1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

LED, or Halogen lights?

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by HawkShot99, Mar 9, 2016.

  1. Mar 9, 2016 at 12:50 PM
    #1
    HawkShot99

    HawkShot99 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 20, 2015
    Member:
    #167182
    Messages:
    2,211
    Gender:
    Male
    Kingston, NY
    Vehicle:
    13' Silver DCLB TRD Sport - Sold
    I am looking to add some auxiliary lights to the front of my truck. I will be adding a mesh grill, and hiding the light behind the grill.

    I prefer a old school round light look over a light bar, so I am looking to use 6 or 7" round lights.

    One of the lights I was looking at was the Hella 500 Black Magic lights. I really like the blacked out look, that is more hidden when not in use.
    http://www.amazon.com/HELLA-005750991-12-Volt-55-Watt-Halogen/dp/B00318JTCS

    While looking at lights I see a bunch of round LED lights in the size I like as well.
    A light that is a example of this would be
    http://www.amazon.com/Nilight®-Round-Light-Driving-Bumper/dp/B00MDFOP1K/ref=pd_sbs_263_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=414jLjAGiwL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160,160_&refRID=0A7DCD6YVPDW1XAXTG38
    or
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/2X-7-70W-RO...ash=item2a61a719df:g:ufwAAOSwx-9WxEC0&vxp=mtr

    The LED lights seem to put off more Lumens, but some reviews I read say they dont have the distance of a traditional Halogen.

    My reasons for wanting them, are mostly night time drives up country highways. Hook the lights to trigger with the highbeams, just to lengthen my viewing range. Also they look cool.....:rolleyes::D

    What would be a better style?
     
    This site contains affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
    #1
  2. Apr 5, 2016 at 12:16 AM
    #2
    DevL

    DevL Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2010
    Member:
    #31952
    Messages:
    1,914
    Gender:
    Male
    Well putting lights behind the grill kills 20-30% of your output. Black magics are weak to start then putting em behind the grill...why bother? Though I must admit, I considered the same when I first got my truck... just made no sense. LED can be diffused or focused and powerful or weak. I have 5000 per lumen flood replacements that don't throw far. There are nice LED spots that shine hundreds of yards. Pick what is appropriate for your needs.
     
  3. Apr 5, 2016 at 11:57 AM
    #3
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 Vehicle Design Engineer

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2015
    Member:
    #156893
    Messages:
    14,542
    Gender:
    Male
    Kirkland, WA
    Vehicle:
    2003 DCSB TRD OR
    Go Hawks!
  4. Apr 5, 2016 at 7:37 PM
    #4
    Primo 95

    Primo 95 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2012
    Member:
    #81207
    Messages:
    908
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Primo!
    San Antonio, TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 DCSB 4X4
    265/75/16 S/T Maxx 16X8.5 Level 8 Trackers 5100 1.75 HID, LED interior, 3" N-Fab step bars
    I just got these "Rounds" and I am super happy with them (I just pasted a recent post of mine).

    So I just picked up these 120W 7" Round Spot lights (10Wx12). You mostly see this design with only 60W (5Wx12)....but I happen to come across these for $134/pair with 10,200 lumens each..so why not. These were to replace my horrible Hella 700FF HID conversions. They might have been a decent idea 5 years ago...but the beam pattern was always horrible and the cheapo DDM ballast took a full minute to warm up. I was never happy with them.

    Any who these lights are bad ass. Just what I was looking for. I need something with a thinner profile than the Cannons to fit my grill guard. I have a 300W double row 32" Cree Spot light bar...which produces more of a Euro-beam in my opinion. So I was looking for a concentrated long range spot for long distance. The construction seems top notch and they are very heavy. The only negative comment I can say is the adjustment up and down doesn't have much fine tuning. It has this plastic gear/cog wheel. I wasn't able to set the vertical where I wanted, so I ended up putting some shims in the front to get them to aim up just were I wanted.

    http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Pair-7In...ad-4WD-Lamp-/400743474724?hash=item5d4e2c2624

    20160323_181947_zpsj72mj6ke_415efa6d38373eb05f8fb893f38e5323d5a29be8.jpg

    20160323_161318_zpsmpwi6xh3_306f9a7536360e1350b633a53392958f70242682.jpg

    Headlights and 32" LED Bar

    20160322_200917_zpsyapgte2s_3787bfbf5a9806bc26249d165f1649afb4133930.jpg


    32" LED light bar and the new 120W x2 LED Spot light . Yes they completely over power the 300W 32" LED Bar.

    20160322_200931_zps3wcte8cs_0d1f9cab358ec9d3e186c318b6a9f03f5ecdc7e4.jpg


    Headlights and the new 120W x2 LED Spot light . This after I optimized the aiming at a long distance. Bottom of the spot on top of the headlight beam and at a distance the gap in between completely closed and the spread is perfect at a distance. I will try to get some long range photos this weekend.

    20160323_202830_zpsdbhxmxfc_321bff7a9fcf62108539a8851e1a4b299ef6d49d.jpg
     
    This site contains affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
    #4
    HawkShot99[OP] likes this.
  5. Apr 6, 2016 at 9:09 AM
    #5
    boogie3478

    boogie3478 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2014
    Member:
    #140179
    Messages:
    26,370
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    14 TRD Off-Road V6
    All the mods
    I love my Rigid Duallys.
     
  6. Apr 9, 2016 at 4:54 PM
    #6
    HawkShot99

    HawkShot99 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 20, 2015
    Member:
    #167182
    Messages:
    2,211
    Gender:
    Male
    Kingston, NY
    Vehicle:
    13' Silver DCLB TRD Sport - Sold
    Im, liking the looks of those. They do not come with a wiring harness. Did you buy one or make your own? If bought anything particular?
     
    This site contains affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
    #6
  7. Apr 9, 2016 at 5:30 PM
    #7
    Primo 95

    Primo 95 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2012
    Member:
    #81207
    Messages:
    908
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Primo!
    San Antonio, TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 DCSB 4X4
    265/75/16 S/T Maxx 16X8.5 Level 8 Trackers 5100 1.75 HID, LED interior, 3" N-Fab step bars
    I had a wiring harness already in place from my previous lights and just used that. But the same store sells the standard ebay harness + the switch for $18 which is a great deal.
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/40A-Wiring-...hts-/191662278179?vxp=mtr&hash=item2c9ff64623

    I think this switch is labeled for 2 spots :
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/40A-Wiring-...af843d8&pid=100005&rk=2&rkt=6&sd=191662278179
     
    This site contains affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
    #7
  8. Apr 9, 2016 at 6:00 PM
    #8
    HawkShot99

    HawkShot99 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 20, 2015
    Member:
    #167182
    Messages:
    2,211
    Gender:
    Male
    Kingston, NY
    Vehicle:
    13' Silver DCLB TRD Sport - Sold
    Does that switch pop into the Tacoma's blanks? That seems to easy...
     
    This site contains affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
    #8
To Top