Metric TLC E-vision LED H4 install

[Fast Eddy]

One thing to note - there isn't a "normal" difference between low beam and high beam . It is only a slight increase in height and this is probably due to the IPF's cutoff in the housing's lens . I would expect some of the other housings out there to react differently .

Glad to hear you pointing this out. It's not due to the design of the housings. It's because with a halogen bulb the high beam filament is actually in a different location than the low beam filament. With the LED it just gets brighter, but doesn't change the shape of the beam.

This is the key drawback of these LEDs, IMO.

 

[fzr400guy]

Well that did it, I'm sold. I just ordered this combo and hopefully it will arrive this week so I can install it next weekend.

 

[Weber Sarge]

Glad the thread has helped some folks considering an upgrade .
The positioning of the filaments in an H4 is key to high/low beam production differences , the LED accomplishes the same thing by having the low element on one side , high element on the other . Due to that placement , I feel the IPF lenses are having a very large effect that is somewhat negative but not really that big of a deal . Most H4 headlights have a crazy height to the high beam , most times they will light up the tops of trees at less than 300' . This LED setup does not do that and keeps the light on the ground where it belongs . It does illuminate signs quite well , at as good as any halogen bulb .

As I said , will try to get some more useful shots of actual highway situations to help show the actual pattern . I'll also do some experimenting with spreading the alignment out a bit further and try to determine the limits of that setting .

Sarge

 

[Weber Sarge]

Just for fun , anyone have a spare Roundeye housing laying around I could borrow for some testing ? Or , a pair would be even better...
Sarge

 

[Nothinghead]

I just put my new LEDs from the group buy into new hella e-code lenses/housings. I didn't meN for an objective comparison but the lights to the right are the low bean halogens from my GX.




I still need to tweak the alignment and such but so far, the color and cut off is striking.

Here's the old sealed beam halogens:

 

[Fast Eddy]

with a halogen bulb the high beam filament is actually in a different location than the low beam filament. With the LED it just gets brighter, but doesn't change the shape of the beam.

This is the key drawback of these LEDs, IMO.

the LED accomplishes the same thing by having the low element on one side , high element on the other .

Ah. I didn't notice that before. That makes them much more interesting.

 

[Weber Sarge]

I'd have to do some serious measurements but the difference in element placement between the halogen filaments and the led's elements is pretty small . They way they built these with the elements on opposite sides made it possible for a low/high beam configuration . I know the positioning of those elements on the led is a bit bigger than the halogen's filaments but it's really close . No real other way to do this and still fit in an H4 housing socket .

Nicest part is the fact that the low element remains lit when in high beam - this keeps that area directly in front of the vehicle nice and bright while also lighting up the extra distance on the highway . This might also explain why it seems there isn't much difference between high and low beam since the low is on all the time - even on high beam . Guess I never thought of it that way .

The color contrast between a halogen and these led's is stark - the led has such a dead-on white light it's amazing and really lights up the pavement compared to a halogen . I have noticed at my current alignment that I'm not lighting anything above the bumper on small cars - that is a really good thing . It's never useful to irritate other drivers with your lifted 4x4 , things like that work against us collectively as a group so I'm happy with that aspect of these bulbs .

Need to experiment with that alignment more , if it would just stop snowing here....
Sarge

 

[Fast Eddy]

Yea, but the halogen bulbs are clear so the high beam filament also hits the bottom of the reflector.

Halogen bulbs have lifetimes in the hundreds of hours. The LED arrays should be 10000+. It would be possible to upgrade just the high beam array with a higher output array if there is sufficient cooling.

 

[Weber Sarge]

I'm not convinced it's an output issue , just a reflector issue due to the way the elements are built . It would be great if they could be mounted on something clear or even glass but given the elements only shine one direction that's definitely out . There are LED lamp systems coming out that shine the element towards the reflector , not outward to the lens . This allows a higher level of control over light alignment and focusing the beam vs shining more or less forward . If you look at the cheap HID kits you'll notice there is no shroud over the end of the bulb , that's a really bad thing and allows the light to just scatter all over the place - these are the folks giving a bad rap to the aftermarket lighting world .

I am still quite curious as to how different brands of housings affect these lights .

Sarge

 

[RLMS]

Great write up Sarge! We carry the vision x housings and also these LED Lights. Ill post up some pics and info with the vision x housing! They have a nice rear deflector and clear from lens, so they should deflect the light great with the LED.


http://redlinelandcruisers.com/product/vision-x-h4-7-round-headlights/



Justin

 

[Weber Sarge]

Glad you like the writeup , it's a great product and my intent here was to show it's worth the money in quality and real-world applications .

