Brighter XLT Headlight Bulb Replacement?

[ArchitectThom]

I'm staying blue light appears brighter, but can't effectively increase useable illumination.

I know all this seems a little obtuse, but I spend and awful lot of time driving through remote areas at night. Lights are a safety item. Putting in the minimal effort it takes to get them right will make every second of every nighttime drive safer for both you and everyone around you.

All luxury cars have brighter, whiter stock LED headlights because they last longer and are safer for the driver to use.

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[Wes Siler]

All luxury cars have brighter, whiter stock LED headlights because they last longer and are safer for the driver to use.

LED headlights, designed from the ground up to take advantage of the technology, are not comparable to el cheapo replacement bulbs intended to be used in halogen housings.

To make an LED light work properly, it must first use a diode of good quality, which emits light at a warm color temperature.

The lumen output of that diode is quoted in ideal lab conditions for a short period of them. To make the diode work in a real world setting, it must be driven at a level that can be sustained for tens of thousands of hours, and be equipped with adequate cooling that it's able to work even in hot temperatures.

That diode must then be housed in a reflector purpose built to take advantage of its unique two-dimensional light source, if you want its brightness to project in a certain direction, over a reasonable distance.

All that stands in contrast to these replacement bulbs sold by con artists to gullible drivers. Even if such a bulb used a warm color temperature, was driven correctly, and was equipped with adequate thermal management, it would still be unable to project light in the same manner as a bulb, and would therefore be unable to take advantage of the reflectors designed for halogen bulbs. Perhaps because of that last factor, no quality light maker produces LED replacement bulbs designed for halogen housings.

 

[Wes Siler]

All luxury cars have brighter, whiter stock LED headlights because they last longer and are safer for the driver to use.

Here's another great explainer around all this, written by my friend Andrew Collins: https://jalopnik.com/why-most-led-headlight-upgrades-dont-really-work-an-ex-1843070472

 

[ArchitectThom]

LED headlights, designed from the ground up to take advantage of the technology, are not comparable to el cheapo replacement bulbs intended to be used in halogen housings.

To make an LED light work properly, it must first use a diode of good quality, which emits light at a warm color temperature.

The lumen output of that diode is quoted in ideal lab conditions for a short period of them. To make the diode work in a real world setting, it must be driven at a level that can be sustained for tens of thousands of hours, and be equipped with adequate cooling that it's able to work even in hot temperatures.

That diode must then be housed in a reflector purpose built to take advantage of its unique two-dimensional light source, if you want its brightness to project in a certain direction, over a reasonable distance.

All that stands in contrast to these replacement bulbs sold by con artists to gullible drivers. Even if such a bulb used a warm color temperature, was driven correctly, and was equipped with adequate thermal management, it would still be unable to project light in the same manner as a bulb, and would therefore be unable to take advantage of the reflectors designed for halogen bulbs. Perhaps because of that last factor, no quality light maker produces LED replacement bulbs designed for halogen housings.

A warm color temperature is NOT what is wanted when used for driving. A cooler color temperature (above 5,000 Kelvin) allows for better detail distinction by the human eye. That's why all the luxury cars have LEDs with a bright white (cooler) color temperature.

Trust me man, I went to school for this.

If an LED fits a housing and the beam pattern looks fine when shined on a wall or garage door, there's no problem with them. They are fine. If the beam pattern is off, then yeah, they're not going to be useful. But as shown by MANY comments in here and other posts, there are PLENTY of after-market LED headlight bulbs that fit just fine and have acceptable beam patterns.

Not sure why you're so against them, but if they work... they work.

 

[ArchitectThom]

Here's another great explainer around all this, written by my friend Andrew Collins: https://jalopnik.com/why-most-led-headlight-upgrades-dont-really-work-an-ex-1843070472

That was the weirdest read I've seen in a while. It sounds like that so-called "lighting expert" simply wants to make sure you know that he knows more about lighting than you could ever know.

I'll stick to what my eyes can see. That so-called lighting expert can do whatever he wants. I want to see better at night from my headlights, so that's what I'll do.

 

[Wes Siler]

That was the weirdest read I've seen in a while. It sounds like that so-called "lighting expert" simply wants to make sure you know that he knows more about lighting than you could ever know.

I'll stick to what my eyes can see. That so-called lighting expert can do whatever he wants. I want to see better at night from my headlights, so that's what I'll do.

 

[OFC Ranger]

I was gonna say, Sylvania Silverstars, Silverstar Ultras, or GE Nighthawks. Had Silverstars in my old truck and liked them.
Replacement cost of the LED's is absurd. There are lots of deer around here so I'd never consider them.
It's also possible to download the free version of Forscan, get a cable to connect your laptop to the truck (or better yet, have a friend who already has it ) and enable what we call "Bambi Mode" which lets the hi beams, low beams, and fogs all stay on at the same time. Normally if you turn on the hi beams it turns off the low beams and fog lights.

