LED headlights for H4 buckets?, whats the current state of the art? Options

[VaccaRabite]

I know this comes up every few years, but LED lights are one of those things where the tech is moving really fast, and what was true 2 years ago is old tech today.

Whats the word on LED headlights? Right now I'm using 55watt H4s, which were the bomb 15 years ago when I started restoring the car the first time. These days they seem dim, and especially after the episode last Sunday, I want to do anything I can to reduce the electrical load on the car. I don't think my car needs a 160 amp alternator, and I want to be sure I'm making the best use of my 55amps on tap.

I also want to make sure the LEDs are focused properly in the reflector so I'm not blinding on-coming traffic. I know that has been a concern with LEDs even last year.

Zach

[Tom_T]

Zach,

I'm surprised that you're still using the 55W H4's, & never upgraded to 80/100W over 15 years.

While not LED, the High Powered H4 80/100W kits with relays works really well, projects the light out well at full luminescence, & isn't in the blue range which can fade in certain conditions & it used to be LEDs were weaker than halogen (H4) at the long range high beam projection (I don't know if that's still the case).

I've had the 80/100W kit in our 88 Westy for about 15 years now, & the difference was marked. If not available from 914 vendors, GoWesty has the 80/100W Kits for the early Splitty (H4 converted) & Bay Window Buses & Westfalias - which are using essentially the same 7" diameter headlights as our 914s, & the wiring harnesses are about the same.

Two other issues of which to be aware on any vehicle upgrade, is that the reflectors in the newer cars equipped with LED headlights are designed with the LED's lighting & heat characteristics in mind, in order to maximize & properly "throw" the light, as well as to dissipate the high heat generated by the transformer (?) mechanisms at their bases.

There have been a couple of cases that I know of, where LED lights have been retrofitted into older cars & the heat wasn't properly vented so the wiring &/or plastic parts were melted, & where it caused a larger car fire (both headlights & other exterior & interior lights). While the heat build-up problem is supposedly mostly with lower cost & cheaply made LEDs - there is still significant heat in LEDs.

If you have any LED retrofit bulbs in any lamps at home, try touching the base after the light has been on for awhile to see what I'm talking about, & most of those are similar 60-100W equivalent lights.

It sounds like a lot of people like the 914Rubber LED conversion kits, but I can't speak to it because I'm not using LED headlights in any of our cars, but our Westy does have the other LED exterior & some interior LED lights upgraded with no problems so far.

Cheers! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
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