Factors to Consider Before Switching to Led Headlights
Led headlights have been in the market for around a decade now. More and more people, both DIYers and professionals, have embraced them. There exists led headlights for every car, including led headlights for semi-trucks.
How they Work
As opposed to halogen bulbs, that have a thin filament, led headlights have a semiconductor whose role is to produce photons of light. The semiconductor produces photons of light when some electric charge is applied.
While a halogen bulb can last around 5,000 hours, led headlights can last up to 22 years.
Different LEDs for Different Uses
There are different types of led headlights, all ideal for various conditions. For instance, blue headlights are ideal for driving in foggy weather. They improve visibility and are not a significant distraction to other road users. Due to the high contrast they offer, drivers can spot objects in the dark.
Led headlights support high beam technology. The high beam technology uses sensors to detect an oncoming vehicle. If there is an oncoming vehicle detected, the rear-lights and headlights are automatically activated, giving the driver a more unobstructed view.
On the other hand, matrix LEDs will appear dimmer if the oncoming vehicle is at a safe range.
Unique features of Led Headlights
Led headlights have significantly taken over the automobile industry. They are replacing halogen bulbs, which are less efficient and dimmer. However, if you want to transition to led headlights, here are some of the things you should know.
1. Reduced Power Draw
As in the case with other led bulbs, led headlights are notably energy efficient. Although many truck owners are less concerned about energy consumption. The high energy efficiency extends the life of your car battery by a couple of months, which is a win, especially for electric car owners.
2. Increased Lifespan
As we mentioned earlier, led headlights last longer, compared to halogen or xenon bulbs. Therefore, you slash your maintenance budget significantly since you don’t have to change headlights from time to time.
3. You Need More Bulbs
Although led headlights are significantly brighter, they are also incredibly tiny. Therefore, you need more bulbs to get the same brightness as of a single halogen bulb.
4. No Reflector Support
Halogen headlights have reflectors that amplify and direct the light. On the other hand, LED headlights don’t have a reflector system.
5. Extra Equipment
Ideally, standard halogen and xenon bulbs can be used on a plug and play basis. That means that you can remove the old bulb and replace it with a new one immediately. However, for led headlight, it is not that simple. You need additional equipment such as a relay or heat sink. If your LED installation requires extra splicing wires, you might end up losing your truck’s warranty altogether. Ensure you consult a mechanic before transitioning.
Factors to Consider While Buying LED Headlights
Different headlights have different features and capabilities. Here are some of the things to consider before settling on any led headlight bulb.
1. Brightness Levels
LED bulbs being brighter than standard xenon and halogen bulbs are one of the significant reasons people prefer them. They are extremely helpful to people with vision problems at night. Most led bulbs range between 8,000 and 12,000 lumens. Usually, there are different laws in different places that regulate the lumen rating of a led bulb.Ensure you check the requirements at your location before investing.
2. Chip Type Used
The chip is the most critical part of a led bulb. Therefore, you need to pick a led headlight bulb with the right chip. A well-built chip goes a long way in increasing the lifespan of the bulb. Some of the most common chips available include surface mounted diode (SMD), chip-on-board (COB), and the flip-chip.
Bulb Types
It is essential to know that there are different types of bulbs for various automobiles. There are led headlights for trucks and led headlights for semi trucks. A semi-truck bulb will be different from a BMW bulb. While some cars use the single beam system, others use a double beam.
A single beam system consists of two bulbs per headlight. One of the bulbs is for high beams, while the other is for lower beams. On the other hand, dual beam systems have a single bulb that serves both functions.