LED Headlights - my experience.

[IanW]

After a discussion at my local 7Club meeting, I decided to try out some LED headlamps. Replacement H4 LED headlamps are relatively cheap from eBay so at less than £20 a pair I ordered some of these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/H4-9003-HB2-260W-26000LM-LED-Headlight-Kit-Car-Hi-Lo-Dual-Beam-3-Sides-Bulb-Lamp/272757826058?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649. (They appear to have increased in price!). They were chosen because the control electronics were separate from the lamp and I was concerned about the amount of room behind the reflector as I have the smaller 5.25" bowls.

 

The first thing I did before fitting them was to measure current drain of the existing halogen bulbs:

Dipped beam: 8.7A

Main beam: 9.7A

After fitting the new LED bulbs, I re-measured the currents:

Dipped beam: 4.6A

Main beam: 4.8A

As you can see, there is a significant reduction in current.

 

Next I looked at the beam pattern and this is where I noticed a problem. The two bulbs did not give the same pattern when on dipped. On investigation, there was a difference between the small LED panels that were lit in dipped mode. My assumption was that the control electronics was wired incorrectly.  The main beam looked the same because all the LEDs are lit. After an email discussion with the supplier and providing proof that I had rendered both lights unusable, I was sent a replacement pair. When these were fitted, the beam pattern was consistent but there was still a disappointing difference between dipped and main beam.

 

Rather than give up, I decided to purchase another pair of bulbs that had a different construction.  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-CREE-H4-Hi-Lo-9003-HB2-26000LM-LED-Car-Headlight-Kit-Double-Beam-Bulbs-6000K/401319848450?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649. These have the control electronics built in to the main bulb assembly. As it turns out the extra depth is not a problem, even with the smaller headlamp bowls.

 

The current consumption for these bulbs is:

Dipped beam: 5.0A

Main beam: 6.0A

 

In the garage, the beam pattern on dipped beam looked a lot better than the previous bulb and  there was a significant increase in brightness when switched to main beam. The first problem I noticed was that one of the bulbs flickered.

 

I decided to try the lamps and the local evening meeting was an ideal opportunity. The light still flickered but otherwise appeared OK. The drive there was in twilight but the beam pattern appeared OK on the road. When I left the pub, I had an opportunity to test the main beam. Visibility was very good. When I got to the end of the unlit road, I switched off the main beam. The light from the headlamps didn't seem the same as earlier and I soon realised that one of the bulbs wasn't working. The bulb that failed was the one that was flickering earlier.

 

The next day, when I checked the bulbs, the flickering had returned, but the bulb was working. A three day trip around Wales where I used the dipped beam at all times. The flickering remained but the bulb didn't fail again. Maybe it was related to using main beam, but I didn't get the chance to test this theory.

 

Another round of email conversations with the new supplier resulted in a new set of bulbs being sent. These were duly installed with no sign of flickering. The next road test occurred in full darkness and although it appeared to be going well, when I was travelling along unlit roads, I was flashed three times by drivers who thought I had left the main beam on. Conversations at the pub raised concerns about the light spread from the bulbs above the horizontal.

 

In an attempt to reduce this glare, I masked off the top third of the headlamp with a clear tape which diffused the light from the top of the headlamp without affecting the dipped beam. I was a little concerned about the main beam as the top half of the lens is where this light comes from. The diffusing effect of the tap appeared to be OK in the garage test. On the road however, the main beam was woefully disappointing. The light in the dipped beam area was increased when switching to main beam but the distant road was not lit at all well. This was what I feared.

 

In conclusion, the LEDs give a very bright, white light with a good range. The heat generated by the LEDs is not a problem. Although the fan can be heard when standing next to the headlights it is not loud enough to be annoying. The headlamp bowls get warm to the touch but never get too hot. If there were no other road users, then these lights would be great. Unfortunately, the glare from the dipped beam is just too much as it affects oncoming traffic. So replacing the standard bulbs with LED is not a good solution for me and I'll be switching back to the halogen bulbs.

[Jonathan Kay]

Thanks for all that work and including the detail: it still looks as if the products haven't settled down.

Jonathan

PS: The start of the first URL is duff.

PPS: " If there were no other road users... " :-)

[Colin Cooper]

Excellent report.

I expect I am not the only one who has poor lights, so this type of test is just the thing I am looking for.

Col

[Stridey]

Would the make of lens make any difference in spread and beam efficiency? And perhaps new orientation/angle adjustment of the headlamps may be needed?  I have 7" Cibie lenses and they seem fine for oncoming traffic. I did take care to orientate the bulbs correctly at 90° as they have led panels on the opposing faces. when you separate the parts for fixing it's easy to not push them back together at the correct angle, If that makes sense. I had no flickering (yet) from my Amazon bought main bulbs and the side light replacement bulbs from Classic Car Leds seem fine. 

