Thanks for the feedback...I appreciate it.

It's my understanding that if you use the right LED you won't have the scatter or blinding output. From my research it appears that the smaller, offset LED chips are best at working with the reflectors in the stock setup. Is that accurate?

 

Be aware that just because other's done flash you, doesn't mean you're not blinding them. At this point, I think people don't bother flashing anymore or they'd be flashing every 5th car all day long.


Check out my thread https://www.f150forum.com/f118/led-h...-bulbs-370732/


I found a set that maintains the proper cutoff pattern and are plenty bright. They have the same color output at the OEM LED's and are just as bright. Another member here has installed them as well and is pleased with them.

 

I think you are correct. There was a real big thread on LED lighting a little while back, and some guys had found some good quality LED bulbs that because of their design actually gave a pretty good cutoff on their own, even in a reflector housing. As long as they were installed correctly (had to have the bulb turned a certain way), the light wasn't that bad.

I don't think you can get away with it with HIDs, but with LEDs it sounds possible. My experience with LED headlights is pretty limited outside of what I have learned from this forum and some other sources. It's a different bulb design so you might be just fine.

I think I wouldn't worry nearly as much if I was in the country or whatever. But being in the suburbs I would want to make sure I wasn't making things dangerous for others. I have been on the receiving end of too many HIDs in old Explorers with crappy reflectors to want to do that to others.

Worst case, go out one night to a parking lot or something and with your significant other/friend/trusted car owning hobo, and just drive in the direction of your truck parked with its lights on. If it doesn't bother you/them, then just enjoy!

 

Yep, that was my thread, I posted the link above your post.

 

Thanks BlackBoost. I was reading that thread earlier and you did a great job of explaining it....thank you for that.

I was looking at the link another person posted to on your thread to Amazon and was thinking about taking a shot with these. Can you confirm that this set was similar to what you installed? I suppose I should do the fog lights at the same time so everything matches. Just not sure which I should get for that.

 

So I've had a few folks email me this question and here is my input based on my testing

Let's talk about stock housings first (aka Halogen housings).

You should not run HID in your stock housings, I think everybody can agree on this. Should you run LED? Some products, yes you can. Our XHP series for example work fantastic in the halogen housings. They mimic the output of your halogens almost identical and give you a LOT more light thrown down the road (you need to adjust your headlights after installation since you are now throwing a LOT more light, and you'll get more light travel up high). But once lowered, you are good to go. This will give you the MOST light output out of anything we're about to talk about.

That's about all you can do, if you are looking at HID/LED for stock (there are other direct drop in halogen bulbs that give you better light, but you didn't ask about those).

Now, onto the "Anzo" swap out. The anzo housings look AWESOME. I think everybody can agree there. Will you get more light output over your stock? That's a 2 sided question.

YES and NO. YES you will get more light output over STOCK halogens IF you use a better H7 bulb then anzo provides (they give you a crappy bulb).

IF however you decide to upgrade to HID/LED NO, the light output will be less, and that's because it's a projector housing. It controls your light and gives you a MUCH more focused pattern (there is a shield in the low beam that blocks half the light, giving you a really crisp cut-off).

So it may seem like you have less light if you are used to LED in your Halogen housings. HOWEVER it's a MUCH more precise light. a lot of folks DO NOT like the output (i'm one of them) the day they switch over. But as time goes by, you actually like the crisp cut-off the projection system gives you.

So we've got less light output, why switch right? Because it's more focused and you DO NOT blind folks at all. With LED in halogen you CAN blind people if you don't align then. Well same with projection, only it's a LOT easier to align lights with a projector because it's just a solid CUT OFF. So you know you CAN'T blind people, the light just DOES NOT travel up high.

Make sense? Projection housings are what most folks want, and it's what the high end cars use. For good reason. You'll always find a car with projectors TYPICALLY using LED or HID lights. Using halogen/incandescent bulbs in a projector is just not a great idea. Yeah it works but the light output is terrible. This is why a lot of our RAM customers buy our lights, because RAM doesn't give you LED in the projector system (at least on the lower end option).

So do you go HID or LED now... well HID WILL give you more light, that I won't argue. But it's not a HUGE difference. It's very minimal. I'm an LED fan as everybody knows, because I came from the HID world. In a few years HID will be a thing of the past for OEM and only offered in aftermarket kits. Most OEM's are swapping out HID for LED. Look at Ford. In 2014 they offered HID, 2015+ it's all LED. No more HID. Nissan is doing the same thing.

HID will give you a BIT more light output, but you have to wire it to a battery to have it installed correctly (HID systems pull a good amount of power). The HID bulb also takes a bit to warm up. On a cold day, figure between 10-15 seconds. On a warmer day, maybe 5-10 seconds. They also lose color after a few years and like halogen bulbs will die eventually.

LED's are an instant on/off. They last longer and are more durable (you can tough the bulbs and they are typically waterproof, even the ballasts). They last a LOT longer as we all know because it's LED. They don't generate AS MUCH heat as Halogen or HID but still generate a fair amount, so keep that in mind, especially the Ballast/Driver.

So why buy HID then if LED is so great? Again, because it does have a different FEELING. it's tough to describe unless you've seen both in purpose. I love how HID look i really do, but all the negatives make me sell/primarily support LED.

I did a comparison comparing HID to LED, here is that photo.

So hopefully that helps you decide what you want to do.

I'd recommend the anzos, even if you get a bit less light because of the design, it's a projection system and it's SUCH a cleaner looking light.





And a video showing you how they compare on a cold day (it was about 35 degrees out I think, that's F)

 

I see much more intensity of the focused light in the HID. The question that needs to be answered is - Is this additional light output beneficial or is it overkill?

I think the individual person has to answer that for themselves. Eyesight actuity tends to get worse as we get older, so for those of us who are starting to reach a "seasoned" age, that additional light output may be relevant.

Edit: Forgot to mention that, unless you have bi-mode HID, HID in high beam housings are generally a bad idea because of the warm-up time and because you typically tend to be cycling them on and off a lot. I don't care to run HID in my high beams because of this, not to mention that I rarely get to even flip them on at all due to all-day/night traffic on almost all of the roads I drive on a regular basis.

 

Customers who purchase HID's from us usually purchase them in lows and the XHP50 for highs. I've yet to take an order for 2 HID kits. It's usually 2 LED kits and on the rare occasions, an HID/LED kit as I stated.

It comes down to personal preference I believe. If you compare the HID to our XHP70 you can tell there is too much noticeable difference, it's slight. Compared to the XHP50 of course it's very noticeable.

 

Yep, those look to be the same, just with a different branding. Good sale on them too. bhamilton also installed the same ones and was also pleased with them.

 

I know of this report and the reason that I didn`t mention it is because I knew someone would bring it up in response to my reply.

Again, the report does not say that none of the halogen or LED equipped vehicles didn`t pass DOT requirements and should not be on the road.

All manufacturers do at least the minimum to meet government requirements.