LED Headlight

[thatvwbusguy]

[K58]

[bdcain]

how many lumens produced by a stock headlight
without relay
_________________
It looks just like a telefunken u-47

[greenraVR6]

[a1fa]

Huh.. embedding is broken...

These JWSpeaker 7" Evolution headlights look awesome.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDb4EHB21oY
_________________
Learn to ride. Ride to learn.

[IdahoDoug]

Agree with the cautionary approach. LEDs are not ready for prime time for headlight drop ins. Patterns on a wall a car length out may look promising but they don't seem to do well on distance yet except for the factory equipped headlamps designed from the ground up as LED headlamps you'll find on some high end vehicles. Your headlight housings are set up optically for an incandescent bulb's filament size, orientation and omnidirectional output (LEDs are directional). So yes, things are moving along but drop ins are in their infancy.

DougM
_________________
1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1993 Toyota LandCruiser, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[thatvwbusguy]

If these drop in LED assemblies were based on legitimate technology, the big automotive lighting companies (Osram, Phillips, Hella etc) would already be offering it in the marketplace, yet none of them do.

Considering the fact that the average person will spend less on replacement headlight bulbs in their lifetime than the cost of these kits, the big guys should be fighting each other to get their product to market first, but they are not because the technology simply doesn't work correctly.

I have seen two versions of the drop in LED H4's so far. Both had major quality control issues out of the box.

On the 1st set, the bases were not shaped correctly and wouldn't fit into the headlight housings without being reformed. The base was carefully reworked with a Dremel, then installed on a 2011 Yamaha Zuma 125 scooter and died in less than 6 months of use when the fan failed.

On the 2nd set, one of the fans was DOA and the product was returned before installation.

There is also mention of an incorrectly shaped bulb base on the link to the miata.net post. This should be an indicator of the complete lack of quality control present during the manufacturing of these bulbs.

The small fans located on the rear of the units can't do much to actually remove any heat. Since the heat producing portion of the assembly is sealed inside the headlight housing, the fan can only push around the small amount of heat that is present at the base of the unit, which would be taken care of naturally any time the vehicle is moving.

In short, if you are going to run these on your van, please be sure to bring along a set of halogen bulbs to install when the fans fail and the LEDs overheat. Good LED headlights are available in the market already, but they don't come cheap.
_________________
Jay Brown
'85 Zetec Westfalia
Newmarket, NH


If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.
If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

[hans j]

[yiucycle]

If you go to the miata forum link, you will see the pattern. it looks brighter and bigger than oem bulb. Also here is another link to a sicon forum:
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?s=4a...amp;page=2

def looks good option to the expensive led headlight or hid. I think the advantage for our older van is it run less voltage and ampage than the stock setup. I wonder if we still need relay switch if we run this type of led bulbs. Just like anything comes from China, we probably wont know how long it last until we really use it. Good thing for me is my bro import led from China for his business so im going to see if he can get me couple set to test it out.
_________________
1980 2.8LV6 Fiero ASI/Riviera Vanagon
"there is no point in being embarrassed of all the stupid shit i done and will continue to do"

Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[kbeefy]

Those drop in LED's look pretty cool, I wonder what kind of a pattern they get in an e-code housing?
_________________
86 syncro CHC, NorthWesty subbie 2.5, decoupler, locker, custom interior, 225/75r16 Duratrack's on CLK's, Toyo cabin heater, ARB fridge, 300w Zamp Solar, Gowesty bumpers/skid/rails, Fiama awning

'86 Syncro Westy. Stock for now.

2000 F350 7.3 CC LB 11' Northland Cabover

2006 Subbie OBXT

2002 Tacoma DoubleCab 4x4

1969 Mustang Basket Case 351c/FMX/9

http://kbeefy.blogspot.com/

[dubbified]

I think LED lights are great!

I just bought 4 pairs of these.. They're stick on.. sealed.. and low profile.. awesomely bright..

