3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights

Admittedly I did not revisit the 2 stroke 3.0s for high beam. The rabbit hole is already quite deep with just low beams. However, consider a couple data points. The Morimotos are rated at 2100 lumens. An H9 is rated at a regulated 2100 lumens nominal at 65w with a +/- 15% compliance allowance. The Philips H9s pull 75w, pushing that +15% allowance to the max. The 2100 lumen spec also specs 12.8v. When a vehicle is running it is powered by the alternator at closer to 13.8v (as measured at the headlight on a 2nd Gen). Voltage boosts halogen output exponentially by the power of 3.4, providing even greater output over the elevated wattage spec. The Motimotos being LED benefit from neither of these. Further, the Philips H9s have better focus and omni-directional light unable to be replicated by a pnp replacement LED in addition to higher output, meaning the Philips in the halogen high beam assembly will have a better focused hot spot for superior down road projection. The Morimotos will be inferior. They will provide more scatter, so it may seem brighter in the short range flood style light, but they will not project as far which is the primary intention of the high beam.

If you have halogen assemblies, the Philips H9 is the best low and high beam option available. If you prefer a slightly whiter color of light, you could consider the Hella Performance 2.0s, which perform close to the Philips H9s, but incure a slight tax for the whiter output achieved through a very light "3700k" coating. PnP LEDs in halogen assemblies will never be the best option with todays technology.

Best lamp overall is the OEM LED assemblies.

Because many fall for the marketing machine rather than seek out the science. Not like aftermarket companies that dominate social media and the aftermarket sites are going to make money selling cheap $9 H9 bulbs you can buy anywhere else. But oh-boy do they make a killing selling you that $9 china LED for $50+ with a little clever marketing spin why theirs is unique and the best that most won't see though. Or people really want that 6000k color temp without spending the money to do it properly with full LED assemblies.

 

Apparently my truck came with H9 bulbs already. I bought some new ones and went to swap them out and an H9 was already in there who woulda thought? Anybody else experienced this? I guess I’ve got backups now.

What it came with on left, purchased bulb on right.

 

High beams should of come stock with h9, you sure you pulled out the right bulbs? Otherwise the last owner upgraded for you!

 

I’m the original owner, so that rules that one out. 99% sure I pulled the right bulb as it appears to be the only one it’d be able plug in to. Attached you’ll see the tabs aren’t cut to modify the bulb to fit either. I’m confused, although I guess it’s cool! Other than the fact my headlights won’t be getting the marginal upgrade I was hoping for as it’s already there.

 

That looks like the high beam... there should be another bulb further to the side by the fender, on the passenger side its covered by the washer bottle and the driver side its a little tucked back.

 

That yellow insert in the connector is green for your low beams. You grabbed the high beam bulb.

 

Ahhh yup, you guys are correct. Thanks again to Tacomaworld for pointing out my unintelligent over sites. Appreciate it fellas!

 

On the plus side, you already have the new bulbs to upgrade

 

@crashnburn80 going to guess the response is that the blue coating reduces the output but any thoughts on these PIAA lights that have been deemed by power bulbs as maximum performance?

https://www.powerbulbs.com/us/product/piaa-hyper-arros-h9

I've been using the Philips H9 and I'm a big fan, but I have a hard time not tinkering with things.

 

Yes, blue coating reduce output. The higher the color temp, the greater the output loss. I included the Hella 2.0s even though they were coated because it was one of the lightest coatings out there, spec’d at 3700k and measured around 3500k. As you approach 4000k losses start to become significant, which is the color temp of most silverstar products. 3900k is pretty close. PIAA is known for cosmetic lighting products more than performance ones, I wouldn’t put a lot of hope in those. Pretty doubtful they do better than the Hellas due to the higher filtration loss, and certainly not better than the Philips. They may do a little better than silverstar H9s though.

 

#1579 and #3894 are direct links. Thanks!

 

$26 HELLA H11 2.0TB Twin Blister Kit High Performance Bulb, 12V, 55W, 2 Pack

Hella Performance 2.0 H11s



The 2.0 Performance H11s claim +100% light output. The bulbs are made in Korea, which seems to have better bulbs from Hella than Hella's China factories.


Like the Hella Performance 2.0 H9s, the performance 2.0 H11s also have a light blue coating. The coating is spec'd at 3700k. Darker coatings to achieve higher color temps incur larger output losses. 3700k is on the very light end of the coating spectrum, meaning less output loss. But the coating does still incur a loss over a non-coated bulb.


