when will led lamps go mainstream for auto's

[Soundguy]

Ok.. we know LED lamps save power vs incandescent jobs.

we also know that with the exception of actual headlamps.. that LED's are fine, day or night for just about any other illumination needed on an auto.

IE.. marker lamps, turn signals and brake lamps, even 'parking' / daytime running lamps should be fine for hi brite leds.

the power savings having all car interior and exterior illumnination, with the exception, for now, of headlamps being LEd's would = lower electrical demand.. thus better fuel economy.

dome and map lamps could even be led..e tc.

soundguy

 

[KentT]

Ok.. we know LED lamps save power vs incandescent jobs.

we also know that with the exception of actual headlamps.. that LED's are fine, day or night for just about any other illumination needed on an auto.

IE.. marker lamps, turn signals and brake lamps, even 'parking' / daytime running lamps should be fine for hi brite leds.

the power savings having all car interior and exterior illumnination, with the exception, for now, of headlamps being LEd's would = lower electrical demand.. thus better fuel economy.

dome and map lamps could even be led..e tc.

soundguy

They're already being used on some 2012s for tail lights, side markers, etc. Some off-road LED headlights are becoming available, but they're still quite expensive.

The headlights, at least will have to be DOT approved, in addition to becoming more affordable.

One challenge with LEDs, like HIDs, is that you can't "dim them" as easily by simply using a different filament, like with bulbs. I expect the first headlights used in production will have separate "low beams" and "high beams" and use different parabolic mirrors for the different ranges...

 

[moeh1]

I have several interior and exterior LED lamps on my 2009. I think they had a car with LED headlights a couple years ago but it had some moisture? problems. I think you will see them again. I did some custom illumination work with the high powered Lumileds LEDs several years ago, they were awesome. I can't imagine how much better high end LEDs are now.

 

[Soundguy]

They're already being used on some 2012s for tail lights, side markers, etc. Some off-road LED headlights are becoming available, but they're still quite expensive.

The headlights, at least will have to be DOT approved, in addition to becoming more affordable.

One challenge with LEDs, like HIDs, is that you can't "dim them" as easily by simply using a different filament, like with bulbs. I expect the first headlights used in production will have separate "low beams" and "high beams" and use different parabolic mirrors for the different ranges...

I wasn't asking when will led headlamps come out.. but, with the exception of led headlamps.. when will all car illunination go led?

different reflectors for the dim / low would be a good idea IMHO... for headlamps..e tc.

we are getting closer for sure...

power savings will be a huge issue....

 

[jmurray01]

I don't like the way LED's go "on off on off on off".

Let me explain, with incandescent bulbs as indicator lights on a car, they go on and off obviously, but before they go completely off, they fade a little bit, rather than just being on and in a split second, completely off like LED's do.

Just my opinion!

 

[SPIKER]

There are a few LED headlights on some high end cars. light from them are not as "WARM" as with a regular filament bulb. The harshness of them also can be hard on oncoming drivers, light sensitive people like myself really hate them. The "Longevity" is also an issue on these High Bright LEDs as they are still sensitive to vibrations, Heating and the Current is not all that much lower than HID or Halogen bulbs. I have several LED flood lights 12VDC and a 120VAC ones that I got as samples for my work. They are nice but still the LED light does not carry as well as regular light the power behind them just still not all that great IMHO.

Mark

 

[grsthegreat]

Be careful what you wish for. When the LED cluster illumination lights went out on my Chevy Express work van (3 of the 4 lamps burnt out over a few months), instead of unscrewing and replacing a $1.00 light bulb, i had to remove the entire dashboard and instrument cluster. Then i had to mail the cluster to a repair facility in Detroit. $70.00 later i have my dash lights working again... till they burnout again. Also about 2 hours to demo dash and 2 hours to reinstall..... and i broke one piece of molding which i still havnt replaced.

Im not sure... but i sure as &&%^% don't have 50,000 hours of use on them. what a crock.

