The Truth about LED bulbs - Don't Buy LED Headlight Bulbs Before Watching This!

[@jeffryan7439]

I was all set to be annoyed by some dude pretending to know about bulbs, then this guy taught me stuff, good job man

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Thanks for the feed back.

[@jrock5995]

I was annoyed thoroughly, And found it shallow & pedantic. Also do you carry After market horse lights that are led & shaped like nipples? Also instructions on how to mount to horse and how to wire the horse with out getting a error message. Thanks

[@bartman8876]

Well put. I was thinking the same some random dork just talking out side of his face. Then this guy having some very real world knowledge. Real talk

[@jrock5995]

@@bartman8876 It was ok. It was more like a infomercials for his lights though. Even when they sell you the new cooking stuff they give info. So it was basiclly a infomercials & i dont have cable & get off work at 2am so i see plenty of them and i know when i see one.

[@americanjoe5486]

nothing like coming over the hill to super bright Lazer lights,, is there!

[@thundergod6173]

These new headlights on the road are blinding. I found the safest thing to do for my own sight is close my eyes and drive by feel.

[@delmusingle2338]

Look to the side of the road and 'feel' safer as you pass.

[@adamchenault3277]

My new silverado has some of the brightest lights I've ever seen I can't stand everybody flashes me like I'm driving with high beams on

[@delmusingle2338]

@@adamchenault3277 ,,, Then do something about it. Perhaps an add-on 'horizontal narrow blinds' over the outside lens.

[@ricebike]

Re aim the driver side a bit lower than the oem

[@tkfcon37]

Yeah the ole close your eyes clutch your ass and pray approach 😱😈😱😈

[@Rustipipes]

As an electrical engineer I’d say this is as thorough yet easy to understand explanation of a somewhat technical topic as anyone could produce. Thank you thank you. I now feel that I am qualified to upgrade the lamps on my 2 trucks without being disappointed. Best regards!

[@user-pq6mr6op3p]

As a electrical engineer you should already know these things.

[@urntwrthyZ]

Check you local laws first.

[@lerodman]

@@urntwrthyZ Shouldn't matter if you have a projector lens to cut off glare. LEDs and heat management are indeed pretty basic, in fact gonna be the fatal flaw for many casual enthusiasts.

[@CommentsAllowed]

I agree. I really liked this video.

[@popnowlights]

That's great.

[@BorisEkner]

I commented in a negative manner regarding the color temperature of LED’s, I respectfully disagreed with you in that comment, and you kindly disagreed with me. As a 50 year+ hobby photographer I thought you were dead wrong… The sun is, on a clear day, 5000-6500 Kelvin. Thanks to you I have learned a lot about car lighting and modern LED’s. No, I wasn’t smart enough to replace my H4’s & H7’s with your recommendations, but I was smart enough to listen after replacements were made. (Rest assured, next upgrades will be made with your recommendations in mind!) Meaning, the knowledge you share in these videos changed my perception, changed what I thought I knew. You changed my opinions because you taught me more than I thought I knew. I salute you for that. I want to express my apologies for my ignorance as well as my gratitude for you sharing your knowledge. Thanks!

[@xTypeNameHerex]

This deserves more than the 31 thumbs up it has.

[@stanleyroberts6669]

I have changed my original bulbs to LED's in my 02 firebird. I notice that my Original bulbs have #'s to go by, like the 194's , 4157, 3147 & so on. LED' s come in the #'s & you can match them with the size an #'s with the bulbs in your car. nuff-said 😂

[@k.a.8494]

Anyone who is willing to show their face and their true small business name while calling out Phillips (the crappy connection on LED bulb near the end of the video) has my vote. I'll be calling you guys on Monday for advice as well as giving you my business even though I'm just one guy. Keep doing what you're doing!

[@HeadlightRevolution]

🙏

[@andrianatruckin7014]

So which one is good for big transport truck

[@arnehofoss9109]

Take a look in a cars motor bay. What kind of connections do you find there? By the way, buy Osram LED bulbs!

[@isaaclaughter]

I didn't even finish the vid before HLR got a thumbs up from me. I subscribe to someone who works this hard to figure out what manufactures do not even care about.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Thank you!

[@gmiles119]

I thought, another one of these "Don't buy XYZ before watching this" videos. Most that I've seen are just poorly designed advertisements. Finally one with useful, accurate information. Well done! I wish you continued success! I actually wish I had not bought LED bulbs for my wife's car and my RV before watching this!

[@tn15_]

Summary of what to look for: LED: Thin straight line diode that closely mimics original coil pattern to ensure proper beam pattern. Cooling: Proper metal heatsink and fan setup. Simply relying on surface area not good enough. Choosing the brightest LED on market exposes you to heat management issues. Wiring: External driver away from heatsink to avoid premature failure due to heat. Compact enough to fit in housing. Minimize connections to avoid excess failure points.

[@edgarduran8291]

Do you know of which brand would be the best one to get? 🙂

[@lsandk3]

Best one of your videos I've watched so far. There needs to be much more education of drivers installing LED lights and how to keep from blinding oncoming traffic. It's a huge issue where I live.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

We do have a video on that shows people exactly how to aim their headlights on our channel, We just need those people to watch it! 1 Share = 1 more person who won't blind you on the road! Thank you for watching. -Chris W

[@Randy-qq8lr]

No kidding. I actually dialed mine down an extra smidge from factory setting and just slightly more toward fog line. Still great visibility and never got flashed for blinding cause i care about other drivers. Putco Silver Lux Led. Real happy with them so far.

[@lsandk3]

My pet peeves is the new trucks with 4 headlights plus fog lights. Guys are putting LEDs in all 6 spots and the towing a pretty good size trailer. Just like having 6 really bright high beams coming at you.

[@timpindell8178]

@@HeadlightRevolution you cannot aim headlights are are this bright and not blind oncoming traffic. The earth is not flat... therefore, every time you go over a bump you have now shined this retina melting light into someones face. Also, how you you compensate for trucks that are higher than passenger cars?

