Posted on 12/29/2021 8:13:35 PM PST by Paul R.
I was looking at some LED car light bulbs online (for a backup light application (personal vehicle) that takes a stock 921 bulb), and ran across a product with a "2020" SMD (surface mount) LED in it. I often take a look at LED specifications to see if the output claimed for a light or bulb is even possible, but in this case I could not find anything that seemed definitive, online. Most was confusing...
This one (uses the 2835’s at .5 w ea.), is a bit scary:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0978P856B?ref_=pe_623860_70668520_dpLink
10.5 w. 1260 Lumens total. In a small enclosed fixture I’d worry the bulbs would cook themselves unless the temperature controller is really good.*
*And then the output would fall off as the bulb heats up. Maybe not often a big problem in a backup app? There’s certainly a ton of illumination to start off with...!)
“There are a very few LED headlight bulbs that do the point source thing correctly...”
A filament is not a point source either. A tighter beam can be had with a larger parabolic reflector but that would be a styling nightmare.
As far as I can determine there are NO aftermarket LED bulbs that are certified for headlight use (when replacing a halogen capsule).
For sealed beam headlights, you can find aftermarket LED bulbs that are certified for headlight use. But they are expensive, about $100 each from what I’ve seen.
I’ve seen sealed-beam LED replacements that just consist of an array of LEDs with no obvious way to control the beam. And this in a state with an annual safety inspection that is supposed to reject the vehicle for having that junk installed.
Well, a headlight bulb filament is close enough to a point source that it works pretty well, positioned and oriented properly. Modern low beams have very sharp upper cutoffs. Some of the latest aftermarket LED based bulbs have a pretty small effective source too, but I don’t know of any certified for halogen fixtures yet.
How is your Ecat working out>
Right. The newest “near point source” aftermarket LED headlight bulbs probably have not been available long enough to be certified. But, they are sold on Amazon, etc., just like the others.
” positioned and oriented properly.”
A filament, say a single linear one, if it were horizontal then the vertical extent of the beam could be sharply defined while the horizontal wouldn’t but that doesn’t matter much.
They’re supposed to be certified even before being offered for sale, according to Federal law.
Looks like we can add stalking to the list of trolling behaviors that TG is engaged in.
I already have new headlight clusters, just awaiting summertime when I switch them. The small lights inside the instrument cluster is what I am really wanting to get to, along with the backup lights. Older cars have such dim lighting behind the speedo, IDK if that is because of cracked panel solder or what.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.