LED Hi Beams

I looked at your tests on the Hikari ultra vs the standard low beams. Yeah they are an improvement.
However don't know if I want to use the H9 halogens as low beams. The idea of that much current in an adapter made up by someone in my new truck I'm not sure about and the life in low beams for H9 isn't going to be a lot better than silver stars even if they are cheaper. Time swapping out Burnt bulbs is no fun.

I see there is a 10% off coupon on Amazon for the Hikari ultra making them $85 with tax. I decided to go try them. I can always return them if I don't like, which I rarely Do.

Given the brightness of the stock h9 and life they are probably best kept as high beam which I plan to do.

 

Thanks Guys for all the info

 

Id just mod the bulb base rather than use an adapter for the H9 in the low beam. The current level is in an acceptable range for the circuit. Philips H9s are rated at 400 hours.



For my use, pre-Covid, that is 2 years. I run performance bulbs that are 200 hours and replace them annually. Some people report Hikari failures around the 2 year mark as well. Replacement LEDs are usually driven harder to produce the light output needed for a headlight application, so they often do not last as long as many typically think an LED would.

The above is all just FYI, or for other readers. I’m sure you’ll like the Hikaris.

 

Interesting I seen somewhere else online but I didn't bookmark it that the H9 halogens were an expected 250 hour life. As much as I drive at night the Hikari will probably last longer than 2years. I suspect the fan and cooling system is what will wear out and kill the LED headlights.

I would love to have HID. Those that I tried in a previous vehicle were the brightest I've had ever. Sadly the ballists on one side failed. It would cut out 5 or 10 minutes in to a drive. The warranty wasn't worth writing on Toilet paper as I found out. They were 2x what the hikai ultras go for so I felt I got burnt on those and never tried HID again.