I also did rear red brake Leds, The indicators and side repeaters I've left alone.

[K7 VCT]

Hi folks, bedt you go to classic car leds in Bristol. Find them on the web.

Look for the headlight bulbs h4 Led ones. Listed under the caterham section. Been using for 6 months. Best money i ever spent.

 

[DJ.]

Thanks Ian, that was very interesting

I find my headlights with 5 3/4 inch lights and halogen bulbs quite good on main beam, but they aren't very good on dipped. I know quite a few people who have changed to LED light units, but they all look odd on a Seven. A better bulb that keeps the original appearance would appear to be the ideal upgrade.

K7 VCT, any more information about glare affecting oncoming cars/beam patterns? I had a friend with a Seven who swore by his HID lights, but I avoided driving in front of him as they were horrible in my rear view mirror.

Duncan

[K7 VCT]

Beam pattern is similar to halogen, blue white light colour. All the benefits without any of the problems.

Mine are 5 3/4 inch units.

[DJ.]

Thanks, I'll look into those LEDs

[Jonathan Kay]

Hi folks, bedt you go to classic car leds in Bristol. Find them on the web. Look for the headlight bulbs h4 Led ones. Listed under the caterham section. Been using for 6 months. Best money i ever spent.

Which ones did you buy, please?

Thanks

Jonathan

[David Brown]

A few months ago someone linked to complete LED Headlight units for around £100 a pair in 5 3/4 for Harleys. Did anyone buy them?

[David Belding]

I bought these

AMBOTHER H4 LED Headlight Bulbs Kits Dual Hi/Lo Beam 6000K 7600LM 12V with Dust Covers PWIXOGKK27

from Amazon and they needed a tiny scrape with a craft knife to make them fit but are much brighter than halogens. The dipped beam shape is excellent with a sharp cut off. Never been ‘flashed’ at even with them set as high as legal.

Fitted in large chrome lights on my 1998 Supersport. 

[Golf Juliet Tango]

IanW,

This is very helpful. As you are using the small 5.75" headlamps, I deduce these have pressed glass beam-control.

I was keen to try LED lamps in my 21, as the light output is considerably worse than on my Seven.

Reading between the lines, it might be considered an antisocial move, as my replacement fittings are reflector beam-control style.

[K7 VCT]

Hi just go to classic car leds site then search for caterham, its the only bulbs that come up from that search.

[Jonathan Kay]

Thanks. That led me to these.

Jonathan

[K7 VCT]

Hi Jonathan see my last post.

Hope the link works.

 

https://www.classiccarleds.co.uk/products/led-headlights-h4-fully-integrated-6000-lumen-hi-lo-beam-conversion-9-32v

[raw]

I've got these https://www.classiccarleds.co.uk/collections/12-volt-collection/products/latest-led-headlights-h4-philips-z-es-hi-lo-beam-conversion-9-32v

They're in 7" headlights which I swapped for clear polycarbonate lense/metal reflector units from SVC. Light output is amazing, comparable with OEM zenon units and means I can actually see further than a car's length in front of me.

http://www.s-v-c.co.uk/product/7--wipac-freeform-headlight-lens/

 

Andrew

[raw]

Hi Ezzer

Yes, it is as simple as it sounds, the lens unit and the LED lamps are a straight swap and all wiring simply plugs in using existing setup - probably the quickest upgrade I've ever done! No need to re-thread wires down the stays etc. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures at the moment.

 

Andrew

[Golf Juliet Tango]

Andrew/raw

It's helpful to know you have put some LED lamps into reflector beam-control fittings.

[Neil Allen]

Jonathon

Pun intended I assume  

 

[K7 VCT]

As i said i have 5 3/4 inch units and the bulbs alone are miles ans smiles better....

[Edzup Ezzer]

Andrew,

Your headlamp upgrade sounds just the approach I was looking for.  Swap the lens, reflector and bulbs for LEDs and plain lens with the minimum of mods to the existing set-up - i.e. virtually a straight swap.  Is it as simple at is sounds?  Not that I'm incapable of anything more complicated, but remembering how difficult it was to fit the headlamps (threading wires thu' the stays was a pig) when I built the car I'd rather not have to repeat the exercise.

Don't suppose you've got any photos illustrating the performance improvement have you?

Ezzer

Edited to add:-

It might interest anyone thinking of following RAW's lead as I have, to know that the 7" Wipac Freeform reflector units referred to supplied by S-V-C at £72 for the pair (including bulbs?) are also available from Mini Spares without bulbs for £45 delivered a pair.  A better deal if you don't need the H4 bulbs.