LED Headlight

[cfg83]

captainslug -

This is fantastic work. Would LED-size interior-mirrored "cones" allow the light to be "aimed" and focused more forward?!?!?!?

CarloSW2

[captainslug]

Originally Posted by cfg83

captainslug -

This is fantastic work. Would LED-size interior-mirrored "cones" allow the light to be "aimed" and focused more forward?!?!?!?

CarloSW2

I doubt it would help much. Collimators/reflectors would take up space that could be used for simply adding more LEDs. The element of the cathode itself is cone shaped and each LED has its own lens.

Highlight works fine. Street signs are very easy to read when hit with white light. Here's a picture taken in the only part of the neighborhood that wasn't aglow with Christmas lights.

Does a fine job of replacing the 21watt incandescent bulb.
For a faster bike I would probably want a minimum of 800 lumens.

[eco_generator]

Interesting!

Yeah, but not DOT approved.
It'd be interesting to see what lighting patterns would be approved.

[Christ]

While I love this idea - I don't have a bike anymore.

I couldn't use it on my car, for obvious reasons, but I could consider using it on the CR-X EV that I plan on building, since I will need to get a title for it anyway, I may just title it as a kit car in PA, meaning that as long as the LED light array meets or exceeds both the OEM specs for the car its' based on, and the specs laid out by PA vehicle code, it will be legally in use!

I love loopholes.

[bgd73]

I saw this in another place, ahead of its time. I guess it is time to dive in. The link even has free resistors, the rest is imagination.

I keep a real low idle on the downdraft sube...upon changing a bulb up front, I noticed no power dim at said low idle. Eventually back into the hog of the classic 1157 bulbs and it power dimmed again ..... There is another means to fix this, but this post has got me thinking

I bet these leds, perma-resisted do justice for this. Great post.

[IheartGeos]

I'm sorry, but why exactly are these not DOT approved? Does DOT require non-LED lights? That sounds rather odd to me, that they would have a requirement as to the specific bulb type. Or perhaps it is something else?

Anyway, those look exceptionally sharp and clean. The uniform light output is something I always wished for on my motorcycle! Great lights, and great instructions!

[Christ]

The only reason they're not DOT approved yet is that they haven't been tested by SAE/DOT under the requirements for headlights. end of story.

Eventually, they'll get tested, and provided the people who provide the test platform can do their job, they'll be certified for use and most likely retrofitting.

[winkosmosis]

Don't look at those LEDs. Period. They are literally bright enough to burn your retina.

[eco_generator]

Originally Posted by IheartGeos

I'm sorry, but why exactly are these not DOT approved? Does DOT require non-LED lights? That sounds rather odd to me, that they would have a requirement as to the specific bulb type. Or perhaps it is something else?

It comes down to lighting pattern and intensity. There is nearly 100 years of research behind lighting patterns and how they interact with the human eye. The reflectors and fluting you see in the headlamp of your car or motorcycle was designed by teams of engineers and tested rigorously to make sure it meets code for the country it's being used in. They use machines that measure very accurately how much light is going where, this allows a pattern that allows you to see in nearly all situations without blinding on-coming traffic.

Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

The link above is about those silly HID kits people put in their cars, but it goes into what makes a light legal/illegal. The links and PDF's will help you understand more about what regulatory bodies are looking for.

[tech2]

This is an awesome post!

I would like to add something that the "average joe" doesn't know.
If you need a great diffuser and you have (or can get you hands on) an old lcd computer monitor/ lcd tv set that is dead/ cracked screen, etc., dissasemble it carefully, and on the very bottom of the stack of the lcd array, there is a piece of custom made diffuser for the backlights, which are a couple of very small florescent bulbs taped to the sides. be careful removing these, they break easily and contain a microscopic trace of lead!! Ha Ha... so does your solder!! LOL