However , if you have a new product line to introduce , why not post it in a more appropriate place such as the Vendor's Marketplace section ? It would also be a good place to show a thread on the housings you sell along with the led bulbs , or start a thread on them here in the Tech section .

With that said , are they indeed Vision-X brand , generic or made by E-Vision ?

Also , those housing's pictures are a bit confusing - are the metal shields part of the housing or the aftermarket H4 bulb ? I'd suggest you check around at pricing on those housings , they are available almost anywhere for $65 pair , not $109.99 . Maybe it's a typo error.....?




Due to the way these bulbs are built , as with almost any design/brand/version of other types of bulbs - be it HID /HIR / LED / Halogen and the plethora of housing designs they all end up with different lighting variations . Tiny design changes will affect the overall light output and pattern , this writeup was just to reflect the excellent results these led's have produced verses the (no kidding here) 7 different halogen's , 4 different HID's I've tried in the past in these housings . I like the cutoff line of the IPF's , and no one has yet to outperform this Japanese company in the lighting field , period .

I may just pick up a pair of several brands of housings to prove this , just for fun .

Sarge

 

[Nothinghead]

Sarge, what do you think about the cooling fan on these? On my 40, I have full cups instead of an open back behind the bulb and wonder if theses will fail if I don't allow some airflow back there.

 

[Fast Eddy]

I may just pick up a pair of several brands of housings to prove this , just for fun .

Get some Cibies if you do it. They are, at least, as good as the IPFs.

 

[Weber Sarge]

What housings are those , don't even recognize them other than possibly an HID housing ?

I'm sure the fans are going to need some airflow , otherwise the units will probably overheat . I suppose you could cut a hole in the back of those bowls if needed or leave them off depending upon how the reflector is built .


I'm really leaning towards a set of Cibie's and maybe even the Hella's . Both are excellent brands with quite a history , even older than IPF .


BTW - just keep in mind my complaints are minimal and not even really an issue at all - most people would never notice the little things I find wrong with something , it's sort of a bad habit of mine . Guess I'm just old and picky , lol .

If the stupid weather would straighten out I could get some more testing done , not going out in a monsoon since my windshield top seal leaks . Bad enough when it snows in your face while driving , but the solid rain is just too much .

Sarge

 

[Nothinghead]

What housings are those , don't even recognize them other than possibly an HID housing ?

The older 40s didn't have an open rear like the newer ones do. I guess I'll be chopping them up.

 

[Weber Sarge]

Ok , so the bowls are part of the bib itself ? Hate to hack up something that old if it's in good shape ...
Sarge

 

[Nothinghead]

Ok , so the bowls are part of the bib itself ? Hate to hack up something that old if it's in good shape ... Sarge

That's my thought. It turns out bowls from a range rover [cough] are almost the same thing.

 

[Weber Sarge]

If you cut them very carefully they could be welded back in later if needed , just a thought .
Sarge

 

[dr.pow]

So I decided to read all about the various lighting options available currently for my 40's. Thanks Sarge for your efforts and descriptions. Have to say the Pirate light shootout was excellent also.

So does it bother anyone else that a mechanical fan that the LED's need, could possibly leave you with far less than tens of thousands of hours on these things because the fan goes out "early"?

 

[RLMS]

Glad you like the writeup , it's a great product and my intent here was to show it's worth the money in quality and real-world applications .

However , if you have a new product line to introduce , why not post it in a more appropriate place such as the Vendor's Marketplace section ? It would also be a good place to show a thread on the housings you sell along with the led bulbs , or start a thread on them here in the Tech section .

With that said , are they indeed Vision-X brand , generic or made by E-Vision ?

Also , those housing's pictures are a bit confusing - are the metal shields part of the housing or the aftermarket H4 bulb ? I'd suggest you check around at pricing on those housings , they are available almost anywhere for $65 pair , not $109.99 . Maybe it's a typo error.....?






Due to the way these bulbs are built , as with almost any design/brand/version of other types of bulbs - be it HID /HIR / LED / Halogen and the plethora of housing designs they all end up with different lighting variations . Tiny design changes will affect the overall light output and pattern , this writeup was just to reflect the excellent results these led's have produced verses the (no kidding here) 7 different halogen's , 4 different HID's I've tried in the past in these housings . I like the cutoff line of the IPF's , and no one has yet to outperform this Japanese company in the lighting field , period .

I may just pick up a pair of several brands of housings to prove this , just for fun .

Sarge

Humm.. well with that said, I assume you failed to look at the vendor section before you posted this. Not to be mean, but don't try to make me out as a bad vendor. I simply tried to add good info and possible tech to your thread. I love a good set of lights just like anyone else!


Justin