I installed new off road lights (Hella 500) in my 86 samurai. I tried them out a couple nights ago in the desert and within minutes my radio started cutting in an out, my headlights started flickering, my car was pretty much dying. These lights are draining my battery super quick. I need some advice on how to eliminate this issue. Should i get a bigger battery, bigger alternator, or ballast.

Thanks

OK, so I see the use of offroad lights has some drawbacks if used for extended periods of time.  What else is drawing a huge amount of energy?

I'm swapping out as much of my Samis lights to LED.  Already done the headlights, I have a set of LED PIAA driving lights going on too.  I was actually thinking of one more set of lights, but I'm not sure at this point.

If I swap out all of the turn signals, brake lights and marker lights to LED, that should help the amp draw too.  The only other things running are the electric fuel pump, computer/ignition and the blower fan.  I have no radio in mine at this time.

On the same subject of lights, does anyone know of LED lights for the instrument cluster?

Thanks,

Rob

The instrument panel lights (not the warning lights) are a 5W wedge base, white LEDs with a wedge base are available, but you need ones that will not just light what's in front of them - so look for ones with a concave tip.

Here is a good thread on what is needed to do the led light exchange.

Link

http://www.zukikrawlers.com/showthread.php?t=19178&highlight=LED+turn+signals

There's someone on ebay that sells the mini lights you need for the dash.  You'll also need some larger T194 bulbs to light the dials.  The number varies between clusters.  I think it's 10 small and 2 large on the non-tach and 9 small and 4 large with the tach.  I'm happy with the results of my changeover.  The indicators are bright but not obnoxious and the T194 bulbs I had in my parts pile give a better brightness range.  With the original bulbs, I cranked the brightness all the way up.  With the LEDs, I run it around 1/2-2/3 of maximum brightness.

You can also replace your running lights, license plate lights, and marker lights with LEDs but not the turn signals.  LEDs don't draw enough current for the turns signals and you'll get the "fast flash" with one LED per side and an alarm with two LEDs per side.  Just won't work.  If you get LEDs designed to overcome this, you're not saving any amps, though they should be very durable.  But the turn signals aren't a big deal since you're not really using them much off road.  One light I haven't looked at is the heater panel light.  Just haven't dug back there yet.

There are also LED headlights but the DOT-approved ones are very expensive.  They'll run you around $450-500/pair.  Truck-Lite 27270C if I remember right.  I haven't heard any complaints from people who have forked over the money (aside from having to fork over the money).

There's also the option of putting in a beefier alternator.  Of course, that's a larger load on the little engine.  Or you could replace the Hellas with LED lights.  Not a cheap option but it'd bring down the load considerably.

There's someone on ebay that sells the mini lights you need for the dash.  You'll also need some larger T194 bulbs to light the dials.  The number varies between clusters.  I think it's 10 small and 2 large on the non-tach and 9 small and 4 large with the tach.  I'm happy with the results of my changeover.  The indicators are bright but not obnoxious and the T194 bulbs I had in my parts pile give a better brightness range.  With the original bulbs, I cranked the brightness all the way up.  With the LEDs, I run it around 1/2-2/3 of maximum brightness.

You can also replace your running lights, license plate lights, and marker lights with LEDs but not the turn signals.  LEDs don't draw enough current for the turns signals and you'll get the "fast flash" with one LED per side and an alarm with two LEDs per side.  Just won't work.  If you get LEDs designed to overcome this, you're not saving any amps, though they should be very durable.  But the turn signals aren't a big deal since you're not really using them much off road.  One light I haven't looked at is the heater panel light.  Just haven't dug back there yet.

There are also LED headlights but the DOT-approved ones are very expensive.  They'll run you around $450-500/pair.  Truck-Lite 27270C if I remember right.  I haven't heard any complaints from people who have forked over the money (aside from having to fork over the money).

There's also the option of putting in a beefier alternator.  Of course, that's a larger load on the little engine.  Or you could replace the Hellas with LED lights.  Not a cheap option but it'd bring down the load considerably.

Thanks for the information on the pannel lights.  I found some on ebay but there were red, green, blue and other colors.  I just want white ones.

I forked over the money for LED headlights.  I have the Truck-lites new version.  I can say they are really bright and I'm happy with them.

Rob