Topic: Halogen vs led headlight

[Duke McDukiedook]

The Truck-Lite 7" LED light has the following ratings:

2.5 amperes on low beam (32 watts)

4.5 amperes on high beam (57.6 watts).

Not the huge "power saving" headlight that you may think . . . just a heads up.

My source of info:  http://www.truck-lite.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=64057&langId=-1

It is a considerable amperage savings when the average halogen bulb consumes 5 amps on low beam and up to 10 on high depending on the wattage of bulb.  The LED light runs about 50% of the current required for a Halogen.

Where are you getting 10 amps from on a 55/60 watt lamp?
That is some serious fuzzy math you have going on there.

[KurtK]

I took my bike out into the front yard last night at 11PM and turned on the LED light.  The light look pretty good.  Nice and white not yellow like the halogen.  Very broad.  Perhaps not as focused as the halogen.  Today I rode my bike to a park and left the light on and looked at the light a different distances.  It just did not seem as bright perhaps because it was not focused.  Do the flashlights which use led lights have lenses on the front?  Is this what it needs?  The jury is still out.

[Deltarider]

Halogen 55/60 is what you want. In Europe the later 500/550 models were standard equipped with them. The only place I've heard about charging problems is in this forum...
But, if you fear charging problems, why not buy the Philips Ecovision? Philips did a smart job and it had excellent reviews too.

Specs from Philips:

# 20% less energy consumption (4 amps instead of 5 amps for H4)
# 10% more light than standard
# Twice the life expectancy of a standard lamp (that means 1000 hrs!)
# Reduction in your car's CO² emissions by up to 36kg over bulb's lifetime.
# Quartz glass construction - safe to use with plastic lenses
# Standard wattage = fully road legal in the EU

basically these bulbs will pay for themselves during their lifetime.

If you want the ultimate, then there is the Philips X-treme Vision that promises 80% more light.

[Duke McDukiedook]

HID lights must be used with projector lenses, otherwise you wind up blinding oncoming motorists and spraying most of your light wide instead of focusing it in front where it should go. Don't know much about LED lamps.

[phil71]

You have to decide if you're willing to take on the compromise, because there will always be one.
it's just one of those weird quirks of human nature.
You have an apple and an orange, and you REALLY want an orange.
You start eating the apple.
You aren't totally satisfied with the apple.
So you try various seasonings to make it taste like an orange?

[Bob Wessner]

Not to derail this from bikes, but the reference to LED's caught my eye. I would love to substitute them in a number of applications, even around the house to beat DET (power co. here), but the light output, in lumens, just does not hold a candle ( ) to other forms of lighting substitutes. Anyone know of any that even come close?

[Retro Rocket]

Not to derail this from bikes, but the reference to LED's caught my eye. I would love to substitute them in a number of applications, even around the house to beat DET (power co. here), but the light output, in lumens, just does not hold a candle ( ) to other forms of lighting substitutes. Anyone know of any that even come close?

Hi Bob, do you guys have fluorescent light bulbs.? Not the long tubes that are common in government and school buildings. They primarily only use power to ignite the freon gas then run extremely cheap until turned off. They are a very common  way of saving energy here in Australia, that and the use of solar panels and solar hot water systems.....

http://lightingpro.com.au/catalog/index.php?cPath=25&RD=LPHomBnrFluroLights

Some different bulbs   

[Bob Wessner]

yes we do, thy are called CFL's here, compact fluorecent lights. We use quite a few around the house and have for several years. I just want beat DTE even more.

[Retro Rocket]

We now have these things that you plug into a power point  {like a power board}, then you plug in all of your appliances , they have a remote controlled switch which when activated, turns everything off at the wall. You would be surprised to know how much power devices use when in "stand by" mode.

[Bob Wessner]

Retro, so are these plugged-in at every wall outlet, or is it something on your main box? I'm guessing not the latter since circuits at the main box could be shared by things you never want to turn off.

[Retro Rocket]

Retro, so are these plugged-in at every wall outlet, or is it something on your main box? I'm guessing not the latter since circuits at the main box could be shared by things you never want to turn off.

Plugged in at the power point. You can use one for, well i have my stereo and TV in the same outlet so i use a typical power deck, i can't turn it off at night without moving furniture so one of these remote controlled boards is the best idea. I think when using multiple boards {i need on for my computer as well, leads everywhere} they can be calibrated to turn all off at the push of a button, or singularly if necessary...  The Govt is now subsidising these here....

[Tews19]

Halogen 55/60 is what you want. In Europe the later 500/550 models were standard equipped with them. The only place I've heard about charging problems is in this forum...
But, if you fear charging problems, why not buy the Philips Ecovision? Philips did a smart job and it had excellent reviews too.

Specs from Philips:

# 20% less energy consumption (4 amps instead of 5 amps for H4)
# 10% more light than standard halogen
# Twice the life expectancy of a standard halogen (that means 1000 hrs!)
# Reduction in your car's CO2 emissions by up to 36kg over bulb's lifetime.
# Quartz glass construction - safe to use with plastic lenses
# Standard wattage = fully road legal in the EU

basically these bulbs will pay for themselves during their lifetime.

God please don't get pissed or think I am hijacking... does one simply go to an Autozone or O'reillys and ask for a Halogen 55/60 bulb and this will improve the frnt headlight without any mods to the electrical and not suck the life out of the battery?

[xsmooth69x]

I know its taboo but hid in halo headlights are fine. They just need to be readjusted. You can't just swap bulbs you have to move the bucket around a little

[Duke McDukiedook]

You would need an H4 lens and projector to do that, yes, you can do it.

[Tews19]

AM i able to get an H4 lens and reflector anywhere? Do they come in packages?

[Deltarider]

On mine is the same Hella reflector as was on early VW Golf (Rabbit) models. Fits perfectly. Dunno about American market and rules, but 35/35... boy, that's not safe at all. That's poor.

[Duke McDukiedook]

http://store.candlepower.com/fco7h4mohebd.html

Boom, Bosch for pretty damn cheap, does not come with the bulb.

[Duke McDukiedook]

If you do go with the H4 reflector you would want to go to a 55/60 watt bulb setup, 35/35 halogen won't get you enough brightness.

A 35 watt HID with a projector would get you bright enough though.

[Tews19]

Thanks I just ordered it...

[Deltarider]

http://store.candlepower.com/fco7h4mohebd.html

Boom, Bosch for pretty damn cheap, does not come with the bulb

There you go! Excellent product (if I'm not mistaken identical to the Hella) for a low price. Find a Philips Ecovision H4 and you have 60 Watts high beam for 48 Watts energy cost.

[Tews19]

Got the lens in... Now I have to find a local place to purchase the Philips Ecovision H4

[Deltarider]

Or, if you want 80% more light and don't care about charging, the Philips X-treme vision, but they're a bit expensive.

[Rgconner]

Got the lens in... Now I have to find a local place to purchase the Philips Ecovision H4

I am going to order mine from Amazon, because I am not finding a local supplier anywhere.

[Tews19]

Picked one up today for 6 bucks. Got it in an inside the garage it's a lot brighter. Look up drag specialities

[Tews19]

Makes a world of difference over the stock