Can LEDs be too bright or illegal?

For people who have changed out their exterior lights to LEDs, have there been any compliments from anyone on your lights? How about complaints? Are they too excessive? I don't want to be that ahole who loves to blind everything in sight with the brightest lights in the universe in a city where brighter lights don't do much because street lights... Also has anyone gotten into altercations with authorities about their lights, perhaps mistaking your low beams as high beams or telling you that they are unsafe due to excessive glare? When I was researching I read some posts here: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb...s-Included&s=10775c4a85c25738b089b65b0992a041 where some of the moderators are quite hostile on the uses of LEDs, but perhaps the times have changed now that quality LED replacements exist. Was concerned when they said LEDs are illegal but was confused when modern cars are now coming factory with them. Perhaps LEDs weren't as common in production cars 5 or 6 years ago as they are now. I found out that Phillips LEDs are tested for compliance. So what compliance is that? Couldn't find anything about light emitting diodes or LEDs in this: http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?node=se49.6.571_1108. Is there some kind of federal or state code banning the use of replacement LEDs?

 

If they're DOT approved then you're good to go. But I don't know any that are. I also don't follow them close enough to know.

 

No there isn't nor should there be.

Truck-Lites for example are DOT approved however they are a replacement for Wrangler headlights which are absolute garbage. Many manufacturers have LED's as OEM. Anything that improves the efficiency of your vehicle is better.

About two months ago I had a conversation with an older citizen. He asked me if he should be concerned about blinding people with the lightbar he installed on his truck. I told him as long as he's not maliciously using his lights, I'd much rather him see the deer or elk and keep it off the road than hit big game and risk injuring his family etc. Sometimes you throw light in on coming drivers eyes. It happens. It's not a big deal. This has happened ever since the advent of lights with reflectors. On coming trains blind you for miles. It happens.

When you are off the beaten path in the middle of nowhere, there is no such thing as too much light. IPF has some impressive lights in halogen and HID. LED just means more efficiency and durability. Which is never a detractor. Lack of heat can be an issue. I've had my Truck-Lites and Rigid Duallys freeze over a lot. The new Truck-Lites have a heating element in them that kicks in at 40 degrees and the SR Rigids with Spector optics that I have on my truck throw significantly more heat than the Duallys do.

 

If you read the fine print most LED headlights including Truck lites are sold for off road use only If the product has a DOT mark then it is legal for on road use in the US if it doesn't have DOT or EAU mark it is not so it comes down to enforcement. local LEO's may ignore them or they well could use them for probable cause and issue a citation.

 

A bright headlight is particularized suspicion. No one that I work with has initiated a stop based on a bright light. The source and power of the light is irrelevant.

Truck-Lites are DOT approved. They are used in everything from a Wranglers, to HMMWV's etc, to semi's and DOT snow plows. I've have owned and used many Truck-Lites over the years in Wranglers as compete headlight replacements and auxiliary lights. Truck-Lites are also DOT stamped right on the front of them just like every other DOT headlight.

 

Not all truck lites and many China built knock offs are DOT approved and as I stated if they are marked DOT the are legal.
And your saying that no one in your agency made a stop for bright lites ever.

 

It depends on what LEDs you use and how bright they are. If they are DOT approved then you are good. If not then be selective on where and when you use them. I'll admit I use my rigid lights in the mountains when no one is coming or around.

 

Don't do something stupid to get LEO's attention, then he wont have a chance to look at your lights to see if they have a DOT stamp or not. Take the time to aim them properly and your good in the city.

90% of the "performance" and chrome stuff sold at car part stores all say "For Off Road Use Only" it's their legal disclaimer incase your state goes full douche and makes a law against it.

 

It's not illegal to have bright lights. It is illegal to maliciously use your lights against other drivers - but even so, how would you prove that?

I do not personally know anyone that has initiated a stop based on PS of bright headlights. I get blinded at night all the time. I flick my brights back and most of the time people just forget they have their brights on. I'm sure some people don't care and intentionally leave their brights but that's not a big deal. It can be annoying though.

A lot of vehicles within the past 5 years throw a lot of light using HID and LED technology. Coming over a crest I see them get mistaken for brights a lot. So they flash back and show they aren't using their brights.

All Truck-Lite replacement LED lights are DOT approved. They were specifically designed for that. Truck-Lite Spots for example are an auxiliary off road light. The reflector in these throws light in a conical shape to illuminate as much as possible - off road, this is what you want.

The difference is the reflector. DOT reflectors, generally speaking, do not project light up. This is why your headlights and fogs have a distinct line at the top of the beam. How much light is irrelevant. It won't change the pattern the reflector provides.

 

Ive pulled over exactly 1 car for bright lights. The entire line of cars in front of me swerved and stopped, several almost wrecks. I dont know what they were but between their lumens and aim from 5 blocks away i was blinded, by the time they passed it was like id been staring at the sun from 10 feet. If was well beyond unsafe.

Don't be that guy, odds are youll be fine.

 

Well, there should (and there are) laws against using bulbs in housings that aren't designed for them. You shouldn't be using LED headlight bulbs in halogen housings, while getting a full LED designed housing is perfectly fine (extremely rare for most cars).

Discretion about using lights that throw light above the low beam cutoff is equally important for safe and courteous driving. And you're right, it's not really about how much light, it's all about the beam pattern. A little light with no cutoff produces more glare than a lot of light with a cutoff.

As for other lights (i.e. marker, taillights, etc), just make sure they aren't too bright. Typically they won't be, the headlights really are the primary area of concern regarding too bright and glare.

 

Why do you think there needs to be legislation on what type of light source is in a headlight? That doesn't make any sense. Many vehicles come with LED and HID. If you want to replace the source or housing for more efficiency, go right ahead and do so. There are laws that pertain to colors being used in headlights.

If you drive around brighting people and using your brights too closely, you can end up with a citation.

You don't need bright lights to be a prick. You can be a prick just fine with old dull lights just by having your brights on.

Truck-Lites for example have two diodes. The first is for your lows. When you hit your highs the second diode throws light and the first diode remains on. The second diode engages the lower reflector. You don't lose lighting up close because the low diode remains on. This is a lot of light and this works because they were designed properly.

I personally don't use my brights when I come into cities etc. The reflection from signs and lights is annoying. Driving around being a prick is a choice - make the right choice.

 

Because people are idiots. And there are laws that state you cannot use non-DOT compliant bulbs, and LED and HID bulbs designed for use in halogen housings definitely are not DOT compliant. No type of bulb can mimic another type of bulb's output pattern. As such, it is impossible for the housing to output the proper beam pattern. This goes with LEDs in HID housings as well.