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Technical LED Headlights
- Thread starter JimMagill
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Technical LED Headlights
Hi,
Firstly NO LED replacments for exterior filament lamps are legal in the UK or EU (with the notable exception of a couple of sealed beam replacments that are E marked). As you are in NI it will be picked up on the MOT. If it's not E marked and approved it not leagal for road use. There are no approval standards for LED filament replacements so you have to change the whole lamp (reflector LED and lens) with an E marked assembly to be legal.
For the unit's you linked to, the third picture with the dimensions looks nice but clearly shows that there is a significant amount of metal around the LED "chips" that will affect the light pattern.
Robert G8RPI.
Firstly NO LED replacments for exterior filament lamps are legal in the UK or EU (with the notable exception of a couple of sealed beam replacments that are E marked). As you are in NI it will be picked up on the MOT. If it's not E marked and approved it not leagal for road use. There are no approval standards for LED filament replacements so you have to change the whole lamp (reflector LED and lens) with an E marked assembly to be legal.
For the unit's you linked to, the third picture with the dimensions looks nice but clearly shows that there is a significant amount of metal around the LED "chips" that will affect the light pattern.
Robert G8RPI.
Someone has to try them mate.
Still illegal to use on public roads.
If they were P45t to start with the chances might be bigger but them adaptor rings are dodgy.
Light temperature far to high for me, will dazzle badly
Still illegal to use on public roads.
If they were P45t to start with the chances might be bigger but them adaptor rings are dodgy.
Light temperature far to high for me, will dazzle badly
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Buy an Ypsilon! Mine's got Xenon HID's fitted (although they were quite an expensive option, I believe..) 
Cheers,
Plug
Cheers,
Plug
I wouldn't go there tbh Jim. They'll be just as bad as HID's. The simple facts of physics is that refractor headlamp units like those on the Panda were never designed to take anything more than filament bulbs.
The light displacement and output from HIDs and LEDs will always cause light scatter, regardless of what some seem to say.
My Prius has OEM factory fitted LED headlamps - to control the light output properly it has 2 projector units on each side of the car. On a similar note the LED headlights on the Seat Leon has around 5 projector units in each headlamp.
LED and HID headlight units have to be built from the ground up and for good reason. They'll never be easy to retro fit properly unfortunately. Certainly not within retro fitted projector units within the existing headlamp assay.
The light displacement and output from HIDs and LEDs will always cause light scatter, regardless of what some seem to say.
My Prius has OEM factory fitted LED headlamps - to control the light output properly it has 2 projector units on each side of the car. On a similar note the LED headlights on the Seat Leon has around 5 projector units in each headlamp.
LED and HID headlight units have to be built from the ground up and for good reason. They'll never be easy to retro fit properly unfortunately. Certainly not within retro fitted projector units within the existing headlamp assay.
Jim, I'm not trying to encourage you, but if I were to give a go and try LED bulbs I would go for these.
http://tuffplus.cn/content/?151.html
Tuff plus is a decent manufacturer with really high quality as for China.
and a lot cheaper as well
https://ru.aliexpress.com/item/H4-L...lt&btsid=d507df92-aba5-456d-ba5a-243f6d1987cd
H4 adapter ring is detachable but there is no kits with P45t base.
http://tuffplus.cn/content/?151.html
Tuff plus is a decent manufacturer with really high quality as for China.
and a lot cheaper as well
https://ru.aliexpress.com/item/H4-L...lt&btsid=d507df92-aba5-456d-ba5a-243f6d1987cd
H4 adapter ring is detachable but there is no kits with P45t base.
I'm in process of getting stock of the H4 converter rings in much more acceptable price than this on eBay. Order for the led kit as above will follow shortly so I'll update with results and observations.
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HiDs and LED's in any classic?
OP
OP
Thank you for the advice, I'll give it a miss. There are other things I should be spending my hard earned cash on with the Panda lol
With the standard H4 P45t conversion bulbs, the filaments were never in the same place as the original P45t tungsten bulb. Result was brighter light, but mostly lost into other's eyes, not useful on the road.
Any bulb intended to replace an H4 will suffer the same issue.
I'm also puzzled by the need to change them from LHD to RHD. The standard H4 halogen bulb does not need this.
Any bulb intended to replace an H4 will suffer the same issue.
I'm also puzzled by the need to change them from LHD to RHD. The standard H4 halogen bulb does not need this.
It's down to the relation between position of locating lugs on the bulb base plate, the shroud shadowing 90 degrees on each side ( 180* in total) of the low beam light spread and the market for which the lamp housing was made for. You can mount the LED emitter/bulb base plate in two positions.
I will give a go and check one setup like that, if the results will be poor and dazzling effect will be higher than tolerated led emitter will be removed.
There are some minor dimensional differences between the H4 and R2 low beam filament positions ( i.e. 0.1mm ). If the adaptor ring is correct all should be acceptable, if the conversions is made only by cutting the H4 lugs away the bulb envelope will seat 5mm deeper in the headlamp changing dramatically beam spread and performance.
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Thank you for the data and explanations, but this still does not answer my concern.
The standard 472 H4 bulb will fit LHD or RHD cars without modification. The respective lamps are made to accept the standard bulb, with the bulb holder positioned to suit the beam required.
The 410/R2 bulb can also be used for LHD and RHD applications. I remember some Cibie lamps in the seventies that could be changed from left to right dip by moving a small plastic slider that caused the bulb (R2) to be fitted rotated from the other option. Quite simple, and effective.
My thought, any replacement bulb should put the filament, or light emitter in the same position as the H4 bulb it replaces. This would then be a universal fit regardless of LHD or RHD. If it needs an adjustment for its application, in my mind something is wrong.
It probably just highlights the issue that if we want LED lamps, we need the complete lamp, designed for the bulb fitted to it. Any 'upgrade' bulb is a compromise, and any deficiencies will be felt by oncoming traffic.
The standard 472 H4 bulb will fit LHD or RHD cars without modification. The respective lamps are made to accept the standard bulb, with the bulb holder positioned to suit the beam required.
The 410/R2 bulb can also be used for LHD and RHD applications. I remember some Cibie lamps in the seventies that could be changed from left to right dip by moving a small plastic slider that caused the bulb (R2) to be fitted rotated from the other option. Quite simple, and effective.
My thought, any replacement bulb should put the filament, or light emitter in the same position as the H4 bulb it replaces. This would then be a universal fit regardless of LHD or RHD. If it needs an adjustment for its application, in my mind something is wrong.
It probably just highlights the issue that if we want LED lamps, we need the complete lamp, designed for the bulb fitted to it. Any 'upgrade' bulb is a compromise, and any deficiencies will be felt by oncoming traffic.
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