[@Acetyl53]

@@HeadlightRevolution Aim them all you want. What you really need is a strong diffuser (LEDs are like lasers) and filter for the 440-450nm blue light. Anything else, you will damage the photoreceptors in your eyes, you will see a higher rate of cancers and degenerative disease, and you will see simple brain damage. This is the point we're at now, and you aren't taking it seriously.

[@mountainmanws]

Thanks, HR for the great presentation. Where I work, we experimented with building LED headlights about a decade ago. As the temperature rises, the efficiency of the LED light output decreases requiring more current, more heat.... You get the picture. Also, overheating an LED will result in a permanent color shift. Heat is the nemesis of LEDs. A LED is a current controlled electrical device. The "driver" acts as a current source not a voltage source used for halogen lamps.

[@glenbarnier]

sir, you are doing a tremendous job and i want to thank you for all of this amazing research you have done! imagine all the money you have saved people from educating them on this subject

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Wow, thank you!

[@jeffreyschmidt3997]

Yes -totally agree that this has likely saved much money from waste and hopefully encouraged some manufacturers to rethink production of garbage products destined for failure

[@Brandovibe]

Very informative. I thought i was the only one that goes to these crazy lengths of research on things like this!

[@hollykonkoli8511]

I'm a car research nerd consumer reports geekalot of times I've felt this way.

[@ActuallyCasual]

I do this with everything. My wife wanted me to go to therapy.

[@Brandovibe]

@@ActuallyCasual 😂

[@jonathanteraji5864]

Very informative video. Yes, everyone should watch before buying. I am a Toyota tech and we are seeing more lighting (and other electrical) complaints that end up being caused by aftermarket installs. The frustration gets compounded when the customer expects the warranty to pay for the diagnostic and fix when it does not. Have you thought about exploring the effects of heat output and current load over time in different headlight shells using different brand bulbs? For instance, We had a complaint of intermittent headlights (can't remember the model). Of course it worked perfectly in the shop. It needed to be driven about 30 miles for a bulb to go out and then the radio would also go crazy. It turned out it had LED H/L bulbs with a fan. We believe that because the bulb assy was totally enclosed in the shell, heat dissipation was a factor along with, probably, a Chinese bulb (didn't look for a brand). Another intermittent headlight complaint was an HID install on a car with daytime running lights. Many models run the RT and LT bulbs in series during DRL which means each ballast got only 6 volts. Our guess was it may have worked ok at first but after a few years of the ballast flopping around it just weaker and weaker. I am concerned that as more sophisticated electronics are used in modern vehicles that they will become even more sensitive to owner mods and causing unintended malfunctions - possibly in other non-related systems.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

We have also been seeing a rise in new challenges when it comes to modern vehicles and aftermarket lighting. It’s a big reason why we do as much testing as we do here on this channel, a vast majority of the bulbs that you can buy on Amazon or eBay simply do not work in these modern vehicles. You’ll get flickering, strobing, or warning lights in the dash with many of the options on the market today. Older vehicles aren’t quite as picky! -Chris W

[@cindyj5522]

This is my concern. Aftermarket parts and not getting the angle of the beam correct in a DIY. But holy moly...the dealerships charge SO much to do even this simple thing. It can cost you $200 for parts and labor for something you could try at home for under $50.

[@mattcoughlin2356]

I do have to say that our 2021 Highlander has the brightest stock LED bulbs i've ever seen before. We are constantly getting high beamed by other drivers.

[@fideauone3416]

Glad you did all the research but just tell me which one to get.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Depends on the vehicle! Reach out to us for suggestions on your vehicle! 218-755-5200 [e-mail]

[@derekwhyle1884]

It’s quite simple really. Headlight reflectors and lenses are designed for the original light source.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

That is absolutely true. We do as much testing as possible here to find bulbs that imitate that factory bulb placement. -Chris W

[@soilmanted]

And the better quality LED replacements are designed for those headlight reflectors, designed to mimic the original light source when placed with those reflectors, or lenses. It is impossible to mimic them exactly and so there is a tendency for low beam cutoff to be not quite as crisp as the incandescents, and for the high beams to look a little splotchy. Also, with dual filament incandescents, the high beam filament has substantially greater brightness than the low beam, so when you switch from low to high you get not only a different angle, but also a brighter light. LED replacements tend to have the same brightness in high as in low, so while the high beam reaches further down the road, you actually see LESS brightness on the road ahead of you than when you were using the low beams. I find this rather disconcerting, and after some weeks of night driving. I'm not getting used to it. Some people never use their high beams. I think they will be happy with many LED replacements. But such people are foolish people. You need high beams when on roads without oncoming traffic and you need them to be bright to avoid hitting stuff that falls off trucks, animals that cross without first looking both ways, and retreads that peel off of tires and stay on the road..

[@markdixon392]

@@HeadlightRevolution well, I dont find that you do as much testing as possible. You miss big and dont do two of the most important tests. You do not reference FMVSS 108 and measure the output against what is described as legal. Also, you do not attach a thermocouple and report the solder point temperature (and compare it to the max junction temp after a simple calculation from the component thermal resistance... that tells you how long it will last). THESE TWO are the most relevant characteristics of the system to report on (for LED's), but you dont perform these evaluations. Pictures in your book are helpful, but are limited in their usefulness as they do not report how far off from the standard the output is. Ultimately, that's what folks want to know, but you dont achieve that goal. For LEDS, the further solder point test is by far the 2nd most relevant piece of data... and it's not hard to do.

[@markmarkw1919]

@@soilmanted I once lived with a guy who never used high beams. I tried to convince him that he could either drive at the same speed with greater safety, or could drive faster with equal safety, if he would use them. I guess he just couldn't keep track of whether he was on high or low, and being a very considerate guy, he opted to leave them on low. Only explanation I can think of...

[@kajbyman3006]

I agree,and keeping in mind that ALL of those conversions from halogen light bulbs to xenon or led are NOT legal in Europe..

