watt, but not substantially, and often not in the color range you want, and with shorter bulb life.

The other issue is that unless the reflector and lens are a good design, more watts don't help much.

If you want more watts for cheap and willing to risk a ticket, wire up some relays and slap in some higher wattage bulbs.

JC · 2004-03-24, 08:35 PM

Oh they are already on the car.

Dean · 2004-03-24, 08:46 PM

Sorry, didn't mean to rain on your new toys man...

If you want, put a VOM on the output of those ballasts and see if it is AC, or DC, and what voltage.

And if your VOM has a high enough amperage rating, see how much they are drawing.

With that info we may be able to tell you how they are working. You never know, they may know something I don't... Wouldn't be the first time...

JC · 2004-03-24, 09:15 PM

Bah, I'll just let you guys poke around when I get back. They do work though.

tysonK · 2004-03-24, 09:38 PM

sweet, screw everything and buy them. then work out the details.

yes.

2004-03-24, 06:26 PM	#1
JC Ask me about dubs! Real Name: JC Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 2,895 Car: 2013 Triumph Speed Triple R	Catz Zetas... Can someone explain how these damn things work? I don't get it. http://www.fet-usa.com/products/zeta.html JC __________________ Actually, I am a rocket scientist.

2004-03-24, 07:02 PM	#2
tysonK warehouse SECCS Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: SoCal... Posts: 6,253 Car: 04 Evo 99 Cadillac Class: street de le mod	it looks like they are really! bright ass! h4's. __________________ Anjali? Anjali?

2004-03-24, 07:07 PM	#3
JC Ask me about dubs! Real Name: JC Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 2,895 Car: 2013 Triumph Speed Triple R	Ya they are pretty cool. Not as bright as HIDs, but much cheaper and hopefully still legalish. __________________ Actually, I am a rocket scientist.

2004-03-24, 07:44 PM	#4
Dean Señor Cheap Bastarde Real Name: Dean Join Date: May 2003 Location: $99 Tire Store Posts: 9,294 Car: $.04 STI Class: Fast,Cheap & Reliable=STI Deal, did somebody say Deal? Oh, Dean, yeah that's me.	My guess based on what they are describing as balasts is that either they are doing a DC to DC conversion, or a DC to AC conversion. Also since they plug in place of the fuses, I would bet they are drawing more amps than the plug is rated for. The installation manual on the top ones even says you may need to upgrade your fuses... Bad idea... You can't get Lumens without spending Watts in an incandescent light. You can change filament material or inert gas that may make more light per watt, but not substantially, and often not in the color range you want, and with shorter bulb life. The other issue is that unless the reflector and lens are a good design, more watts don't help much. If you want more watts for cheap and willing to risk a ticket, wire up some relays and slap in some higher wattage bulbs. __________________ I am a Commodore PET --- Now get off my lawn you kids...

2004-03-24, 08:35 PM	#5
JC Ask me about dubs! Real Name: JC Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 2,895 Car: 2013 Triumph Speed Triple R	Oh they are already on the car. __________________ Actually, I am a rocket scientist.

2004-03-24, 08:46 PM	#6
Dean Señor Cheap Bastarde Real Name: Dean Join Date: May 2003 Location: $99 Tire Store Posts: 9,294 Car: $.04 STI Class: Fast,Cheap & Reliable=STI Deal, did somebody say Deal? Oh, Dean, yeah that's me.	Sorry, didn't mean to rain on your new toys man... If you want, put a VOM on the output of those ballasts and see if it is AC, or DC, and what voltage. And if your VOM has a high enough amperage rating, see how much they are drawing. With that info we may be able to tell you how they are working. You never know, they may know something I don't... Wouldn't be the first time... __________________ I am a Commodore PET --- Now get off my lawn you kids...

2004-03-24, 09:15 PM	#7
JC Ask me about dubs! Real Name: JC Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 2,895 Car: 2013 Triumph Speed Triple R	Bah, I'll just let you guys poke around when I get back. They do work though. __________________ Actually, I am a rocket scientist.

2004-03-24, 09:38 PM	#8
tysonK warehouse SECCS Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: SoCal... Posts: 6,253 Car: 04 Evo 99 Cadillac Class: street de le mod	sweet, screw everything and buy them. then work out the details. yes. __________________ Anjali? Anjali?