Volvo 850 lighting

[Random Guy]

It's a thing that happens to 850s, if I pulled on the other one it'd probably do the same thing. I seem to recall this happening to the 940 at least once as well.

 

[-Virgil-]

But there may yet be NOS at the Amazon link and at CandlePowerInc

It took me a minute to figure out why you were talking about remaining stock, until I realized my comment was ambiguous. It's the Philips back-to-back LED bulb that's discontinued. The 796 is still in production.

 

[-Virgil-]

Epoxy would probably be fine for reattaching that lens, or hot glue if you have a glue gun.

 

[Random Guy]

Expoxied it back on yesterday afternoon, it hasn't fallen back off yet

 

[Random Guy]

So, my bulbs arrived, the sun went down, so I decided to get the light meter out and get some relative numbers between a P21W, 2396, and 3497.

First, a reminder why just because a bulb lights up doesn't mean you shouldn't replace it:

And now, my Very Scientific (TM) test setup:

The light meter is close to the center axis on the lamp, and is about 15.5" behind it.

And the results:
Ambient light hitting the meter: 0.009 footcandles
Blackened P21W: 28 fc
New P21W: 41 fc (46% brighter than the darkened one! Seriously, check those bulbs!)
2396: 52 fc (Brass base, shorter life than 3497)
3497: 61 fc (49% brighter than P21W, like we'd expect, and 17% brighter than 2396)

 

[-Virgil-]

First pic ("reminder") doesn't load for me. Anyone else?

Would like to see results for a 796 bulb in there, too.

 

[Random Guy]

OK, I think I fixed it.

And all 3 of those bulbs are European made Osrams, so buying quality lamps does not mean that can't happen.

 

[-Virgil-]

Yup, it's fixed. Very graphic!

 

[Random Guy]

Are the factory fogs for these cars decent? Looking at pictures they look like projectors, and according to the manual they use an H3 bulb. I know fog lights are rarely useful (especially here, where we don't get fog), but the car is prewired and it's really tempting to add them. Just want to know if it'd be a complete waste of time, instead of mostly a waste of time .

 

[-Virgil-]

Complete waste of time.

 

[Random Guy]

That'll help me resist the temptation to find a set, then.

I ordered some 796s for the reverse lights, I'll get the lightmeter back out when they show up.

 

[Random Guy]

So it was mentioned earlier in this thread that the reflectors in the later S/V70 lights degrade badly. I was at the junkyard today and came across a S70 with a broken headlight lens, and boy is that true! Look at that thing, every square millimeter of it is completely gone.

Also, what's the purpose of those ridges at the bottom? Seems like that would scatter light around.

 

[Alaric Darconville]

Wow, that's done been ruint.

Also, what's the purpose of those ridges at the bottom? Seems like that would scatter light around.

Exactly, which is better than the specular glare of a perfectly smooth surface. It's also not in the functional area of the reflector anyway.

 

[-Virgil-]

Alaric's exactly right -- that ribbing in the floor of the reflector is to spread/diffuse stray light so it's less intense and less directional.

 

[Random Guy]

Alaric's exactly right -- that ribbing in the floor of the reflector is to spread/diffuse stray light so it's less intense and less directional.

I assume that the bulb shield on the low beam side blocks most light from reaching the ribbed section, then.

My 796s arrived, ordered from Amazon. Made in Korea, look to be of good quality.

Got the light meter out to see how they compared. Meter was roughly on the center axis of the lamp, about 29" behind it. Key on, engine off, transmission in reverse:
P21W: 16.6 footcandles
3497: 31.9 footcandles
796: 34.7 footcandles

They do seem pretty bright subjectively speaking. I expect the 796 suffered a bit in this test, with it's higher power draw and the fact it was last in line to be tested.