LED Headlights - How effective are they?

Hammer · Postby **Hammer** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 1:14 pm

Need advice....

How effective are LED globes if used as a hi-beam headlight on an NB8B - replacing the standard halogen globes?

I frequently travel late at night to Port Stephens, and I seriouly need brighter hi-beams. The standard hi-beam on my 5 are practically useless.

I found a pair of HB3 1W LED globes. It a simple globe replacement. No other change to the orignial NB8B headlight will be made.

Has anyone used LED globes for a headlight?

Caffeine · Postby **Caffeine** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 1:33 pm

Hammer wrote:Need advice....

How effective are LED globes if used as a hi-beam headlight on an NB8B - replacing the standard halogen globes?

I frequently travel late at night to Port Stephens, and I seriouly need brighter hi-beams. The standard hi-beam on my 5 are practically useless.

I found a pair of HB3 1W LED globes. It a simple globe replacement. No other change to the orignial NB8B headlight will be made.

Has anyone used LED globes for a headlight?

1W will be pretty pitiful.

I have a 12W LED on my bike, and that's the brightest LED technology available today, I wouldn't even consider it for the low beams on my car.

Garry · Postby **Garry** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 1:42 pm

With respect have you thought about getting your eyes tested? I have Phillips \"plus 50' bulbs in my low beam and \"plus 30\" in my high beams and I find the light output on my car to be excellent. Even on deserted country roads.

ducktape69 · Postby **ducktape69** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 1:55 pm

i find the low and high beams on my nb8b to be excellent.
they both beam light in appropriate places. maybe u need to adjust them?
the fog lights also add that little bit of light to the sides...especially useful for twisty's where a lot of blind corners come into play...

Hammer · Postby **Hammer** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 3:33 pm

Garry wrote:With respect have you thought about getting your eyes tested? I have Phillips "plus 50' bulbs in my low beam and "plus 30" in my high beams and I find the light output on my car to be excellent. Even on deserted country roads.

Eyes are fine. 20/20 vision.

But compared to my GF's company car - Toyota Aurion, my hi-beam are pityful. Although I've recently adjusted the alignment of the headlights of my NB8B, which I have to say were aimed way too low before. Hopefully this will fix the problem.

But thanks Caffeine. I thought just as much that 1W will be useless. And having read the eBay item again, it's aimed at fog lights.

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 7:23 pm

I asked about LEDs to replace 12V downlights in the house. Was told that they now have an effective range of about 1 metre unless you buy the $90 model which just gives enough light to read at table level. Can't imagine that'd do much for your driving experience if you put them in a car.

Caffeine · Postby **Caffeine** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 8:18 pm

manga_blue wrote:I asked about LEDs to replace 12V downlights in the house. Was told that they now have an effective range of about 1 metre unless you buy the $90 model which just gives enough light to read at table level. Can't imagine that'd do much for your driving experience if you put them in a car.

The $90 one would be the osram dragon puck, it's 3.6W (actually 3x1.2W in a housing.

The expense with them is the housing, the actual golden dragon LED's are only ~$4 each

They are about 38lm per watt, which is pretty good. Fortunately Osram have managed to scale up the power handling for the OSTAR series, which is basically 4 or 6 newer generation golden dragons on a common die. These produce again 38lm per watt at 350mA, but can handle up to 1A continuous. This (in the 6 chip version) will produce anywhere between 410 and 820 lumens depending on the intensity binning.

I have a couple of the 6 chip OSTARs and some of the 4 chip ones too, they are awesomely bright for an LED (~200000lux at 10cm with a +/-9 degree reflector) their performance is about as good as a 30W -50W halogen.

That's what I have on the bike, and it's pretty damned bright, but not enough to replace a low beam MX5 headlight, let alone a high beam one.

rjastra2 · Postby **rjastra2** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 10:12 am

People should have a look at the LExus (US) site

The LS Hybrid has LED low beam headlights

Postby **Okibi** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 7:51 pm

I think some propper Xenon lights would be the go, or a roll bar/nudge bar and some of these babys.. :lol:

Garry · Postby **Garry** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 1:42 pm

I've read good reports about these babies. The only problem they seem to have is a shorter life than regular bulbs, but that shouldn't be a problem if they are only used in the high beam housings.

http://www.hirheadlights.com/

Hammer · Postby **Hammer** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 3:26 pm

Garry wrote:I've read good reports about these babies. The only problem they seem to have is a shorter life than regular bulbs, but that shouldn't be a problem if they are only used in the high beam housings.

http://www.hirheadlights.com/

Hmmmmm, veeeery interesting. Nice find Garry. I just need to find one that sells them locally.

Hammer · Postby **Hammer** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 6:40 pm

Sorted! Found them in eBay.

Ordered a couple of 9005 type for the Hi-beam. I'll let you know how they perform and compare with the halogen when they arrive.

Including P&H, total cost was AU$73.50 - gotta love how the Aussie dollar is performing at the moment. :mrgreen:

Garry · Postby **Garry** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 10:06 am

Looking forward to your thoughts. When I was looking at them the exchange rate wasn't as good and I thought they were too expensive.

Hammer · Postby **Hammer** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 3:56 pm

Garry wrote:Looking forward to your thoughts. When I was looking at them the exchange rate wasn't as good and I thought they were too expensive.

Finally got the bulbs ordered from the US. Only took about a week to get there.

Compared to a normal halogen with the same wattage, they are brighter. I would say, they are comparible to the Phillips halogen globes that cost about $70-$90 a pair.

However, they do not emit white light as described. Kelvin wise, the site says, it projects about 3200 kelvin, but I don't see it any whiter than a normal halogen. And compared to my HID lights, look positively amber.

So was it worth the $75 I paid for? Not sure....but I'm leaning towards the negative.

PS. I'll post photos of my 5 to show the difference between the halogen, HIR and the HID lights shortly.

rjastra2 · Postby **rjastra2** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 10:34 am

Hammer wrote:
Garry wrote:Looking forward to your thoughts. When I was looking at them the exchange rate wasn't as good and I thought they were too expensive.

Finally got the bulbs ordered from the US. Only took about a week to get there.

Compared to a normal halogen with the same wattage, they are brighter. I would say, they are comparible to the Phillips halogen globes that cost about $70-$90 a pair.

However, they do not emit white light as described. Kelvin wise, the site says, it projects about 3200 kelvin, but I don't see it any whiter than a normal halogen. And compared to my HID lights, look positively amber.

So was it worth the $75 I paid for? Not sure....but I'm leaning towards the negative.

PS. I'll post photos of my 5 to show the difference between the halogen, HIR and the HID lights shortly.

So, whats the feedback on the new lights?