Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2017 20:31:07 +0000
Reply-To: Poppie Jagersand <poppie.jagersand@YAHOO.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Poppie Jagersand <poppie.jagersand@YAHOO.CA>
Subject: Re: Don't yell at me but I tried led H4
In-Reply-To: <58B2EEF6-3C5A-40D6-8C55-7A40C48E87F4@shaw.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
I'm planning to try LED headlights. I already have the 7" Hella H4 buckets, so just need bulbs.
Alistair, I was curious how your H4 LED bulbs have held up over the past months? Is the light output the same? Some years ago I bought LED tail light bulbs for the Westy. They were bright initially, but dimmed within a year. Have had same problems with some other LED bulbs.
What are others long-term experiences with LED headlights? I calculated that over 100,000km switching to LED would save about $200 in gas (assuming 70% efficient alternator and specific fuel consumption of the engine at 300g/kWh). So converting my Westy and the wifes Toyota Matrix would potentially save $400 - price of bulbs.
Martin ('82 Westy 1.9TD and '85 Westy gas)
On Tuesday, January 17, 2017 10:20 AM, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
Stacy,
The bottom line with what I tested, is that I like the low beam illumination and the reduced power draw. I don't like the perceived reduction in high beam distance illumination as compared to 100 W halogens ( or even the stock halogens in my friend's Ducato, you can barely make out that in the pics), the radio interference ( on weak stations) and that the lamps probably will not melt snow from the front lens.
Oh, the other thing is the brilliant recollection from reflective road side signs. This is more of a getting used to it effect than a negative, but boy oh boy it's initially annoying.
Alistair
> On Jan 17, 2017, at 8:47 AM, Stacy Schneider <vwcrewman@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Alistar
>
> Thanks for being the Gui*ea pig here. I run the HID in in my camper and 60/100 Halogen in my Non DOT lights in truck and like both in different ways. Always looking at a better option.
> Interesting comment about there not being enough heat to melt the ice during cold spells. We don't have that issue here unless we go to cold country. I guess now someone has to step up and buy the Real Mc Coy and see how well they work.
>
> Stayc
>
>
>> On Tue, Jan 17, 2017 at 8:12 AM, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>> Kenneth,
>>
>> Are the similar in form factor to the ones I posted on my blog? The link to the source is also on the blog post.
>>
>> Are they passively cooled or do they have a fan?
>>
>> And do they interfere with weak radio signals or communication radio?
>>
>> Btw, The bulbs come with adapters to fit H4, H7, H11, 9005, 9006.
>>
>> Alistair
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> > On Jan 17, 2017, at 8:05 AM, kenneth wilford (Van-Again) <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
>> >
>> > I have been experimenting with LED and HID bulbs in the square headlights
>> > for a while now. Just waiting until I got enough experience with them to
>> > talk to the List and my customers about them. I tried the HIDs first and
>> > they worked kinda sorta. If you have low voltage problem at the
>> > headlights, the HIDs will refuse to come on. :-( Since lots of Vanagons
>> > have this issue and the light from them is very glaringly not stock, I have
>> > decided that HIDs are a bad choice for the Vanagon although they do put out
>> > a lot of light. There is the strange issue that the high beams on the HIDs
>> > are still halogens too. Yeah weird.
>> >
>> > The LEDs seem to be the best option and I have found some bulbs that seem
>> > to work well, and not really have much of a down side. I know folks are
>> > switching over to the H4 round lights and that is fine and dandy but there
>> > will always be those of us that actually like the square headlight look,
>> > but want more light. Since the H4 squares have been off the scene for a
>> > while now, going with an LED bulb in place of the crappy 9004 bulb in the
>> > DOT housing is something I wanted to try out. I am probably going to do a
>> > video on it on my Youtube channel in the near future and compare with the
>> > stock DOT lights. Then we are going to be selling the LED bulbs through
>> > our site at that point, so if you are interested let me know. They will be
>> > in the $60 range for a pair of bulbs, which isn't too bad for something
>> > that is pretty much a drop in replacement. Yes it is alot more than the
>> > stock bulbs but something that actually puts out a nice light and isn't as
>> > touchy about voltage, unloads the headlight switch without relays. There
>> > are lots of pluses.
>> >
>> > Ken Wilford
>> > John 3:16
>> > www.vanagain.com
>> >
>> >> On Tue, Jan 17, 2017 at 10:31 AM, Raimund Feussner <ray@v6bus.de> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> Alistair,
>> >>
>> >> please also report any oncoming traffic that feels blinded by your LEDs.
>> >> This is mostly the reason why police stops you with non-streetlegal
>> >> bulbs...in Germany.
>> >>
>> >> Thanks
>> >> Raimund
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>> Am 17.01.2017 um 15:05 schrieb Johann Koenig:
>> >>>
>> >>> Just picked up 7" LED buckets:
>> >>> http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/page_2564_141/led_headlight_pair.html
>> >>>
>> >>> Have not installed yet but when I stopped by to pick them up yesterday the
>> >>> staff said they are very good.
>> >>>
>> >>> On Jan 16, 2017 11:40 PM, "Alistair Bell" <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>> I had to try, the bulbs looked like they would work. And did they?
>> >>>>
>> >>>> See here on my blog
>> >>>>
>> >>>> https://shufti.blog/2017/01/16/vanagon-h4-led-light-bulb-experiment/
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Wasn't a complete waste of time and money, it was interesting.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Alistair
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > Thanks,
>> > Ken Wilford
>> > John 3:16
>> > www.vanagain.com
>
>
>
> --
> 1989 Swedish Tristar with Aluminum gates and Atiwe 16" Wheels.
> Oldest son is an Eagle scout.
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