LED lights

Started by AutobahnSHO, August 27, 2017, 04:22:58 AM

AutobahnSHO

So 3rd brakelight on Odyssey burnt out (Noticed because wife was driving a week or so ago and I followed her).  I knew I was driving with bikerack (partially obscuring the regular brake lights) yesterday so Friday stopped at Autozone.

They don't have ANY non-LED lights for the smaller bulbs. And ALL of the LED packages say "for off-road use only"  :hammerhead:

Under the lights a display with a graphic (for people who can't read gud) says LEDs light up faster than incandescents, giving people behind you 18ft extra stopping room(at 60mph). That's pretty amazing, really. 

It was $20 for a 2-pack.  :heated:

Suckers are bright but not uniform light. Pretty fat with lots of LEDs all around, I assume any circuitry is inside. so weird the world we live in. 
Will

giant_mtb


AltinD

speaking of led lights, I recently replaced the halogens on my projector headlights with LED bulbs.



Sure enough I got the burnt bulb error message in the dash so I bought a pair of can bus decoders



Now my problem is that on the passenger-side the bulb does not lights up with the decoder. It doesn't matter which of decoder/bulb combo I use: They work fine on driver's side. Can it be the contacts in original headlight assembly socket got damaged somehow (it works fine with the bulb's socket) .... or is another of those weird electrical behaviors?

2016 KIA Sportage EX Plus, CRDI 2.0T diesel, 185 HP, AWD

Soup DeVille

Wouldn't a resistor across the terminals produce the signal needed to simulate a bulb?
Maybe we need to start off small. I mean, they don't let you fuck the glumpers at Glumpees without a level 4 FuckPass, do they?

1975 Honda CB750, 1986 Rebel Rascal (sailing dinghy), 2015 Mini Cooper, 2020 Winnebago 31H (E450), 2021 Toyota 4Runner, 2022 Lincoln Aviator

Laconian

I'd take a multimeter to it to see what's going on.
Kia EV6 GT-Line / MX-5 RF 6MT

12,000 RPM

LED replacements for halogen bulbs are generally speaking a no go. I can see those are definitely no good. They dont do a good job of simulating the halogen filament. Compare those blobs to the little filament string... the optics are off. You lose all distance lighting and get a dim mist.

I got a set of H4 replacements for my motorcycle and they actually work OK... but they simulate the filament more effectively.

Halogen H4 bulb:



Good H4 LED (mimics halogen as closely as possible, down to the low beam shields):



Bad H4 LED (could be anything, puts a lot of light where it doesn't belong):



I would argue that HID kits are still a better buy, especially if you have projectors. Just buy a quality kit that won't set your car on fire. LEDs are not there yet unless you have the right kind of headlight and know what to look for. I bought mine on a whim and they happened to work out.
Protecctor of the Atmospheric Engine #TheyLiedToUs

Morris Minor

I have LED headlights on the CR-V and it's obvious that the reflectors are radically different than those of the halogen versions.

Sporty have you changed the bulbs in the fog lights in front? Thinking LEDs would work, but would want to match the color temperature to the HIDs.
⏤  '10 G37 | '21 CX-5 GT Reserve  ⏤

Gotta-Qik-C7

I'm running LEDs in my headlights on the Corolla. Love em!
2014 C7 Vert, 2002 Silverado, 2005 Road Glide

Speed_Racer

My experience with LED lights is that if they're reflected correctly, they're awesome. If not, their viewability is pretty limited regarding brightness and viewing angle. I had an H4 LED headlight on the VStrom and it must have been one of the bad examples - it sprayed light everywhere which was good for night riding but bad for oncoming drivers. So that went in the trash, back to halogens. I kept the LED fogs though because they have focused beams.

Rich

This is a reason (one of them) why I bought a whole new car instead of trying to retrofit LEDs to the Miata.

the PITA of it all :lol:

2003 Mazda Miata 5MT; 2005 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport 4AT

12,000 RPM

Quote from: Morris Minor on March 12, 2018, 08:03:48 AM
I have LED headlights on the CR-V and it's obvious that the reflectors are radically different than those of the halogen versions.

Sporty have you changed the bulbs in the fog lights in front? Thinking LEDs would work, but would want to match the color temperature to the HIDs.

I like the contrast in colors. I'm actually thinking about putting LEDs in the main beam, but I'm waiting for something that performs to my standards.
Protecctor of the Atmospheric Engine #TheyLiedToUs

AltinD

What's up with LED DRL-s turning off when indicator is on? I thought on factory set-ups was a factor of design for increasing visibility, but now that I put LED bulbs (replacing halogens) on my DRL, they also turn off when the indicator in the same housing turns on. How come?

