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MG TD TF 1500 - Headlamps etc

Hi all,

I haven't really been looking at the issue of headlamps until now. But my left low beam just blew so I guess I need to address the subject. I went and looked at the archives and found a lot of conflicting but useful information.
My current sealed beam unit is stamped 6012 (not 6014 which I assume is an acceptable replacement as I saw that part number on the thread archives).
Does anyone know if the 6012 is a lower-amperage bulb than replacements 6014 and 6024? I am concerned as there was a fair amount of talk on the threads about how the higher wattage bulbs and the halogens could put too much load on the system.

I'm not going with the very low load $300 each LED headlamps so my choice is either to put in a 6012 (available locally) or switch to a 6014 or 6024 or move up to a H4 type halogen replacement kit. I'm leaning right now to just replacing with another sealed beam unit, which would be my best choice, and will the 6014 or 6024 draw more current than the 6012?

Thanks in advance.

BTW I installed Dave Dubois' opto-electronic fuel pump and the MG has been running great ever since!
Geoff Baker

Geoff,

I long ago switched to the Sylvania Silver Star sealed beams and I find them the absolute best of any head light system I've ever seen in a T-Series. Put a pair in my daughter's midget too.

A pair of H6024ST lamps can be had for about $40. They will definitely draw a little more current, so I refrain from running on high beam, 'till I see the revs above 2500.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A Clark

Geof,
I installed HID headlights on our TD for about $100. They only draw 35 watts each and put out about triple the light compared to the best filament bulb.

The "slim" ballast installs in the headlight bucket; the conventional ballast won't fit. I elected to use the cheaper units without a high beam and just wired the high beam switch to the driving lights.

I've posted before on this. If you want more info, email...

jrnorthrupsr@Yahoo.com
Jim Northrup

I think for cost reasons I'll just go with a sealed beam for now (to get it inspected and stickered).
Jim, is your TD positive or neg ground? Just curious if this is an issue with HID units.
Geoff Baker

Negative ground for the LED lights, as well as the 2 cigar lighters for cellphones & GPS, and can't forget the O2 and knock sensors!

The HID has separate pos/neg wires so positive ground might be OK, but I'd have to check to see if the bulb or ballast ground to chassis before sticking my neck out.
Jim Northrup

I put in two 6024 bulbs today, nice and bright! I have some more electrical work to do on her so I don't know what the draw will be - too much, I suspect, but I just need to pass inspection, I don't plan on running them hardly at all. One day, I'll put in some LEDs... but not for a few years until the price drops dramatically!

Yeah, that whas what I guessed, Jim. I would caution anyone against trying to install HID systems on positive ground cars; these things, build up a huge voltage and any short to ground could do a remarkable amount of damage in a very small space of time!

HIDs are very nice and bright, low wattage (consuming only 35w a lamp) and put out four times the lumens; but on older systems I think HID they pose real problems.

The new generation of LEDs just coming out should be as bright or brighter than HIDs and use half the power, and with far simpler electronics pose less of a problem retrofitting or using with old wiring systems.

I'll keep waiting.
Geoff Baker

For what its worth, I pulled a TD headlamp apart and checked... the bulb is moounted in rubber and the ballast is plastic coated and neither the ballast/mounting lug nor bulb assembly are grounded to chassis. There's no continuity from either the positive or negative leads to ground, so it would be possible to install the HID lamps with positive ground.
Jim Northrup

This thread was discussed between 28/02/2011 and 02/03/2011

MG TD TF 1500 index

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