 

[sandman2234]

Be careful what you wish for. When the LED cluster illumination lights went out on my Chevy Express work van (3 of the 4 lamps burnt out over a few months), instead of unscrewing and replacing a $1.00 light bulb, i had to remove the entire dashboard and instrument cluster. Then i had to mail the cluster to a repair facility in Detroit. $70.00 later i have my dash lights working again... till they burnout again. Also about 2 hours to demo dash and 2 hours to reinstall..... and i broke one piece of molding which i still havnt replaced.

Im not sure... but i sure as &&%^% don't have 50,000 hours of use on them. what a crock.

I am with you on the lifetime of a LED fixture. Some people seem to think that they last "forever" or close, but from what I see out on the road, I am not so sure. Right now the LED headlights are having a little bit of trouble with the D.o.T explaining to drivers exactly when and how much of the bulb can go out before they start writing tickets. Right now the actual ruling is... ANY... unless they have updated it lately.
I am fixing to change one of my trailers over to "truck lights" because I came across a company that was cutting up chasis trailers for scrap and managed to get a couple of bags of the rubber mounted lights. No way am I going to put the half dozen or so LED lights on one of my trailers because changing them out is too much problem, and having LED that are easy to change are too much of a invite to go missing...
Maybe hold onto them till the price of LED goes down and I don't worry about them getting stolen, and leaving me stranded somewhere with no lights.
David from jax

 

[PILOON]

Many newer cars now use LED's, mainly tail and turn and markers.
Loads of trucks use LED's as side markers and many for stop/turn.
Even my '02 Jimmy has rear marker strip above the tail gate.

My tractor has a bunch of LED's(self installed)

With age I wonder about connectivity as with the very low amperage and corrosive environment they better be well sealed or otherwise waterproofed.

One major downside is LED's do not generate any heat so in colder climates they rapidly ice over and become almost useless. (Well maybe a glowing icicle, LOL)

On the upside much less current drain=smaller wiring and smaller alternators therefor less weight= better MPG.

A loaded alternator costs MPG and performance.
For this reason alone and CAFE regulations I am sure we will see much more LED cars in the future.
On a practical basis, I would never again have a trailer with other than LED's.

 

[Jim Shooz]

I have replaced the interior lights in my car with LEDs. The dome light, rear interior light, and the puddle lights in the front doors. A couple of times I have not completely closed a door and the interior lights have stayed on, for a couple of days. Dragging the car out of the garage with the tractor (try driving two vehicles at once) so you can line the batteries up to jump start is not fun.
Having to replace the battery is not fun either
With the LEDs I get a few more days before there is a problem.

 

[sandman2234]

I have replaced the interior lights in my car with LEDs. The dome light, rear interior light, and the puddle lights in the front doors. A couple of times I have not completely closed a door and the interior lights have stayed on, for a couple of days. Dragging the car out of the garage with the tractor (try driving two vehicles at once) so you can line the batteries up to jump start is not fun.
Having to replace the battery is not fun either
With the LEDs I get a few more days before there is a problem.

Fixing that problem I would think, would be reading the "what is heavy duty" thread. A heavy duty set of jumper cables such as the ones some of us own, usually made from welding leads, would allow you to jump the car battery off where it sat, rather than having to drag it anywhere. Prevents you from having to drive two vehicles at one time. Nothing wrong with what you are saying, just thought you might have picked the wrong tool for the job. (tractor versus heavy duty long jumper cables)
David from jax

 

[jinman]

I have several LED flood lights 12VDC and a 120VAC ones that I got as samples for my work. They are nice but still the LED light does not carry as well as regular light the power behind them just still not all that great IMHO.

Mark

Mark, I certainly agree with your assessment of how LED light carries. Also with either 12V or 120V LEDs, they ALL must contain a power supply to drop the voltage to a level that the LED can handle. Having that PS in every bulb is what makes the LEDs so costly in my opinion and is the limiting factor for widespread use. Flashlights with 1-1/2V DC cells are much cheaper to produce than 12V DC or 120V AC powered lights.

