3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights

I guess I was wondering if they can be used in a projector just like all the other thousands of options on Amazon.

Looking forward to your review!

 

Yes, just be sure it is the headlight model which is not readily available domestically, unlike the low output foglight model that is. Focus and distance projection milage results may vary. Waiting on the weather and my schedule to coordinate a date for the review.

 

You've seen my previous posts about the aux lights tied into the high beams, using the SAE KC Pro6 Driving lights. I've got my custom grill for the project, just need to get it all installed.

Another local member was interested in doing the same project, but wanted to use a selective yellow light bar instead. I suggested @Diode Dynamics driving light bar as it is available in selective yellow and the performance specs looked very impressive with their unique and highly efficient Total Internal Reflector Optics. While twin 12" bars are SAE compliant, a single 18" bar is not as the intensity values are too high, but he selected a single 18" driving bar for easier packaging on the mount. A non-SAE product is technically not street legal, though with a high beam application it should never be run where it would affect forward/oncoming traffic. Of course I had to check this product out in person before we installed it.

Very first thing that jumped out at me right away is the breather. I've never seen one this robust looking, most are a glued on piece of gortex like material which is a common failure point on some popular entry level lights. This protruding bolt with 4 holes is a breather, while internally it likely uses a similar type of material air permeable material, it wouldn't appear the breather will delaminate or otherwise mechanically fail and let moisture into the light like some other lights. Yes, I get excited about things like quality breather valves.



The included product spec sheet was highly detailed, while there are a couple more specs I'd like to see like beam distance, it is impressively thorough. I always advocate for lighting companies to provide as much data as possible in their product specs. Those that just provide a raw lumens spec can be highly misleading of actual product performance.

Diode Dynamics spec is 79.8w. After 20min run time I measured 75.9w.


Beam pattern at 18'


The output of this light bar was better than I expected for its very compact size. I selected the KC Pro6 driving lights based on best in class SAE specs, like candela, lux at 10m, and beam distance. But the Diode Dynamics lights give them a surprising run for the money in a more compact form at a fraction of the price and I actually like the Diode Dynamics yellow color better than the KCs with the amber covers. Although an intended use with the KCs is to be able to switch colors based on season, which is not available with the light bar.

Mounting behind the grill using the BAMF behind the grill light bar mount. Unfortunately the legs of the Diode Dynamics light bar mount were too tall for this purpose and caused the light to be partially positioned behind the center of the Pro grill center bar on this 2nd Gen. Shorter mounting legs will need to be fabbed for the application.



It was then easy to tap the high beam circuit to activate the lights automatically with the high beam. Using SAE compliant lights the auto high beam would be street legal, non-SAE lights are not. It would be exciting if @Diode Dynamics would make this as a twin section SAE light bar like Rigid for easier packaging than 2 separate 12" bars. I look forward to testing out their TIR fog pods.

 

I tell everyone that asks: I am super impressed with the Stage Series and recommend them to anyone looking for quality "midrange price" light bar(s).

At one time I was considering a pair of 6" SS bars for auxiliaries in the upper grill, as you've noted that the two 12" lights don't package easily. Most of their product line appears to be modular and set on fixed, swappable components like heatsinks, end caps, and lenses. I assume that this helps in keeping their product mix low and their manufacturability high. I asked if they'd consider a 36" bar and they responded "not at this time". Same with people asking for curved bars, etc.

It looks like these bars use the same temperature LEDs whether you select white or yellow, because those lenses look very amber to correct the difference. They technically are swappable, but it is a little more intensive with O-rings and small machine screws. No snap-on covers like the KC setup.

My mind was made up when I saw the SS3 debut though. More light than the 6" bars in a slightly easier form factor. And unlike the bars, the optics and final pattern are molded as one piece. Neat!

 

So I wanted to give an update to everyone that I did get the change to install the relay hardness and it did help but I still got issues with my right (passenger side) headlight not coming on consistently and as of lately, not turning on anymore. I've narrowed down that the issue is probably due to a faulty ballast. I've contacted the vendor and they are going to warranty the ballast. Still annoying having to go through this but hopefully when the new ballast comes, I don't have to keep checking if my headlights are on.

 

If one failed, your other may likely as well. I'd suggest swapping to OEM Denso ballasts, they do cost significantly more but quality and reliability will be top notch.
https://www.theretrofitsource.com/amp-denso-slim-35w.html

 

Thanks for the suggestion crashnburn80, I'll look into these.

 

Anyone install H9's and not impressed by how the perform? Asking for a friend lol.

 

Exactly opposite. I am very impressed with the H9 bulbs in the low beam position.

 

Ever get light flashed by other drivers Tullie? I haven’t put my H9’s in my low beams yet other than to check fit after mod, the GE 130+ do well except in the rain I would like more light for these terrible blacktop roads.

 

I've had the H9 bulbs in for about 6 months now, and haven't been flashed yet.

 

Good deal. I thought that with the projector cutoffs that might not be an issue.

 

I haven't been on this thread for about a year. At the time, the GE megalight was the best performer. I got a set and later decided to get a backup set. They were starting to get hard to find so I got a set of hella h9 as they were close to the same performance.

I just recently decided to try the hella h9's and I am liking them much better. I don't use my headlights much so I'm not thinking my bias is based on degradation of the ge's. The ge's were focused and let me see down the road, however it seemed they were too focused, great hotspot but little periphery light. My driving is rural city driving with wide roads and little street lighting. Deer and wild turkeys are common and peripheral lighting helps alot. Using the fog lights (offroad h11) helps to fill this void. The h9, although not as focused seems to put a fair amount of light to the sides as well as down the road. It helps alot to see moving hazards even without the fogs.

 

Helpful, thanks. I have th Philips H9s but as mentioned above not installed yet. Also bought like new OEM fogs from marketplace here and when I get the rest of the parts needed will put them on my SR. Maybe spring it’s cold out there haha.

 

Taggd

 

Just bought a set of ge mega light to replace h9 hella 2.0. (One bulb died on me after 3 years using it)

Reading through the thread I understood that the ge where slightly better than a h9 swap.. Am I correct?

for those who asked if the h9 wave glare or bother other oncoming cars let me tell you that the cutoff on the headlight is perfect... you won’t blind anyone unless your headlights are aimed too high.

 

The GEs had just higher peak intensity, but the Hellas will put out more overall light, meaning you get more light to the sides of your pattern with the H9s than the GEs.

 

Crash - I just wanted to say, thanks your research and education, I notice just about every on coming car with glare issues and can pinpoint what they did to create the danger to on coming drivers.

Thank you sir!

 

This is cool. Audi's new matrix led headlight system. an auto adjusting "blanket of light. the edges of the beam to project, in real-time, a 10 to 50-meter carpet of light." -article

These look like real "projector headlights"

https://www.slashgear.com/audi-digi...ok-the-e-tron-tech-the-us-cant-have-13601695/

https://youtu.be/zoEBOMuZGnQ

@crashnburn80 showed me a different video

https://youtu.be/P5bBEfphebI

I attend endurance sports car races races that run into the darkness of a 24 hours race. Gt and prototype class (Rolex 24 at Daytona) so I have seen the world of automotive lighting grow as racing grows. Especially in the prototype class where everything has been led based.
I'm glad to see that this level of lighting is coming to the consumer.Things are tested in racing and eventually make their way to the consumer.

 

oh...come on! Coming from Hellas h9 2.0 I hope it is not much of a difference.... I guess I’ll give it a try....