LED headlamp replacements

[Greybrick]

Although a few cars already have stock LED headlights and I guess we are getting closer to general automotive LED headlamp replacements for all vehicles which should give some improved efficiency; in terms of FE how much improvement could replacing headlamps to LED give. Looking at aircraft sites I see that LED landing lights have been in use for awhile.

Irrespective of costs involved would installing a pair of the AeroSunLites, VisionX lamps or other aircraft landing lamps of the 4 - 8 LED variety to replace stock automotive headlamps give some measurable FE improvement and still give sufficient nighttime driving light, ability to dim the lamps for oncoming traffic, etc;

http://www.aeroleds.com/product.html

http://www.visionxoffroad.com/Products/LED/XmitterBar/

http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/article...070725/136768/

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[VetteOwner]

thier cool but for $700 a pair it would take YEARS to offset the difference...

sicne you can get a replacement headlight for $8...

[Greybrick]

I think I'll check at the local Audi, Lexus and GM Cadillac dealerships to find out which models have LED headlights and what those prices are, look at how those could be incorporated into a Nissan headlamp holder, and then see what might be available from auto wreckers. If I wait a year or two Nissan may have an OE LED headlamp for my truck or similar though, but also at dealership prices.

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[gork57]

I've been asking myself a similar question lately: Why aren't LED replacement headlight bulbs on the market for cars yet? They last forever, are very bright, and use less energy than halogen bulbs. Seems like a no-brainer to me. HID-type bulbs are bright, but my experience is they burn out quicker than lower-intensity bulbs, and thus have to be replaced more often. This makes little sense from a financial standpoint. So where are the LEDs?

[dkjones96]

LED direct replacements still have a ways to go, they don't have the light density that halogens do so it takes a much larger bulb to create the same amount of light essentially making it where you just have to replace the whole headlight assembly. I may be wrong though, I've been out of the LED world for almost a year now.

A better thing to do (in the mean time) would be to get a modulator and 'flash' the bulb very quickly, like putting a higher wattage bulb on a lamp and then fitting it with a rectifier so it only lights the bulb when the ac is flowing one way.

[tjts1]

Most HIDs use 35w as opposed to 55-65w for most halogen headlights. You don't have to reinvent the wheel.

[VetteOwner]

Originally Posted by dkjones96

LED direct replacements still have a ways to go, they don't have the light density that halogens do so it takes a much larger bulb to create the same amount of light essentially making it where you just have to replace the whole headlight assembly. I may be wrong though, I've been out of the LED world for almost a year now.

A better thing to do (in the mean time) would be to get a modulator and 'flash' the bulb very quickly, like putting a higher wattage bulb on a lamp and then fitting it with a rectifier so it only lights the bulb when the ac is flowing one way.

yea the current LED lights have special housing to project all the light forward, direct replacements wont work for a while because regular light bulbs light comes out pretty much equally in all directions, while LED's are generally pretty focused you would need alot of em in a given area to have light going out equally in all directions...

[slurp812]

I remember going to radio-shack years ago, and paying $4 for a blue LED. Just ONE of them. Now, they give them away at burger-king for little kids toys. as they become more popular, the price will drop...

[VetteOwner]

Originally Posted by slurp812

I remember going to radio-shack years ago, and paying $4 for a blue LED. Just ONE of them. Now, they give them away at burger-king for little kids toys. as they become more popular, the price will drop...

yup same goes with everything, i mean look at DVD players 8 years ago, cassette players, i remember when MP3 players first came out, like 64mb but cost like $80-$100

[RoadWarrior]

Believe it or not, high output LEDs have a heat problem, and it can only be dissipated through the cathode. There's some workarounds but making a generically useful high output LED that doesn't have or won't get special thermal considerations is a challenge that isn't yet fully solved.