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Spiffy1
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| Posted: Aug 30 2010 at 3:31pm | IP Logged
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Hello,
I was wondering if someone can answer a couple of questions for me regarding an 02 Frontier XE V6 4x4.
How many amps is the stock alternator?
I currently am running:
2 - 100watt Hella lamps
2 - 85watt Stock Fog Lamps
2 - 55watt/65watt Stock Headlamps.
Everything is wired with 12-10 gauge wiring.
When I turn the high beams on it would be 130watts(65+65) + 170watts(85+85) + 200watts(100+100) = 500watts.
500watts/13.5v = 37.07amps.
(13.5v is constant on voltage meter with everything on)
If my math is right which it should be, and everything thing else on the truck is stock, how many more amps can I safely push with the stock alternator before I need to upgrade? I would need to know the stock alternator amperage.
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frontierguy
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| Posted: Aug 30 2010 at 8:19pm | IP Logged
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80 Amps. I was never good in math, but it sounds like you are pushing your luck. May want to upgrade to a higher output alt. Why are the fog lites on w/ the hi beams??? It's illegal in most states.
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'10 Altima SL
Traded 08 Frontier for 16 Frontier SV CC Long box, quite an upgrade. I do miss the 6 speed and Dynomax ex.
Nissan Technician 25 + years
2011 John Deere X720SE
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Spiffy1
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| Posted: Sep 07 2010 at 8:12pm | IP Logged
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Illegal? I'd love to see some proof of that and a logical explanation as to why seeing the road is illegal. I'm not trying to attack or insult you so don't take offense, but read what you wrote," Why are the fog lites on w/ the hi beams??? It's illegal in most states." But it is ok for the fog lights to be on with low beams? That just seems strange. Usually you put your high beams on when there is no oncoming traffic to see better. What difference would it make if the fog lights remained on as well? These are the stock fog lights we're talking about, the one's actually in the bumper.
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Jimmy54
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| Posted: Sep 08 2010 at 7:41am | IP Logged
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Frontierguy is right, fog lights can not be on with the hi beams, it will fail
state inspection, and get you a ticket!
Fog lights are lower to help see in the fog and thats why they are on with low
beams. Hi beams are useless in foggy conditions.
However if the Frontiers had decent lighting we wouldn't be talking about
this at all!!!!
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davidjbrady
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| Posted: Sep 08 2010 at 10:21pm | IP Logged
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I do know for a fact in California it is illegal to have fog lights on the same time as high beams. If you look at any stock fog lights on a car, they automatically go off when the high beams are turned on, this is the case with my 03 minivan as well as my old 94 pathfinder. It's even in the California DMV manual where it states no more then 4 forward facing lights (aka beams), other than side marker or parking lights are allowed.
I live in an area with dense winter fog and the more lights I have om the worse the view is.
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Spiffy1
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| Posted: Sep 09 2010 at 8:41am | IP Logged
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Ok, case closed, it is illegal, just not in my state.
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Vintage Racer
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| Posted: Sep 10 2010 at 12:01am | IP Logged
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Install a volt meter. When the voltage drops below 13.6v when you light up your side of the planet, then you know the alternator isn't keeping up.
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Spiffy1
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| Posted: Oct 04 2010 at 4:38pm | IP Logged
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Well, for the record I don't have factory fog lamps whereas they are controlled from a switch on the steering column like the low/high beams. I bought OEM fog lights and placed them in the front bumper and it came with a dash mount push button switch. For the record, I have watched my truck get state inspected several times and it passed with absolutely no problems. The 100watt Hella's are triggered by the High Beam 12v signal, thus they turn on with the high beams. Again I watched, and it didn't have any problems whatsoever. And thank you so much to the last poster who actually answered the question (vintage racer). That's all I was looking for. Whilst I illuminate my side of the planet and look at my voltage meter it stays steady at 13.6v with my monstrosity of lighting, therefore I am at max capacity. And why do I want so much lighting? Sorry to stir up a topic of hate debate but I feel I must play the blinding game. People think it's cool to drive around with HID PnP Kits that absolutely spray light everywhere and blind all oncoming traffic and the traffic ahead of them. Well your HID's are technically brighter, they are unfocused. Guess what happens when I trigger my high beams? My high beams come on and 2: 100watt Hella driving lights strike you right in your fat face. How does it feel to see stars on a cloudy day? Don't buy PnP HID Kits! They are junk. With a Dual Filament halogen bulb you will lose your high beam, have a crappy beam pattern, get flashed all the time (unless it's me, in which case you will get blinded.) blue is not cool nor is purple or any other stupid color arc discharge bulbs can produce. No it is especially not cool in YOUR MOTORCYCLE, what is with people? How did anyone ever see before the invention of halogen bulbs? Hey, I realize the 9007 is a terrible design but there are remedies to add light without getting an ANNOYING PnP HID Kit.
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Spiffy1
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| Posted: Oct 04 2010 at 4:49pm | IP Logged
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And one more topic of debate. Everyone has said that High beams don't help in foggy situations which I completely understand and realize. Let's generate an example here of my argument: It is night time and you have your low beams and factory fog lights on. There is absolutely no fog and it is a clear day. Bare with me now, it gets tricky!!! Other than seeing the sides of the road and directly in front of your vehicle which fog lights do, what would be the point of having them turn off when the high beams engage? Also in newer vehicles, the low beam stays on with the high beam. Wow, sounds like that should be illegal too. These two examples are pretty similar to each other in terms of what should or should not stay on. I completely agree that when it is foggy that low beams coupled with OEM fog lights are superior to high beams. But what if....it wasn't foggy? I'm to understand that it is illegal to see the road and the sides better? Very intriguing. Almost makes me want to get into politics so I can change a lot of these illogical and asinine laws and regulations they have for certain issues.
PS: As a side note, we've already established that high beams are worse in foggy situations.
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Vintage Racer
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| Posted: Oct 04 2010 at 6:46pm | IP Logged
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Spiffy1 wrote:
And why do I want so much lighting? Sorry to stir up a topic of hate debate but I feel I must play the blinding game.
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What gives you the right to endanger me, my children, my family, other innocent motorists who happen to get blinded when you and another self-centered, immature idiot get caught up in one of your mega-wattage pissing contests?
Hmm?
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Nissan Frontier Forums : General
Topic: Need more lights!