[@williamj515]

At 2:49 when he comparing the incandescent to the LED, note the tip of the incandescent. It is blackened to prevent direct glare from the filament. Most aftermarket bulbs, especially those marked "off road use only" don't have it. Which causes, along with poor aiming, the glare to oncoming drivers.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Good tip

[@peterdurnien9084]

I want to see some standardisation, some are just bright, too bright, dazzling with no beam, some bright but can't tell how far away any oncoming vehicle is.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

That's a good point, We do our best to test as many bulbs as possible on our channel to help you guys out. -Chris W

[@petermoller6230]

@MARCUS KOHL wooow...I can just sense your life must be filled with happiness XD

[@ryankuehm6228]

​@MARCUS KOHL great point...#sarcasm

[@poiiihy]

the thing is none of these are good enough to meet headlamp requirements (they are only legal in the fog lights); read the description lol

[@shaquillemulligan2768]

Headlight Revolution What's the best Led for a 2013 dodge durango need a good kit that want Fail me more into a blue blue Led not white can you help

[@kevinolesik1500]

Id like to see an OEM , LED bulb like from Honda or Toyota ...Acura , Lexus ...

[@therealracer135]

Can't seem to find a video anywhere which includes what wattage/lumens you're supposed to use for low beam

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Because it's subjective. Some people will want more, some will want less. Just make sure you get high quality bulbs. I would recommend these! www.headlightrevolution.com/better_lighting_led/low_high_fogs/sv4

[@therealracer135]

@@HeadlightRevolution aren't there standards/regulations or at least average or rule-of-thumb values for them though?

[@HeadlightRevolution]

The regulation is to not modify your headlights at all unless it's a full, DOT approved housing. Even some halogen replacements aren't street legal for headlight use. For more info on this subject shoot us an email! 218-755-5200 [e-mail]

[@therealracer135]

@@HeadlightRevolution most of the results on Google say 700 lumens for low beam so I'll just have to go with that

[@caseyhartsock2750]

Wow... There is so much more to lighting. I'm so glad someone took the time to go through it all to share the truth. Thank you for doing the research so we don't get our lights wrong.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

We got you! 🧡

[@jfunk977]

@@HeadlightRevolution were can I order led from yo

[@leocatz]

Increibly informative video. Caught suddenly (isn't is always?) with the need to replace a headlamp, I thought I'd explore the LED options. I wasn't prepared to have to get up to speed on a whole new technology and the various options. Your video helped me to avoid the high probablility of making a poor purchase. That said, I'm tempted to just put some original replacement bulbs in my 20 year old vehicle, rather than put the effort into selecting a solid LED option.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Thanks for watching!

[@cindyj5522]

As a senior consumer who currently needs to replace a LB driver side bulb, I found this to be a thorough explanation, however I kept having to back it up to catch the names of bulbs Chris seemed to approve. Maybe when showing a photo of the bulb, he could also show the name and manufacturer. Things moved too fast for me in this jam packed review.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Good suggestion, thanks Cindy!

[@deangray1823]

My 99 Ford Ranger still has its original headlights. When I replace I'll stick with the old style.

[@RickaramaTrama-lc1ys]

Bravo! My '87 Ford F-250 does too and I'll be buried in it~!!

[@scarea2691]

@@RickaramaTrama-lc1ys Make sure to wear your seatbelt!

[@HeadlightRevolution]

That's fair, However if you ever want to see what you're missing reach out to us! -Chris W

[@ricebike]

Yeah, those come at a shorter life span because they increased the output... still an easy install over weeding thru hundreds of aftermarket LED manufacturers. I've got 2 halogen h11 bulbs for a buck each straight from China and is working well. If they last a year, I definitely got my money's worth since I got a 4 pack, free shipping!

[@ricebike]

Yeah, those come at a shorter life span because they increased the output... still an easy install over weeding thru hundreds of aftermarket LED manufacturers. I've got 2 halogen h11 bulbs for a buck each straight from China and is working well. If they last a year, I definitely got my money's worth since I got a 4 pack, free shipping!

[@christianj252]

I just watched a 15-minute video on headlights. And it was good. Time used well.

[@ozzarks]

WoW.... Thank You. Now I know why so many people have head lights that will ABSOLUTELY blind everyone. (Hate that). Appreciate your passion and diligence into the world of LED car lighting. Nick

[@HeadlightRevolution]

👍

[@jaxcell]

When you're eyes get old like mine, you'll wish all cars had headlights (brake lights) from the 70's. We did just fine with them and we didn't blind everyone while driving.

[@OldTimerGarden]

I'm with you.

[@jaxcell]

@Jim Barrows You whippersnapper, you'll agree one day. But really, old folks eyes wont adjust to these stupid lights. Sealed Halogens were fine. I added Hella's for when I was on the backroads and switched off when around others. You see how crazy bright some car lights are? Why, your not landing an aircraft on a dirt runway. Same goes with Emergency Vehicles loaded with 100K lumen LED's all around, gah. But I ramble, and it's 4:00 and time for supper then bed.

[@stackflow343]

Also when ya'll whippersnappers understand, ya'll'll wish you had calcumalators and maths too like we did in the 70s. We did just fine without our faces planted in a smartfone, and we didn' get hacked neither. Stop changing stuff dagnabbit. /s lol

[@stackflow343]

@@jaxcell Jokes aside you had much higher fatal accident rates in the 70s as well, and dimly lit sealed yellow headlights were a major contributor to night-time crashes and fatigue. If your presbyopia is blinding you at night from newer lamps, get driving glasses. The real kind not what you see on QVC after m*a*s*h is over.

[@alexandersheppard1997]

Ok boomer.

[@repairvehicle]

Awesome review and love your channel. On the negative side, you doing free research and development for the companies that have any research and development.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Funny but true

[@NixonClervil]

Hi brother, can you select a headlight bulb for Toyota Rav4 2016 color blue if possible ? Thx

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Check this out, this will cover your low and high beam! www.headlightrevolution.com/9012-Ultra-2.0_2

[@ahmedshaalan7972]

Could you please talk about radio interference when you install an LED and how to eliminate it? Also, sometimes some LEDs interfere with each other. I have installed LEDs from different brands, one on the high beam and one on the low beam. Then when I turn on the low beam then the high beam, the low beam it flicker for a second then gets stable.

