Well, they are for off road use, I wouldn't use driving lights in traffic, DOT approved or not, I don't even have my brights on.
I understand what you mean about too much proximal brightness making it difficult to see distant objects, as it would stop my eyes down, etc. That makes sense.
I'm not sure what you mean about relays for stock lights, you mean cut into the harness to the stock headlights? That might be beyond my meager electrical skills.
It sounds like you feel the stock headlights are dimmer than they can be due to the losses in current, and that a more robust electrical system would make them brighter? Or is that only if I also upgrade the bulb wattages, to compensate?
We use the trucks off road for work, and the trails are very dark, and...deer, etc, are a constant issue. One of my buddies just "upgraded" my headlights to HID bulbs when the OEM headlights were bashed in, but, they are horrible - Bright as all get out 55w units, but, the oem reflectors and the HID capsules don't have the same depth relationship as the OEM halogen bulbs, so the beam is not focused properly. I'm going back to OEM headlights this week. They were great off road, but, even on low beam, ridiculous ON the road...I taped a silver duct tape band across the bottom of the lamps to make a cut-off (Beam's upside down, so the bottom of the lamp cuts off the top of the beam.)
The truck is off the road for other repair work, so at least the stupid HID stuff can come out before someone gets blinded (The tape worked really well as a cut off, the pattern was pretty sharp, but, really, a taped light is ridiculous). - AND I'm sure NOT DOT approved.
So, this off road light will be to replace the function the HID's were SUPPOSED to address. It will be covered on the road of course.
I plan on some beam shots. I'm hoping it does provide close up light, as the stock 9007 system is anemic...and throw for 100 yards (well lit) will be enough. Its supposed to have enough spill to cover the sides.
I might use a Lux meter, albeit my experience with it thus far has been checking office and crawlspace service area lighting, etc....not outdoors. Any tips?