H7 direct replacement LED bulbs

[whizbyu]

My car takes an H7 bulb. Sylvania/GEOsram. Is there an LED bulb that will replace the H7, without any modifications? There are some on sale that look like they have miniature fans for cooling and I am not sure if the "butt" of the bulb will stick out too far on the back.

 

[901Memphis]

No No No. Everything you're talking about is illegal Chinese toys. Drop in led bulbs into halogen housings will produce terrible light for you and glare for incoming traffic. Basically the stupidest thing you can do to your headlights these days, even worse than hid bulbs in halogen reflectors which is extremely stupid.

If you actually did this and got out on a night road the light would be in all the wrong spots. Most likely way too much foreground lighting and the distance would be terrible.

The only way led headlights are safe legal and effective is if the manufacturer makes the bulb and housing together to distribute light correctly for the application, this typically involves many redesigns and changes that aren't overcome in your garage
.

See here

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?377987-LED-H4-and-H7-bulbs-legality


If you want brightest bulbs get Phillips X-treme Visions

 

[bbhero]

Amen young man !!

I'm thinking more and more people are doing just this WITHOUT the understanding that it is not that simple or even safe to just drop in new lights and yeeha " I can see better now". Just doesn't work that way.

In my area I'm seeing more and more of cats with blinding headlights that makes me think they are doing things with their headlights not knowing any better. My car came with HIDs so its naturally rather bright at 3200 lumens per headlight. I have noticed in the last 2 yrs more and more cars are coming from the factory with HIDs. A lot more actually. Or they are very bright LEDs from the factory. Then there are some that are wickedly crazy bright that makes think someone has done a "conversion" that is NOT done correctly at all. Verifying what you just said.

 

[whizbyu]

I'll stick to Halogen. I have noticed cars with lights that look like stadium lights; blindingly bright., huge scatter. I've also seen HID's and LED that have laser like beams where the top half is clearly sliced off and the beam is focused on the road, not on oncoming traffic. The factory conversion kits are pretty expensive. The problem with ultrabright halogens is the lifespan.

 

[DBMaster]

Ever since we switched to composite headlights in the U.S. (at least, what, thirty years ago?) it's been a losing battle against glare. Even using the factory bulbs many of these lighting systems are poorly aimed and less than effective. I see so many people driving with high beams on all the time. I get light in my face that looks like high beams, but it's not. I see annoying over bright blue lights, carpy HID conversions, and driving lights that are aimed six feet into the air.

I don't miss sealed beams, really, but many don't realize than simply putting out more lumens does not improve your driving experience.

It's a misconception that will remain, I'm afraid.

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: DBMaster
Ever since we switched to composite headlights in the U.S. (at least, what, thirty years ago?) it's been a losing battle against glare. Even using the factory bulbs many of these lighting systems are poorly aimed and less than effective. I see so many people driving with high beams on all the time. I get light in my face that looks like high beams, but it's not. I see annoying over bright blue lights, carpy HID conversions, and driving lights that are aimed six feet into the air.

I don't miss sealed beams, really, but many don't realize than simply putting out more lumens does not improve your driving experience.

It's a misconception that will remain, I'm afraid.
Pattern is king, in speakers, antennas, and lighting. Lighthouse lenses are very interesting technology, and have been around a long time.

 

[JHZR2]

Its very true that lights can be so hit or miss these days.

My saab had absolutely wonderful halogen lights. Many other cars are just poor compared to that or properly aligned e-codes on my older cars.

But sealed beam headlights left a ton to be desired and are certainly not the pinnacle of driving experience either...

There is a safety element also gained by better/brighter headlights over the sealed beam baseline that was dropped long ago. Glare may be only one element of that, and other benefits may equally balance.

But its all in the implementation. Ive driven some late model rentals that the lights are almost unusable because they don't illuminate anything well.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: DBMaster
Ever since we switched to composite headlights in the U.S. (at least, what, thirty years ago?) it's been a losing battle against glare.


In my opinion, it has as much to do with our allowable regulations as anything else. Better optics have just allowed the engineers to push right up to those regulations.

For example, you aim a typical VOR headlamp so that the cutoff is AT the horizon. The VOR specification basically defines a flat cutoff on the right side of center, and nothing above that cutoff on the left side...it can dip down or be straight across. Typical implementation, here, is a completely flat cutoff straight across. This allows for NO error or situational variance (such as a loaded vehicle). Add in some partially fogged lenses, and you create the situation we have -- a good amount of light at or above the horizon for oncoming drivers.

The VOL specification is one I like a little better. It defines the cutoff on the left side of the lamp, and what's to the right of center can kick up, stray up, or even be straight across. The common implementation, here, is for an angled sweep up on the right or a "stair step" or angled step at the center, to a higher horizontal cutoff on the right side. The key to this, however, is the left side is aimed BELOW the horizon, so there is less glare to oncoming drivers.

