HELLO LED headlight upgrade

[a.droid]

https://www.vleds.com/bulb-type/drl-fog-lights/h11/cxa-led-headlights.html

Just found these while fixing up my civic through another site. Placing the order next week. These appear great and promise a lot. I'm hoping for much better winter weather lighting this year.

 

[JamesK]

Looks interesting, anxiously awaiting your review/report on how these perform in the FJR headlights.

 

[VMaxChuck]

Good find!

Interested as well in how they work out.....may become a Winter project!!

 

[garyahouse]

They have a fan mounted to them? Hmm. I know how long most LED's are supposed to last. I wonder about the fan.

Just thinkin'

Gary

darksider #44

 

[RaYzerman19]

Interesting...... LED's are shadowless, and I'd be concerned about the lack of contrast to see objects at night, like obscure forest rats. Wonder how they compare to HID in that regard? Contrast is an important component of being able to see things.

Heat is the enemy of LED's, but it sounds like the fan will cycle only when approaching overheat... replaceable?

I'll hang in there awaiting a full report.

 

[RossKean]

Interesting. The claim of 2000 LM per bulb is pretty high - higher than high-output halogens such as Silverstars. I initially thought that this was combined Hi and Lo but the specs (below) seem to say otherwise. The lamp geometry may make them less effective; depending upon how the sources work with the FJR reflectors.

They claim a very long fan life but I would be surprised if they last anywhere close to that length of time in a motorcycle environment. They claim IP65 waterproof driver and connectors but say nothing about the fan - it shouldn't see direct water contact other than a small amount of spray/aerosol but humidity and dust might cause issues.

I am interested in seeing how these work out for you. Perceived brightness, apparent color temperature, beam pattern and whether you get "flashed" by oncoming drivers at night. Post up some pictures as you are doing the install. A picture with one bulb installed might be helpful to compare pattern and brightness. (Lower power consumption than halogens is good too!)

2000LM total output (per bulb) 30% increase over halogen

- H4 application 1800lm low 2000lm high
- 2 each CXA1507 CREE Chip
- Current Draw 2.17A @ 12V = 26W
- 12-24V constant current driver
- Waterproof driver and connectors level IP65
- Over-heat Fan Failure Protection
- Fan Life 25000hrs

Ray (above) says "

Heat is the enemy of LED's, but it sounds like the fan will cycle only when approaching overheat... replaceable?

I guess I interpreted the spec as there is overheat protection if a fan fails - I assumed that the fan runs continuously but internal circuitry would protect the bulb if it overheated due to failure of the fan.

 

[Top_Speed1]

I've seen these about a year ago, prices are steadily dropping. There is also another Mfgr with 2400 lumins.

This is kind of timely!. I just ordered a new bike (which I won't mention) BUT, on the order entry screen, one of the "new" options was for LED headlights and LED kickstand/ground lighting. It didn't state low or highs and since this bike already has HID lowbeams, I'm thinking it's the (H7) high-beams. I went ahead and added the 'new' options as factory installed (blind I guess).

LED rules, but on aftermarket or retrofit; you need to get the luminance and reflective properties correct (for that lamp housing). Factory combined LED/housing of course is already tuned and matched for correct projection or coverage.

 

[Wlfman]

There's a guy of the FZ1 forums that just put some on his FZ

https://www.yamahafz1oa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=130254 scroll down to post #11

 

[ionbeam]

LEDs do good in a reflector designed for LEDs but not so well in a reflector expecting the 360º glow from a filament. These 'bulbs' are rated 1800 Lumen low beam, hmm, that could be an issue. I have a new set of 2,000 Lumen LED driving lights that I can't run more than 40% in the daylight without annoying people and I have to turn them down from there starting at dusk. SilverStar H4s are rated 910 Lumen low beam and 1500 Lumen high beam.

The VLEDs are 5k white, for reference SilverStar H4s have a color temperature of 3.2k to 4.2k (yellowish white), the VLED 'bulbs' will be white/threshold blue. Blue makes the eye think it is bright but it is low contrast lighting.

LED driving lights come in aluminum housings which does double duty as heat sinks. Because the LED bulbs may be located where there is little ventilation they come with a fan. You can forget putting a rubber boot over these bulbs, and as such will be trading away some weather protection for the reflectors. I also wonder how the metal wire bulb retainers will fit over the VLEDs. At least on my Gen I there are a lot of wires around the right headlight, I wonder if the VLEDs would cook up the insulation.

 

[Top_Speed1]

The last 2 years I've been riding the FJR w Osram/Philips HID's in 5.5K (kelvin scale). Absolutely love them, I never get flashed but that being said they are covered capsules, meaning they do not have direct capsule exposure, only what is reflected off the lights reflector (and it is on the top side for low beam directs away/down for oncoming traffic..

This being said, I wonder how the reflection will take place with these bulbs. Will the diodes be side lit only? IF so you may have some oncoming traffic flashing you constantly. If it uses 2 sides (1 for top reflection low beam, the other side for hi) then maybe this will work! I would need more info on how the diodes are placed and powered for each perspective. Even if it is a hi/low in this matter, your "bulb" will have to inserted for this up/down projection manor and you most likely will have to re-aim the housing. Not a big deal, the other I mentioned is!

Give me more info, I've done now well over 20 HID retrofits and have much experience in this field. This stuff is my specialty!

 

[ionbeam]

The VLED design uses two sides, low beam top and high beam bottom. The LEDs have a 115º viewing angle.

 

[Top_Speed1]

The VLED design uses two sides, low beam top and high beam bottom. The LEDs have a 115º viewing angle.

Sounds like it will work, at least for some T&E to begin.

The LED's air intake/availability for the fan has some concerns as to H2O. Much different than the halogen where as the heat is coming from the bulb within the reflector. Not that this LED will produce anywhere that much heat, the diodes still do not like any heat and this would all be in back of the reflector back by where the rubber boot (should be). hmmm

 

[leclairk]

SilverStar H4s seem like a good and simple option but have people had problems with them in the FJR? I had them in my V-strom and they worked great, much better light.

 

[ionbeam]

SilverStar H4s seem like a good and simple option but have people had problems with them in the FJR? I had them in my V-strom and they worked great, much better light.

I have SilverStars in my FJR too, but LEDs offer more light at half the power consumption. My Gen I makes a pathetic 490 watts from the charging system so every little amp helps.

 

[Justin]

I was looking into these last month, and found some videos and pictures. As expected, they are extremely bright to look at, but the luminous flux is not very impressive.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZOl5T0hBG8

LEDs are extremely directional, and do not do well in a reflector designed for a incandescent bulb. Judging from the videos above, this thread should be changed to "HELLO LED headlight downgrade" :lol:

 

[a.droid]

Since posting this the Feej is nonop due to the hit and run. I'll work on the same bulb install on another vehicle I have if that helps at all.

Just gotta find that elusive spare time.

 

[Top_Speed1]

Since posting this the Feej is nonop due to the hit and run. I'll work on the same bulb install on another vehicle I have if that helps at all.Just gotta find that elusive spare time.

Sorry to hear this, hope all is well. Post up when u can; but more so on the FJR (trial use within).