Are LED headlights really OK for low beams? Comparison pictures.
 

Hello everyone,

Just posting some quick info. We constantly have customers ask about using LED bulbs in low-beam headlight applications, like the FR-S. I just took these shots for a customer, to show them why the LED bulbs on the market are still not a good option, even when using a halogen projector, like that found on the FR-S. Just thought some of you may appreciate this comparison!

Most companies selling these products for low beam application show very poor comparison pictures, where they are washed out so you can't actually see the beam pattern. They claim that the output is good. The real pictures below tell a very different story.

Cutoff doesn't matter. Many companies justify that the output of their LEDs is OK, just because there is a cutoff line. Sure, you don't want light sprayed everywhere, but more importantly, you need light focused properly. As you can see, the factory halogen light is focused into a very tight beam, with a hotspot right at the center, which shines light far down the road. This is key to performance and visibility. You want all of the light focused right in the center, with a small area to the sides also illuminated, and just a bit below.

Total lumen numbers don't matter ...unless it's focused. Many sellers claim high lumen numbers, telling you the output is higher than halogen. In reality, the total output is usually about the same as halogen, and sometimes it's a bit higher. But since it is not being focused where it should be, the end result is that your visibility will decrease. It doesn't matter how much light you have if it isn't going in the right direction. As you can see, if you use an LED bulb for your headlights, you'll get some light output, but it will not shine very far down the road because it is not being focused into a hotspot at the proper location.

Just for comparison, we included a standard HID output. With HID, you get a focused beam, and a lot of light, so there is indeed a significant improvement in visibility. However, you do add quite a bit of light everywhere as well, including some on the top end. The main problem with HID is when it is installed into reflector housings, and the factory optic cannot direct this extra light properly. However, the projectors in the FR-S are quite good.

Summary: when you're looking at your low beams, an upgrade to OEM HID headlights is the best option, but an HID conversion is still a much better choice in terms of output and visibility compared to the LED bulbs on the market.

Of course, these LED bulbs are still a great option when you don't need focused light- such as high beams or fog lights. But there is still a long way to go before they are suitable for low beams.

Paul
Product Development
Diode Dynamics

Interesting! I'd been on the fence about using LED in a headlight application and I'm glad I decided against it in the end after seeing this.

Yep, LED lighting is very focused and the design of the housings is completely different than halogen or HID. The most effective designs I've seen are using virtual filaments.

If I had an FRS, I'd be looking at possibly retrofitting a set of Corolla LED projectors in...

This is great info as I like your summary. I haven't changed any of my bulbs yet, but if I did, I'd go with an HID conversion/upgrade for lows. This also gave me a better understanding as I've been on the fence about using LEDs for DRL/Highs.

:(:( Sigh....I was looking at getting HID's but found out Hawaii law doesn't allow them unless it's installed from factory.

I thought that was illegal in all states... But the thing is most cops don't care for illegal headlights unless it's really bad. You will have to gamble that one...

But I am glad I bought a BRZ for the stock HID and LED DRLs~ :)

:mad0260:Yuh, I tend to have shitty luck so I'd probably end up getting pulled over by cops and get a frickin ticket. Only thing left for me is to get LED DRL's and Fog Light set from Diodedynamics.com

Appreciate the feedback everyone!

Can always get a set of OEM headlights with HID (Monogram has them)

The answer is as simple as this:

Unless it's an OEM engineered/manufactured LED headlight, no LED headlights are not a viable alternative to HIDs.

So if I understand correctly, LEDs like these would be fine to use as DRLs?

I've try the latest LED bulbs and the light output is not as focus as HID and HID is bright straight to one point, but the LED bulbs will see much wider area, it is even wider than Halogen and much wider than HID.
HID is just bright right in front of the car and the light are not spreading out and not far enough. If you're in a really really dark area, you can see the light output from quality LED bulbs are much wider and spread out than HID.
When I said quality LED bulbs, I am not saying those made in China/Taiwan no brand LED bulbs from the internet or ebay.

Just my 2 cents.

What distance were these pictures taken?
What filter did you use?
Do you have any pics further away and maybe no filter?

upgrading the stock projectors and then adding hids will be the best bet. but most people will not upgrade the stock projectors so just throwing an hid kit is better than halogen. LED will only be good if the actual diodes are placed in the same location as the filament in the halogen.

