Topic: Headlights

[dwtaylorpdx]

I don't think they're worth it.  You have play around with LED flashlights?  They have a limited range unless you really bump up the lumen's compared to the same incandescent bulb.  The other problem with many LED's is the fist full of flashlights effect.  Instead of looking like one light you get a pattern that looks like a lot of smaller lights in one larger pattern.

Dave turns left and heads out into the weeds.....


I just bought a 2 D cell maglight flashlight, it has some claim like 300 meters of illumination...
(Insert me scepticle but it was on sale for 20 bucks and I couldn't find my other maglight... and I had a 20...)
The thing is insanely bright... Like burnt retina's bright... best hand light I own..

It really does illuminate out over 200 yards, at least it did on top of my rifle scope... :) the coyotes never knew what hit them...

Cheers
Dave

[Mozman68]

I'm thinking of getting them...I mean, I just posted about how long my Fat Boys have lasted, so they are sure to blow out this weekend.  


Seriously though...half the crap I buy for my rig is just to be different than the other ones out there.  I don't drive at night a lot but I like the idea of the durability, whiteness, "kewl factor," etc...and I like the new style versus the multiple diode one that originally came out.

We'll see...tires are in and going on this week...my wallet will be a little light after that...

[chardrc]

I got 2 of those Led lights that mount at the bottom of your windshield. they light the heck out of everything in front of you and draw way less amps than the old fashion day lighters. they aren't cheap but what is. don't know if i would change the normal headlights out to leds though

[grumpygy]

Dave turns left and heads out into the weeds.....


I just bought a 2 D cell maglight flashlight, it has some claim like 300 meters of illumination...
(Insert me scepticle but it was on sale for 20 bucks and I couldn't find my other maglight... and I had a 20...)
The thing is insanely bright... Like burnt retina's bright... best hand light I own..

It really does illuminate out over 200 yards, at least it did on top of my rifle scope... :) the coyotes never knew what hit them...

Cheers
Dave

I picked this one up on sale at Batteries plus and I had a $10 coupon for about $9.



  I flat blows away any other Flashlight I have that includes Streamlight.  It has 2 power a High and low the low is better than any I have.

Model: DIYBEAM-B

Features and Benefits:
•High performance LEDs and 2 modes: 150 Lumens, 50 Lumens (energy saver)
•Beam distance: 350 meters, 195 meters (energy saver)
•Battery run time (alkaline batteries incl.): 20 hours, 78 hours (energy saver)
•15 Foot Drop Test Performance!
•Rubber head – shock absorbers
•Impact resisting internal engineering
•Designed for maximum durability + simplicity
•Switch on handle for ease of use
•IPX4 water resistant
•Lifetime guarantee
•(4) C Rayovac alkaline batteries included

[aka-justin]

Anybody tried

http://www.truck-lite.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=92027&langId=-1

They also make the round ones too.


The one downside $230.00

I saw these in person. They seem pretty bright, but there still was no lumen information in the literature or from what I can find. I don't know how much brighter they are over standard bulbs, but according to the litature, it exceeds the FMVSS-108 and VMVSS-108 for high and low beam performance. They look really nice too. I'd get these before an HID projection housings in a heart beat. Right now I have the Sylvania Performance Silverstar H6024s, which are very bright, but the LED's would rock.  They also use about 7w for low and 14w for high.

I'll email Truck-Lite to get the Lumen. I imagine its around 1000 for low beams.

[aw12345]

Problem with some of those is, A they are very expensive and B quite a few do not have a very good light bundle/ pattern. On top of that the lights lasting a whole lot longer isn't always true Led's can do some goofy stuff. Some of the leds can fail or go dim in the light basically rendering it useless, would really suck on a 300 dollar headlight

[Mozman68]

Problem with some of those is, A they are very expensive and B quite a few do not have a very good light bundle/ pattern. On top of that the lights lasting a whole lot longer isn't always true Led's can do some goofy stuff. Some of the leds can fail or go dim in the light basically rendering it useless, would really suck on a 300 dollar headlight

Yeah...but their kewl....

[aka-justin]

Kewl or not, 1350 lumens, 14 watts on high, the smooth projection, 3 year warranty, and American made - without the need for projectors or blinding oncoming traffic, I'm sold.

http://betterautomotivelighting.com/2012/06/07/phase-7-led-headlights-by-truck-lite/

[Jeffy]

I still can't see spending $500 for headlights.  $500 for AUX lights, maybe, but not headlights.  The Phase 7's are Trucklite second generation LED's.  Looks like they're better then the gen ones.

You've got to spend a lot of time driving on roads at night to make it worth it though.  Offroad, you'll be using AUX lights more then the headlights anyway.

I bet those comparison pics are done with seal beams running on stock harness while the LED's are on a relay harness.  I don't think they're that much better then a H4 conversion with Euro-spec lenses.  Maybe if they were around $250-300 I'd consider them not at $450-500.

[chrisfranklin]

Looks like photographer maybe used a tinted lens to shoot the oem lights in high/low.  Or maybe, it was "let's get the worst pair of incandescent headlights we can find and shoot those."

I've seen birthday candles with a higher color temp than those stock headlights... 

LEDs look good, though. 

[grumpygy]

I still can't see spending $500 for headlights.  $500 for AUX lights, maybe, but not headlights.  The Phase 7's are Trucklite second generation LED's.  Looks like they're better then the gen ones.

You've got to spend a lot of time driving on roads at night to make it worth it though.  Offroad, you'll be using AUX lights more then the headlights anyway.

I bet those comparison pics are done with seal beams running on stock harness while the LED's are on a relay harness.  I don't think they're that much better then a H4 conversion with Euro-spec lenses.  Maybe if they were around $250-300 I'd consider them not at $450-500.

I found them for $230.

Just found them cheaper.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Truck-Lite-27450C-Rectangular-LED-5X7-Hi-Low-Headlight-/370660847897?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item564d1bb119&vxp=mtr

[Jeffy]

I found them for $230.

Just found them cheaper.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Truck-Lite-27450C-Rectangular-LED-5X7-Hi-Low-Headlight-/370660847897?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item564d1bb119&vxp=mtr

That's for a single light not a pair even though the picture suggests it's two.

[firebrick43]

Sorry to join so late, but I will throw my two cents in. 

I work second shift and drive home around midnight through some of Indiana's most rual deer infested roads.  So safety seeing them was paramount. 

I bought a pair of Cebies E codes from daniel stern. 

I also upgraded my wiring, 10 gauge wires, ceramic connector housing, with relays. 

I originally used the 75/65 OSRAM off road H4 bulbs. 

First I did the wiring, the original headlight circuit now just controlls the relays and a direct path with heavy wires carries the current. 
This had a profound effect with the stock sealed beams. 

The cebie's are just amazing with their pattern and cutt off.  Just like a solid line with no light above it on low, so no flashes from on coming drivers.  Brights are every bit as good as the pictures above, maybe better, its hard to be subjective over pictures of lighting.  Not only far out but side to side as well.  A buddy has IPF ecodes in a cherokee(same housing style) and while they are good, the cebie's are better. 

I did blow out (6 months) the high beams of the OSHRAM bulbs, Turned on the headlights 10 seconds after turning on  so it was probably a voltage spike from the alternator not a headlight problem but I did go to a sylvania bulb, cant recall exactly but was the second from the top in their line up.  Fact of life with halogens, brighter the bulb,  smaller the filiment, shorter the life.  But it is still excellent with the great reflectors that cebie is known for. 

I did update my alternator to a 136amp from a grand cherokee (think 96') after the lights blew out, seems like my charging system is more even now. 

[chrisfranklin]

Sorry to join so late, but I will throw my two cents in. 

I work second shift and drive home around midnight through some of Indiana's most rual deer infested roads.  So safety seeing them was paramount. 

I bought a pair of Cebies E codes from daniel stern. 

I also upgraded my wiring, 10 gauge wires, ceramic connector housing, with relays. 

I originally used the 75/65 OSRAM off road H4 bulbs. 

First I did the wiring, the original headlight circuit now just controlls the relays and a direct path with heavy wires carries the current. 
This had a profound effect with the stock sealed beams. 

The cebie's are just amazing with their pattern and cutt off.  Just like a solid line with no light above it on low, so no flashes from on coming drivers.  Brights are every bit as good as the pictures above, maybe better, its hard to be subjective over pictures of lighting.  Not only far out but side to side as well.  A buddy has IPF ecodes in a cherokee(same housing style) and while they are good, the cebie's are better. 

I did blow out (6 months) the high beams of the OSHRAM bulbs, Turned on the headlights 10 seconds after turning on  so it was probably a voltage spike from the alternator not a headlight problem but I did go to a sylvania bulb, cant recall exactly but was the second from the top in their line up.  Fact of life with halogens, brighter the bulb,  smaller the filiment, shorter the life.  But it is still excellent with the great reflectors that cebie is known for. 

I did update my alternator to a 136amp from a grand cherokee (think 96') after the lights blew out, seems like my charging system is more even now. 

Had the same setup w/Cibie housings, Osrams 70/65, harness.  Using a pair of the clear IPF Fatboys in the Cibie housings now and they work good in low/high.  If I get a few years out of the IPF bulbs, that'll be good enough.  Still seems like the Osram 70/65s were putting out maybe not more light, but light that was closer to daylight 5000K (and they weren't tinted blue or any of that).

[Mozman68]

but...the LED's are so cool...