Headlight/Fog Light bulbs

[MF283]

I recently bought a near new 2011 F150 & want to replace the light bulbs to gain brighter distance. I was wondering what those of you that have done this recommend as far as bulbs go.

Thanks
Ronnie

 

[msb1766]

Take a look at:LED Lights, Bulbs & LED Lighting Accessories | Super Bright LEDs

 

[dodge man]

I personally would recomend upgrading to something like the Silverstar bulbs or something similar. They help a little bit. When you start adding LED's and HID bulbs to regular housing it seems like they often blind drivers. If done correctly you can get away with it but it takes some research.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I upgraded our 2013 Ford Edge with a 55 Watt plug and play HID kit from Amazon that is simply amazing.

Install took 20 minutes tops. Just unplug and remove factory bulbs, install new bulbs and plug into supplied ballast, mount ballast, and plug factory bulb wiring into ballast.

The change is amazing. Litterally 4 times the light for $50

 

[Oaktree]

The change is amazing. Litterally 4 times the light for $50

What about glare to oncoming drivers? HID lights can be bad enough when properly aligned in the correct fixtures, putting them in lamp assemblies that weren't designed for them is just asking for trouble.

 

[Diamondpilot]

What about glare to oncoming drivers? HID lights can be bad enough when properly aligned in the correct fixtures, putting them in lamp assemblies that weren't designed for them is just asking for trouble.

No issues at all. First thing i did was test them in my neigbor hood against my civic and F150.

 

[3930dave]

I personally would recomend upgrading to something like the Silverstar bulbs or something similar. They help a little bit. When you start adding LED's and HID bulbs to regular housing it seems like they often blind drivers. If done correctly you can get away with it but it takes some research.

People do like the output of something like a Silverstar - easy drop in upgrade. Brighter halogen bulbs have lower operating hours, Sylvania does a good job of labeling their current products as to operating hours (back of retail package).

I like the efficiency of LED - the issue is how clean the optical pattern is - cheap stuff is firstly designed for output, not beam pattern.

HID is great technology, when installed and operated properly. The wiring on some vehicles is light enough that either stiffening capacitors are needed, or upgraded wiring, for the HID to run properly.

HID needs to be carefully aimed. Factory HID often has a horizon level sensor, so if the back of the vehicle drops the HID optical module lowers to compensate - if the sensor fails, factory HID points to the ground. HID conversion on the front of an overloaded pickup could be seriously blinding to oncoming traffic.

On newer vehicles, either LED or HID can be viewed by the vehicle's computer as a fault if the current draw is low enough to hit it's Fault limit.

LEOs around here rarely seem to ticket for mis-aimed headlights, yet I always hear the govt talking about "safety" ?

Rgds, D.

 

[sklunk]

What about glare to oncoming drivers? HID lights can be bad enough when properly aligned in the correct fixtures, putting them in lamp assemblies that weren't designed for them is just asking for trouble.

And ILLEGAL. I'm not going to judge people who do it, I'm just putting the truth out there. DOT does not allow for any HID retrofits unless you use a projector housing designed with the correct cutoff. Those are only currently available as OEM and from a few select sources.

With that being said there are tens of thousands of cars running around with this illegal setup. I guess the police have too much to do to worry about pulling them all over. Unfortunately the lack of correct cutoff along with the wrong temperature color makes the headlights blind other drivers.


Here is some interesting reading from one of the premier people in the lighting industry (the government listens to him).

The HID basics (if you don't read anything else at least read this!):
Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

Superwhite bulbs:
Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

Blue "Xenon-look" bulbs:
Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply
Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

 

[Diamondpilot]

And ILLEGAL. I'm not going to judge people who do it, I'm just putting the truth out there. DOT does not allow for any HID retrofits unless you use a projector housing designed with the correct cutoff. Those are only currently available as OEM and from a few select sources.

With that being said there are tens of thousands of cars running around with this illegal setup. I guess the police have too much to do to worry about pulling them all over. Unfortunately the lack of correct cutoff along with the wrong temperature color makes the headlights blind other drivers.


