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PROBLEM SOLVED - The LED Headlights "Glare-Guard MOD"

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by Wile, Oct 10, 2015.

  1. Oct 10, 2015 at 8:16 PM
    #1
    Wile

    Wile [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Anyone with LEDs installed in Tacoma OEM headlight housings know that glare is a significant issue. I have OPT7 FluxBeam H4 LED Headlights installed in OEM headlight housings. Glare has been a issue since I put them in. I've had to aim them very low to limit the glare for on coming traffic this has an rendered the highbeams far less effective due to the fact that they are aimed more at the ground.

    From what I've read on TacomaWorld, many believe that HID and LED headlights don't belong in open-reflector type enclosures. I was not convinced of this. The physics of reflected and refracted light doesn't change regardless of it's wavelength or intensity. So I examined a standard halogen H4(9003) bulb to find what feature limits the glare. Here is what I found:

    There are two filaments. One for low beam and one for high. The low beam is the one closest to right, inside a upward facing reflective bowl. This bowl is what is responsible for sculpting the lowbeam's shape and reducing the glare. The bowl or "glare guard" blocks the lowbeam filament's light from hitting the lower half of the reflector in the headlight enclosure. This lower half of the reflector only used for the highbeam.


    Looking at my OPT7s, there is nothing present to block the low beam emitter's light from hitting the lower half of the headlight enclosure's reflector. The lowbeam emitter is to the left, highbeam to the right.

    So using 1/2" copper pipe, I've come up with a "Glare Guard MOD" that effectively eliminates the glare that plagues LEDs Headlights in open-faced enclosures.

    On a standard halogen, the glare guard sits just below the low beam filament:


    My "Glare Guard MOD" is shaped to cut lowbeam emitter's light from the lower half of the enclosures reflector without doing the same to the highbeam emitter. Notice only the lowbeam emitter's lower half is obsured when viewing it from the side:


    Here is the lowbeam pattern before:


    Here is the lowbeam pattern with the "Glare Guard MOD" notice the top of the hotspots on the garage door are cutoff:


    Here is TW members, @ripkinc photo of the results he got with the GlareGuard MOD he built:
    image.jpg


    Here is the headlight without:


    Here it is with the Glare Guard MOD, notice the horizontal cut across the middle of the headlight and no light reflecting off the lower half of the reflector.


    Resulting in an even horizontal cut in the lowbeams. I was able to return the headlights to a normal height adjustment, making the highbeams effective again. The lowbeam cut from the "Glare Guard MOD" keeps your LED headlights' light on more of the road and out of other drivers eyes.


    Here's how to make them:

    Starting with 1/2" copper pipe, make a cut into the end of the pipe parallel with its length. Be sure to make the cut off center.


    Then make a cut perpendicular to the pipes length to remove a section on pipe so it looks like this.


    The cut of the excess. Leaving this.


    Using a set of diagonal cutters, snip a slit into the remaining ring of the pipe


    This creates a very effective spring-like clip that holds the "Glare-Guard" in place.


    Using a careful, trial and error method. Use a bench grinder to remove material from the "Glare-Guard" a little bit at a time, reattaching the guard to the LED bulb to check your work as you go, until...


    ...your "Glare-Guard MOD" looks like this. Viewing from the side, only the top-half of the lowbeam emitter should be visable. The highbeam emitter should not be obscured from the side or...

    ...from above or below.

    NOTE: Take care not to damage the emitters when attaching and removing the "Glare-Guards".

    That's it. Enjoy.:)
     
    Last edited: Mar 17, 2016
  2. Oct 11, 2015 at 3:19 PM
    #2
    adanfon

    adanfon YNWA

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    Subd. Great idea!

    Can you post some more feedback after driving at night. Any people flashing you anymore?
     
  3. Oct 11, 2015 at 3:26 PM
    #3
    12TRDTacoma

    12TRDTacoma Powered by Ford, GM, VW, and Mercedes

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    Interesting modification you have made there man. Good job!
     
