replacing headlight bulbs with LEDS

[ctgoldwing]

I wonder if anyone here has done it and what were the results. My 'new to me' L3800 has really weak brightness headlights. I found a vendor on ebay that is selling replacement LED bulbs. Supposedly 25w. If they are they should be waaay brighter than the stock ones. I ordered a pair to try but curious what others have found.

If these aren't enough I'm going to find a way to put a light bar up front.

 

[nybirdman]

If you have a loader;it will block the factory lights or any replacement.Go with a light bar.

 

[Tinhack]

I replaced all the incandescent lamps (except the dash) on my GMC truck with LEDs. I don't do much night driving any more but when I do, it's like daylight. :laughing:

I can't find LEDs for my new tractor lights. I hooked them to a battery and they are BRIGHT. The bulbs say 80W/80W but the glass and filaments on one is mounted to the base at an angle. On top of that, the connection wires look like 22-20 gauge wire. I'm not sure about that claimed 80 Watts. It's an odd looking P15D type bulb but the indexing in the light is backwards--The bulb has a half-moon cutout instead of a tab. Leave it to the Chinese to miss a standard. I may end up modifying some standard bulbs. All the rest of my new lights are LEDs. I just don't have the tractor running yet to try them out.

Oh yeah, what matters most about LEDs is not wattage. It's Lumens (amount of light) and Color Temperature (apparent brightness). A 5000Ln LED with 5000Ct will make any incandescent lamp look like a candle.

 

[ctgoldwing]

. . .

Oh yeah, what matters most about LEDs is not wattage. It's Lumens (amount of light) and Color Temperature (apparent brightness). A 5000Ln LED with 5000Ct will make any incandescent lamp look like a candle.

Yes I agree 100% Tinhack. The problem is I don't have a lumen meter but I can measure amps & voltage. The rear work lights that I bought were advertised at 40w each. They actually measured 20.2w with 12.6v applied (about 1.6 amp).


They are plenty bright enough for me. You should be able to get 3 to 4x the lumen output for the same wattage (LED to incandescent). At the very least these will give more light output at probably lower power consumption - even tho they say 25w. I'll measure their power consumption when I get them and I'll bet they aren't really 25w.

The loader I'm sure won't become invisible because the change bulbs That said I am already looking for places to mount the light bar - probably the hood.

 

[Dataway]

I replaced all the bulbs in my BX2200 with LED. Not so much for more light but for less drain on the electrical system as I also have bar lights, wiper, heater motor and electric chute rotator to run in the winter.

For the headlights and tail lights I used standard LED conversion bulbs. The headlights went from useless to almost useful. Still get 80% of the light from the LED light bar on the ROPS.

 

[Roadworthy]

I purchased a light bar on eBay. It was advertised as 240 watts. I started setting up to power it with twenty amps (12 X20 = 240). Imagine my surprise when my ammeter told me the draw was five amps. That's more like sixty watts. So the 240 watt number must be related eo incandescent equivalency. In any case, it IS bright. I put it on my ROPS so it shines over and around the loader.

 

[grsthegreat]

I cant stand it when people put super bright headlights on their cars and trucks. It totally destroys a persons night vision for the oncoming cars. I really dont know how its legal.

 

[Bavarian]

I cant stand it when people put super bright headlights on their cars and trucks. It totally destroys a persons night vision for the oncoming cars. I really dont know how its legal.

The problem here is, many people never heard about proper aim. The higher, the better, they think. Every light is useless if it's just pointed up in the sky. There is nothing to reflect it back and you don't even see the light.
For on road vehicles, there is a standard for where the light has to touch the ground to avoid blinding. At least there is in the books but not much in reality.

 

[Tinhack]

I cant stand it when people put super bright headlights on their cars and trucks. It totally destroys a persons night vision for the oncoming cars. I really dont know how its legal.

Buy a newer car. They're all LEDs now days. Have been for 7-8 years, at least. Except for maybe the throw-away cars.

Mine are aimed properly even though my truck has a lift kit. They were checked during the last annual State Inspection. I just love it when people flash me thinking I have my hi beams on. I give a quick flash back then they turn on their high beams. I return the favor and melt their windshield. :licking:

 

[5030]

I cant stand it when people put super bright headlights on their cars and trucks. It totally destroys a persons night vision for the oncoming cars. I really dont know how its legal.

it's not. If anyone bothers to read the instructions that come with them. it specifically states, 'for off road use only' but who reads today anyway.....

I suspect it's up to a law enforcement officers discretion, so if you get stopped for say a tail light out, the officer can also write you for illegal lighting. Now on a tractor, don't believe that applies.