2016 KIA Sportage EX Plus, CRDI 2.0T diesel, 185 HP, AWD

Gotta-Qik-C7

It's so you can see the blinker better! Tons of cars do it.
2014 C7 Vert, 2002 Silverado, 2005 Road Glide

CaminoRacer

2020 BMW 330i, 1969 El Camino, 2017 Bolt EV

Morris Minor

Quote from: 12,000 RPM on March 13, 2018, 12:51:43 PM
I like the contrast in colors. I'm actually thinking about putting LEDs in the main beam, but I'm waiting for something that performs to my standards.
I heard back from Diode Dynamics. You need a whole conversion kit for these; they're not just a drop-in bulb replacement.
⏤  '10 G37 | '21 CX-5 GT Reserve  ⏤

giant_mtb

Quote from: Gotta-Qik-C6 on March 29, 2018, 03:04:34 PM
It's so you can see the blinker better! Tons of cars do it.

I kinda like it.  But it's just one more thing to go wrong. Perhaps just a simple relay, but who knows.

Submariner

Quote from: 12,000 RPM on March 11, 2018, 07:00:49 PM
LED replacements for halogen bulbs are generally speaking a no go. I can see those are definitely no good. They dont do a good job of simulating the halogen filament. Compare those blobs to the little filament string... the optics are off. You lose all distance lighting and get a dim mist.

I got a set of H4 replacements for my motorcycle and they actually work OK... but they simulate the filament more effectively.

Halogen H4 bulb:



Good H4 LED (mimics halogen as closely as possible, down to the low beam shields):



Bad H4 LED (could be anything, puts a lot of light where it doesn't belong):



I would argue that HID kits are still a better buy, especially if you have projectors. Just buy a quality kit that won't set your car on fire. LEDs are not there yet unless you have the right kind of headlight and know what to look for. I bought mine on a whim and they happened to work out.

How have these bulbs been working for you?

My brother wants to replace the halogens in his car with something like this.  We would do HID but LED replacements are much cheaper than an HID retrofit (plus neither of us are adept enough to do the install).
2010 G-550  //  2019 GLS-550

12,000 RPM

What is he putting the bulbs in? It really depends.
Protecctor of the Atmospheric Engine #TheyLiedToUs

Submariner

Quote from: 12,000 RPM on May 20, 2018, 04:22:33 PM
What is he putting the bulbs in? It really depends.

Yeah he will do the install himself.  Videos make it look like a pretty easy job.
2010 G-550  //  2019 GLS-550

12,000 RPM

No I was asking what vehicle is he putting the bulbs in lol. It can be easy but some manufacturers decide otherwise.
Protecctor of the Atmospheric Engine #TheyLiedToUs

MrH

Wait, are the headlights reflector design or projector?  Even if they are projector, it's a bit sketchy.  I put HIDs in my halogen projectors on my 4Runner.  It works, but isn't as good as an OEM solution.  If it's a reflector headlight, definitely don't do that.
2023 Ford Lightning Lariat ER
2019 Acura RDX SH-AWD
2023 BRZ Limited

Previous: '02 Mazda Protege5, '08 Mazda Miata, '05 Toyota Tacoma, '09 Honda Element, '13 Subaru BRZ, '14 Hyundai Genesis R-Spec 5.0, '15 Toyota 4Runner SR5, '18 Honda Accord EX-L 2.0t, '01 Honda S2000, '20 Subaru Outback XT, '23 Chevy Bolt EUV

12,000 RPM

With LEDs it's the opposite. They are trash in projectors, but certain bulb/reflector combos are OK. The ones that come to mind are H4 (like my bike) and H7. I have only seen 1 LED + projector combo work... I think it was the Xenon Depot H11. I want them to make a D2S version....
Protecctor of the Atmospheric Engine #TheyLiedToUs

MrH

:confused: What?  All OEM LED headlights are projectors.  No one is putting LEDs in reflectors.
2023 Ford Lightning Lariat ER
2019 Acura RDX SH-AWD
2023 BRZ Limited

Previous: '02 Mazda Protege5, '08 Mazda Miata, '05 Toyota Tacoma, '09 Honda Element, '13 Subaru BRZ, '14 Hyundai Genesis R-Spec 5.0, '15 Toyota 4Runner SR5, '18 Honda Accord EX-L 2.0t, '01 Honda S2000, '20 Subaru Outback XT, '23 Chevy Bolt EUV

12,000 RPM

Quote from: MrH on May 21, 2018, 11:19:56 AM
:confused: What?  All OEM LED headlights are projectors.
No they don't.... BMW's LED headlights use reflectors



Mercedes, Ford and GM have some non-projector LED headlights too from what I remember.