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  4. Oct 11, 2015 at 4:03 PM
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    Wile

    Wile [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Absolutely. I've only had them in for a week or so but haven't been beamed yet. I've raised the headlight adjustment back to something more "normal", something that was impossible to do without getting "beamed" by oncoming traffic before I installed the "Glare-Guard MOD". The highbeams shine straight out instead of to the ground. I'll post more of my experiences with the mod over the next few weeks. :D
     
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  5. Oct 11, 2015 at 4:08 PM
    #5
    adanfon

    adanfon YNWA

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    :thumbsup:
     
  6. Oct 11, 2015 at 4:11 PM
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    cmyersgo

    cmyersgo Well-Known Member

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    Very interesting. Sub'd
     
  7. Oct 11, 2015 at 4:19 PM
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    AugustaTaco

    AugustaTaco Well-Known Member

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    I have the morimoto hid system in my stock housings and they have a similar metal shroud on them. When the headlights are on only the top half of the housing reflect light and there is a pretty sharp (for halogen housings) cut off line. That being said, I do not drive at night very often but when I do I get flashed ALL the time. So much so that I pulled the hid's and put halogens back in until I can figure out something else. Below is the link for the HID's I have and you can see the shroud around the bulb in the pics.

    http://www.theretrofitsource.com/hid-systems/morimoto-elite-hid-system-h4-9003.html#.VhrtrumrszU

    A retrofit is the only thing I can think of but I may try adjusting the headlights a bit to see
     
  8. Oct 11, 2015 at 4:30 PM
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    Jamart5

    Jamart5 HoeRunner

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    Subd I installed some cheap eBay LEDs this past week an as you stated the glare is every where so I will give this a shot.
     
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  9. Oct 11, 2015 at 4:33 PM
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    Wile

    Wile [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Hmmmm, hard to tell from this photo, but the shrouds on the HIDs don't seem to come up high enough when viewed directly from the side.
    [​IMG]

    The standard halogen glare-guard blocks more light from the lower reflector by sitting higher. This is why I made my Glare-Guards sit higher and obsure the lower half of the lowbeam emitter.
     
  10. Oct 11, 2015 at 4:36 PM
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    AugustaTaco

    AugustaTaco Well-Known Member

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    I think you may be right, I'm pretty sure if I adjust my headlights down just a bit it may help. This was the beam pattern when I had them in...

    IMG_3921.jpg

    Not a great pic since I'm right up on the wall, and I don't mean to jack your thread I just was hoping you might have some insight too :thumbsup:
     
  11. Oct 11, 2015 at 4:38 PM
    #11
    Wile

    Wile [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Just be careful not to scratch the emitters when attaching and removing the Glare-Guards. The spring clips can be very strong.
     
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    Jamart5[QUOTED] likes this.
  12. Oct 11, 2015 at 4:46 PM
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    TRD-Merchant_Marine

    TRD-Merchant_Marine Well-Known Member

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    Sub'd for future use. Thanks OP
     
  13. Oct 11, 2015 at 4:49 PM
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    Wile

    Wile [OP] Well-Known Member

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    A higher guard on your HIDs will probably cut the top of the hotspot lower too. Like it did for mine. The only difference between the two photos below is the "Glare-Guard MOD". No headlight adjustment. The truck wasn't moved. Notice the top of the hotspots are cut lower with the Glare-Guards installed.

    Without:


    With:
     
  14. Oct 11, 2015 at 4:51 PM
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    AugustaTaco

    AugustaTaco Well-Known Member

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    Oh yea I see it now that I look at it closer, your cutoff is now a few inches below the windows of the garage. thanks for the help
     
  15. Oct 11, 2015 at 4:51 PM
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    Jamart5

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    I will take some pics when I get home and compare
     
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  16. Oct 11, 2015 at 4:59 PM
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    Wile

    Wile [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Does your LEDs have two distinct emitters?
     
  17. Oct 11, 2015 at 5:05 PM
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    Jamart5

    Jamart5 HoeRunner

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    Really novice when it comes to this are you meaning two LEDs on each side for low/ high?
     
  18. Oct 11, 2015 at 5:05 PM
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    Wile

    Wile [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I'm sorry. Yes. High and low.
     
  19. Oct 11, 2015 at 5:11 PM
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    Jamart5

    Jamart5 HoeRunner

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    Yes sir that's what I have
     
  20. Oct 11, 2015 at 5:13 PM
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    Wile

    Wile [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Nice, look forward to seeing this applied to other brands and models. Let me know about your experience with the MOD. :D
     

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