Another update for this thread -
For those of us using headlights that utilize H-4 type halogen bulbs, I note that recent advancements in LED chipsets has changed the playing field considerably. I was doing a bit of research earlier today, and discovered (well, it was news to me, anyway!) that there are a raft of new LED bulb products out there.
A few months ago, dissatisfied with the headlight lighting on my GoldWing motorcycle, I bought a pair of Pathfinder LED replacement bulbs from SoCal. The resulting illumination is nothing short of astounding....without glare to other drivers. I found that, on high beam, at highway speeds, objects 11 seconds ahead of me were
fully lit, as though in daylight. This compares to about 4.5 seconds during testing, for mid-range Halogen H-4's (with a projected life span of only several weeks to a few months). This is a vast improvement on a motorcycle, where a deer-strike (extremely common in my area...been there, have permanent injuries as a result) is not merely an inconvenience, but life-threatening.
The pattern of light on high beam doesn't really matter, as long as it lights up the road right in front of you & extends down the road a long way. The pattern on low beam, however, IS important. The Pathfinder bulbs have an inherent flaw in their design: BOTH LED emitters are placed on the bulb's "stalk" at identical distances from the headlight reflector, unlike halogen bulbs, which have the two emitters (or filaments, in the case of halogens) at very different distances from the reflector. The result is that you can have a precisely focused low beam, or an effective high beam, but not both.
I posed this issue to GoldWing sites, LED manufacturers, etc.
It appears some manufacturers have been listening. The NEW series of LED "bulbs" have their emitters positioned precisely the same as their halogen counterparts, so give precisely the same light pattern as the halogens (so, no glare for other drivers)...except with greater than 500% of the light output of halogens, while using less power.
Currently, I have 3 vehicles which use 4 halogen headlights (the Locost, a 2000 Miata, and a 2005 Ford Escape). I've just ordered a set like these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2pcs-Philips-LE ... 2199186381I'll be testing them in one or more of the aforementioned "test mules" to see how well they work.
Of course, none of them (from what I can tell) are DOT-approved, and aren't likely to be for some time. Mind you, Philips, Osram,
et al have been selling non-compliant bulbs for years (100W H-4 halogens, for example). I can't honestly recall the last time I got stopped so someone could check the DOT rating on my headlight bulbs...
Of course, during the registration/licensing process, one would be well advised to fit the original DOT-approved halogen bulbs, and change them to the LED's "at a later time".
One of the disadvantages to headlight patterns in low-slung sports cars is that the headlights are very close to the ground (compared to, say, a pickup truck, SUV, crossover, etc.). The light is far more indirect when it's low to the road, and more of it reflects off the road surface & into the treetops. So, not much road illumination results.
If, on the other hand, you can have at least a 500% increase in light output in the first place, without causing glare to other drivers, with a bulb lifespan of 30,000-50,000 hours of burn time, and all at a reduced electrical system draw & less cost than top-tier halogen bulbs, you're waaay ahead of the ball IMHO.
Just thought I'd throw that out there. I'll report back once I receive my new bulbs & have a chance to test them.
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