I hooked them up as a test, and they were unbelievably bright.

and 9$ for a pair. I just about fell over when I pulled them out of the box.. they're a nice, sleek, black frame design.. also perfect for interior lighting on a PWM dimmer switch.. I have several applications in mind.

http://www.amazon.com/General-COB-Daytime-Running-Driving/dp/B00FYQ0BJA

[hans j]

Any thoughts on these LED H4 replacements? http://www.vleds.com/bulb/h-series/h4-9003-hb2/h4-cxa-2000lm.html
Found from this thread and I highly recommend reading it. http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=521070

I have sourced in Germany, used square e-code H4 headlights (I can get a few sets too!) and am going to get some to replace my junk USA lights. No, I haven't done relays yet but since I broke a headlight anyway, I'll just be upgrading to e-codes.

Then I started looking for LED bulbs and found the Miata thread and a reasonably priced CREE bulb with heat sink and fan! I'll probably run standard H4 bulbs for now but the LED only require 26 watts and are 1800 lumen!!

Has anyone tried them?
_________________
1986 Canadian Syncro Westy TDI - 1989 Syncro Single Cab - 2001 Audi S4 - 1981 VW Caddy ABA - 1980 VW Caddy EV - 1973 VW T-181

[kbeefy]

I have the busdepot kit and they're a great deal. As good as any IPF housing I've installed at 1/2 the price.

I'm just running 55/60w bulbs w/ relays and they work great. Not quite the output of some higher dollar bulbs but a 500% improvement over the OEM square housings and bulbs. And I have the KC HID's for real light when theres noone around to blind.
_________________
86 syncro CHC, NorthWesty subbie 2.5, decoupler, locker, custom interior, 225/75r16 Duratrack's on CLK's, Toyo cabin heater, ARB fridge, 300w Zamp Solar, Gowesty bumpers/skid/rails, Fiama awning

'86 Syncro Westy. Stock for now.

2000 F350 7.3 CC LB 11' Northland Cabover

2006 Subbie OBXT

2002 Tacoma DoubleCab 4x4

1969 Mustang Basket Case 351c/FMX/9

http://kbeefy.blogspot.com/

[dubbified]

Thanks!

I was going to say... I am well aware of what professor Stern will say.

Its why I said:
"I know how varied opinions on HID use can be out there, depending on whom you are speaking with."

I think LEDs are even more focused than HID.. and can be even more overpowering. I was walking infront of a Porsche on my break.. thinking those 4 or so headlight LEDs (no lenses, just led) were super, SUPER bright.. and there's no way that my HIDs are that bright.

I've modded lights, light housings, mixed internals for various platforms, plastic welding internals.. made my own crosshairs, used different form factor housings, ecodes, all sorts of variants for MK1-4 models. I do like projectors, except they are pinspots to an oncoming looker.. vs a larger area lightsource. It helps other drivers notice you as well I think..

One could even design a shade, or hat to put on the HID to also help cut down on much of what you say due to the ARC, but don't forget, that spiral element, also casts light radially, just as the ARC does.

My Cabrio has a cool setup, projectors with HIDs that I installed (JLM kit from amazon), and that is ideal cause I can block the light level with louvers inside the projector housing, and cut... that light down. Still.. when I hit the highbeams.. my Odometer freaks out, and resets the trip odo.. cause I was a lazy.... and didnt relay them.. soon..

[thatvwbusguy]

There is a lot more to consider than the physical form factor of the bulb when pairing a light source with a headlight housing. The only people who will ever advise installing an HID capsule in a reflector lens are the vendors selling the HID kits.

A good quote explaining the real world implications of HID capsules in reflector housings comes from Daniel Stern: "When designing the optics (lens and/or reflector) for a lamp, the characteristics of the light source are the driving factor around which everything else must be engineered. If you go and change the light source, you've done the equivalent of putting on somebody else's eyeglasses. You can probably make them fit on your face OK, but you won't see properly." Borrowed from: http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html

Exact filament position and the opaque coating that prevents light from being cast directly out of the tip of the 9004 or H4 bulb are two design factors that have a massive effect on the shape and focus of the resulting light beam in a reflector housing. Since the HID is an arc light, it creates a long, crescent shaped light source which can't be properly managed by the reflector (round or rectangular).

It sounds like you have done as much as possible to make your HIDs more friendly to other drivers, which is awesome. If more people were concerned about the safety aspect of their HID conversion instead of just trying to get the most raw power possible out of their headlights without a thought for the cars they share the road with, I am sure that there would be a lot less people getting blinded by the "HID plug & play" kits that are so prevalent today.
_________________
Jay Brown
'85 Zetec Westfalia
Newmarket, NH


If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.
If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

[dubbified]

Hey, sure.