It doesn't matter where they are made. I have tried all the Japanese ones you're probably referring to. All designs have poor focus. You want light concentrated in one spot, like the halogen projectors are designed. You don't want to add light everywhere. You would need a significant total increase in light anyway if you wanted to distribute more to other areas, which no LED bulbs provide. The optical performance of all LED bulbs in the market, in low beam applications, is much worse than factory halogen.
I do not have any more pictures available. These were taken with the car about 8 feet away. A filter was added to more easily show intensity, but that was the only modification. I think this is a very clear representation of the performance of LED bulbs.

I have those, they are very pretty, I recommend them in general, but I wouldn't recommend using them in anything important like the FRS drl location (also your brights). don't get me wrong, they get fairly bright, but not as bright as my LED turn signals. I use mine in my fog lights for cosmetic effects.

Which is impossible as the filament radiates lights in all directions while the LED has a very narrow viewing angle.

Let's be honest though, Diode Dynamics lists their XP80 turn signals as "much brighter" than stock when from straight on, they are actually dimmer ;)

They are brighter from other angles, though, so I suppose it's still a valid statement :)

... and that's why we're revising our descriptions right now! Quite a few honest mitakes since a lot of our current descriptions are the same info for a lot of products.

However, to be fair, the bulbs are an increase in output from a worn factory bulb. But normally that wouldn't be the case, that's just because the factory H16 bulb is so low-power, and the XP80 is super high-power.

Haha, I'm kinda-sorta just being a d1ck, lol. Their total output is much brighter than stock, and from anything other than head on they are VERY bright, but yeah they are actually slightly dimmer when you're directly in line with the reflector. Nothing you guys can do about that, though.

HOWEVER, since you're listening, I do have a suggestion :P

Can you please consider revising the bulb design such that the bulb base on the XP80 bulbs (and probably others too) is white/chrome, rather than the color of the LEDs? I'm assuming you guys did that for easy identification of what color bulb you're holding, but it's not like it's terribly difficult to plug it in and test it. That's the one thing that bugs me about them in my car. Lots of folks (myself included) would much prefer for the LED bulbs to render the lamp housing clear, rather than have a yellow reflection. Not to mention that your bulb base is a bright yellow color, which IMHO is an uglier reflection than the deep, amber color you get with the stock bulb reflection.

Just a thought!

Retrofit the 2015 Prius c LED projectors instead. Noticeably better than the Corolla LED. The Prius c ones are both LED low and high beam. Corolla is just low beam.

Usually projectors that are designed for low beam only have better output as they don't "save" the hotspot brightness for the high beam. As the FRS already has a separate high beam...

The Prius c goes against that then. To me, they have wider spread, farther throw, and better illumination than the Corolla.

Also, my FR-S has low and high in one projector...

The high beam issue doesn't really faze me since I live in an area where I don't really need high beams. Seems like they'd be fine as DRLs and turns.

If you are going to use them as turn signals, do not get the Bluetooth box, it does not get to ready state fast enough. Also, I managed to blow an RF control box switching power to it to fast, now I'm talking μs fast, but figured it worth mentioning.

I guess why would you use these for turns, turns can only be red or amber as far as I know. However, foregoing high beams, they would make very nice DRLs

no cop will seriously be able to tell if you retrofitted or those were stock...

Go to a factory, park in the parking lot and plug them in :D
j/k

but seriously, like Koa said

You have a monogram, which has HID headlights which makes the LED conversation moot :)



Depends. Most people put blue HID's and don't bend the squirrel finders so it's a nice big blue glare monster coming at you. It's kinda obvious...

Hey, hey, hey, what if I want longer bulb life but lower lumens? Lol! =P

8000k and up is just annoying and pointless. Can't even see the road with that color temp!

In Hawaii we have what's called a Safety Check that has to be done every year....they check brakes, tires, headlights, etc....if one doesn't pass safety inspection the car registration cannot be renewed....I have shitty luck and it would be me to get a ticket or not pass safety check... :thumbdown:

Are LED headlights really OK for low beams? Comparison pictures.
 

If mine can pass, you shouldn't have any issues. Attachment 101605Attachment 101603


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Kool :w00t:
I'm assuming you have HID's!
Did it affect new car warranty with Servco?

I used the stock headlight housings and then retrofitted mini h1 projectors and matchbox projectors. I'm using 2 relays and 4 ballasts and bulbs, all morimoto. I am sure that the warranty for this set of headlights is void. I do however still have my complete stock headlight assembly in my garage. If you would like to see some of the options out there as far as lighting goes, feel free to hit me up.


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I feel ya bro.. me mum lives in Makaha and ho boy had choke problems with dmv trying to get my haole dad's car registered over there when they moved out of washington :mad0260::lol: