Lifetime LED Install and Review In Progress

Not sure if anyone wants this info but this is the emitter used if you need a replacement
http://www.cree.com/LED-Components-and-Modules/Products/XLamp/Arrays-NonDirectional/XLamp-CXA1512

 

If anyone could recommend any switchback drls and side marker lights to match these?

 

Not to doubt you but they have lifetime warranty if they are lifetime. I will say most times they dont even need the old lights back. So if interested let me know via pm and I can see if they will send you new bulb. I know you got them second hand but its worth a try.

 

I'm not worried about it really. I have them working other then needing to replace the bright now and will have spares when they come in. Thanks for looking out though

 

I have the vled switchback DTRLs and they work well.

 

+1, they have 5000 kelvin and 6000 kelvin white to match different headlights.

 

Well thanks, you just cost me $150 lol

 

Installed mine yesterday; super easy! It takes longer to move the washer tank and battery than to install the actual lights. They seem to be a decent amount brighter than the stock headlights in my '13.

 

Yup

 

I just installed these last weekend and noticed that after the install that when I drive to work in the morning that radio stations are coming in statically. I stuck the "power box" on the plastic headlight bucket to prevent this from happening. Any suggestions on a fix. I believe that when the lights are on its causing some kind of interference. Any info would be much appreciated.

 

I zip tied mine to the wire harness and the interference went away.

 

Don't let any of the wiring touch the metal. Keep it off by zip tying it. Mine doesn't have the radio static but then again my wiring is isn't touching the metal of the truck either.

 

I don't know why some have interference and some don't? I taped my "ballast"? to the metal right behind each light with no radio problems at all. It's weird that it is problem with some and not others

http://youtu.be/PbltGeo8NlM







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Yours may be attached to metal without actually touching the metal. The tape could be insulating the LED drivers from the metal body of the truck.

I taped mine to the side of the headlight housings because it was a convenient spot and made it easy to keep the wires neat.



This is not to say that the other wiring here is neat and orderly . This is something else that is a work in progress.

 

True

 

I finally installed my Lifetime LED Headlights on my 2006 DC this evening, after buying them over a month ago. After 25 miles of night driving here are my impressions.

Light Output
The light is very white, as expected, about 5000k based on comparison to other LEDs. The lights do not seem hugely brighter than stock, but they are brighter. As others have noted, reflectors and reflectorized/Scotchlite signs are more visible and visible at longer distances than with stock headlights.The area immediately in front of the truck is better illuminated, with the effect being similar to the fog lights being on. The upper cut-off is not as crisp as the stock halogen headlights, but is not bad. I was not flashed in 25 miles of driving.

These comparison photos taken at the same exposure (manual) with the white balance locked at 5000k so direct comparisons can be made on brightness and color without the camera attempting to compensate. Truck is exact same position. You can see how much whiter the light is with LEDs, how the ground in front of the truck is better illuminated with LEDs, and how the upper cut-off is not as crisp with LEDs.





Install
The install was not difficult, other than having to remove battery (a real bitch with a big Group 31M Die Hard Platinum) and washer fluid bottle. I trimmed a small amount off the rubber grommets. The install, while not difficult, revealed how poorly engineered the mounting brackets, mounting collar and adapter plate for H4 bulb are. For an item this expensive and an item safety related, I would expect better quality hardware for mounting/adapting into a h4 bulb location. The drivers/wires were fine as was the bulb itself and integrated cooling fan. My assessment as a Mechanical Engineer: The mounting hardware is crap.

Summary
Good light output and light quality
Crappy mounting set-up
Decent quality bulb/LEDs/fan
Overall assessment: OK

 

lol you need to see a 9004 bulb install. It makes the H4 mount look like genius

 

Did you guys ever have a chance to do a side by side with the LED and halogens?

 

I'd be willing to bet that everyone who has these lights has at least a small degree of radio interference.

My ballasts are zip tied to the harnesses. Nothing is touching any metal. But I still have interference on stations that don't have a strong signal.

With your lights off, use your seek button to find a station that has a weak signal, then turn your lights on and listen for static.

Now, with your lights on, try seeking that same station again. I bet it can't find it with the lights on.

 

First post.