3rd Gen Halogen Lights

So as I’ve been reading about how LED’s aren’t really designed to be in Halogen housings, but the rave about how bright they are, I took the chance and bought some of the recommend auto one LED bulbs for the H11 low beams. I put them in and took a drive at night. I didn’t really notice they were really any bright than the factory Halogen Osrams.

One thing I did notice and which is truly the reason why I returned them and ended up getting the Osram night breaker, is a strange dark spot that the LEDs produced seen below.


I could not stand that strange pattern. So I went ahead and installed one of the night breakers to compare. Night breaker left and LED right.


Again. Night breaker left and LED right. Notice the difference in the dark spot / void.


Needless to say. I kept the NightBreaker +200 and the LEDs are gone.

 

Since the plug and play LED bulbs only have emitters at 3 and 9 o'clock they do not accurately replicate the 360 degree output of a halogen and will result in those spots as well as far less "uplight" to illuminate overhead signs.

 

so a light like this would possibly get rid of those voids?

 

"Reflector" assemblies ... take light from all directions as halogens make and focus it. LEDs make light in specific directions but not all directions ... your "dark spot".

Buy H9 bulbs to replace the H11 low-beam, or buy the OEM LED assemblies and the harnesses from daveeasa or Puppypunter.

Read the first post in this ... the man explains why LEDs do not belong in halogen assemblies: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-hid-vs-led-vs-halogen-h11-projector-headlights.589465/

 

"Omnidirectional" is more than "light at specific directions".

Further ... light that is not reflected correctly creates "bright lines" for oncoming drivers at higher intensity than halogen. If you want to try LEDs, be sure you drive INTO the headlights of your truck in another vehicle to be sure the LEDs do not blind others.

 

The two best options that I found: The H9 mod or a HID kit. For the H9, you just file down one of the tabs a bit. Much better lighting.

Much later on, I caught the lighting bug and tried a cheap HID kit. Still amazed with them and am looking forward to the dark winter days.

Also, the Hot Shot fog light mod is pretty stellar for throwing photons:

https://hotshotoffroad.com/collections/16-23-tacoma/products/all-lights-on-16-23-tacoma

 

Just pull the green insert from the

$5 H11 harness H11 Male and Female Wire Harness

H11 harness to use H9 ... easy.

You also need to check with local ordinances. Some places do not allow LED in non-LED housings, even HID may be disallowed.

 

the heat from the extra wattage of the H9 is a non issue?

 

Not for me. The only issue is H9 last shorter than H11 ... only about 10 months ... but H9 can be had for $25/pair so not an issue. I keep 2 spare H9 in the glove box.

 

Interesting. It wasn't the harness side, but more about installing the H9 in the housing.


Around here, esp without state inspections, lighting is a shit show. Peeps running light bars and non-DOT fogs in daily traffic. That, plus peeps burning high beams all the time, it is absolutely nuts.

I do not want to toss out glare and do not believe that I am. My biggest gripe is mods in reflector headlights (non-projectors).

 

Zero issues. I had the same H9s in there from about 2019 until earlier this summer. No issues. I learned my lesson when options like Silverstars first launched that anything but standard bulbs were a waste with the short life.

I understand your concern though. My old bike came with a melted headlight due to too hot of a bulb.

 

H9 install in the housing is not an issue for me. Same locking tab structure, just be patient.

And as to "I do not think I am throwing glare" ... verify by driving into your headlights in various vehicles ... Accord, Corolla, trucks, etc. Or just keep assuming you are not causing issues for other drivers.

 

The ones I got wouldn't go. After a bit of filing (dremel), they going in and out with ease.


Sounds like you might be assuming? Agree and did that, esp as the light blocks above the cutoff were noted as potential issues. Checked the whole deal.

 

Nope. It would make a bigger mess as the emitters are very far apart putting it way out of focus. I'd suggest reading the big headlight thread on here. You'll learn a lot.

You're better off with a decent HID kit like Morimoto in the projectors but they can cause excessive uplight that may blind other drivers. I've got an HID kit in my stock projectors but would like to go with OEM LED housings eventually.

 

Good stuff. Well I will stick with these nightbreakers until they burn out then probably the H9 route as that seems the most logical and cost effective route.