DAILY BLOG

[XenonOz]

No we're not trying to overtake FaceBook - but thought it maybe interesting to relay our daily experiences. Let me know if this is interesting, and we'll grow, or stop it.

[XenonOz]

Today - had several calls form people who purchased cheap and nasty HID products, only to have them fail. So we're thinking about offering a trade in service to those unfortunate individuals who get burnt by this stuff. Should xenonOz offer to mediate, help out? Should we offer a trade in price on these dodgy products? What would you do in my place?

[XenonOz]

Be Careful!

Earlier today - a customer broken the globe glass while trying to remove the globe for an upgrade.

Guys - be careful and always make sure you withdraw the globe in a straight slow action, being careful not to bend the glass HID capsule on the side of the light housing. Same goes for installation, particularly with H1 globes in some model Subaru WRX's they are particularly snug.

[XenonOz]

From the "Well I wouldn't have believed it unless I'd seen it myself" file.

We've all heard of faulty wiring, but today I saw my first (in too many years) wire failing when bent over a slight arc.
From time to time new components arrive from all over the world and this includes wire. Well worked, (repeated bent back and forth GENTLY & SLOWLY approx 1 cycle per 15-20 secs, over a hour, around a 50mm radius bar, the wire completely snapped.....and this was a multi strand piece!

Its the simplest things that can cause you grief, ask any competitor who has had a 20c part fail while leading a race.

Good reason we check EVERYTHING for 18 months in the field before making a design change. Yes we will stick with our existing, costly wire supplier.

[XenonOz]

We're building / upgrading spotlights today - so much easier when you have all the necessary jigs and fixtures.

We've seen some seriously "Bodgy" jobs at upgrades - so we're going to offer upgrades to spotlights for free. Yep - no charge when you send them to us for upgrading with our products.

Alternatively - if you're looking for new spotlights - we will install a xenonOz upgrade kit for you - at no charge.

Safe driving, hope you can see as well as we can.

[XenonOz]

Last night I set up a lights service centre along the side of the road on the New England Highway, and broadcast this via CB to those on the road.

Its amazing how much driving our truckies actually do. Typically 40,000 klms a month, almost 500,000 klms a year. In that time - you can image what they see, but here's a few snippets of conversations.

"Why do car drivings cut us off all the time? Why do car drivers think a truck can accelerate, manoeuvre around objects, brake and swerve to miss things that sometime appear out of no-wear?"

"Who thought putting extra tax on fuel and trusting a politician to say the funds would be put back into better roads and driver education? Where are they?"

"Is anyone truly interested in making better food and overall health for truckies? We don't all wear blue singlets, drink beer, smoke and have no teeth."

"I never knew the dead insects would affect the light output that much!" (Sent via radio after we cleaned some spotties completely covered in squished insects). Profanity deleted.

Anyone think we should setup light service centre at those driver reviver stops?

[XenonOz]

We had a cleanup the other day - if anyone wants any halogen/filament globes - call us - they're free. Most are brand new from spotlight upgrades (H1), ALL are well known brands. Nothing dodgy, they go straight in the bin.

Only catch you pay the postage, ($2.50) but heh not bad for a set of globes worth probably $30.00

Call for freebies 1300 320 569

[XenonOz]

Out tenth anniversary is coming up - how would you celebrate this milestone?

We started as a registered company in 1988, so that's 22 years, but 10 years as xenonOz.

3 years of R&D on lights before I was prepared to put my name on a product ready to market.

So, what would you do?

Options -
Give up - all far too hard?
Sell business and have a day off?
Keep going?

[XenonOz]

Strange things computers....Yes I hear you say they certainly can be.
We have a computerised testing rig, measuring light output and recording it into an application on a PC. Also records current draw, wattage etc, all very adjustable, so we can continue to design & develop higher powered systems and strive to continue our renown reliability achievements.

Well all this is connected via a UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply), so in the event of a blackout - the system continues to operate - until the backup power reaches certain point, then it all systematically shuts down.

All good - until the other day - someone decided its time to get back at me with a harmless practical joke, of removing the battery from the UPS, and someone else hiding next to the main power switchboard, therefore, making everything plunge into darkness when the normal supply goes off.

Now I spent considerable time checking and changing over the UPS' - yes the backup ones also had batteries removed to behave the same way. Finally after a few minutes of head scratching someone confessed to this lark, and a good laugh was had by all.

Moral of the story - check the most basic of items when fault finding. We have noticed an increase in blown fuses/relays for no apparent reason, but it does make you wonder "Why didn't I check the incoming power to the ballast?"
New fuses, problem solved.

[XenonOz]

It's not that Daylight Saving has ended, have you noticed it seems all of a sudden the days are much shorter. Lets go through a basic "becoming darker earlier" checklist.

Please make sure you check the following.
1. All lights operational, inc brake lights?
2. Windscreen absolutely spotless? make sure it clean it out of the sun to get all smudges off.
3. Wiper blades are perfect for the upcoming winter.

Stay awake, don't drive when you should be asleep, sounds silly I know - but don't push it. Pull over and rest.

Hope you had a great Easter and far too much chocolate.

Cheers to all, Frank
ps. Best of luck to Mark Webber in Malaysia!

[taize]

Thanks for the blog Frank. Its great to hear the "war" stories about bad lights.
_________________
NP Pajero, standard driving lights, Cibie Oscar SC spots (spread and pencil)

[XenonOz]

I've got to tell you - there are some awfully dodgy HID products being sold by who knows who. Most of these activities just reflect badly on boda fide business' that have suitably qualified optical and mechanical engineers, who really do know what they (we're) talking about!

Yes it's a personal gripe of mine that so many people selling HID upgrades don't know their lumens from the their armpit and would easily recommend a badly designed and manufactured product - just to get a sale.

Now the acid test - what happens when something fails and you're 500 klms from home?

Do they have test products available for loan to customers? Do they supply lighting products to top level race and rally teams?

....and another thing while I'm at it.....How many of these people know how to measure a systems output? I mean if I said we have 70w systems, who would have the equipment to accurately test this? We do, and I can tell you, we've yet to see another HID product that is much over 40W.

How does that classic ad go? "Oils ain't oils" and all globes are NOT created equal.....and yes I'm cranky....UURRGGHH!!!!!

[XenonOz]

This makes you think....

So many people buy spotlights with one x spread and 1 x spot. However, have you stopped to consider that when these are upgraded, you may not need to see "several kilometres up the road" as most callers say.

A better solution would be (and all that have tried this have agreed), to move to two semi spread beams, so the light is 500-600 metres up the road, and also 50 metres wide.

When you buy spotlights, make sure you can change the lens, for its more effective to be able to replace a broken lens, than a complete light assy.
Also - consider that as your needs change - so should your lights.

If you need to try lens' for yourself - call us - we have plenty of demo stock you can borrow.
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[XenonOz]

How does it go again?

"The best laid plans of mice and men......" (Steinbeck)

Plan a few months ahead, book everything, pack 4 vehicles, trailer, 5 people and a portable workshop, to undertake dust testing in Outback NSW, what happens?......it rains.

All good for the country and our struggling farmers, and the best of luck to them.

We'll be back.[/u]

[XenonOz]

Yes - we're here, its just been rather busy with FY matters, and a myriad of customer queries to answer. Glad we can help educate everyone at least a tad....!
Any questions? Fire away please.