The first LED headlight bulb kits only put out 1800 lumens per bulb, were bulky and had exposed cooling fans. Our current LED headlight bulb designs use highly efficient LEDs and well designed cooling systems to keep them operating at optimum temperatures.
Over the years we have brought in many different LED styles to test and evaluate for the market, The first generation 1800 lumen kits were great sellers as they were new to the market and brought a reasonable light output increase over factory halogen bulbs. We did some tests but did not bring in for sale the 2nd and 3rd generation LED headlights. The Fourth generation LED headlights, also know as G4 3200 because they were rated at 3200 lumens output per bulb were very popular but the had too high of a failure rate when used on vehicles with daytime running lights. The low voltage killed the LEDs in only a few months so we had to develop interface harnesses to bring the voltage up to battery voltage to maintain a long life.
We also brought in some of the Gen 5 models with the external cooling ribbons instead of fans. Although I was never a big fan of this design it did work well in tight clearance headlights and proved to be quite reliable.
Our tests on the Generation 6 and Generation 7 LED Headlight bulbs didn't fit with our vision of the newest LED headlights so we skipped them except for a select few applications that were not released with the Generation 8 LED headlight bulb kits. The Generation 8 LED headlight bulb kits were great sellers and took over the market for over a year. They were the first with 6000 lumens of output per bulb but they still required 12 volts to operate properly so when using them in a Daytime running light placement it meant an interface harness was still required.
The release of the still current F2 style was a huge breakthough in the market. With 6000 lumens of output per LED headlight bulb and the ability to operate on as little as 9 volts solved the daytime running light issues. The low failure rate combined with a reasonable price point made them a great seller. The light output pattern of this design was greatly improved and the adjustable base meant that they could be aimed if the need arose. Even though they are rated with the same lumens as the generation 8 LED headlight bulbs the light output pattern is dramatically better than their predecessors.
But there was still something missing, we were looking for a low cost, small sized LED headlight for some of the projector headlights with clearance issues and for customers looking for a simple solution. And when we found the V10 series we knew that we had what we had been searching for. Although not as powerful as the F2 series they still boast 4000 lumens per bulb which is more than some of our competitors are still selling. The ability to operate on 9 to 32 volts means no daytime running light interface is needed and the small size is virtually the same as a halogen headlight bulb. You would think that this technology would come with a higher price point but it doesn't, in fact it's cheaper than the F2 headlight bulbs and most others on the market.
LED Headlights and Projector Lights – The Best Lighting Solutions to Outfit Your Car
Not so far in the distant past, headlights weren’t that big a deal. It was just something that comes standard with any car. And you replace them when they were damaged. All you had to do was find the right size to fit your vehicle.
But, today, there are options and one of the newer options for your car headlights – and other lights on your vehicle – is light emitting diodes (LEDs).
LED lights are compact and very energy efficient. And part of the beauty of using LED lights is that they turn on or off almost instantly. They use less energy and have lower power requirements than halogen, incandescent and high intensity discharge (HID) lights.
Previously, you would only find LED lights on certain vehicles retailing at a very high price point. Now, just about anyone can outfit their cars with these energy-saving lights. Dealerships can also overprice LED light additions to a new car. But, you can save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, if you outfit your car or truck with LED taillights, headlights, and other lights yourself.
Why Choose LED Lights
With LED lights, you have a variety of options for design in your car bodywork. Because LEDs are so small, they can be designed into thinner and more distinctive shapes. These lights are easy to incorporate so you don’t need traditional headlights as such. There is, therefore, flexibility in how to shape and where to place headlight and taillight areas, as well as parking lights and third brake lights.
But, for those of us who prefer traditional headlight designs, there is no need to worry because they can still be designed and function in these settings.
LED lights work quite well in fog conditions where its warmer light spectrum prevents a glare back.
They convert most of the energy consumed into light and not heat. They do however have some cooling issues at their electrical base, but which can be easily addressed.
Let’s take a look at some of the areas in your vehicles that you can use LED lights.