[@MrCygnusx72]

How about motorcycles?? I have actually been trying to find a good LED for my Victory Vision motorcycle. Which is why I watched your video, to learn more about the LEDs. I liked what I saw and will continue to research.

[@mikeramsey9747]

For motorcycle applications look at what Rigid Industries has developed.

[@holmes1956O]

Cygnusx72 for your motorcycle put a quartz halogen driving light on it and only use it when no other traffic is around. Or get a bulb that is 55watt low beam and 100watt higg beam. Thats what I run in my bikes and I wire them through a relay to take the pressure off the headlight wiring

[@timpindell8178]

For motorcycles, overpowering lights can cause issues with judging distance in cars. This is coming from someone who rides a motorcycle. Be seen, but don't be seen like a Tokyo light show.

[@holmes1956O]

Tim Pindell well just to qualify my statement I am 63yrs old have been riding racing and wrenching on motorcycles for 50yrs. Automobile drivers always have and are getting worse every day for watching properly for motorcycles. The power of the headlight being to bright for someone to judge your distance is a cop out for being unatentive. Also hid and led headlights are so close to color of the sun they disapear if you are coming from a direction that puts the sun to your rear. I have been running 100 watt high beams in my biles for many years with no problems.

[@MrCygnusx72]

@@timpindell8178 not sure I agree completely. I ride with a bunch of other riders all of which have Clearwater Darla/Sevinas which are insanely bright. I'll probably add some too. But my Victory Vision requires hours to take apart the fairing to get access to the head light bulbs. It requires H4 bulbs times 2. Properly aimed they should not be a problem for traffic. When I add my Clearwater driving lights, those will be for pissing off cars that are not paying attention

[@mycofairbanks3321]

I was having a terrible time with some fake Osrams I bought blinking off continually. Saw you expose on HID and fakes. You reviewed and recommended several light bulbs with various price points and I was in business. I am so grateful I watched you review on HIDs. Now I am back for another vehicle with terrible lights to see your review on LEDs. I will give a comment on the result when success has been achieved

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Let us know!

[@mycofairbanks3321]

@@HeadlightRevolution I never went through with it because all the LED Headlight mfgs state "not street legal". Supposedly the DOT does not regulate LED Headlamps. I don't get it because the latest model cars have them. It seems like I can pick out some older cars that have them too. Are people using them anyways?

[@lordrichard8184]

Great video!! Lots of useful info!! I’ve been upgrading my non led lights to leds. I’ve found certain ones you can upgrade without any problems but other ones create minor issues like when i upgraded my brake lights. I needed to add a resistor because the led drew so little power my truck thought it was a blown bulb.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

That is the case with some bulbs when replacing them to LED, unfortunately some of them do just need resistors as they use less power than halogen bulbs. If you have any questions, please let us know so that we can get you taken care of as soon as possible!

[@PanduPoluan]

Ah yeah I had the same problem when I replaced my turn signal with LED bulbs: My flasher now flashes much faster. On conventional lighting system, that fast blinking rate is indication that something is wrong with your turn lights. To fix it I can replace the flasher unit to something that recognizes LED turn signal lights, but the wifey likes the faster rate better so I yielded 😅

[@Mooreman50]

Ive been buying LED bulbs since 2015. Thank you for all this info. The amount of data you have is insane.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Glad we could help!

[@papastryfe17]

Legit good explanation of light diffusion and proper bulb selection. Not just a video that runs like an advertisement.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Glad you enjoyed the video and found it informative!

[@Tommy_Mac]

Great explanation! I worked with lighting systems for nearly 20 years. The light source (regardless of type) and reflector(s) are designed as a system. There isn't much sense in changing one without changing the other. Putting LEDs into a reflector designed for a halogen, is a crapshoot. HR could do a lot of testing to find a suitable LED replacement, but is likely not worth the hassle to do it yourself.

[@angrysocialjusticewarrior]

Wrong. There is sense in putting LED bulbs into a housing not mean for LED. The LED will most likely not reproduce the correct beam pattern intended by the car manufacturer, but it will also most likely achieve the objective set out by the car owner (to simply have a brighter light cast more strongly on the road surface and cast at a greater distance). Yes, it creates more glare when driving, but not dangerously so (in most cases).

[@Tommy_Mac]

@@angrysocialjusticewarrior wrong.

[@angrysocialjusticewarrior]

@@Tommy_Mac Yep, your single worded response against a statement of reality indeed holds a lot of weight in this discussion. Impressive.

[@Tommy_Mac]

@@angrysocialjusticewarrior so many words, yet they say nothing.

[@angrysocialjusticewarrior]

@@Tommy_Mac Wrong.

[@TomsManShed]

great reviews and have subscribed but could you please lower volume of music to same as vocals....have to dive to volume control at end to turn it down :)

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Sorry about that, We'll pass that on to our editors! Thank you for watching! -Chris W

[@MariaRivera-xc3hu]

What a complete and well explained video! I was lost trying to find the right ones for my car, but you definitely cleared my doubts! Well done, man, thanks!😊

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Glad it helped!

[@dipankardas1760]

Great testing of so many brands of bulbs, you obviously picked the best bulb. Presently I'm using Novsight 14400 lumens 5500k, 80 watts/pair, H4 led bulbs (85 $). I am very satisfied with its beam pattern and light output, beats 55 watt top quality halogen headlights(pulsar220, thunderbird 350) by a huge margin. It would be very helpful if in your future videos you compare it with your top 5 recommended bulbs. Gtr would be brighter surely but would also like to know by how much it beats Novsight and whether it would be worth spending the extra money.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

That's a great idea, we'll see what we can do!

[@joejanitor8410]

You must own a Jeep

[@SpringIsBACK]

Normally I'm not one for lots of gov't regulations, BUT, if you want headlights that can literally throw 2x or more light down the road, compared to a std. halogen (both correctly aimed and patterned) then sensing systems to automatically diminish that light for oncoming drivers should be mandatory. Ditto for that damned bluish light so many throw...