I know how varied opinions on HID use can be out there, depending on whom you are speaking with.

I feel differently about use of a incan vs a HID bulb, its the bulb, a specific form factor requirement paired to the design/curvature of the housing which allow the light to be cast as desired, change that light point, you have to re-aim.

When fitting, I changed one bulb over to hid, turned them on, and they seemed to represent the same light pattern, just a lot brighter. I wish I kept my before/after pics.

Sure there is some "flood" which you cant get away from.. but I also blacked out the lense edges to reduce that as well. (painted/blacked the edges, except for the face of the glass)

I've had a friend try to pick me outta traffic on a busy freeway at night in the rain from 1 mi, 1/2, 1/4 mi.. he said oh yea.. you're bright, but not blinding, pretty much look like every other hid light on the road, bluish/purple hue..

So, I also aimed down a little more than normal.. (to be nice)

Given the amount of light they're throwing down (both lows, highs, fogs..) its great for backroad driving, easy infact. I cant, and wont argue with the fact there is now heinous amount of light when I need it.

[thatvwbusguy]

Do you have a photo of the HIDs on low beam? I have never seen an HID installed in a reflector lens that offers anything approaching a proper beam pattern. I have removed lots of HIDs from reflector headlights for people trying to get good lighting, but never installed a plug and play conversion kit that I would let out on the road.

For high beam use in the small inner high beam lenses, a set of decent quailty 35W H3 HID bulbs and ballasts might be a worthwhile option, since you won't be using them in traffic and the increased lumen output could be a welcome addition on dark country roads. I would only caution to be leery of the cheap "slim" ballasts that are included with some low priced kits, as they often fail after just a few hours of use.
_________________
Jay Brown
'85 Zetec Westfalia
Newmarket, NH


If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.
If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

[dubbified]

I see, they also have 4"..

http://www.amazon.com/Truck-Lite-80275-Auxiliary-L...63-8008169

So, that's like dropping 1K on lights.. 250 per on the outers, egad.. costly.

What about HID?

I HID'd my square headlights, Highs and lows, in 6000K. something like 50 a kit, covering two lights, ballasts, wiring harness.

I did the Kensun kits, used relays to power them, never get highbeamed from others.. and they're super bright.

Highbeams alone.

between a set of four of these and square KC highlighters.. and a air horn..

I don't get cut off.. for long.

[thatvwbusguy]

The 7" round H4 Bosch headlamps from Bus Depot are motorcycle lenses. They work well in the van and are hard to beat for the price: http://www.busdepot.com/0301600118/ This lens with the Osram Hyper 70/65W or 85/80W H4 is a great combination http://www.rallylights.com/h-412xo-h4-9003-hb2-12v-osram-hyper-each.html.

Remember to add a set of relays to protect your headlight switch if you are going to run bulbs with higher than stock wattage.

The Harley Davidson LED headlights are actually just a relabeled JW Speaker Evolution 8700. Even without the Harley logo, they still run about $750.00-$800.00 for a set, but that price will unquestionably drop with time and changes to LED technology.

To answer Tam's question, the only thing between the stock '86-'91 headlamps and the pricey Euro H4's is brighter bulbs in the stock housings. The Hella 9004 80/100W is typically the best deal http://www.amazon.com/HELLA-HLA-H83155131-HB1-9004...ella+9004. You will need relays to run this bulb for sure.

For stock wattage bulbs, Phillips recently introduced a new 9004 bulb in their X-Treme Vision series. This is the way to go if most of your driving is done in the city and you just want the best light possible from a plug and play solution. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BQWQLOK/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&seller=
_________________
Jay Brown
'85 Zetec Westfalia
Newmarket, NH


If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.
If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

[adv rider]

I have been wanting to convert to early round style headlight w/ h4 bulbs. Has anyone considered all the motorcycle offerings? I found 7" headlight that use h4 starting @ $35. But what I am really hoping to find is the new H.D. Daymaker headlights

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Harley-Davidson-Daymaker-7...mp;vxp=mtr

Cost new is too much for me, but hopefully e-bay or wrecking yard will make it possible. I believe they are typical 7" housing, I will report back once I found out.
_________________
86' Wolfsburg weekender 2.1, 4spd, , merian brown