LED Lighting Conversion

K

 

Another thing to look out for when buying an LED headlight kit is cold vs hot/stable lumens. Many vendors claim ridiculously high lumens numbers which in no way reflect what the bulb is actually putting out. Even the ones that put out a semi-accurate number advertise the cold lumens (when the bulb is initially turned on). We've tested bulbs that drop 40% in light output after the bulb is on for 15 minutes because of a poor thermal design or low quality emitters.

Our bulb is not the only quality product on the market, but the market is certainly flooded with low grade products, so it helps to understand what you're trusting to help you see at night while driving.

Just things to keep in mind...

Steve

 

So true. The claims of some vendors are completely absurd, yet people fall for it all the time. It can be challenging for those who even know what to look for to fully understand output of an advertised LED product. This makes buying LEDs from a true reputable source all that much more important.

It would be great if the automotive LED market could one day get to the same place as the residential/commercial LED market and standardize on actual lumen output measured in a standardized method so that understanding and comparing products was easy for consumers.

 

Which is why I stick with a company like Xenondepot. They stand by their products and offer excellent service and support.

 

Not to be that guy, but what are people using for exterior lights other than the headlights? Tail lights, side markers, turn signals, and third brakes?

 

Some info i found on LED's:

https://youtu.be/QcDq2SJyuZI

http://bulbfacts.com/led-kits/chart/

 

Thanks for the info! It's great to see someone working to group up and compare different LED bulbs (like @crashnburn80 is eventually going to do).

Too bad this guy was using the older Hikari's in his test. I'd be interested in how those top 2 compare against the new Hikari with the Philips LEDs...

Something else to point out, this guy was using a reflector-style headlight for his testing (like our HBs). I'd be interested to see the different results a projector-style headlight (like our LBs) would provide.

Most of all, I really wish someone would do a comparision review of all the higher-end LED bulbs (like @XenonDepot provides)!!!

 

This is totally the thread to ask those questions and be that guy!!!

Personally, I am using 4 of the middle-tier bulbs from Diode Dynamics in the rear tail lights (rear blinkers/brake lights). They are high quality and brighter than stock (but not as bright as their XP80 LED bulbs).
https://www.diodedynamics.com/7443-hp11-led-pair.html

For the front turn signals, a number of us are using these LEDs from XSPEED. If the rear blinkers are still stock, then you do not need resistors to prevent hyperblinking.

xSpeedLighting 7440 7441 T20 LED Light Bulbs Extremely Bright 2000lm RX-Chips with Projector Lens For Back Up/Reverse Lights Brake/Tail Lights Turn Signal/Parking or Running Lights, Amber Yellow

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074YVZD4X/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

For the reverse lights, I am using another XSPEED LED bulb. It is brighter than stock, but I plan on getting something brighter whenever I get the bug to order something new. Iinstead, I might go with the ones that @Parker315 recently put in (who he got from @crashnburn80).

xSpeed 921 LED Light Bulb Extremely Bright 50w High Power Error Free 912 LED Light Bulbs 906 Light Bulb Xenon White 6000k For Reverse Backup Lights

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0753B4ZMF/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Speaking of, if you haven't checked out this thread, do so...lots of good info (pictures/descriptions/links) on @Parker315 's sweet setup. He still needs to update it with his new reverse lights and fogs tho (hint hint ):
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/parker315-build.539836/

 

This weekend my friend, this weekend! I promise.

 

Thanks for the info. This thread is huge and I didn't want to read all 144 pages.

If I do have to add resistors what's the best way of doing that?

 

The ones I sent to @Parker315 are these from DeAutoKey:
http://deautokey.com/product/bright-15-chip-reverse-leds-194-921-wedge-error-free-fits-toyota-tacoma

They are the brightest as measured with an LED lux meter out of any LED reverse lights I have tried, and I've tried many.

Great to comparison test the lights. But those beam patterns were not great and advice to aim your headlights down to account for the poor beam pattern as suggested multiple times in the video is just bad advice. LEDs already suffer from lack or distance projection compared to stock headlight bulbs, aiming the beam down will only make that much worse. You'll get a bunch of light right in front of you, but no much of anything projecting further to allow you to safely see what is in front of you at speed so you have time to react.

The testing is all done. I have all the measurement data logged, spectrum comparisons, photos, ect. The write-up is just taking a while to organize as it is just a ton of information and analysis to put in a write-up. Being a parent, 'free time' to work on it is something like after 10:30pm to however much sleep deprivation you are willing to suffer.

 

For my front blinkers, I had to buy what was in my local O'Reilly store and it worked fine:
https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/b/sylvania-5022/accessories-16449/accessories---exterior-16767/exterior-lighting-16612/led-replacement-bulbs-20874/e6ac682cd82e/sylvania-load-equalizer/loadrslbx2/4743126

The ones in the link are 6-ohms, but 5-ohms seems to be more commonly used for automotive LED blinkers and those should also work without issue.

I originally did not order more resistors when I ordered the front blinkers, because some people said they did not need them on their Taco's. I later found out that they still had stock bulbs in the rear blinkers. I I already had LEDs and resistors installed in my tail lights at that point...

Anyways, I assume that their was just enough total resistance between the stock halogen bulb (in the back) and the XSpeed LED (in the front) which kept the ECU from intiating the hyperflashing. Once you add more LEDs (to the rear tail light blinker), you will definitely need resistors.

 

ACK, now I remember seeing those 921 LEDs in one of your review threads back when I bought my truck! I should have just ponied up and bought those to begin with! lol Oh well.

For others interested in these reverse lights, it looks like DeAutoKey is doing a 10% off sale right now!

 

Anyone found a 3175 LED dome light they just love? The ones I've tried flicker badly during the dimming process. Not just a little. Drives me nuts.

 

Here's what I recommend and use.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/custom-led-map-and-dome-lights.521923/

 

Ordered the black Pro headlights from Unique Style Racing today. A new home for my Hikaris.

 

You dog! Noice!

 

Just got done dinner and as soon as it digests I'm going out to shoot some pics of the Xenon Depot H11s Pros I installed earlier. I shot a lot of pics of the install process. I want to process everything and then do a Part 2 of my review.

 

Ok I’m sorry to be the idiot, but on my 2016 Limited I supposedly have H9’s for the high beam and H11 for the low beam and fog light. I think I’m going to go with the Hikari Philips kit, but the one I found on Amazon says it is for H11(H8, H9). So does this mean I can just be three of these sets and be good to go???

 

I hope others chime in but as far as I know all three are H11. I know for a fact on my 2017 that's the case.

And before you buy those Hikari's for the high beams you may want to wait until Part 2 of my Xenon Depot Pro H11 bulb review. I'm going to post up the results sometime tomorrow. I'm going to be shooting pics tonight and need time to process the photos and gather all the data in a concise manner.