LED Headlight

[movenon]

Been wanting to upgrade my headlight and have been looking at all the usual options and ordered one of these. http://www.ebay.com/itm/281427044978?item=281427044978&viewitem=&sspagename=ADME:L:OC:US:3160&vxp=mtr.  Should be here later this week for an unofficial review.
About anything is better than the stock bulb.  On my winter "to do" list is some lighting improvements for FJ front and rear.  The headlight is a start.
George

As a disclaimer I have nothing to do with the seller of this product. It is just one I picked out off e bay. There are others.

[Firehawk068]

I have been curious about this for awhile..............................I was actually considering them for my Jeep..............I'm anxious to see how they work for you.

[FJ1100mjk]

Not a bad price relative to the cost of one of the Silverstar bulbs, that I put in my FJs. Plus your has a turbo fan.

Let us know how it turns out for you.

[movenon]

I have ran those Silverstar Ultra's before and they work good but don't last as long as the lower wattage units.  I almost pulled the trigger on an HID unit but there are a few things that bother me.  They put out a lot of light but the ones I have seen seem to "spray" a lot of light.  The LED might be the same.?  The only way I can tell much is to buy one and try it.  The price isn't that bad, about the same as a cheaper HID and about 2 times what a Silverstar costs. But IF it lasts longer the cost might be close.  This one claims 10,000 hours, some claim up to 30,000 hours. 10,000 hours is about 3 1/2 years of running 8 hours a day 7 days a week.  30,000 hours would be 3 times that. Not that I believe there figures. Only time will tell.

One problem to be solved is that I would like to have a pulsating headlight (for day light running) and the normal pulsating flasher units on the market will not work well with the LED's.  The on/off time for LED's is to quick and it makes the light more like a emergency flasher which is illegal.  Just a note for someone to think about if converting and currently running pulsating headlight.

The bulb has been shipped and should be here Thursday so I will give it a try.  I will attempt to take some before and after pictures.  At least evaluate the light pattern and strength.

IMO safety wise the more light you can put up front the better and if you can get the light moving or pulsating even better yet.

George  

[FJ_Hooligan]

The life hours are deceiving.  Those hours are continuous operation. 

Most bulbs don't just blow when they're on.  They typically blow when the bulb is turned on due to the high inrush current.

[Arnie]

George,

Verrry interesting.  Please let us know how well it works for you.

Re: Pulsating for daytime use.... If you could make a circuit to change state from "lo" to "hi" that might give the effect you want.  I'm guessing that on "lo", only 2 of the Cree XML chips are powered.

I wonder how you'll be able to operate the locating clip to hold this lamp in the socket.

[movenon]

George,

Verrry interesting.  Please let us know how well it works for you.

Re: Pulsating for daytime use.... If you could make a circuit to change state from "lo" to "hi" that might give the effect you want.  I'm guessing that on "lo", only 2 of the Cree XML chips are powered.

I wonder how you'll be able to operate the locating clip to hold this lamp in the socket.

Good question on the clip.  The answer is I don't know (who's on third base) for those that are old enough,   yet....   I guess to loosly slip the clip ahead of the fan and then put it in the mount ?  Right now if I unclip my bulb the clip will actually fall out!  The metal tab on the left that is the clip hinge needs to be squeezed in to keep the clip captured.  It was a challenge to put my last bulb in as you an well imagine.  I plan on fixing that with this bulb change.

On the pulsating I think the problem is the fast on/off time of the LED.  A quartz bulb dies slowly and never go's totally off with the typical pulsar units on the market.  The LED go 0-100%-0.  I have been doing some reading on narrowing up the pulse width to get the same effect.  It has to be very fast to simulate what you typically see.  Did you know there is actually a DOD standard / rule that applies to this.   

It is not a big issue but I would like to have that feature. There is another feature that might be nice to design,  a time delay of a few seconds (5-10) before the headlight turns on.  Making more current available for the starter.  Trivia.

Yes, I don't put any stock in what they say about life hours.  And if I can indeed pulse it then there go's that number.
George

[Maticuno]

Somewhat applicable:

Someone on TacomaWorld is using this brand: https://www.lifetimeledlights.com/products/category/headlights and so far loves them.  They seem to work well in certain housings and not as well in others.

[TexasDave]

A friend of mine just installed this very unit in his KLM. I don't know about the light pattern but it is BRIGHT!!!  Dave

[Derek Young]

I'm very interested in how the bulb performs George. I was considering buying an LED bulb, but decided to wait until my HID bulb craps out.