That is not accurate, my fogs do turn off, but my low beams remain on with high beams. No changes made in forscan.

At any rate, if I am the only one on the road vision is no problem. Muh laZ0r beams are trigger tapped to my high beams. lol

Though reflective road signs turn into blazing infernal fireballs of the sun even at 100 yards out.

 

[Wes Siler]

That is not accurate, my fogs do turn off, but my low beams remain on with high beams. No changes made in forscan.

At any rate, if I am the only one on the road vision is no problem. Muh laZ0r beams are trigger tapped to my high beams. lol

Though reflective road signs turn into blazing infernal fireballs of the sun even at 100 yards out.

How do you see past all that hood glare?

 

[OFC Ranger]

How do you see past all that hood glare?

Bad camera settings, for the life of me I can't figure out how to make good night photos/videos even messing with the shutter speed and ISO. The hood glare is grossly exaggerated. In person its more like a dull ambient glare as if passing under a dim street light.

However, due to my seat height, I don't actually see any of the hood past the first 6-8 inches near the windshield. I've come to learn I am generally more concerned with windshield glare, than hood glare.

Edit: I might add there are numerous articles from off roaders down under that explain that hood glare generally is a non-issue as long as the power of the light is good enough down range. Something psychological about your eyes and brain where you are going to focus on the brighter source while pretty much blocking out mentally closer light.

Sounds legit at least - considering the number of high dollar companies that offer above the windshield configurations. For example, KC Gravity Pro6's appear to give off similar ambient spillage to these from what videos I've watched.

Id also imagine my setup is not optimal for snow in regards to a mass white reflective landscape. I plan to add two amber versions in the future should that rare occasion arise.

 

[Ronbo]

Looks like very useable light to me. Low beam Auxitos LED. Never need high beams at all. Never been flashed. I can safely see at night, especially the pedestrians and bicycles that run around here in Fl at night. We have about 700 pedestrian crash deaths per year here. I’m opting for safety over aesthetics.

 

[Shoran12]

The stock bulbs aren't bad. I notice my night vision isn't as good as I get older.

That’s my biggest issue. Optometrist asked me a while back if I had trouble seeing at night. I asked him how he knew and he said due to the astigmatism I had, it could affect night vision. It’s not horrible but could be better. I would mind a bit brighter bulb for my truck but definitely don’t want to swap over to led. I’ll have to look to see if there are any bulbs that are brighter but will work the the original housing.

 

[Shoran12]

Looks like very useable light to me. Low beam Auxitos. Never need high beams at all. Never been flashed. I can safely see at night, especially the pedestrians and bicycles that run around here in Fl at night. We have about 700 pedestrian crash deaths per year here. I’m opting for safety over aesthetics.

These led or halogen bulbs? Looks plenty bright to me.

 

[Bob902]

That’s my biggest issue. Optometrist asked me a while back if I had trouble seeing at night. I asked him how he knew and he said due to the astigmatism I had, it could affect night vision. It’s not horrible but could be better. I would mind a bit brighter bulb for my truck but definitely don’t want to swap over to led. I’ll have to look to see if there are any bulbs that are brighter but will work the the original housing.

I've got some Phillips halogen ordered that are supposed to be brighter. Will see how they pan out

 

[Shoran12]

I've got some Phillips halogen ordered that are supposed to be brighter. Will see how they pan out

Yeah let me know how they work out. If they’re any better I may pick me some up.

 

[Wes Siler]

Bad camera settings, for the life of me I can't figure out how to make good night photos/videos even messing with the shutter speed and ISO. The hood glare is grossly exaggerated. In person its more like a dull ambient glare as if passing under a dim street light.

However, due to my seat height, I don't actually see any of the hood past the first 6-8 inches near the windshield. I've come to learn I am generally more concerned with windshield glare, than hood glare.

Edit: I might add there are numerous articles from off roaders down under that explain that hood glare generally is a non-issue as long as the power of the light is good enough down range. Something psychological about your eyes and brain where you are going to focus on the brighter source while pretty much blocking out mentally closer light.

Sounds legit at least - considering the number of high dollar companies that offer above the windshield configurations. For example, KC Gravity Pro6's appear to give off similar ambient spillage to these from what videos I've watched.

Id also imagine my setup is not optimal for snow in regards to a mass white reflective landscape. I plan to add two amber versions in the future should that rare occasion arise.

Yeah, I hear you. I can't take a picture in daylight that's worth a damn, let alone at night. Got a buddy coming up to visit later this week who's a pro, and might have him do some photos of my current setup, and the little Lightforce Strikers we just put on his Santa Cruz.

Hood glare is never a non issue, it just becomes less of an issue if you get some really good distance out of your lights. When I'm driving for 6, 8 hours or more overnight with my lights running (very remote areas), I can relax a lot more with nothing shining back in my face.

Those Chineseum knockoffs look pretty good though!

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