Headlight Luman Count for Typical Low Beams choices

[RobbS]

I am looking for a bright, appropriate low beam lamp to replace my burnt out one.
LL (Luman Measurement)
I only shop at VLED, have for 7 years.
Here is a snapshot of their three options.

Which LM rating would you get. The low beams are extremely weak as it stands, not sure of the lumans on those dim ones,:

 

[RobbS]

2500 LM
3500 LM
5000LM
-Choices in brightness.
Thanks again

 

[Propflux01]

3500 is average for a low beam LED. 5K or less, as more than that just looks "blue" and reduces the amount of light the eye can pick up. Just hope you're not using them in a projector lens.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

Are they going into halogen reflector or halogen projector? What bulb # originally? You'll get all the feedback on not designed it for it, causes glare etc. Many newer LED's at least allow turning/clocking of the led to get close to original pattern. The H4 LED in my daughters CRV needed to be turned about 90 degrees to match halogen beam pattern. She does not have any issues with getting flashed but they are all aimed properly. Not that that is a standard of not causing glare but I get flashed a lot more in my factory LED Pilot and friends a factory LED Sonata and that is AFTER aiming both down to have proper aim. I have HID's in other vehicles and all aimed properly, no issues.

Of those choices I would do the 5k 5000lm. I prefer a slightly warmer color especially off road signs and in bad weather. The whiter brighter just reflects a lot. My HID's are 5k but with higher ballasts drop to like 4500 color temperature.

Northern VA probably not to much but is snow/ice a concern? The LED's don't produce enough heat to melt like halogen or HID. Search some of my posts with pictures. I recall one member not sure here or other forum going over VA regulations, illegal, fail state inspection etc. Daughter-in-law had no issues with the LED's in her Tucson projectors with inspection in VA.

Not inexpensive but check out 2stroke 4.0 LED in your bulb size/number from The Retrofit Source. Thinner for less blocking, fan circulates heat inside housing to help melt snow/ice.

H4 LED vs Silverstar Halogen
Pilot factory LED lows and fogs
Accord with HID further down

 

[Sequoiasoon]

3500 is average for a low beam LED. 5K or less, as more than that just looks "blue" and reduces the amount of light the eye can pick up. Just hope you're not using them in a projector lens.

My experience is better in projector than reflector in multiple installs with friends/family.

 

[Propflux01]

My experience is better in projector than reflector in multiple installs with friends/family.

May be better for you, but not for oncoming traffic.

https://ricksfreeautorepairadvice.com/why-led-bulbs-dont-work-in-halogen-headlights/

 

[RobbS]

3500 is average for a low beam LED. 5K or less, as more than that just looks "blue" and reduces the amount of light the eye can pick up. Just hope you're not using them in a projector lens.

No, standard many lamped low beam and what I use to see at night. I have not been able to see since new. I will call an expert tomorrow and decide how bright I need them.

 

[Propflux01]

No, standard many lamped low beam and what I use to see at night. I have not been able to see since new. I will call an expert tomorrow and decide how bright I need them.

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https://hawkglow.com/blogs/news/how-many-lumens-is-a-car-headlight​

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Average Car Headlight Lumens by Bulb Type​

Headlight Type	Low Beam Lumens	High Beam Lumens
Halogen	700–1,200 lumens	1,200–1,500 lumens
HID/Xenon	3,000–3,500 lumens	Up to 4,000 lumens
LED	3,000–6,000 lumens	4,000–8,000 lumens
Laser	8,000–10,000+ lumens	Up to 12,000 lumens

 

[Propflux01]

​

https://hawkglow.com/blogs/news/how-many-lumens-is-a-car-headlight​

​

Average Car Headlight Lumens by Bulb Type​

Headlight Type	Low Beam Lumens	High Beam Lumens
Halogen	700–1,200 lumens	1,200–1,500 lumens
HID/Xenon	3,000–3,500 lumens	Up to 4,000 lumens
LED	3,000–6,000 lumens	4,000–8,000 lumens
Laser	8,000–10,000+ lumens	Up to 12,000 lumens

Don't know what else to tell you. You asked which of the three lights I've given examples.

