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LED headlights are a new innovation for cars, and many are looking to add them to their existing vehicles. However, it's also important to make sure you have the right type of headlights, as well as bulbs.
Speaking broadly, there are two kinds of LED headlights.
Car headlights must have low and high or dipped beams. Some manufacturers achieve this by making use of just one bulb integrated with both the high beam and low beam function. This is known as the dual beam headlight.
On the other hand, other designers come with two separate bulbs with the low beam and high beam function separately. This is called single beam headlight.
In other words, single beam headlights only have two bulbs per headlight. Meanwhile, dual beam headlights only have one bulb per headlight. Also, if your vehicle has single beam headlights, then your only option is to replace them with single beam bulbs when it’s time to change them. The same is the case for dual beam headlights. The two styles aren’t interchangeable since the wiring for both is different.
There are basically three different kinds of LED chip types.
SMD is basically a standalone chip put on a ceramic base and can be integrated into different packages for linear light strips. SMD also has the capability of supporting more complicated designs like chips that have RGB capabilities which are quite powerful for color combinations.
With SMDs, it is also possible to have 3 diodes on just one chip. So, for instance, if the chip includes a blue, green, and red diode, it is possible to create any color you want just by adjusting the output level from the individual diodes. So, since these can change colors and are quite bright, they are extensively used for LED light bulbs.
Chip on board and SMD are similar in the sense that both have several diodes on the same chip. However, that’s where the similarities come to an end. COB has better lumen-per-watt ratios that other LED technologies like SMB. Plus, it is very efficient and powerful in single color applications. However, they can’t be used for creating color-changing lights.
Flip chip is a comparatively new technology which involves mounting the LED diode upside down. This kind of chip has several benefits. For instance, it shortens the production process, which ultimately results in cost reduction. It also reduces thermal resistance and a higher rate of heat dissipation, which takes away the need of a heavyweight thermal heat sink. Moreover, the small, square design makes the light beam more focused.
Reflector headlights have been the standard on vehicles ever since electric headlights came into being. A reflector comes with a bulb in a steel bowl. There are mirrors placed in the bowl to reflect light on the road. With such style of headlights, it’s impossible to remove the casing to replace the burnt-out bulb.
There are primarily two benefits of reflector style headlights. Firstly, they are quite cheap to make, which is why most manufacturers use these. Secondly, they are smaller in comparison with projector headlights which are deeper, thus requiring more space.
Projector headlights are quite similar to reflector headlights since they also have a bulb in a steel bowl along with mirrors that act as reflectors. However, they also have a lens which functions as a magnifying glass, which increases the brightness of the light beam. There’s also a cut-off shield which ensures that light produced by such headlights is properly angled. This also helps to direct the light towards the road, which means that they don’t shine in the eyes of other drivers.
Moreover, xenon HID bulbs are only suitable to use with project headlights. When used in reflector headlights, they can be too bright and blind other drivers.
It’s quite clear that projector headlights are much better than reflector ones since they are brighter and give off even light. Plus, they have a lower chance of blinding the oncoming traffic.
Halogen bulbs come with reflector headlights since they are bright enough to illuminate the car’s forward area without blinding the oncoming traffic. There is a mechanism to set the beam such that it points down. However, the scattered beam is still there due to the light bouncing off multiple reflector surfaces. But, the brightness is lowered such that it can illuminate the space without blinding.
So, if you replace halogen bulbs with LEDs with the same wattage without changing your reflector headlights into projector ones, then the brightness could be overwhelming. Plus, the scattered light will also become extremely bright and could blind the oncoming drivers.
Switching your halogen headlights for LEDs is entirely about personal preference. With LEDs, the intensity is great plus the greater halogen bulbs you replace with LEDs, the less work the electrical system of your car has to do.
Now that you’ve decided that you’d rather opt for LEDs, you need to follow these ten simple steps to remove the stock headlights and replace them with LED headlights.
Before you start, you must find out your right headlight bulb type. As mentioned earlier, there are two kinds of bulbs; single beam and double beam. There are several ways of determining the type of bulb in your vehicle. A quick search on the net is most likely to get you the answer, but if that’s not enough, then you can either check the owner manual, or you can just remove the headlight bulb and read the information given on it.
Once you’ve found out the right bulb type, the next step is to buy an LED headlight conversion kit. You might get it from local stores, but if not, there is a plethora of online stores selling these. You are free to choose the one you think fits in your budget best but, at the same time, provides quality.
Once you get the LED headlight kit, you must check if it contains all the right components. Apart from the two LED bulbs, the kit must also include wiring and two ballasts.
Now that you are ready to switch your stock headlights for LEDs take a few pictures of the light produced by your current headlights. Then after you’ve fitted in the LEDs, you can compare the results of the two to know the difference.
Finally, it’s time to get started! First, make sure that your vehicle is fully secured. The engine must be off with the keys taken out from the ignition and the parking brakes on. Now, pop open the hood and locate the headlight bulbs. Once you find them, unplug the plastic wiring connector from the stock bulb.
If this is your very first time replacing a headlight bulb, then you might need to use a flat screwdriver to help remove the plastic clip.
