How many watts can the stock headlight wiring harness take?

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XJ98Jeep

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Atlanta

• Jul 18, 2007

• #1

I'm upgrading my headlight bulbs, and I'm wondering, how high can I go before I have to switch to heavier gauge wire?

 

5-90

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Hammerspace

• Jul 18, 2007

• #2

If you plan to uprate your bulbs, upgrade your wiring immediately. As I recall, there isn't much room there. (Assuming you have a 1998.)

What are you planning on running?

 

scoobyxj

NAXJA Forum User

NAXJA Member

Location

Coshocton, OH

• Jul 18, 2007

• #3

I agree I wouldn't run anything higher than stock on the OEM harness. To be honest I would even do the upgrade running the stock wattages.

 

X

XJ98Jeep

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Atlanta

• Jul 18, 2007

• #4

I'm contemplating doing 55 watts, or possssssssibly 80, but that's a fairly low chance, I don't want to kill anyone. DO they make upgraded wiring harness for '98s, or am i going to have to make it myself?

 

lancey3

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Columbus Ohio

• Jul 18, 2007

• #5

are you talking about something like this

http://www.quadratec.com/products/97009_120.htm

 

X

XJ98Jeep

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Atlanta

• Jul 18, 2007

• #6

I just picked up the bulbs, no external reflector. With my luck, it's a sealed bulb isn't it?

edit: Whoa, just checked the price, and I paid significantly less than that for the bulbs.

 

Last edited: Jul 18, 2007

old_man

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Loveland, Colorado

• Jul 18, 2007

• #7

Check with BigOffroad (JohnJohn). He was doing the headlight harnesses. He donated a couple to our ColoradoFest raffle last year.

Support the vendors that support .

 

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davidb0986

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Fort Collins, CO

• Jul 18, 2007

• #8

Stock is a 55W sealed beam enclosure. Many have upgraded to an H4 enclosure made by Hella, Cibie, etc. I personally am running the e-code Cibie's from danielsternlighting.com, and a prototype harness with 80W bulbs, and it is just about perfect.

After installing the harness and seeing the stock wiring, I would not run anything over 55W. If you want something that looks brighter but is still 55W, many (myself included) have run Sylvania Silverstars.