 

[JavierH19]

Those old low beams are worn out. I left mine in for too long after noticing they're just too dim and replaced them the purple Sylvania ones which is above the economy ones and they were so much better and could see well again. Those are only 1000 lumens new and once worn out are about 300-500 lumens. The 2500 lumen would be my choice. The 3500's are likely just running much harder with nothing really different and get hotter still and will last less long.

 

[researcher]

You didn't say what your stock bulb size was. I looked up an H11, sylvania basic, 1250 lumens. I'd say around 2500-3500lumens (guess I'm conservative) for the replacement, but the problem is, like @Sequoiasoon says, you might have to rotate the LED until it matches up with the stock reflector.

And I recently found out lots of fraud out there when claiming lumens in any LED lights. If they don't have a lab certified optical test (sorry forgot the standard test number) you can forget they are really the lumens they claim. Sort of like car audio amps where they said some crazy wattage number, but the standard lab tests RMS, frequency range, total distortion, etc showed differently.

 

[97prizm]

I am looking for a bright, appropriate low beam lamp to replace my burnt out one.
LL (Luman Measurement)
I only shop at VLED, have for 7 years.
Here is a snapshot of their three options.

Which LM rating would you get. The low beams are extremely weak as it stands, not sure of the lumans on those dim ones,:

View attachment 346262

6000k are bluish purple. Hids are typically 4300k and white LEDs are typically 5000k. Most aftermarket leds will have terrible glare and cutoff as halogen housings aren't designed for led light

 

[JavierH19]

6000k are bluish purple. Hids are typically 4300k and white LEDs are typically 5000k. Most aftermarket leds will have terrible glare and cutoff as halogen housings aren't designed for led light

I agree. If they say off-road then they're going to be junk. Maybe they positioned the LED exactly where it needs to be like on a filament bulb to work well with the housing. But I don't bother with LED conversions they are rarely ever good.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

@RobbS - what vehicle and how old? Are the headlights yellowed/hazed? Are there options of getting HIR bulbs? There are options for 9006>H9 IIRC but no glare reducing tip on H9 I think. There are always true retrofit options of putting LED or HID projectors into your reflector housing but not the easiest or cheapest.

Mount up a set of extra lights, aimed correctly maybe even lower in bottom grill. Something like the Morimoto Sealed 3 which you can get in just low beam, just highbeam, or low and high. Many options depending if you are looking for distance (high beam only), back roads no traffic, maybe fog type for low cornering etc.

One of the problems with getting brighter bulbs like HIR or conversion halogen is often shorter life. It's a trade off. DanielSternLighting covers a lot of this also. You can also get HIR bulbs from him, rebased in different styles.

Some vehicles like my old Explorer with 9004 bulbs just suck no matter what you try. Poor headlight pattern from factory, poor bulbs, anything you try will just glare more, worse for you and others. I ended up adding a set of Hella H4 headlights in snow plow housings, under bumper, aimed and then turned factory lights even a bit down. There are always options, just depends on $$ and initiative.

My old Corolla had really poor beam pattern from 9005/9006 plastic headlights. I replaced with factory Toyota H4 glass lights from Europe. Pun but seriously night and day difference. The European E-Code have many different standards than the US DOT.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

May be better for you, but not for oncoming traffic.

https://ricksfreeautorepairadvice.com/why-led-bulbs-dont-work-in-halogen-headlights/

I do check and aim in dark areas, taped off at 30 feet and then drives accordingly. On your link also part of why I prefer HID due to 360 light output from bulb/capsule.

MANY people swapping or even changing factory bulbs have no clue on aiming. I'll say that for at least Honda on new vehicles they are bad. My Pilot was high on low beam from dealer, fogs were horrendous low and high. I've had multiple loaners from CRV, Accord, Ridgeline, Odyssey and all were bad. Two of them I had for extended time and I did aim the lights correctly in them as I drive a lot at night.
The new Honda that illuminate 2 lights on each side leave a bad dead blank area. It is designed around oncoming traffic but when no traffic depending where you live and drive it really is a safety hazard IMO of lack of lighting.

This was a '22 Accord on a pretty flat road. Lighting for higher speeds just on how low they are aimed plus dead spot.