Jmurray01: That illumination latency of an incandescent bulb is certainly an issue with AC power, but not so much with DC. Most of us who grew up in the USA with 60 Hz power can see a noticable "flicker" when we visit a country with 50 Hz AC power. Also, duplicating the long-persistence of phosphor coatings on the inside of CRTs has caused the LED TV industry to go to very high refresh rates.

 

[whiskywizard]

Speaking to Soundguy's OP, I think it's just around the corner. The young guys "tuning" their cars are already replacing all the interior lamp bulbs with LED modules, plus signals, puddle lights, trunk lights etc. Many OEMs already have LED tail lights, signals and DRLs. I'll bet that by the 2013s the non-headlight bulbs will have been mostly switched over.

 

[jonyyuma]

I heard some of the guys here complaining about their third brake light above the cab on GM trucks and tahoes. $154 dollars for the led assy sounds steep compared to an reg lamp?i repaired my old brake light bar myself, but it took a while to get it out and solder in the new red leds? I did not dare go to Toyota and ask for service on this item?Around here it is constant war about Chevy and Toyotas, neither one of them is cheap to repair?

 

[tallyho8]

The first motor vehicle with led lights was Confederate Motorcycles many years ago. My son was the electrical engineer for them and when faced with a current draw problem, he designed led tail lights to use on the bikes. :thumbsup:

Its too bad he wasn't able to patent the process as he became handicapped with multiple sclerosis several years ago and sure could use the money now.

 

[Soundguy]

I am with you on the lifetime of a LED fixture. Some people seem to think that they last "forever" or close, but from what I see out on the road, I am not so sure. Right now the LED headlights are having a little bit of trouble with the D.o.T explaining to drivers exactly when and how much of the bulb can go out before they start writing tickets. Right now the actual ruling is... ANY... unless they have updated it lately.
I am fixing to change one of my trailers over to "truck lights" because I came across a company that was cutting up chasis trailers for scrap and managed to get a couple of bags of the rubber mounted lights. No way am I going to put the half dozen or so LED lights on one of my trailers because changing them out is too much problem, and having LED that are easy to change are too much of a invite to go missing...
Maybe hold onto them till the price of LED goes down and I don't worry about them getting stolen, and leaving me stranded somewhere with no lights.
David from jax

I'm not sure why the limited lifespan on the leds today. I have electronics from the 80's with completely functional LED's in them.

In any case.. they should make the led segments socketable and replaceable as any lamp would be.. that would make them a whole lot easier to maintain.

IMHO anyway..

soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

Speaking to Soundguy's OP, I think it's just around the corner. The young guys "tuning" their cars are already replacing all the interior lamp bulbs with LED modules, plus signals, puddle lights, trunk lights etc. Many OEMs already have LED tail lights, signals and DRLs. I'll bet that by the 2013s the non-headlight bulbs will have been mostly switched over.

kinda my guess as well...

soundguy

 

[techman]

They're already being used on some 2012s for tail lights, side markers, etc. Some off-road LED headlights are becoming available, but they're still quite expensive.

The headlights, at least will have to be DOT approved, in addition to becoming more affordable.

One challenge with LEDs, like HIDs, is that you can't "dim them" as easily by simply using a different filament, like with bulbs. I expect the first headlights used in production will have separate "low beams" and "high beams" and use different parabolic mirrors for the different ranges...

Actually dimming LEDs is a trivial task and not an issue. The real issue is that LEDs save cost over long life. There is little incentive for a car mfg to have devices that will last 10+years. Most LEDs today are higher end vehicles where "high tech" is featured.

paul

 

[Soundguy]

yep.. I realize it is going to be a cost vs benefit on both sides. IE.. if it lasts longer.. that means less money in repairs for the manufacturer.. thus he has to charge more up front.

on the other side.. the less electrical demand means less fuel used.. less poloution.. etc..e tc.

big 4 way sausage making deal unfortunately.. with lots of hands int he pot.

manufacturers, conservationalists.. fuel sales people.. etc.. etc..

 

[BobRip]

I think the short life is from driving them hard (high current) to get them bright enough. I wish they would dim the LED stop lights at night. They almost blind me. Their life would go up if they did.