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3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by crashnburn80, Jan 25, 2019.

  1. Sep 13, 2020 at 2:55 PM
    #3141
    mynameistory

    mynameistory My member is well known

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    H9 halogen bulbs and Diode Dynamics SS3 yellow fog lights, sport or pro.
     
  2. Sep 13, 2020 at 3:07 PM
    #3142
    Swizz

    Swizz Well-Known Member

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    just the standard base h9’s?
     
  3. Sep 13, 2020 at 3:25 PM
    #3143
    Toy_Runner

    Toy_Runner Well-Known Member

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    Get the Philips H9. H9 is already a high spec bulb, there are no "+" rated H9's, only those that reduce the lamps output with bulb tinting for "improved" color temperatures.

    Very simply, higher color temperature lightsources/those that produce more short wavelength light (blue end of the spectrum) will result in increased glare/diffusion for both the driver and oncoming vehicles. Filtering out these short wavelengths to some degree can result in improved ability to see in heavy fog/sleet/snow/rain/atmospheric dust. For example, I currently have the headlights of my 3rd gen 4runner tinted to selective yellow, and while it does not "cut through" fog/rain, it does provide a significant visual improvement over even normal "white" halogen lamps when I am driving in fog and rain.
     
  4. Sep 13, 2020 at 5:30 PM
    #3144
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

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    I didn't see the on TacomaBeasts website. Have a link? Aftermarket knock-offs nearly never compare to OEM.

    As others mentioned, lower color temps will perform better in poor weather conditions. The Philips H9 swap is higher performing than the Hikari LEDs and a better color temperature for poor weather driving. Typical 6000k will cause lots of reflection off the precipitation in the air compared to halogen or selective yellow color temps. Diode Dynamics SS3s in selective yellow are the highest performing fog in the most ideal color temp for poor weather conditions.
     
    xxTacocaTxx and MikeyMcFly like this.
  5. Sep 13, 2020 at 6:24 PM
    #3145
    Swizz

    Swizz Well-Known Member

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    Thank you Crash. I’m sure it would take me weeks to come to that conclusion on my own, if ever. Appreciate it!
     
  6. Sep 13, 2020 at 6:54 PM
    #3146
    Rainoffire

    Rainoffire Well-Known Member

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    It is not on their site yet. I noticed it on their supercharger dyno test, and checked a couple videos back and they have been using it since their install of the nfab tube doors, a month ago.

    I asked them about it, and they confirmed that it was indeed not the OEM LED, but did not confirm the brand. They said release will be the end of this month.
     
  7. Sep 13, 2020 at 7:35 PM
    #3147
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

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    Hmm. I wonder if they will publicly list it on their site or only post in closed groups like AlphaRex.
     
  8. Sep 13, 2020 at 9:44 PM
    #3148
    Rainoffire

    Rainoffire Well-Known Member

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    I think it will go live on their site. He said "These will be available at TacomaBeast.com this month."

    It might be an exclusive sale through Tacomabeast without the AlphaRex branding. I checked all available shots of the headlights, and the usual αRex logo on the parking light reflector is not there.
     
  9. Sep 14, 2020 at 4:27 AM
    #3149
    avi8or_co

    avi8or_co Well-Known Member

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    Wonder if they finally got a clue that nobody wants to be an advertisement that you have to pay to become one
     
  10. Sep 14, 2020 at 4:26 PM
    #3150
    harpo1

    harpo1 Well-Known Member

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    Anyone know where I can get the GE Megalight Ultra+130? They seem to be out of stock everywhere.
     
  11. Sep 14, 2020 at 6:45 PM
    #3151
    Toy_Runner

    Toy_Runner Well-Known Member

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    Search for Tungsram Megalight +130. Same bulbs, GE sold their lighting division off about a year ago.
     
    harpo1[QUOTED] likes this.
  12. Sep 14, 2020 at 6:48 PM
    #3152
    harpo1

    harpo1 Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the info. Now that you mentioned it I believe I read about that and just forgot.

    Edit: Well it appears these are not available either.
     
    Last edited: Sep 14, 2020
  13. Sep 15, 2020 at 7:10 AM
    #3153
    travadol

    travadol Well-Known Member

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    I think they're all made by VLAN or whatever on Alibaba. I came across the OEM LED-lookalikes on Alibaba and the VLAN company also makes an AlphaRex, quad projector headlight. AlphaRex likely just gets their logo added at the factory. Just goes to show that AlphaRex likely does no R&D on their own and are just reselling Chinese knockoffs.
     
  14. Sep 15, 2020 at 7:16 AM
    #3154
    Rainoffire

    Rainoffire Well-Known Member

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    I actually came across VLAND before AlphaRex. Found them cause they make the knockoff Tundra LED headlights. While not under VLAND, I did find a manufacturer on Alibiba that wholesales AlphaRex's & AlphaOwl's headlights.

    I actually contacted VLAND about Tacoma headlights, and they said they will be officially releasing one soon.
     
    travadol[QUOTED] likes this.
  15. Sep 15, 2020 at 6:18 PM
    #3155
    awwbugman

    awwbugman Well-Known Member

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    Kings/Deavers/SPCs 35x10.5 Kendas, LRA FuelTank, WARN Zeon10s SDHQ mount, Switch Pro, LightForce rock lights, reverse light & Lightbar, Baja Design Squadron Pro fogs, CaliRaised Sliders, RLD Canopy, Odyssey group 31, Dometic CFX3-55IM
    I agree 100% on color, and have been looking for a LED H11 low beam (ideally no fan) that is in the 5000k temp range. That said, I'm not seeing many options. Do you have any opinion on the best option in that color temp range as far as LED's go?
     
  16. Sep 15, 2020 at 6:28 PM
    #3156
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

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    I haven’t seen any, Diode Dynamics and Sylvania were both 5700k, but that is still pretty far from 5000k. JW Speaker makes standardized 5000k headlight assemblies, but not for 3rd Gen Tacoma.
     
  17. Sep 15, 2020 at 6:35 PM
    #3157
    awwbugman

    awwbugman Well-Known Member

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  18. Sep 15, 2020 at 6:42 PM
    #3158
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

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    Those look quite poor. The price point alone is a major red flag, they say ultra thin but list the width as “.35cm” aka 3.5mm, which is larger than most LEDs in this thread. Meaning poor focus and loss of distance projection. It is extremely unlikely they meet the output or power draw specs, so it wouldn’t surprise me if it doesn’t meet the color temp spec either.
     
    ownubad and awwbugman[QUOTED] like this.
  19. Sep 15, 2020 at 6:57 PM
    #3159
    awwbugman

    awwbugman Well-Known Member

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    Thank you for the break down. The wait continues, I suppose.
     
  20. Sep 15, 2020 at 7:21 PM
    #3160
    daveeasa

    daveeasa FBC Harness Solutions Vendor

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    I feel like I went through all of this and arrived at the painful but also obvious conclusion that OEM LED is the path forward. Painful in terms of cost. Obvious in terms of solid upside and no competitive alternative.
     

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