Depending on the kind of bulb fitted in your stock headlights, you might have to remove a metal clip first before you can twist it anti-clockwise and pull it out. While taking out the bulb isn’t difficult, you must be patient and work on twisting the bulb firmly until it’s out.
It is better to store the bulb you’ve taken out in a safe place since you might want to use them somewhere in the future.
The next step is to fit the LED bulbs into the socket. While doing so, you must be careful not to come into contact with the LED with your bare fingers. Twist the bulb gently in a clockwise direction until it is secure.
Once the bulb is secured, connect the ballast wiring. One of the ends will go to the new LED bulb while the other will be connected to the original wiring harness.
Switch on your headlights and check the position and height of the new cut off. Since you wouldn’t want to blind the other drivers with your new lights, you might have to make some adjustments to the headlights’ position. To do so, you can simply adjust the alignment screws of the headlights, or you can go through the owner’s manual to know more.
Using either plastic zip ties or double-sided tape, secure the ballasts. Note that it is better to keep them away from excessive moisture, vibration, and heat. One way to do so is to mount it on the back of the housing of the headlight. Once this is done, you can close back your hood and enjoy driving with your new lights!
Headlights are an important feature of any vehicle that is imperative for the driver’s safety. Therefore, it is vital that you choose a reputable seller so that you can be sure of the quality. Make sure that the headlights that you choose are compatible with your vehicle to avoid any problems.
Apart from LED headlights, there are several other kinds of LED lights for cars.
Also known as driving lamps, interior lights illuminate the inside of your car. Most commonly, these lights help to light up the passenger seat or find items in the dark. It is better to not use LED interior lights for extended time periods.
LED reverse lights are considered as one of the most popular upgrades for the rear part of any aftermarket vehicle. These lights are more known for improving the lighting output of the rear of the car which in turn increases the vehicle’s appearance.
Such lights are a great addition to factory incandescent reverse lights since they are powered up by a separate source which increases the lighting output.
Also known as blinkers or signal lights, these lights are placed in the back and front corners of a vehicle. They are used for informing other drivers where you are about to move. For instance, when you want to change the lanes, the right signal will warn the other vehicles in your lane as well as in the lane you are about to move into that you’re steering the car their way.
These are the red lights that are present on the back of the car. They light up whenever your headlights are on. The purpose of these lights is to make you more visible to the vehicles behind you and help them to realize the distance to your car.
LED fog lights are most commonly installed below or near the headlights. The other lights on your car refract on the fog and create a wall of light through which a driver is unable to see. These lights must only be used while driving in thick fog.
Licence plate illumination light are not, of course, the most essential part of your car’s illumination gear, however, they are necessary. The laws differ from state to state, but even if the lighting requirements aren’t explicitly specified, your rear license plate should be clearly visible to law enforcement officers. If there are no license illumination plates or if they are non-functioning, then it could be interpreted as an attempt of securing the plate which could result in a fine and a ticket.
Most new vehicles usually come installed with these lights. They are located on the front as well as rear of the car. They automatically turn on to provide improved visibility during the daytime hours.
The type of headlights suitable for a car greatly depends on its model and make. If you are unsure about the headlights suitable for your car you can contact your vehicle manufacturer or browse through your car’s manual to make sure that the headlights that you have chosen for your car are compatible and will not cause any problem in installation.
You can also find the best headlights for your car by visiting the website https://www.sylvania-automotive.com/apps/vlrg-us/Vlrg/. This website is very simple to use. You can just enter your vehicle name or the part number and begin your search.
Most LED headlight conversion kits are plug-and-play. This ensures easy installation with minimum effort and time. The first thing to do is find the best LED headlight bulb for your car. Disconnect the wire connecting the halogen bulb and twist the bulb anti-clockwise to remove it. Replace it with your chosen LED bulb and twist it clockwise to fix it in place. Do not touch the LED bulb with bare hands as it may damage them.
Typically LED bulbs are legal however the actual blue color is not permissible in some states. Make sure that are you are well aware of local laws regarding LED bulbs before investing in them.
Good quality LED headlights can last up to 50,000 hours. If you drive more at night and use headlights for 10 hours every day, they are going to last you for more than 13 years thus making LED headlights a good investment.
Compared to HID headlights, LED seems to be the better option. This is because when it comes to HID, their high intensity makes it tough to control the arc. Plus, the glare caused by the HID headlights can be so powerful that it can blind oncoming motorists. On the other hand, no such issues are associated with the beams produced by LED headlights.
Numerous factors can cause your headlights to flicker while driving. Most commonly, these problems could be common issues related to headlight bulbs, the failure of the alternator to start, and even a weak battery. However, if all those items are working fine, then you should inspect the light sockets, switches, wiring, and relays. Worn-out switches, loose connections, and burnt sockets and relays can also cause intermittent breaks in the power supply.
In some cases, the cause of flickering could be failed communication between the computer system of your car and the headlights. In cases like these, you will need error code canceller capacitors or anti-flicker capacitors. Both of these are simple pieces of equipment of the car, which essentially translates the miscommunication between the headlights and the car’s computer system. With the help of the capacitor, the car’s computer system will stop recognizing the LED lights as a fault, thereby bringing the flickering to a halt.