[@roberts5118]

@@SpringIsBACK in Pennsylvania we have an annual State Inspection requirement for every registered PA vehicle that must be checked out and when it passes gets a windshield sticker. Part of that process to pass requires a headlight aim and brightness check. If it doesn't have enough candle powers or lumens or if it has too much candlepower or lumens it fails. If it's a bulb color that's blue tinted or any other color that the factory clear white bulbs, it FAILS inspection or at least it SHOULD FAIL if the certified state inspection mechanic actually checks the headlights like he's supposed to.

[@markclipsham9199]

Inconsiderate prick. I did not know what a migraine was until these f'ing things came out.

[@smokeywoodstover]

Thanks for the information. Another concern with some LED headlights that have high and low beam in the same unit is that the low beam pattern on the road is about the same place as the original halogen, but the high beam is way up in the trees. If you aim the high beam is straight ahead, low beam only reaches about one car length. OK for a snowmobile or some farm equipment, but not on the road.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

On some bulbs that is definitely the case and we have seen a few like that. I always recommend aiming your headlights based on low beam, It's what you'll be using 90% of the time anyways.

[@robertkoascorpio]

@@HeadlightRevolution With Halogens I have my High Beams on medium and was using Osram Rallye 70/65 watt H4s but burned out and can't get them any more . No Halogens are close to those [ don't want higher wattage ] The sweet spot for Halogens is about 70 watts to 75 on high beams at 13.1 BUT the silly 1960's restrictions on Halogens ..etc. The high performance tiny filaments don't last long with speed bumps and potholes ( lol) . So hoping for a 30 watt fanless LED that works well on low and high beam. Probably dreaming right ? I see South Florida people with incredibly bright LEDs on trucks ..I only need about 2400 Lumens on high beams with enough Candela for nice throw down road. OR a halogen rated at 12 volts that actually draws 75 volts at 13.5 alternator voltage. We have pedestrians and bicycles and scooters at night in weird places on road sometimes...(!) No reflectors sometimes = crazy.

[@michaelfrench3396]

I watched this video as well as another video on your channel. I was trying to find LED replacements for my 2016 Toyota rav4. Nothing on your website was clear this video that you put out didn't really help and I ended up going to O'Reilly Auto parts here in Maine and buying the Sylvania replacement bulbs for a 9012. It cost me $100 for two bulbs. They're guaranteed for 5 years. They have heat sinks and fans. They're plug-and-play. And it's from a company that has been making light bulbs since time out of mind. The lights work amazingly well. I drive to work in the dark and I drive home from work in the dark now and the difference in lighting is night and the day. The only thing that the internet helped me with was to make me more confused. So instead of going with a bunch of Chinese products on the internet that I've never heard of and probably that are made by companies that won't exist in 2 years I went with a company that has been around over a century and with a warranty that will actually mean something and it cost me half of what it would have online.

[@thra5herxb12s]

I use an LED in my vintage vehicle because it only has a 60 watt dynamo. I tried a few different types before people started making them specifically for my type of British Pre Focus headlamp. A 25 watt led is a huge safety improvement over my old 35/35 incandesent bulb that was just a dim orange glimmer that barely reflected in the cats eyes. The early led headlamp bulbs just tried to cram as many cob types as possible onto the boards with no regard to correct focus. The latest leds designed for specific vehicles are a step upwards but still have a way to go, and the unregulated sale of unsuitable bulbs is causing a lot of negative press.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Good info!

[@teegee2556]

I am looking to fit one on my 1969 BSA Lightning, what bulb did you use?

[@davidiand7]

Apart from the brightness issues how are these lamps more environmentally friendly when you look at the amount of materials involved the extra electronics plus manufacturers time and costs etc etc ?

[@denverdanoreno]

David H.....kinda like wind mills.

[@tonyhowe3676]

I am planning to replace my headlights on my 2006 Silverado because of the crazed , scratche, yellowed and faded lenses. I couldn't decide whether to stay with halogen or go to LED. I knew nothing about LED s......untill i watched your video. Absolutely great vid on this topic....albeit somewhat overwhelming with all the info. But now i have something to work with. Thank you!!

[@DanielDunn-tb6fj]

I did the same but polish your lenses first so the better light can penetrate your lenses

[@MiguelSilva-ov6hy]

Congratulations, the videos are very informative and easy to understand. Keep up the good job and thank you!

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Glad you like them!

[@yvesboutin5604]

Thank you for shedding some light (pun intended) on a complicated topic!

[@swappybg]

One good advertisement! About waterprovement , all manufacturers use silicone rings for sealing electrical connections.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Thanks, Angel!

[@stss9552]

I’m glad someone is educating the public. And I’m also glad I don’t see that many morons running around with a $20 hid kit blinding people on the road like I did 10 years ago.

[@jamesfarmer2748]

when oncoming drivers blind me thats when my my 3/4 silverado starts drifting into their lane.

[@DAhonda247]

James Farmer yeah that makes you the better person. Go get’em farmer john lol... Idiot

[@victoreous626]

@@jamesfarmer2748 You sure showed them

[@dementiaseven9579]

Yeah that really solves the problem

[@bignoseharry6561]

@@jamesfarmer2748 lol.

[@gladdy02]

From everything i've seen, the GTR system is one of the best. It shows in the price lol, but sometimes you get what you pay for.

[@jakehunter3434]

200$ is crazy, but I would think it's worth it for that price.

[@gladdy02]

@@jakehunter3434 I ordered a set, so hopefully, that is the case!

[@jakehunter3434]

@@gladdy02 a buddy at my work says they are really good.

[@gladdy02]

@@OleM-0891 worry about your own wallet bud

[@gladdy02]

@@jakehunter3434 yes. As soon as I put them in and get a night drive in, I will let you know.

[@DrexxLira]

Any recommendations for a 1994 Honda Civic? Thanks in advance!

[@Dave5843-d9m]

The connectors you’ve told us to run away from (with good reason) are actually used on my car. It’s 13 years old and to date has not had a single wiring problem. I tried some fan cooled LED bulbs but while the emitters looked well placed they still caused dazzle on dip beam. One failed from over heat so I’m back with halogens.

[@aperson8948]

Agreed. Those appear to be "Deutsch" style connectors, used throughout the automotive and marine industry, because they are waterproof, repairable, and rugged. Not to mention, more economical than a moulded style connector.

