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MG MGA - Halogen Tripod Headlights

I have a stock original 1500. It still has the original generator, but has been cghanged over to 1 12v battery / negative ground.

I am considering buying a set of Halogen Tripod headlights. Will this prove any problem for the original wiring? Will the generator be a problem?

DT
Danny T

I would recomend installing relays so the headlight switch doesn't have to carry all the load. I have even installed relays on cars with standard sealed beams, just to reduce the lost voltage from old wires and old connectors.
Ed Bell

To answer your question directly there will be no problem with existing wiring, switchgear or generator provided that the new bulbs are approx the same wattage as the originals i.e 60w. It would be better however to upgrade the wiring and fit relays at some future point to take the load off the old wiring and switches and to lift the voltage at the lights.
Iain MacKintosh

Danny,
Unless you want the tripod lamps for their visual appeal I suggest using the Sylvania Silverstar headlamps. Superior light output at roughly the same current and cheaper as well. Work just fine with my stock 1500 generator and wiring.

Cheers,
GTF
G T Foster

If you really want Tripod lamps you should find some originals and restore them. The two current reproduction parts are bad and much worse. http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/faulty/ft013.htm
Barney Gaylord

GT and Barney are right. I put them on the ZBV and they are pretty much useless for night driving. I could do better with 2 flashlights duct taped to the fenders. I could live with the chrome going bad in a couple of months (which it did, just sitting in the garage) if the lights at least worked properly and illuminated the road, which they do not do. When I installed them I thought I'd really hosed up the alignment and had them pointing straight up or something. Not the case, they were aligned correctly, they're just a CCJ POS.

But, they do look cool and the self-pitting chrome now fits in with the rest of the car's aged trim.

The car had the original Lucas, old bulb type, non-tripod, lights in it which worked quite well. When I start driving at night again I'll put them back in.
Wray

Wray -

Your post brought back memories. I once had to drive home holding a flashlight over my head when a wire came loose at the local watering hole. Luckily Officer Friendly didn't show up to make me a Better Citizen.

I'm very leery of sealed beam halogen headlights. In my experience, halogen sealed beams are just brighter variants of the crummy tungsten sealed beams we in the US had to endure in the 1950s and 1960s. I'd go with an H4 lamp headlight like the Wipac units. I've also heard that the new tripod lights have little better than Coke bottle bottoms for lenses.
David Breneman

Hi GT,

"Yes", I am wanting them ONLY for the visual effect. While my "A" is a driver quality car, she doesn't get out a lot at night any more, and when we do go out at night it is always short local hops.

I really don't care all that much about the lighting quality, I just didn't want to burn up my wiring, switches, or the generator. It will be purely for the looks.

DT
Danny T

This thread was discussed between 28/12/2005 and 29/12/2005

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