Supplemental LED Headlights in Mexico

[Ken_McE]

This guy down in the Yucatán decided to add some LED action to his wimpy stock Hyundai/Dodge headlights. He's up to around 100 3mm LEDs and seems happy so far...

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-LED-car-headlights!/

 

[John_Galt]

I saw this a while back (before I joined this forum).
Personally, I don't think it was a very good idea. I realize that he did this from a cost based perspective, but still. For whatever he payed for all of those little LED's, and various electronic parts, he could have just purchased a few high powered LED's, some reflectors or optics, and a few drivers. Overall, that would have been much easier, cheaper, and safer to do.
Also, with all of those little LED's, aiming them into an appropriate type of usable beam pattern without causing glare would have been difficult. I also believe that he said that after the first rain fall after installation, half of the LED's wouldn't work, because he mounted the diodes, resistors, etc, on the outside of the car.:shakehead Neat idea on paper, but poor execution, and planning.

 

[270winchester]

is there an optic that puts out a rectangular beam? All the optics I have seen give a round beam and that is a problem if one were to mount them on a road-going vehicle.

 

[John_Galt]

That is also a question I have been pondering. Having seen that all of the LED offroad/aviation lights all seem to have roughly the same designs, and also appear to made by VisionX, which hasn't been very forthcoming with details. Because of this, I had been questioning whether or not it would be cheaper in the long run for me to build my own high powered LED off road /fog lights. However, I have always thought that a square or rectangular beam pattern would be best, thus I have held off.:candle:

 

[LukeA]

It takes significantly more than just a rectangular beam to make an SAE-legal lamp assembly.

 

[John_Galt]

I wasn't speaking in terms of SAE legal, just as more illumination on back country dirt roads, and in fields. Neither was I planning on replacing my headlights. I don't understand why your first response would be the legality of the (secondary, or off road) lights. I was just asking if there were optics that produced a square or rectangular beam pattern. But I do think what this guy did was highly illegal.

 

[270winchester]

But I do think what this guy did was highly illegal.

something tells me that in a country where cartels are attacking governors' motorcades, lighting equipment on cars aren't the biggest concern for the police.

 

[John_Galt]

something tells me that in a country where cartels are attacking governors' motorcades, lighting equipment on cars aren't the biggest concern for the police.

True enough. Good point. My point was, however, that it was a good idea, but poorly planned and poorly, all things considered, executed. Realistically, I don't think this would have provided very reliable or bright lighting, and the blue tint of the cheap LED's he used would probably not lend themselves to very good depth perception.

 

[oronocova]

Interesting... However, I think if you look at "Step 12" you might agree that he would have been better off replacing his stock headlight lenses before he went to all that trouble. But if it makes him happy then great.

 

[R33E8]

Check out the comments "nerys" posted..:sigh:

 

[270winchester]

True enough. Good point. My point was, however, that it was a good idea, but poorly planned and poorly, all things considered, executed. Realistically, I don't think this would have provided very reliable or bright lighting, and the blue tint of the cheap LED's he used would probably not lend themselves to very good depth perception.

I agree, I was just busting your balls.

The viewing angle of the LEDs makes them good for close range flood but that's about it.(it might be over-shadowed by the headlight anyway) I hate to say it but he would have been better off polishing his headlight lens as mentioned and maybe add a set of properly aimed halogen driving lights.

It does make him very visible so if that's his goal then he succeeded.