[@thelovertunisia]

You are a great channel, among the very few who have analysed beam patterns and reflector issues. I have tested H4 leds powerful ones (3000Lumens) but due due bad beam patterns, they were worse than the 60 watt halogen. Greetings from Tunisia.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Thank you!

[@godz4gottenson189]

@@HeadlightRevolution I have searched and searched for months for the right led headlights and matching fog lights for my 2005 Scion Xb and I still can’t figure out what light is the best! Can you help me Please!!

[@jsmcguireIII]

Always interesting to see the range of designs when a new technology first arrives. After a few years the systems will refine and narrow down based on performance, regulations and costs. Also, because these bulbs are retrofits, the reflectors are designed for traditional bulbs and not optimized for an LED emitter. Thanks for the break down Chris.

[@FolkPhotographerATruthSoldier]

Do you have one about sealed beams replacements and how do they work when the low voltage sealed beam daytime lights are on

[@lappieslabuschagne2428]

Thanks for doing such a terrific job. Much appreciated !

[@NRPAUL-pr9he]

YOUR KNOWLEDGE, TALKING STYLE, VOICE ALL ARE EXCELLENT.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Wow, thank you!

[@harsha999s]

My car (Camry 2010) is rated for 55 W halogen low beam headlights, Could I use a 60 W LED low beam headlights? Would that cause a fire or blow out the fuse or lights?

[@koyotekola6916]

It's hard to say, but you have two choices. Either the bulb actually uses 55W, i.e. 55/14 = 3.9 amps, or the LED wattage rating is what's equivalent in the HID world. Since LEDs are more efficient that a glowing element, I suspect it uses less current and thus won't blow your fuse. Keep in mind that the purpose of a fuse is to protect the wiring, not the load.

[@ederm2111]

I admire what you did (About the story of the channel), you have my support.

[@kennykluge9912]

This was the most informative, greatest video i have seen by miles and its not 2 hours long! So lucky i stumbled across it. Subscribed 👍🏻👍🏻

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Welcome aboard!

[@Adi-S]

That was a very good introduction to LED. There is one very important thing you forgot to mention: Converting a headlight from HID or Halogen to LED is illegal in (at least) Virginia. I just learned that the hard way. It cost me $185 to pass the state inspection. So be careful!

[@GizmoFromPizmo]

Durability is a major issue with LED headlights. Before LED headlights, I hardly ever blew out a headlight. Since LED, I have had to replace a headlight almost every year. On my current car I just stopped replacing the Right side headlight because it just keeps blowing out. Bring back the sealed beam headlight. These were made of glass, were durable and they didn't turn cloudy like the plastic crap we have today.

[@jlilly8144]

Totally agree. Bought some Lasfit LEDS for our van two years ago and already one is dead. They weren't cheap either...now, the main factor I'm looking at in these isn't so much the brightness but how long do they last and how much do they cost. I'm not spending $100 every two years on freaking bulbs.

[@wolfeadventures]

@@jlilly8144don’t those have 3 year warranty?

[@fiyahwayne495]

Didnt expect to learn anything from this guy...boy was i wrong. i ended up watching the whole video! Very interesting.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Thank you

[@johncarloyamson7156]

Im a LED user, specifically novsight, like my stock bulb, they both reach same heat intensity and doesn't affect my computer box at all, maybe he should conduct an experiment with concrete evidences before jumping into conclusion with regards to the use of LED, the video is somewhat useful but just a little...

[@ComputermanAM13]

Hi, here in Italy we have a seller that is so proud of his product, the Riatec Monoled XHP 70.2... He is saying that in a projector it's the only led that should be used. Could you please test it or at least give your opinion? Thanks

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Maybe at some point!

[@SkypowerwithKarl]

I just installed a pair of Sealight X2 (H11/H9/H8) for low beams on my 2014 Equinox (standard headlight-non projector). My main complaint for years has been the terrible factory headlights. Because of COVID my work schedule changed and found myself driving to work at night. I realized how much better I could see with another car next to me! So I finally bit the bullet. The new led meets all the criteria’s in the video, narrow element, thin mounting surface (.040”) that emulates the filament position of the bulb. Has a good heat sink, fan and small external driver with nice wiring and connector. When I installed them the difference was shocking. I can see!!!! There was a problem in the original reflector/lens design as it has poor cut off and more “spill” than other cars have. This was evident even with the halogen bulb and part of the original problem. Now I was concerned about oncoming traffic so now I aimed the driver side lamp down a bit for extra measure of safety, but I can still see way better than before. Update They pull 2.4 amps @ 13 volts so that’s 30 Watts per lamp. They have not tripped any lamp warnings or any flickering. They are instant on and have the perfect white color at 6000k with perhaps the tiniest hint of blue.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

So glad that they are working for you! Thanks for commenting, if you need anything else just let us know! Have a great day!

[@jjayguy23]

Got an update? Are they still working, or did they burn out already?

[@SkypowerwithKarl]

@@jjayguy23 Still going strong. They are always on when driving. I thought the Sacramento heat last year would kill them if anything would. The projectors conversions are great for fog or heavy rain but the cutoff is so good it’s hard to read a street sign.

[@SkypowerwithKarl]

@@jjayguy23 Still going strong even with daylight headlight mode. Sacramento heat hasn’t killed them. Installed a projector style so I don’t blind everyone.

[@jjayguy23]

@@SkypowerwithKarl Glad they still work! I just installed the Sealight S1 Series headlights, and high beams in my 2017 Civic Sedan. They're not as bright as X2 and don't have a fan, but I hope they last.

[@MrChaz0409]

Great video. I just want to say thank you for bringing all this information to KZbin .. !!

[@khellendrose360]

Another thing to point out for a benefit of diode Dynamics is the fact that you can change the clocking position of the LEDs to ensure that they set horizontal. I have them in my 2015 Chevy Volt and they are the only LEDs that I have found that can come close to hid.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Very good point! However, the SL1 is not the only bulb that is adjustable. The Morimoto 2Stroke 2.0, S-V.4, GTR Ultra 2, GTR CSP Mini, Xenon Depot Xtreme are all adjustable as well!