Here is some interesting reading from one of the premier people in the lighting industry (the government listens to him).

The HID basics (if you don't read anything else at least read this!):
Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

Superwhite bulbs:
Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

Blue "Xenon-look" bulbs:
Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply
Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

The Fords have projector housings from the factory.

 

[Fallon]

Don't put a HID or LED bulb in a halogen housing. It's illegal, gives poor light coverage & blinds oncoming drivers. HID bulbs that fit in the same socket put off light in different parts if the bulb than halogen filaments do. The reflectors don't focus properly for that different location. The resulting light goes all over including in oncoming drivers eyes, but not necessarily where you want it.

I put projectors & HIDs in my Tacoma & am happy with them. I did to heat the housings in the oven to remove the lenses, cut a hole in the back & epoxy in the new projector housings. It was $500ish or so to do it right.

Also don't get a color temperature above 5,000 Kelvin, preferably 4,000 kelvin. Below 4,000k is yellow. 4,000-5,000k is white. Above 5,000k is blue or purple. The human eye is optimized for sunlightn which is something in the 4,000k range. Above that you get more glare, eye fatigue & less usable light per watt.

 

[aczlan]

The human eye is optimized for sunlightn which is something in the 4,000k range. Above that you get more glare, eye fatigue & less usable light per watt.

Incorrect, its in the 5000k-6500k range.
1850 K Candle flame, sunset/sunrise
4100 – 4150 K Moonlight 
5000 K Horizon daylight
5500 – 6000 K Vertical daylight, electronic flash
6500 K Daylight, overcast
Source: Color temperature - Wikipedia

Aaron Z

 

[Fallon]

Incorrect, its in the 5000k-6500k range.
1850 K Candle flame, sunset/sunrise
4100 – 4150 K Moonlight 
5000 K Horizon daylight
5500 – 6000 K Vertical daylight, electronic flash
6500 K Daylight, overcast
Source: Color temperature - Wikipedia

Aaron Z

Thought it was a bit cooler, hard to argue with Wikipedia though.

I got 5,000k HIDs & almost wish I'd gone with 4,200k as it's a little easier on the eyes.

 

[MF283]

Thanks for the input guys, I had decided on some Phillips bulbs, surprisingly, the Stern article stated they were a good choice. Of course that's one persons opinion. I'll wait & see if the wife sees them on my Amazon wish list, LOL.

Ronnie

 

[johnems]

I have a 3050 with a cab and want to upgrade to LED lights front and back. My only question is should I order a 30 degree or a 60 degree light. Thanks John

 

[Oaktree]

I had decided on some Phillips bulbs, surprisingly, the Stern article stated they were a good choice. Of course that's one persons opinion.

Daniel Stern posts regularly on a couple of classic Mopar sites answering questions about upgrading lighting on vintage cars. He can be a bit arrogant at times, but seems to know his stuff.

 

[Fallon]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/376458-let-there-light-l4060-light.html documents my light bar install.

My only issue is the rear bracket still flexes a lot. May need to reinforce it to minimize the mounting on the rear light bar.

With a curved bar you get a nice hotspot straight out while maintaining good flood coverage in a huge arc wherever it's pointing.

 

[3930dave]

I have a 3050 with a cab and want to upgrade to LED lights front and back. My only question is should I order a 30 degree or a 60 degree light. Thanks John

On a tractor, I'd want the wider beam :2cents: for off-road work.

Rgds, D.

 

[sklunk]

Thought it was a bit cooler, hard to argue with Wikipedia though.

I got 5,000k HIDs & almost wish I'd gone with 4,200k as it's a little easier on the eyes.

Actually it's easy to argue with Wikipedia. Keep in mind that it is edited by internet users so just like discussion boards it can be somebody's opinion (although the Wiki users tend to police it a little better). For example here is the Westinghouse Electric version of the Kelvin Scale:
Color Temperature (Kelvin)

As you can see from that one around 4500K/4600K is in the "bright white" spectrum. It is generally accepted in the lighting industry that around 4500K is the optimum range for the human eye to be able to see the light comfortably without any glare or strain. Below that is more yellow and above that is more blue.