Quote from: MrH on May 21, 2018, 11:19:56 AMNo one is putting LEDs in reflectors.
Like I said BMW has been doing LEDs + reflectors from the factory for years, and I just put an LED H4 in my motorcycle and got decent output. Sub's friend might be able to but I'd need more info to see if it's worth pursuing.
Protecctor of the Atmospheric Engine #TheyLiedToUs

Cookie Monster

Dumb question, but do you need ballasts for LEDs like you do for HIDs?

The MR2 has some god awful shit HIDs with no cutoffs. I am going to buy some halogen retrofits and remove the HIDs but was wondering if I can get a decent LED bulb in there.
RWD > FWD
President of the "I survived the Volvo S80 Thread" Club
2007 Mazda MX-5 | 1999 Honda Nighthawk 750 | 1989 Volvo 240 | 1991 Toyota 4Runner | 2006 Honda CBR600F4i | 2015 Yamaha FJ-09 | 1999 Honda CBR600F4 | 2009 Yamaha WR250X | 1985 Mazda RX-7 | 2000 Yamaha YZ426F | 2006 Yamaha FZ1 | 2002 Honda CBR954RR | 1996 Subaru Outback | 2018 Subaru Crosstrek | 1986 Toyota MR2
Quote from: 68_427 on November 27, 2016, 07:43:14 AM
Or order from fortune auto and when lyft rider asks why your car feels bumpy you can show them the dyno curve
1 3 5
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2 4 R

Soup DeVille

They need a power supply to regulate voltage, not a ballast (which increases voltage substantially). Its usually smaller, and some bulbs have them built in.
Maybe we need to start off small. I mean, they don't let you fuck the glumpers at Glumpees without a level 4 FuckPass, do they?

1975 Honda CB750, 1986 Rebel Rascal (sailing dinghy), 2015 Mini Cooper, 2020 Winnebago 31H (E450), 2021 Toyota 4Runner, 2022 Lincoln Aviator

Cookie Monster

Quote from: Soup DeVille on May 21, 2018, 02:42:15 PM
They need a power supply to regulate voltage, not a ballast (which increases voltage substantially). Its usually smaller, and some bulbs have them built in.

So it should just be plug and play like a stock H4? All I would need are the H4 housings then?
RWD > FWD
President of the "I survived the Volvo S80 Thread" Club
2007 Mazda MX-5 | 1999 Honda Nighthawk 750 | 1989 Volvo 240 | 1991 Toyota 4Runner | 2006 Honda CBR600F4i | 2015 Yamaha FJ-09 | 1999 Honda CBR600F4 | 2009 Yamaha WR250X | 1985 Mazda RX-7 | 2000 Yamaha YZ426F | 2006 Yamaha FZ1 | 2002 Honda CBR954RR | 1996 Subaru Outback | 2018 Subaru Crosstrek | 1986 Toyota MR2
Quote from: 68_427 on November 27, 2016, 07:43:14 AM
Or order from fortune auto and when lyft rider asks why your car feels bumpy you can show them the dyno curve
1 3 5
├┼┤
2 4 R

Gotta-Qik-C7

Quote from: Cookie Monster on May 21, 2018, 02:44:44 PM
So it should just be plug and play like a stock H4? All I would need are the H4 housings then?
YUP! Fits right n! Easy Peasy!
2014 C7 Vert, 2002 Silverado, 2005 Road Glide

12,000 RPM

Protecctor of the Atmospheric Engine #TheyLiedToUs

Cookie Monster

RWD > FWD
President of the "I survived the Volvo S80 Thread" Club
2007 Mazda MX-5 | 1999 Honda Nighthawk 750 | 1989 Volvo 240 | 1991 Toyota 4Runner | 2006 Honda CBR600F4i | 2015 Yamaha FJ-09 | 1999 Honda CBR600F4 | 2009 Yamaha WR250X | 1985 Mazda RX-7 | 2000 Yamaha YZ426F | 2006 Yamaha FZ1 | 2002 Honda CBR954RR | 1996 Subaru Outback | 2018 Subaru Crosstrek | 1986 Toyota MR2
Quote from: 68_427 on November 27, 2016, 07:43:14 AM
Or order from fortune auto and when lyft rider asks why your car feels bumpy you can show them the dyno curve
1 3 5
├┼┤
2 4 R