LED headlight bulbs

[Peyton]

Seeing ads for LED headlight bulbs which are easy replacements for the original bulbs.

I saw somewhere that aftermarket LED replacement headlights in headlight buckets/ fixtures made for conventional headlight bulbs could create harmful glare conditions for oncoming traffic. Is there any evidence for this?

Will the LED headlight bulbs work just as conventional ones in park, low and bright modes?

And lastly, what’s your overall assessment of LED headlights in a Model A Ford?

[Chuck Dempsey]

Don't know any details, but they CAN'T be any worse than the originals.... I run Halogen bulbs, which work well.

[dmar836]

I would like this info as well. 10+ years ago, with vintage motorcycles, the jury was hung on headlight upgrades due to various electrical reasons. I'm suspecting this has changed.

I would agree that modern cars with their new bight lights are as bad for me as they are good for them.
I think consideration for other drivers in all areas of driving went out with the Model A!

D

[Ordsgt]

I installed the original LED lights and had a problem with manufacturer defects. I have since installed the improved version which you do not need to focus and Have been very happy with them. On coming cars have never flashed their lights at me indicating they thought my brights were on. Friends in front of me stated that the lights were fine. They appear to have a wider beam. I am very happy with them

[Russell Reay]

There was a test of headlight bulbs in the Restorer two or three issues ago. I don't recall the result, but it was thorough and unbiased assessment of several options.

[ndnchf]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

The focused beam LEDs are the best option out there. Great light, easy to install and much easier on the electrical system.

[Keith True]

They work great.Couple of things to remember.You do NOT focus them,you AIM them.You get the word,focus,right of the sentence.Also,if you aim them against a wall like you normally would you will be too high.The spectrum of light above what you see on the wall is what will blind others.Mine looked good on the wall,but when I checked them with a headlight aimer I was way too high.I have a couple to do right now,and until I get to the shop with the aimer I aim against the wall as I normally would,then drop them down a bunch.So far so good.

[Synchro909]

I hate even modern cars with LED lights. They glare and dazzle oncoming drivers and even those in front. If you have ever been annoyed by the headlights of the car behind you shining in your eyes off the rear vision mirror, you know what I mean.

[nkaminar]

I have the halogen bulbs and they work well for me. But you need an alternator to supply the increased current. The problem with the halogen bulbs is that the socket is different, so that you cannot use the LED bulbs without changing back to the original sockets.

[Kurt in NJ]

i have halogen bulbs with generator good defined beam
lights up signs 8 tenths of a mile away, no blinding oncoming cars.
ammeter shows a + 1 amp with lights on with a 14 amp charge rate, generator has be fine with that rate for the last 30 years, last battery went 16 years, this one is only 8
You all talk of “saving “ the generator the high rate has not reduced its life, in 50 years only replaced the front bearing and it was the original Ford one.
what kind of pattern do the LED bulbs make?
my halogens fit original sockets and have same focus position.

[ndnchf]

Originally Posted by Kurt in NJ

i have halogen bulbs with generator good defined beam
lights up signs 8 tenths of a mile away, no blinding oncoming cars.
ammeter shows a + 1 amp with lights on with a 14 amp charge rate, generator has be fine with that rate for the last 30 years, last battery went 16 years, this one is only 8
You all talk of “saving “ the generator the high rate has not reduced its life, in 50 years only replaced the front bearing and it was the original Ford one.
what kind of pattern do the LED bulbs make?
my halogens fit original sockets and have same focus position.

What is the current draw of your halogens?

[old31]

I have been using the older LEDS for years and they are great. the way that i focus them is to go into a large dark parking lot and adjust them for the best light in front of me.

[petew]

Originally Posted by nkaminar

I have the halogen bulbs and they work well for me. But you need an alternator to supply the increased current. The problem with the halogen bulbs is that the socket is different, so that you cannot use the LED bulbs without changing back to the original sockets.

Hey Neil , My car came to me with a 9007 halogen headlight bulb conversion.
I found that LED replacements were readily available on amazon.
I have had problems with halogen bulbs eating up headlight switches unless there was a relay in the circuit .

[Kurt in NJ]

14 amps, headlights dual tail lights panel light, ignition
stock wiring,switchOne night I went out with battery at 5.8 volts,came back at 6 volts, am at positive 1 amp driving with lights on.
on the first day of driving 50 years ago the fuse became loose and generator threw solder, was told that resoldering would be a temporary repair, am still testing, used to set it to 18 amps to make 50 cp bulbs bright , the halogens are 35 watts

[ndnchf]

Thanks Kurt. That's pretty high, but your ongoing testing shows that a good generator can handle it.

I have no connection with these, but the new internal Electronic Voltage Regulator (EVR) from Mike Hill might be a useful thing in an applications like yours where day and night driving is common. I've recently installed three of them in generators I've rebuilt, including my own '31 pickup. They replace the adjustable brush holder assembly and adjust field strength based in demand. They work very well. I'm very pleased with it. Here are a few photos of one I finished last week..

[jrelliott]

Where can you contact Mike Hill about the voltage regulator?

[jrelliott]

I think the reason the LED headlights causes us to dislike them due to the effect of being blinded for a longer period of time as compared to halogen or incandescent bulbs is that the LED light itself is more coherent (closer to the same wavelength), therefore appearing brighter. The light is emanating from a diode similar to a laser diode only a different wavelength.

[ndnchf]

Originally Posted by jrelliott

Where can you contact Mike Hill about the voltage regulator?

Look in the "other" forum that cant be named here, model A classified ad section.

[CT Jack]

My 31 is equipted exclusively with 6V led lights, including headlights and 3rd brake light. My generator is a stock 6volt generator with a voltage regulator in place of the stock cutout. I buy 6volt led lamps from various resources (Model A suppliers, amazon, Ebay). The led headlamps have bases that provide adjustment for proper highbeam lowbeam patterns. Each lamp draws 7.8 watts which is much less than a standard 35cp incadescent lamp. I also use a solid state directional signal control for my directionals.

[Ayers1]

I have the focused LED headlights in both of my cars. They are much better than original and I haven't had issues with oncoming traffic blinking at me for being too bright. I did turn the generator back to charging about 4 or 5 amps. With all lights being LED it still charges a little with them on. At $50/bulb I thought they were a little pricey until I tried them. Then it was worth it.