16-03-2016, 08:18 PM
Hi.
Most failures are on upgraded bulbs. Osram Nightbreakers are the worst, Philips Extreme don't come out well either.
Charging these days is controlled by the BCU and the aim is rightly for 13.8-14.4v. At the bulbs filament its likely to be 12.5-13v due to losses in the system.
Car bulbs used to be rated at 12v nominal +10% so 13.2v is within the normal rating, so the bulb should be fine in the vast majority of vehicles due to normal losses in wiring, relay contacts, fuses etc, canbus systems too have a small voltage drop.
Personally I'd blame poor quality bulbs than the vehicle.
Any alternator spikes which is unlikely will be damped by that great big capacitor called the battery
Most failures are on upgraded bulbs. Osram Nightbreakers are the worst, Philips Extreme don't come out well either.
Charging these days is controlled by the BCU and the aim is rightly for 13.8-14.4v. At the bulbs filament its likely to be 12.5-13v due to losses in the system.
Car bulbs used to be rated at 12v nominal +10% so 13.2v is within the normal rating, so the bulb should be fine in the vast majority of vehicles due to normal losses in wiring, relay contacts, fuses etc, canbus systems too have a small voltage drop.
Personally I'd blame poor quality bulbs than the vehicle.
Any alternator spikes which is unlikely will be damped by that great big capacitor called the battery
