OzSTOC
Honda ST1300 Section => Electrics & Electronics - Volts, Amps and Fuses ST1300 => Topic started by: cravenhaven on September 08, 2018, 10:58:30 PM
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There are quite a few threads about LED headlights, but I'm interested in opinions from those who have had them in for a longer time.
In my case I bought some LASFIT bulbs in 2016 and initially tried them in my Nissan Patrol, but then removed them because of the lack of distance on high beam and the shocking interference on the radio. I have more recently installed JW Speaker LEDs in the Patrol and they seem much better on both counts. I put the LASFIT bulbs in the bike because I was impressed with the VERY white light that they emit and thought that was a great safety aspect. However I recently had a problem with one of the bulbs which caused them to both operate on high beam although it eventually failed altogether. While changing out the bulb I noticed that the inside of the headlight lenses have got a hazy film over them which I hadnt noticed before I installed the LEDs.
What has been the experience of other LED installations?.
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Here is a recent review of the LED Headlights I use
https://youtu.be/Bt35fyS7uxU (https://youtu.be/Bt35fyS7uxU)
http://youtu.be/Bt35fyS7uxU (http://youtu.be/Bt35fyS7uxU)
I Have been using them for quite some time now and still love them, I wouldn't hesitate to recomended these headlights to anyone :thumbsup
Cheers
Shiney
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Here's a link to the "Plug n Play" LED headlight globes that I was using in my ST1300.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2015-New-20W-2-2000LM-2-Hi-Lo-dual-beam-DC12V-6500K-H4-plug-Led-Bulbs/32493093438.html?spm=2114.13010608.0.0.DlpC82 (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2015-New-20W-2-2000LM-2-Hi-Lo-dual-beam-DC12V-6500K-H4-plug-Led-Bulbs/32493093438.html?spm=2114.13010608.0.0.DlpC82)
I tried a few different LED globes, and found that the common problem was the pattern of the beam that they threw, in that there was little difference between high and low beam, despite the globe design. The above globes I settled on have a huge increase in light down the road on high beam, and with a good pattern "cut off" on low beam. The downside of the globes I was using was that the tiny built in cooling fan in the globe had a tendancy to get noisy and fail, but at just $13 USD per globe, it was no trouble to carry a spare. I was getting well over 12 months use from the globes before they would fail.
There are a few threads on LED headlight globes.
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In my case on my ST1100P,
I tried a set and they were fine. The lights were bright and certainly whiter, but I was concerned that reinstalling the rubber boots would just kill the airflow necessary for the LED lamps that had their own fans. So I did not re-install the covers. They have worked for over a year. Then one unit stared with a intermittent flashing as if it had a dry joint. Not on & off but bright - dull intermittent. I agree with Stinky Pete's experience that they also got noisy. I hated the noise.
I can't be bothered with mucking around and worrying about sufficient airflow etc. I have just gone back to standard H4's and enjoy the quiet and now steady lights.
I am going to now look at extra lights on the police mirror light mounts.
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I can confirm that these Philips X-treme Ultinon LED H4 's really work well.
https://www.powerbulbs.com/au/product/philips-x-treme-ultinon-led-headlamp-h4 (https://www.powerbulbs.com/au/product/philips-x-treme-ultinon-led-headlamp-h4)
Low beam cutoff excellent - no oncoming traffic "grumps".
Light Penetration at least as good as any halogen globes I have used, (even the so called higher power globes with much shorter lifetime).
No noise due to a passive heatsink, ie. no FAN.
The heatsink is removable, so the "globe" can be installed, rubber bucket in place and then heatsink added afterwards - no cutting.
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In my case on my ST1100P,
I can't be bothered with mucking around and worrying about sufficient airflow etc. I have just gone back to standard H4's and enjoy the quiet and now steady lights.
I am going to now look at extra lights on the police mirror light mounts.
For around town the extra cost for LED is just a waste of cash as you don't get any real benefit so H4 works.
