LED Headlight Install, 2000lm each no external driver
- Thread starter Stevesnj
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Box Rocket
SILVER Star
Just ordered the ones linked in the original post. Just to confirm, these are straight plug and play correct? I've been a bit confused with all the back and forth in the thread. My '95 is completely stock headlight setup. Can I just swap these for the original bulbs?
- Thread starter
- #203
Yeppers, You're good!
bluecruiser
SILVER Star
Correct, I ordered the ones linked and it is simply plug in and go. The light output on these still surprises me every time I drive at night.
hamishpotter
SILVER Star
Saw another thread about the importance of a beefier wiring harness for light output / performance. Can I assume that the efficient magic of LED headlights mitigates the need for something like a SLEE headlight wiring harness (http://sleeoffroad.com/products/harness_main.htm)?
About to finally pull the trigger on these..
About to finally pull the trigger on these..
Ocho77
SILVER Star
I have a set of the Cree low beams that arrived today. They appear to have external drivers. Do i need them? Has anyone mounted these, and if so, where?
- Thread starter
- #207
What exactly does the slee harness do?
LEDs need a driver to function properly. Whether it is a separate piece, or integrated into the back of the light, it needs to be there. So, yes, you need them. Just mount them where they won't be in the way of anything, and where they are as protected from heat and the elements as possible.
The Slee harness provides more voltage to the lights by giving the current a shorter, more efficient route from the battery to the lights. It has heavier gauge wire and bypasses much of the small, lengthy OEM headlight wiring. The result is brighter light and a happier driver.
Ocho77
SILVER Star
LEDs need a driver to function properly. Whether it is a separate piece, or integrated into the back of the light, it needs to be there. So, yes, you need them. Just mount them where they won't be in the way of anything, and where they are as protected as possible.
The Slee harness provides more power to the lights by giving the current a shorter, more efficient route from the battery to the lights. It has heavier gauge wire and bypasses much of the small, lengthy OEM headlight wiring. The result is brighter light and a happier driver.
Thanks, after doing some research I figured that out
Installed them yesterday! Phenomenal upgrade.
Got mine today, installed them, work great!
Small box with 2 "bulbs" and no external drivers or other funny business. Just slid out the washer bottle on the passenger side, twisted out the old, and twisted in the new. Worked perfectly on the first try and much better than the previous bulbs. I'm going to drive it a couple blocks to a buddy's shop to re-align them on his back wall. I'll report back on how much is needed there, but at first glance they look pretty good and should only need some minor adjustment.
I do have part of the shroud broken off of one of my headlight connectors, but it does not seem to make it lose, so I'm leaning towards just leaving it alone. I'll post a pic when I get good light again (ironic?)
More tomorrow!
Small box with 2 "bulbs" and no external drivers or other funny business. Just slid out the washer bottle on the passenger side, twisted out the old, and twisted in the new. Worked perfectly on the first try and much better than the previous bulbs. I'm going to drive it a couple blocks to a buddy's shop to re-align them on his back wall. I'll report back on how much is needed there, but at first glance they look pretty good and should only need some minor adjustment.
I do have part of the shroud broken off of one of my headlight connectors, but it does not seem to make it lose, so I'm leaning towards just leaving it alone. I'll post a pic when I get good light again (ironic?)
More tomorrow!
I got the last set of H4 LEDs today - from vleds.com - not tested yet, but already disappointed. Unless these vleds blow darkness off the road without being other drivers eyesore... vleds are NOT worth it.
The unit is cnc-machined, but mine had so many scuffs, nicks and scratches I would be ashamed to call it a product.
One cooling fin was even bent, and I am very uncertain if their set-screw solution to fix the exchangeable collar (H4, H1 etc) will hold up over time. The set-screw doesn't even have loctite. I'm sure it will need this.
Also, at the back of the bulb there is no protection for the fan. There is no problem for wires or other stuff to stop the fan from spinning.
And again... this is a LED bulb with driver.
The unit is cnc-machined, but mine had so many scuffs, nicks and scratches I would be ashamed to call it a product.
One cooling fin was even bent, and I am very uncertain if their set-screw solution to fix the exchangeable collar (H4, H1 etc) will hold up over time. The set-screw doesn't even have loctite. I'm sure it will need this.
Also, at the back of the bulb there is no protection for the fan. There is no problem for wires or other stuff to stop the fan from spinning.
And again... this is a LED bulb with driver.
Race Sport was the domestic brand version of these bulbs I tried, was horribly dissapointed in the glare produced by these bulbs!
They are bright, but fail to focus the light correctly against the reflectors and produce obscene amount of unfocused bright-as-h*ll glare. I switched back to the PIAA 9006 direct replacement bulbs.
I am running stock Lexus headlamp assemblies FWIW, not DEPO's or any kind of fancy projectors.. I imagine with a projector lens these bulbs would be fantastic!
They are bright, but fail to focus the light correctly against the reflectors and produce obscene amount of unfocused bright-as-h*ll glare. I switched back to the PIAA 9006 direct replacement bulbs.
I am running stock Lexus headlamp assemblies FWIW, not DEPO's or any kind of fancy projectors.. I imagine with a projector lens these bulbs would be fantastic!
I agree that the LEDs are far from the fine tuned beam pattern of the halogen bulbs, but in my 80, it lights up the first 30 feet in front of my car much much better than any halogen. In dark, wet autumn nights, the difference is significant and critical. I have seen what it looks like to oncoming drivers - and the glare is not as bad as aftermarket HID.
I got my LED's installed a couple days ago. I ordered the ones from the original post. Shipping was semi quick and they looked to be good quality. Took about 2 minutes for install and they were a direct plug and play. I did a test run the first night and they were good. Not as bright as I had wanted but brighter then the stock lights. The width is MUCH better side to side and the view in the first 30 ft is much better. I did find one HUGE flaw. They absolutely suck in the snow. The bright LED's bounce the light of the falling snow back at the driver. It's like driving into a wall of white in just mild snow conditions. Heavy snow would have almost zero visiblity. If it's not snowing then they are better in every way then the factory lights. What I did was just leave the factory lights in the glove box and if I get into some nasty heavy snow conditions I will take the 2 minutes to just swap out the lights. It will be a pain but at least I will have the better light option the 99% of the time snow is not falling out of the sky. Not sure if my review was helpful or not, but it is what it is.
Well, I've had positive things to say about my Lifetime LED headlights until today. Tonight one of them has started flickering. I checked the wiring, nothing is loose. Not sure what's causing it, but it's really annoying, especially since I'm on vacation at the moment. We'll see if Lifetime LED makes good on their warranty.
EDIT: Here is the YouTube video
EDIT: Here is the YouTube video
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^^couldn't see the video, says private?^^
I contacted VLED about buying their products and the semi rude reply was enough for me to spend my money elsewhere. If you don't have time to provide good customer service then I don't have time to spend my money with you. Oh well.....
Thanks, should be fixed now.
So it looks like there are two kinds of LED headlight conversion kits out there. Dual LED "High/Low" and Single LED.
Is there a way to buy kits for "HIGH" and "LOW" without having to buy two of the combo kits?
I guess I am concerned putting a Dual LED "High/Low" in the "HIGH". Would it not be activating the correct LED? Does the combo bulb activate both LED's for "HIGH" beam?
Is there a way to buy kits for "HIGH" and "LOW" without having to buy two of the combo kits?
I guess I am concerned putting a Dual LED "High/Low" in the "HIGH". Would it not be activating the correct LED? Does the combo bulb activate both LED's for "HIGH" beam?