[@BigEightiesNewWave]

HID still gives the best light quality, downside is cost, complexity, endurance.

[@LincolnSP150]

On my 1965 Chevelle I installed Aircraft Landing Lights made by Tungsol in the high beam spot. A small amount of modification, and a relay to carry rhe current and they were fabulous on the open highway.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Glad that those worked for you! I can't say I have ever heard of that being done, but that is an interesting upgrade!

[@AC2237]

Well done....now please recommend something with more details!

[@Freddie_Dunning-Kruger_Jr.]

The algorithm and microphone brought me here, my girlfriend just talked bout "LED Headlights" three hours ago

[@justpassingthrough3166]

Spooky how that works. All our SMART electronics are 'listening'. Big brother is here. Now imagine in a few years what will happen when you're in your self-driving Tesla and you say something that the algorithms don't like.....it decides to lock the doors and drives you to an awaiting Gestapo to put you in a camp for wrongthink.

[@badgermoon9229]

@@justpassingthrough3166 Hope it doesn't come to that, but it is in the realm of possibility. I'm sure the technology is there.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

👽

[@nomad-1776]

I made the mistake of letting my local salesman sell me on Sylvania LEDs as drop-in replacements for my halogen bulbs. I had no idea how LEDs worked nor did I have knowledge of special projector lenses or retrofitting. Now I'm out $200 (no returns) on a low beam and high beam set of LEDs which produce terrible output in my 2012 Impala. Sorry for the frustrated rant. My only regret was not researching before hand and finding this video. At least now I know what my options are to do it correctly going forward. Thanks for the video

[@ivanashley7875]

Very interesting and educational, thanks for the well presented unbiased info. You put the work in, you deserve the success. Happy Xmas.

[@WeatherManToBe]

I would love to get LED's but I need the head from halogens to burn off the snow accumulation while driving :(

[@chrisbowpiloto]

good led headlights actually create a lot of heat. Most actually have fans, heatsinks or both to try to get rid of the heat.

[@WeatherManToBe]

@@chrisbowpiloto that's heat on the inside of the assembly, halogens put out IR to melt the snow

[@attackeagle]

WeatherManToBe Ir is heat, heat is ir.

[@billheinz5257]

My led melts the snow

[@fat3swarning]

I just wanted to say thank you for such an excellent video. When looking for an explanatory video on what to expect when switching from incandescent to LED headlights I was most fortunate to find this extremely informative video. one of the reasons why I found this video to be so informative is because you don't just make claims and expect the viewer to believe you or trust your expertise when we don't even know you. when you make a claim about something you explain how you came to that

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Great to hear!

[@Charlesincharge42]

Thanks for this! I'll be sticking with halogens until the tech becomes better and less problematic .. probably when I get a car that has LED headlights from the factory.

[@Kaiser187]

Definitely the the best informative videos I have ever watched for lighting. Thanks for your hard work.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

You're welcome!

[@ut1004bp]

Helpful info for those that havent kept up with the designs (my goodness.. look at the time.. its been almost a year since this video came out and its beyond time to replace it with and updated video of the same subject) I will also interject; Connection jacks serve another purpose besides "a failure point".. that is for easier service and Maintenance, and all LEDs do not require Jump-start circuits.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Thanks for commenting, we appreciate the support! There are pros and cons to everything for sure!

[@willmoore7582]

I rigged a couple of old Lighthouse lights to my car but now find that I'm driving in circles a lot..

[@marklauricella2315]

...then its obvious that you're a revolutionary person

[@willmoore7582]

@@marklauricella2315 But I failed to find my way to the White House recently..

[@djfunkychicken]

what a ship joke

[@jayhuff239]

Now that's funny. Don't care who you are. 😅

[@C-M-E]

The amount of research you have on that table is impressive! I'm the same way where anything I'm developing I will test to death endlessly before I'm even ready to tell anyone about it, sometimes on the order of 18 months. It's more difficult when you're really passionate about a particular project that you know will have revolutionary effects, but at the same time, if you value your name and reputation, I believe it's your Duty to do your due diligence. On to headlight effectiveness, the one caveat I would add about improving on the factory design/beam pattern, etc., is that manufacturers have gotten a bit lazy on effective headlights over the last decade or so. I'd go back to at least the mid 2000s when I began to notice that automotive headlighting started getting subpar from the factory and I had to make changes on the factory systems to at least get something effective to drive down the road Safely without resorting to using the high beams all the flipping time. TLDR version: mimicking the factory effect with an upgrade comes with drawbacks right off the cuff, making the upgrade path it's own significant challenge itself.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Thank you for commenting, and for your support! It is true, those OEM Headlights have been going down hill for a while now. It is hard to get bulbs that will fit every OEM housing, but we do our best to find bulb replacements that will function as good or better than the OEM headlight bulbs! If you ever have any questions, we are here to help so just let us know! Thank you and have a great day!

[@bendeco]

The service here is beyond good. They stuck with me all the way through my silly learning curve.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Glad we could help!

[@giuseppegandola8762]

How about LED dashboard loosing intensity over time? I can't hardly see my dials anymore,14 years Mazda.

[@JasmineJu]

_For LED headlights you need special non conductive headlight fluid otherwise you'll damage the electronics._

[@imacrazyguy5831]

Can I substitute this with blinker fluid or the gen 2 blinker gel?

[@angrysocialjusticewarrior]

@@imacrazyguy5831 Wait? They come in gel form now? Can't believe the guy at Autozone never told me about this!

[@Keless]

i bought auxito 55w H1, i wonder if it will overheat or not. The driver is near the leds and there is no fan. The dissipation is just on the design of the bulb, very near the leds.

[@jimmynichols5576]

Thank you for doing this. I appreciate it. 👍🏻

[@OliverFonda]

Fantastic video, really educational. I've learned a lot from it and you made me realise that even a seemingly simple thing like replacing the light bulbs for your car can be a very complex puzzle to manage properly.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Yeah, lighting can be a lot more complex than what people realize. I'm glad to hear that we were able to help! Thanks for watching!

