Jump to content

H4 LED + other LED lighting


docc

Recommended Posts

Thanks, scullerZx!

 

Here is the definitive answer about fitting this LED unit to the plastic LeMans headlight bucket! :thumbsup:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Soooo, I opened the bucket to anchor the relays and driver as swooshdave suggested and here is curious change I did not expect. Turns out the fan blows forward and does not exhaust through the honeycomb at the very back.

gallery_328_223_845451.jpeg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, that should take care of the condensation in the morning at the Kentucky rally ..  :huh2:  :rasta:

Looks all the heat is on the back of the reflector. I can't see any discoloration inside the reflector (behind the lens).

 

I can't feel a bit of warmth on the surface of the lens.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Makes me want to have one of my hotrod buddies press some louvers into the back of the bucket. I just totally do not want any moisture in there.

 

I suppose if it starts cooking off the reflector surface, the whole thing will be declared a fail. <_>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Makes me want to have one of my hotrod buddies press some louvers into the back of the bucket. I just totally do not want any moisture in there.

 

I suppose if it starts cooking off the reflector surface, the whole thing will be declared a fail. <_>

Docc, this sounds like a solution in search of a problem. A problem that you don't have. LED lamps put out less heat than the original incandescent bulbs, so the chance of heat damage is low. If you add louvers to your shell, then the only outcome is to allow dust and moisture into a place that is normally clean and dry.

Better that you worry about all the little furry critters you will blind while riding at night.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Makes me want to have one of my hotrod buddies press some louvers into the back of the bucket. I just totally do not want any moisture in there.

 

I suppose if it starts cooking off the reflector surface, the whole thing will be declared a fail. <_>

Docc, this sounds like a solution in search of a problem. A problem that you don't have. LED lamps put out less heat than the original incandescent bulbs, so the chance of heat damage is low. If you add louvers to your shell, then the only outcome is to allow dust and moisture into a place that is normally clean and dry.

Better that you worry about all the little furry critters you will blind while riding at night.

 

That's reassuring. I am not sure what to make of the scars on the back of the reflector.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh, maybe I'm wrong. Does your reflector now look different than the picture in post #69? Both post #69 & 92 photos look a bit like my reflector, and I don't see anything of concern. Is there any damage to the reflector finish on the forward side?

Edited by MartyNZ
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh, maybe I'm wrong. Does your reflector now look different than the picture in post #69?

Hard to see. I don't remember noticing those brown stripes at twelve o'clock and six o'clock.

 

I am afraid they are *new* . . . I believe I would have noticed that, especially with the discovery of the heat damaged connector.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 Is there any damage to the reflector finish on the forward side?

I can't see any discoloration looking through the lens at the reflector (yet?) . . .

 

Sharing this observation today with some other riders, the suggestion was made to apply some aluminized reflective heat tape on the back of the reflector.

 

I may have to try that. I don't want this ruining my reflector.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It didn't feel like anything *hot*.

 

I suppose I should pop it out and run it "for a while" -> point the infrared temp reader at it.

 

I got good reports today from riders following the LED tail light/ brake light unit swooshdave posted. I got the flashing model, so one guy said he had a couple seizures on the way :blink:  :rasta:

 

Hard to judge the effectiveness of the LED headlamp unit . . .

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Compared to a 55W H4 a LED unit keeps the lamp stone cold. Otherwise you wouldn't swap to it.

While we are at it: The LED light might seem brighter, but as a matter of fact the overall efficiency of a well matched H4 bulb/reflector system is always much better. LEDs need well adapted lens and mirror systems to show their true potential. An aftermarket H4 LED 'up'-grade in a standard H4 setup is good only for annoying the oncoming traffic. It's a physics/optical problem.

These reflectors need the lightsource spot on in the focus point, as small as possible. LEDs are exactly not the ideal match for such requirements.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

So true. As it turned out, looks like the low beam pattern is improved and the high is "just okay."

 

No oncoming traffic has been flashing me, yet I hope I am more visible than before without being annoying. That is a difficult attribute to assess.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...