Some states have defined their specifications when it comes to the aim of headlights to avoid blinding the oncoming traffic. Similarly, most automakers also come with headlight aiming specs. It is better to follow these specifications.
Adjusting the headlights not to blind upcoming traffic is easy, but it takes time. Most commonly, your headlights tend to blind the oncoming traffic if they are not aligned properly. To align your headlights, first, park the car on the flat ground and ensure that it is level. Unload the heavy items from the truck if there is any, fill up the gas tank, check the suspensions, and make sure that the tire pressure is even on all four corners.
Once the car is level, pull it as close to a plain wall as possible and switch on your lights. Doing so will enable you to find the centers of your low beam headlights. Now, mark both the spots using a single piece of horizontal tape that runs through the middle. Do the same vertically making sure that the tape runs through the center.
Before moving onto the next step, find the adjusters of your car’s headlights. Most often, they are present somewhere on the housing of your headlights. To help save time, you can go through the user’s manual and know exactly where they are.
Once you have found the adjusters, back your car up such that it’s 25 feet away from the wall. While this is the standard, it does differ by model, so it’s best to check your manual. Once you have the car backed up to the right distance, block one of the headlights and see where the other beam falls. Compare it to the markings that you previously made on the wall. When it comes to the vertical aim, the top of the highest intensity part of the beam must be at or below the center line of the horizontal tape you placed.
Similarly, for the horizontal aim, the most intense spot of the beam must be on the right of the vertical line you made. Use the adjusters to make the necessary adjustments and then repeat the procedure for the other headlight.
Glare basically refers to the difficulty in seeing or the reduction of visibility when there’s a bright light present. Headlights that shine excessively bright in the driver’s eyes cause light scatter or glare. The glare is sometimes also called disability glare, which blinds the other driver and leaves him unable to detect contrast.
Usually, LED headlights tend to create glare or blind drivers because of a less-sharp cut off, which directs more light into the eyes of the other driver.
Since high-brightness LED headlights do not burn out rapidly, they tend to fade away slowly with time. A well-designed LED can last somewhere between 50,000 to 70,000 hours before the illumination isn’t right for the job. The rate at which the LED headlights fade depends on operating conditions as well as external factors like changes in thermal load, relative humidity, and temperature.
One of the greatest features of LED headlights is the fact that they are highly energy-efficient, which means that they do not suck up a lot of power. So, regardless of the model you buy, most LED headlights require power somewhere between 30 watts and 60 watts.
When compared to other kinds of headlights such as HID or halogen, LEDs do not create as much as heat. This is because they are incredibly energy-efficient and thus don’t emit a lot of heat. However, LEDs are designed such that they have a mechanism for dissipating heat. The lack of a cooling mechanism can cause the headlights to fail prematurely.
Both fan and heat sinks are equally beneficial with each having its own advantages. Since both kinds cater to different needs, it is impossible to call one best over the other. Generally, the best LED headlight bulb cooling is one which caters most to both the driver and the vehicle.
By driver, it comes down to various factors like the intensity you’re looking for, the time period for which you plan to use your headlights, and places you will be driving through. It also depends on the driving conditions such as off-road, extreme weather, and snow.
Meanwhile, when it comes to the vehicle, it depends on the model, the overall clearance, the size of the bulb, and the way the stock bulb is secured.
The drawbacks and benefits of heat sinks and fans have been mentioned above so it all comes down to personal preference and use.
It is possible to get LED headlights for your motorcycle. In fact, there are various benefits. For instance, apart from the benefits we already know, LEDs are ideal for motorcycles since they are resistant to moisture, and can take high impacts better than other kinds of lights. Plus, having bright and focused LEDs can make driving safer in the day as well as at night.
Halo style LED headlights are also known as angel eyes. These are just accessory lights that are integrated into the headlight assembly of a vehicle to encircle the high or low beam light. They do not replace headlights and are just for cosmetic purposes or to be used as daytime running lights.
There are many different factors to consider when upgrading the lights on your vehicle. You should look at the beam pattern, the lifespan of the bulbs, the light output, and whether or not there is super bright light (or not).
Some bulbs will provide white light, 8000 lumens of power, or you may even get high quality halogen lights. In poor weather conditions you might want fog lights, or even to put on standard halogen lights.
Many lights will come with a multi-year warranty, and manufacturers like Philips, Hikari Ultra, Cougar Motor, and others all offer compatibility with many different types of vehicles.
You can own any type of vehicle (even a Jeep), and still find a cool white light solution. Many kits and bulbs are even sold on Amazon.com, as well as at other major retailers.
Brands like BeamTech, AuxBeam, and other manufacturers also sell their lights directly on their websites. You may also want other features, like a cooling fan, a cooling system, a decoder, or even a fanless option.
OEM parts will work better than cheap replacements, and the best headlights will even have a perfect beam profile.No matter what type of LED bulbs you want, there is truly something out there for everyone.