A little different on a country road where you might need the extra lighting on high beam and for some adding driving lights is the better option. You have three different types (LED, HID and Halogen) to choose from plus a few beam (Spot, Flood or Euro/Combination) patterns and you don't have an issue of putting a globe into an OEM light housing it wasn't designed for.
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I can confirm that these Philips X-treme Ultinon LED H4 's really work well.
Yeah, but $ 321.28. At that price they sure can give "free" postage!
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I can confirm that these Philips X-treme Ultinon LED H4 's really work well.
Yeah, but $ 321.28. At that price they sure can give "free" postage!
Quite often PowerBulbs has good discounts - up to 25%.
In any case it's a matter of Economics. If you purchase 3 pairs of the High power halogen bulbs, each lasting between 200 and 400 hours @ $80 per pair ... I'm sure you can see where I'm going with this.
I've been down the eBay Chinese specials and was seriously disappointed. Specifically I purchased the Evitek G6 bulbs as referrred to in this thread.
http://www.st-owners.com/forums/index.php?threads/h4-led-2018-evitek-f2-replaces-g6.162067/ (http://www.st-owners.com/forums/index.php?threads/h4-led-2018-evitek-f2-replaces-g6.162067/) NO Longer available and replaced by others as identified in this thread.
Caveat Emptor!
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In my case on my ST1100P,
I can't be bothered with mucking around and worrying about sufficient airflow etc. I have just gone back to standard H4's and enjoy the quiet and now steady lights.
I am going to now look at extra lights on the police mirror light mounts.
For around town the extra cost for LED is just a waste of cash as you don't get any real benefit so H4 works.
A little different on a country road where you might need the extra lighting on high beam and for some adding driving lights is the better option. You have three different types (LED, HID and Halogen) to choose from plus a few beam (Spot, Flood or Euro/Combination) patterns and you don't have an issue of putting a globe into an OEM light housing it wasn't designed for.
One of the most significant advantages of LED lights in my mind is that they appear much brighter and noticeable to oncoming drivers/riders. ie the 'being seen' objective is enhanced greatly. However as Piet mentioned I have had the problem with one of the bulbs flashing very brightly occasionally, and then both bulbs being forced into high beam mode. Hence my question about reliability.
Maybe I expect too much, as one year of use is trivial in my mind. I expect them to last several years before being surpassed by newer technology. Failing light bulbs is surely a thing of the past :).
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As with everything, you get what you pay for.
The Phillips are dear, but they're well engineered and durable because of it.
I was replacing halogen every 6 months or so at $100 a pop. Had the LEDs for a couple of years no problems.
Seriously thinking of the Phillips LEDs for the convertible.
Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
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If I was replacing bulbs every year at $100 a pair I'd think $321 worth it just to avoid the suffering involved in changing them.
Oddly, the OEM bulbs in my current ST have done 97,000 km (probably more relevant than number of years). I've got a pair of LEDs in the shed ready to replace them when one blows. They are definitely not the $300+ variety, and I'm starting to think I might stay with halogens since I've got the good LED spotties.
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Eek, $100/pair!!!! Last set were Philips ecolife for about $26/pair delivered, and compared to silverstar 2's (which were about same price delivered) were just as bright, but a tiny bit yellower, draw less current and last a lot longer. I actually ran one of each, and then compared by blocking one then the other with a piece of cardboard in the driveway (pitch dark at our place). Trees looked just as bright either side. Both are MUCH brighter than oem bulbs.
Sent from my SM-T710 using Tapatalk
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I can confirm that these Philips X-treme Ultinon LED H4 's really work well.
Yeah, but $ 321.28. At that price they sure can give "free" postage!
Just in case anyone is interested, Powerbulbs is running a discount on these plus an extra 25% with a coupon code. I just ordered a pair for $200 delivered.
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Hey Pete, (or anyone else who has used the Phillips LED bulb)
Where did you mount the power supply for each bulb? Mine just arrived today. They are certainly a piece of engineering.
edit: Sorry, I meant LindsayGT, not StinkyPete.