keep cracking headlights

So as the title says,

I keep cracking headlights. 4 of them in the last two years.

First two I thought I had hit on a branch during separate greenlaning trips. But then, during the playtime last weekend playing in some deep mud and water I have cracked two more.

First two were std Wipac quadroptic units fitted with Osram nightbreaker + bulbs. Second pair were cheapie glass crystal units also fitted with the Osrams, they have cracked directly across the ctr line and then from the top vertically down to the ctr line crack.

So, has anyone else come across this? I am starting to suspect the glass front is getting too hot and cracking when submerged in the nice chilly water.


Cheers

Happened to me a couple times too, hence the light guards. Best bet would be turning your lights off before hitting water silly

What are the nightbreakers light?

bankz5152 said:

Happened to me a couple times too, hence the light guards. Best bet would be turning your lights off before hitting water silly

What are the nightbreakers light?

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I like the night breakers. Not sure having the light guards will help as they will not stop the cold water hitting the glass....LOL, unless yours are a bit fancier?

Cheers

Yeah? Been considering them but £15 for bulbs, hmmmm! lol

Nah just LRS ones (equipe copies), I only have my sidelights on when off roading or lights crack.

Yeah I know, but I am getting old and forget.

I prefer to have the lights on when tootling around on things like pay and play or other "fun" events, stops some peeps trying to crash into you.

If you are cracking em using std bulbs then I cannot blame the nightbreakers. Will try and remember to switch them off. But the good news is you can get 2nd hand "new" wipacs for about £20 a pair.

Only had this pair of cheapies on for one outing....LOL.

Cheers

Almost certainly caused by the hot glass meeting cold water.
Question is are the lights necessary in daylight which is what your pictures appear to show? I would leave them off and I expect you will have no more problems (apart from impact damage if you have no guards fitted).
Alternatively upgrade to decent LED's, fully sealed (check manufacturers specifications), non-glass lense and cool to the touch (so much so that they can get covered in snow in the winter!).
Back in the day when I did that sort of thing I found that normal headlights were no use at night anyway as they were all too often covered in mud. I used sidelights only and illuminated my way using my roof-mounted lights.


Nice posed shot of my S111 SWB V8, taken in the late 1980's.
As you can see the headlights would be no use whatsoever when night falls (we did a lot of night work) and I relied on the rollcage mounted lights.

Litch said:

Question is are the lights necessary in daylight which is what your pictures appear to show?

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see post #5

Cheers

Either don't use them and run the roof-lights instead, remember to turn them off (everytime you hit deep water?) or fit a pair of LED lights at a similar level.
I know wading will eventually dull and ruin reflectors anyway but I have always managed to get over 5-years out of a set of conventional headlights, often many more.

Litch said:

Either don't use them and run the roof-lights instead, remember to turn them off (everytime you hit deep water?) or fit a pair of LED lights at a similar level.
I know wading will eventually dull and ruin reflectors anyway but I have always managed to get over 5-years out of a set of conventional headlights, often many more.

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Think I will just replace them when I break them with like for like. Hate LEDS, driving around with roof lights on is a bit dickish when others are driving around, and I cannot be bothered to remember to turn them off.....LOL.

Just asking if others had found the same thing?

Cheers

lol we have similar thought patterns! LED headlights look horrid on fenders imo.

Just got to remember to turn em off, I usually turn the main lights off when I arrive. Out of interest what P&Ps do you go to? I'm often in Oxford could be good to meet up!

bankz5152 said:

Yeah? Been considering them but £15 for bulbs, hmmmm! lol

Nah just LRS ones (equipe copies), I only have my sidelights on when off roading or lights crack.

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I would say they are worth it and are not overpriced compared to some lamps. I bought 2 pairs of Nightbreakers about 7/8 years ago. I am still on the first pair, they were well worth it and due to being a branded lamp they are constructed properly with good filaments which last well.

discomania said:

I would say they are worth it and are not overpriced compared to some lamps. I bought 2 pairs of Nightbreakers about 7/8 years ago. I am still on the first pair, they were well worth it and due to being a branded lamp they are constructed properly with good filaments which last well.

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Ahhhh ok cool! I read they apparently only had a 6month life...

bankz5152 said:

Ahhhh ok cool! I read they apparently only had a 6month life...

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Have to agree , they do last a long time, well they outlast the actual headlamps...LOL.

Cheers

bankz5152 said:

What are the nightbreakers like?

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I rate them - running them in my daily and Defender, fair bit brighter

Nice to see a photo of the Tonka!

neilly said:

Have to agree , they do last a long time, well they outlast the actual headlamps...LOL.

Cheers

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Yes true, the chrome bezel on my Wipac Crystals have just about disintegrated! Good thing you can buy them as separates now!

Just a thought. Can you vent the lights so they don't get too hot ?
Small hole & breather tube

Hicap phill said:

Just a thought. Can you vent the lights so they don't get too hot ?
Small hole & breather tube

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Without actual air movement that would do nothing, it would not stop radiated heat from the lamp heating up the glass.

discomania said:

Without actual air movement that would do nothing, it would not stop radiated heat from the lamp heating up the glass.

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Insert small air pump then
& a extra 1way valve to allow the air out

Hicap phill said:

Insert small air pump then
& a extra 1way valve to allow the air out

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