Read more about aiming procedures here:

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/humanfac/04148/aiming.cfm

The worst case scenario for glare, in my opinion, is a VOR headlamp that is already less than stellar for glare control, where the owner has installed an HID or LED retrofit. The best case scenario for glare, in my opinion, is a properly-aimed VOL with the proper light source in a clean housing. Any variation of either will put you in the middle somewhere.

Both North American and European regulations allow for both flat and stepped/sweeped cutoffs. But the North American regulations allow for more light near the horizon on the driver's side of the vehicle than do European regulations. The benefit is more visibility of pedestrians on the driver's side of the vehicle, and better down-road light on low beam. The drawback is increased glare to oncoming drivers. This is somewhat reversed (speaking in very general terms, here) with European lamp regulations. Low beam down-road light is generally reduced, as is driver's side visibility, but there is less glare to oncoming drivers.

 

[wrcsixeight]

My eyes are much too sensitive to glare, and these LED/HID drop in 'upgrades' which are anything but, make me extremely angry. I have some LED light weapons I will occasionally use to voice my displeasure at the glare from nimrods and their nimrod aftermarket lighting.

My vehicle is older, uses 6054 sealed beams.

They are now GE nighthawks, and they get voltages within 0.3v of battery voltage, instead of the nearly 3 volt drop they had previous to upgrading their circuit.

A huge improvement, but I'd love some Cibie's with some Phillips or Osram h4 bulbs in them.

The other night I was on the freeway late, when my mirrors were overpowered by blue glare. The offender came up parallel with me, but refused to pass me. Their lights were aimed so far down, they obviously could not see the hotspot which was blisteringly bright, and there was absolutely no light alongside the hotspots where my Sealed beams were hitting the road. The guy basically had useless headlights, and was using my headlights to be able to see anything.

I took the next exit to shake him. I got back on the freeway about 1/4 to 1/2 mile behind him and could see when he was nearly parallel with any roadsign, or noise wall. The guy was lighting up everything, but the road ahead. His taillights were also pink and way too bright.

 

[DBMaster]

Seems like there's too much money to be made in speeding tickets today so enforcement of lighting and noise restrictions (VERY loud motorcycles with expansion tubes) has gone by the wayside.

 

[legacy36]

Use Osram 65w halogen, much brighter than stock, and last the same amount of time.

 

[Koz1]

If you have two vehicles (preferably a car) park in front of it 50 feet out if the light dosnt bother you, use them better yet buy ones that are oem bulbs if there are any.
If they bother you while sitting in the low car adjust the beam lower if it dosnt work then dont use them, they are probably cheap anyway.
If you dont have a second car and dont want to get one and be prepared to fix the beam dont get them get an OEM Halogen or Xenon bulb.
I know a Police Officer that wanted to Ban all bulbs HID and normal Xenon filled ones until I pointed out to them their vehicle from the factory had Xenon filled bulbs DUH!!
They didnt know HID were factory either UGH!!
They had even drafted a request to City Council what a Block Head.

 

[xxch4osxx]

Originally Posted By: Koz1
If you have two vehicles (preferably a car) park in front of it 50 feet out if the light dosnt bother you, use them better yet buy ones that are oem bulbs if there are any.
If they bother you while sitting in the low car adjust the beam lower if it dosnt work then dont use them, they are probably cheap anyway.
If you dont have a second car and dont want to get one and be prepared to fix the beam dont get them get an OEM Halogen or Xenon bulb.
I know a Police Officer that wanted to Ban all bulbs HID and normal Xenon filled ones until I pointed out to them their vehicle from the factory had Xenon filled bulbs DUH!!
They didnt know HID were factory either UGH!!
They had even drafted a request to City Council what a Block Head.
That officer wouldn't happen to be a Durham Regional police member would he?

 

[Koz1]

Originally Posted By: xxch4osxx
Originally Posted By: Koz1
If you have two vehicles (preferably a car) park in front of it 50 feet out if the light dosnt bother you, use them better yet buy ones that are oem bulbs if there are any.
If they bother you while sitting in the low car adjust the beam lower if it dosnt work then dont use them, they are probably cheap anyway.
If you dont have a second car and dont want to get one and be prepared to fix the beam dont get them get an OEM Halogen or Xenon bulb.
I know a Police Officer that wanted to Ban all bulbs HID and normal Xenon filled ones until I pointed out to them their vehicle from the factory had Xenon filled bulbs DUH!!
They didnt know HID were factory either UGH!!
They had even drafted a request to City Council what a Block Head.
That officer wouldn't happen to be a Durham Regional police member would he?


My point was some people want things banned made illegal because its different not because it should be.
That officer just happens to be a very silly example.
99+ percent Cops are needed and Great for society, I hope anyway.
There are Bad examples and people in every group and Profession.
People are people.