Interesting article on the Net today from Jalopnik. Found it might be useful to those interested in adding/upgrading headlights to LED. To the purists out there, don't be haters!
Most of the LED headlight manufacturers have gone to making their bulbs such that the diodes emit from the same location as the standard filaments! I noticed this when I bought some cheap-o LEDs for my motorcycle and thought it was neat that we've finally reached the point where you can upgrade the light output, power draw and lifetime without blinding everyone.
THE @BEATER_GARAGE LINEUP
1966 1600 the Practical Family Roadster
1998 XJ Cherokee 4.0 5 Speed Coupe
1985 Honda Nighthawk S aka CB700SC Shithawk
2 stroke beach cruiser death missile
I used Auxbeam S1-H4 88623528 bulbs in Hella H4 housings, and what a difference it made. Makes you want to drive at night. No heat issues, pure white, nice field of illumination. Pat
As low as our cars are they really light up the road. Ditto here with Hella H4 housings and cheap LEDs. Messed with HIDs in past but too many wires and clutter. LEDs are way to go.
My 2 cents' Victoria British offers a $30 relay set that turns Hellas into the lighting that works. And also check out Curtis' relay set on TechWiki. Uses the standard wiring relay for control, but bypasses the wiring as far as LOAD is concerned. BRIGHT eyepopping lighting keeping the same look. Persaonaly, I don't like the 'flat' look of most HDs'
Peter Harrison
1970 1600 (Stroker) - TOAD SAN (Eliza)
1970 1600 (Stock) - As Yet Unnamed
Lake Balboa (SFV) , California
Personally I have been running H4 halogen bulbs ranging from 80/100 or 90/100 on classic cars for 34 odd years with NO trouble. Plus most of the Hella bulbs have cost me $12-20 per bulb. When doing my roadster I am planning to have a relay so I can run 100/120. With a good lens like a Hella aimed right NO cops/other drivers have ever noticed! Best part is I have never out ran my headlights!
All personal choices. I do like that at least a small few LED bulbs are making good amounts of light.
A wise man has the power to reason away what a fool believes.
“Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.â€
Vintagecarled.com has quite a few options for 7" LED headlights, from $109-409
I choose to investigate Amazon & Ebay to find LED headlights.
I bought Autopal HL-102 H4 178MM glass head light units with Nighteye A315-H4-25W LED head light bulbs. The total cost was around $70 before shipping costs.
I've had these for about 3 years and no issues. I have a 68 2000 with stock wiring.
They are very bright, illuminate the road and signs very well, and relatively low wattage. I usually drive day or night with the headlights on.
2 summers ago, I drove from Seattle to Shasta in over 100 degree heat with lights on. And they are still working.
1 of the NWDE group tried the same set up with an engine swap with the related electrical wiring revisions and did have electrical issues. No one knows why.
Dan R
Any other choices these days that owners like for LED headlights?
Saw the reference in other current thread for Vintagecar.com headlights. I wonder who manufactures the recommended lights?
Linda
Sadly-Linda has passed away 2022. She was the 311's den mother and drove the first Rare-Parts ball joint project. RIP.
Linda wrote: Sat Dec 19, 2020 1:52 pm
Any other choices these days that owners like for LED headlights?
Saw the reference in other current thread for Vintagecar.com headlights. I wonder who manufactures the recommended lights?
Linda
You have to be careful. Sometimes the picture in ads don't match the product. Seems like a lot of Euro or right hand drive H4s for sale, lens cut off on the wrong side. I learned and my second set are DOT Hella H4 not flat.
After having a headlight hit by a rock this summer, I bought new headlight enclosures from Zcardepot.com for $45 for the set. Rounded face that resembles the Toshiba headlights. I like the rounded face vs the flat face I had before.
I used Auxbeam S1-H4 88623528 bulbs in Hella H4 housings, and what a difference it made. Makes you want to drive at night. No heat issues, pure white, nice field of illumination. Pat