[@gregorypokracki7152]

@@HeadlightRevolution k

[@Angellee627]

Hi

[@prashanth105]

That was one hell of a beer very comprehensive video on a subject that brings so much dazzling attention to all of us, but the subject is mysteriously secretive from a lot of us. Thank you very much for shedding so much light on this elusive topic. I didn't know that the subject itself was so deep until I decided to keep in. Thanks a lot built.

[@interstellarsurfer]

Mostly beer, though. 👍

[@markuzick]

You convinced me: I'll stick with regular headlights!

[@jeepsblackpowderandlights4305]

so what did he exactly convince you not to buy leds ? LED lights today are cheap $50 or so.. not much more than incandescent or halogen bulbs lol.

[@jeepsblackpowderandlights4305]

@Robert Slackware I have a 98 grand Cherokee, i just ordered some head light leds for $45 man from sealight 9004 style. So i dunno why yours are that much ?

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@seesea-sv3xw]

Thank you, other drivers who won't be blinded by the horrible color rendition and excessively bright polluting LED lights shining in their eyes blinding them from seeing where they're going THANK YOU TOO.

[@pappy1432]

what is wrong with the one,s the factory installed , if it ain't broke__________

[@HeadlightRevolution]

This is what's wrong: betterautomotivelighting.com/2019/08/22/theres-a-reason-your-new-headlights-suck/

[@robheathcote8561]

i agree, the bulbs on my car are brilliant, reach a long way, are stupid bright (yes, they point to the correct place) and are a good colour for driving at night

[@DAhonda247]

rob heathcote exactly. It’s already been proven that the slight yellow/amber/whatever color factory halogen bulbs come in, is the best for all around lighting situations. When you get lights that are a pure white or slightly blue, you’re lighting up the shadows that help give depth perception.

[@robheathcote8561]

@@DAhonda247 well put, ive had LED bulbs in a tractor and ended up replacing them cause after driving all day, ya get to about midnight and they become painful to drive with

[@ivaniriarte4940]

you have a talent to teach, spanish is my first lenguaje and I understood everything, teach more topics for automobiles

[@jonjohnson102]

I have considered just mounting a led lightbar to my truck and use it to blind people who drive with led high-beams

[@dAmaGedgOoDs666]

That’s actually illegal unlike using D.O.T approved lights...

[@markscott9602]

Thanks brother..

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Any time

[@petehalasz7547]

Great video guys. I've been a licensed automotive technician for over 45 years,, and you can imagine the things I've seen.. I love SMD or COB, but always concern about temperature, line of sight, and brightness.. absolutely beautiful clarification.. I have replaced every single incandescent bulbs on my boat, bike cars you name it. Especially on my boat and son's jag.. almost zero draw when install a half a dozen in parallel or series..

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Thanks for sharing!

[@joseduranjr4963]

Please, please, please tell me which LED H7 is best for my 2017 VOLVO XC60 with xenon headlamps.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

For an H7 bulb I'd go with the Morimoto 2Stroke 3.0 LED bulbs! www.headlightrevolution.com/h7-2stroke-led-bulbs?quantity=1

[@louieatienza8762]

You don't necessarily need a driver for an LED. Most usually come as 3V, 6V, or 12V, and with different power ratings. The drivers likely give a constant current to the LEDs, but some LEDs are more tolerant of varying current than others.

[@juliebarnett9812]

The LED manufacturers are negligent in not caring that they are blinding oncoming drivers.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

It is true that the cheaper companies are not concerned with this at all.

[@jamesberdine8574]

Thanks for the information. Great to get the straight scoop. I was going to convert to led’s. Not going to now. Don’t do much night driving seems more trouble than it is worth. Thanks again.

[@therandomchannel02]

Confused me even more than I was ever before 😵

[@jeremiahgachassin1955]

Get one with a fan and external driver for the brightest and most reliable option. At least thats what I got from it 🤷

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Shoot us an email if you still need help [e-mail].

[@5prayerfaust]

What is all the whining about LED headlights in the comments about? Is it because people install LEDs into cars that were not designed with LEDs in mind, and then their beams are too high and blind other drivers?

[@ejayone8184]

Yes. Idiots put led in wrong housing. Just like idiots used to do with hid. Buy bulbs according to the housing you are running. Problems solved

[@ricebike]

His first half of the video was try to get those aftermarket LED one with the same light source placement as the original halogen bulb. That way, the original headlight housings will not have to be adjusted & no worries about bad beam patterns

[@davgpol]

sprayerfaust LEDs as standard also present hazards. When the LED vehicle comes round a downhill corner and someone is coming uphill the other way the non LED vehicle driver will get dazzled by the LED vehicle. There are other instances too where this happens

[@stevelane6919]

New Ford 150's are too bright! The low beams are brighter than my brights. If they want lights that bright fine but make a "city" setting.

[@cardriver1588]

I have a 2008 Ford Fusion se I have no idea what headlight bulbs are vehicle specific for my my car

[@HeadlightRevolution]

Here you are! www.headlightrevolution.com/s-v-4-led-headlights-h11-h16-bulbs-HRH11V4_2

[@rickmurray7123]

Really good descriptions. Very useful. I'd like to see some discussion about color temperatures also. I've tried several LED conversions and have decided that the very white (6000K+) colors really don't illuminate as well as the 5000K units. Below that it just gets a little too yellow. 5000K bulbs are harder to find. Most are 6000 or higher.

[@HeadlightRevolution]

We could maybe cover this in the future!

[@kentahirono]

@@HeadlightRevolution I hope you'll take into account even how "well" one can see and discriminate objects, like a dog peluche, trashbag, paperbox or a brick at some distance.

[@stevendye163]

@@HeadlightRevolution As a photographer I'm always concerned with color temp. Clearly you already prefer the visually warmer, yellower 5000k lights.

[@PanduPoluan]

I think (and cmiiw here) it has got to do with the spectrum. Lots of things on the road reflect the major spectrum of a 5000K light, but the 6000K+ has energy spread more across the spectrum and some parts are absorbed by things you see on the road. So the total energy reflected back to your eyes will be lower with 6000K+ bulbs compared to 5000K bulbs. Again, CMIIW.