I recently installed 2 LED spotlights like these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Motorcycle-12V-30W-CREE-U2-LED-Fog-Spot-Head-Light-Waterproof-Working-Lamp-Black-/201103802443?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2ed2b8804b&vxp=mtr

They fit quite nicely on the Renntech engine bars. I installed them with a remote dimmer switch and a relay that turns them on full brightness when the high beam is switched on. I am very happy with them so far. Coupled with the 55 watt HID, there is an incredible amount of light coming from the front of my FJ.

Derek

[FJ1100mjk]

The life hours are deceiving.  Those hours are continuous operation.

On some other forum, that I was trolling for information on headlight relay mods, one poster who seemed electrically-savvy, stated that for every extra volt supplied to the bulb's filament that was over its rating (I assume that is 12V), its hours life decreased by X amount. Made sense to me. If one drives the headlight mod directly from the battery, by virtue of the battery's charging voltage, it would be seeing +12V continuously.

I gladly accept the decreased life for the increase in candlepower/lumens.

[FJ1100mjk]

On the pulsating I think the problem is the fast on/off time of the LED.  A quartz bulb dies slowly and never go's totally off with the typical pulsar units on the market.  The LED go 0-100%-0.  I have been doing some reading on narrowing up the pulse width to get the same effect.  It has to be very fast to simulate what you typically see.  Did you know there is actually a DOD standard / rule t
George

For your LED pulsating, modulating, perhaps this may work...

http://www.kriss.com/universalledmod.php

I've read reports on other forums, about riders with headlight modulators being pulled over by Law Enforcement, then the LEO being suprised that the modulator is legal in their state. One rider went so far as to carrying a document on his person to prove it.

I've seen the modulators in use. They are maddening to view, but very effective. Really makes the bike stand out, when it is coming at you.

[movenon]

On the pulsating I think the problem is the fast on/off time of the LED.  A quartz bulb dies slowly and never go's totally off with the typical pulsar units on the market.  The LED go 0-100%-0.  I have been doing some reading on narrowing up the pulse width to get the same effect.  It has to be very fast to simulate what you typically see.  Did you know there is actually a DOD standard / rule t
George

For your LED pulsating, modulating, perhaps this may work...

http://www.kriss.com/universalledmod.php

I've read reports on other forums, about riders with headlight modulators being pulled over by Law Enforcement, then the LEO being surprised that the modulator is legal in their state. One rider went so far as to carrying a document on his person to prove it.

I've seen the modulators in use. They are maddening to view, but very effective. Really makes the bike stand out, when it is coming at you.

Thanks for the link ! Gives me more to information.

I gather that in some states headlight laws did or do conflict with DOT federal law.  I think most states have changed there code to comply with DOT federal law referring to modulating headlights for motorcycles.  It was something invented after there code was written in most cases.

This Federal law supersedes all state laws and makes motorcycle headlight modulators legal in all 50 states. FMVSS 108 (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) (49 CFR Part 571.108 S7.9.4) allows motorcycle headlight modulation systems all 50 states provided they comply with the standards set forth in this section. Title 49 USC 30103 (b1) (US Codes) prohibits any state from forbidding a system that conforms to FMVSS 108

The law applies to motorcycles only.  It is illegal for cars to use as I understand it.  The modulator has to meet spec's and for daytime use only.

I read where some carry a copy of the DOT federal law with them just in case they get stopped.  To be honest there are probably officers that are not acquainted with the law as it only applies to motorcycles and any flashing light probably gets there attention (see it works).  Now if for "some reason" you don't want there attention you might subdue the light or turn it off (put a switch in the ground leg ?).   Choices, always choices.

Derek:  I like those flame throwers!  They will be next.  I prewired and relayed for running lights during the rebuild but haven't installed any yet.  They are next.  Right now I have to get the LED bulb on the bench and see if the mounting clip will clear or spring over as per Arnie's comment.  I have an extra headlight assembly on the bench to play with before I try to do it blind and upside down.

George

[Arnie]

"I have an extra headlight assembly on the bench to play with before I try to do it blind and upside down.

George"

 

[movenon]

Mike Ramos is also working on converting to an LED headlight.  He is using a slightly different style of LED.  I mentioned to him to feel free to jump in on this thread with his review and comments.  The more information the better.    His LED headlight sounds good also.
George