Hella Performance 2.0 H11 (left) vs stock Osram H11 (right)


Stock Osram H11 vs Hella H11 Performance 2.0


By my numbers the Hella H11s have about a 63% output intensity improvement over stock, while having a whiter ~3500k color temp. The color temp is very similar to the Hella H9 Performance 2.0s.

The Hella Performance 2.0 H11s pull ~63.8w.


Hella H11 Performance 2.0 (left) vs Tungsram Platinum H11 (right)


Hella H11 Performance 2.0 vs Tungsram Platinum H11


Pics don't do it justice, but the H11 Tungsram platinums have +24% output intensity over the Hella Performance 2.0 bulbs, while simultaneously achieving very similar output color temperature. While Hella achieves whiter light through filtration which incurs output losses, Tungsram achieves it through exotic gas fill in the bulb, which costs more but does not incur the filtration losses, resulting in higher output.

The Tungsram Platinum, Tungsram Xenon +120, Tungsram Megalight +130, Osram Laser +150 are all H11s that perform better than the Hella Performance 2.0s, as well as the H9 options like the Hella 2.0 Performance H9s and the best Philips H9 coming in far higher. These Hella H11s were interesting to evaluate, but as a fully coated bulb they don't compete well against true high performance H11s.

Special thanks to @Umpqua79 for donating these bulbs for testing.

 

Anyone have a box or what the package for the philips bulbs look like, want to change mine out and want to be sure im getting the right ones. thanks in advance

 

This is what mine looked like

 

Osram Night Breaker +200



The Osram Night Breaker +200 H11s are the first +200 efficiency bulb in the H11 base. The Night Breaker +200s performed very well in the 2nd Gen reflector housings, though they were outperformed by the Philips Racing Visions in those assemblies. Philips Racing Vision are not available in the H11s as of this review.

The Night Breaker +200s have blue coatings both ahead and behind the filament. The dual stage light to dark coating on the rear of the bulb is interesting. In a projector much of the light intensity is going to come off the rear of the projector bowl, so reducing the filtering loss to the rear of the bulb and therefore bowl will result in better performance. It would appear Osram is looking to minimize the loss with the lighter filter closer to the filament.


Osram Night Breaker +200 power draw at 60.0w


Osram Night Breaker +200 (left) vs stock Osram standard (right)


Stock Osram Standard vs Osram Night Breaker +200


88% improvement over stock. Very solid gains.

How do the Osram +200s compare to the leading Tungsram Platinums?

Tungsram top vs Osram +200 bottom


This is really hard to tell in the photo, but the Tungsrams appear to have a finer filament winding. The Osram filament is more compressed into almost a solid block, while the Tunsram has the slightest spacing between the winding coils. The Tungsram units have a deeper glare cap like all Tungsram bulbs, but also do not coat the rear of the bulb with light reducing blue coatings, allowing for greater output to strike the rear of the projector/reflector.

Power: Tungsram Platinum at 64.6w (left) vs Osram +200 at 60.0w (right).


Osram +200 (left) vs Tungsram Platinum (right)


Osram +200 (left) vs Tungsram Platinum (right)


The Osrams are very solid performers, though the highest performing H11s for 3rd Gen Tungsram Platinums beat them out by approx 7.6% in peak intensity at a nearly identical color temp. However the Osram +200s beat out all other H11s tested to date with the exception of the Tungsram Platinums, in the absence of the Tungsram available for purchase, these are a great option for 3rd Gen for those that do not want to run an H9 in the low beam.

The Philips H9 low beam swap is still the best performing option available for the 3rd Gen halogen projectors.

Osram +200 (left) vs Philips German H9 swap (right)


The Philips H9s put down 10.5% higher peak intensity while also costing a fraction of the price, though the color temp is more traditional halogen vs the slightly whiter performance H11s.

Repeated special thanks to @Umpqua79 for donating these Osram bulbs for testing.

 

$11 Philips 12361B1 H9 Standard Halogen Replacement Headlight Bulb, 1 Pack

https://www.amazon.com/Philips-12361B1-Standard-Replacement-Headlight/dp/B003YMPN3A?th=1

You can find them cheaper than Amazon, admittedly this forum has driven the amazon prices up with demand. The B1 packs are blister packs (like the amazon link), aka have form molded plastic packaging. The C1 packs are cartons (like posted earlier), aka mini paperboard boxes. Both are the same bulb product, just different packaging.

 

Thank you very much

 

Thank you!!!

 

Hey guys, can someone help me figure out what bulb this is? Been trying to find it on this thread, but I’m not a smart man.

 

Looks close to these. Certainly not a reputable product or one I would recommend.

$98 DDM Tuning Saber LED Pro Fit 40W, 9000LM/PR, 6000K, Pair, FBA (H7)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088M6S2SY