Halogen projector LED bulb install

[2010 Infantry Vet]

I installed these LED bulbs in my halogen projector headlight assemblies. Cost me $25 with anti flicker harnesses. I didn't feel like spending $250 for the same chinese cree bulbs found in the morimoto kit. I am very happy with the results. 5x brighter than the H1 halogen bulbs. Anyone that says LED bulbs will not be proficient in halogen projectors is sadly mistaken. Save yourself a ton of money and purchase CREE LED bulbs and supporting harness instead of high priced Morimoto.

 

[2010 Infantry Vet]

Before install with halogen H1 bulbs

 

[2010 Infantry Vet]

Proof morimoto uses chinese cree bulbs. Same as I bought, but I paid $25.

 

[JPT]

View attachment 118495

I think you may want to adjust this light pattern. I believe it is too high, you will be blinding people in their rear view mirrors (the cutoff may be lower than on coming traffic drivers eyes). This is my cutoff, with HID's my cutoff is right at the top of the average car's bumper (even as close as you are in the above picture):

 

[2010 Infantry Vet]

I think you may want to adjust this light pattern. I believe it is too high, you will be blinding people in their rear view mirrors (the cutoff may be lower than on coming traffic drivers eyes). This is my cutoff, with HID's my cutoff is right at the top of the average car's bumper (even as close as you are in the above picture):

Thanks i never adjust them, just put them in. I'll adjust them down.

 

[JPT]

EDIT to my last post. I adjust my HID cutoff to the top of the car ahead's TRUNK... Not bumper like I said in my last post, that would be way too low for highway driving.

 

[green99v104x4]

Nice lights ! I was told that when you install bulbs intended for non-projector lenses and vice versa , they are expected to be extremely bright. So what's the problem ?
As long as this is known, they're properly aimed and you're not pulled over for having your awesome lights on I see no problem. All the newest OEM high end lights are blindingly bright while oncoming at some point , I don't stare nor do I look at oncoming vehicles' lights anyhow, it's not going to help you see where you're going.

 

[quietpeen]

Nice lights ! I was told that when you install bulbs intended for non-projector lenses and vice versa , they are expected to be extremely bright. So what's the problem ?
As long as this is known, they're properly aimed and you're not pulled over for having your awesome lights on I see no problem. All the newest OEM high end lights are blindingly bright while oncoming at some point , I don't stare nor do I look at oncoming vehicles' lights anyhow, it's not going to help you see where you're going.

I think the biggest issue is installing HID's in a non projector application because you get to much light scatter and there is no way to prevent it from blinding on coming traffic.

As for a LED bulb in a projector, I don't think anyone said it wouldn't work, but me being one of them have said that a LED that is not designed for a projector will not perform as well as something that is designed for a projector. HID is definitely the way to go in that case

 

[blackbetty14]

You honestly think those $25 bulbs are producing 5x the light of your halogen bulb? No LED on the market will produce more than a 35w HId bulb which is in the 3200-3400ish lumen range 4200-5000k. Your 40w led bulbs aren’t even close to that. Also the 40w rating is more than likely over stated and producing much less. Put a amp meter on the positive side and see how many amps it’s pulling per bulb. Then you can multiply the amps by input voltage and get your more accurate wattage. You also run cheaper housings with cheap not really great projectors that are designed for a halogen bulb. An HID bulb would be better suited for that projector but still no where near optimal.

I’m glad your happy with it but 5x brighter is just reckless without a lux meter. I’m sure you didn’t test the actual wattage of the bulbs either. You prob got more than the stock setup that came in that housing. But for comparison sake a 35w HID kit only produces 3x more light than a halogen bulb.

 

[chrisp2493]

I had some **** head in a Ram behind me today that had HID’s in his stock reflector housing. He was literally blinding me from behind in broad daylight. What a douche.
And OP, I wonder how long those cheap bulbs will actually last. Let us know when they go out...

 

[MarshRam]

Thanks i never adjust them, just put them in. I'll adjust them down.

Those look like the early Spec D versions. I don't believe they have an option to adjust. If you do adjust them, let me know how you did it. I pulled those off my truck a few months ago due to this issue, but I am lifted, so it was real bad.

 

[Mr.AK902]

you're comparing your setup to an HID kit that was designed to work with our factory lights and projectors. Although the factory projectors are not the best in the world, I think it's safe to say they are better quality then the aftermarket projectors found in those type housings.

You're upgrade is no doubt likely better then the oem light output, which is null at best. I'm doubtful your setup is better light quality then the Morimito kit designed for them stock projectors though. I'll follow this thread for more info. I'm not happy with my light output and have been weighing out my options. Definitely not splitting my lights and retrofitting new projectors, far to much money and effort.

 

[2010 Infantry Vet]

I had some **** head in a Ram behind me today that had HID’s in his stock reflector housing. He was literally blinding me from behind in broad daylight. What a douche.
And OP, I wonder how long those cheap bulbs will actually last. Let us know when they go out...

Will do. Im curious as to how long they last myself.

Those look like the early Spec D versions. I don't believe they have an option to adjust. If you do adjust them, let me know how you did it. I pulled those off my truck a few months ago due to this issue, but I am lifted, so it was real bad.

These have an up adjustment screw above the bulb, and down adj screw below the bulb.

you're comparing your setup to an HID kit that was designed to work with our factory lights and projectors. Although the factory projectors are not the best in the world, I think it's safe to say they are better quality then the aftermarket projectors found in those type housings.

You're upgrade is no doubt likely better then the oem light output, which is null at best. I'm doubtful your setup is better light quality then the Morimito kit designed for them stock projectors though. I'll follow this thread for more info. I'm not happy with my light output and have been weighing out my options. Definitely not splitting my lights and retrofitting new projectors, far to much money and effort.

When i went to install my LED bulbs, I noticed the projector in my housing can not be removed and replaced. If the morimoto kit comes with a new projector housing, and they fit in factory halogen projectors, i am sure they will have better, controlled light output than mine.
When i purchased my headlight housings, i was under the impression they used led bulbs for low beams. Found out they used halogen H1 bulbs. They were so dim you could hardly tell you even had your headlights turned on.
Replacing my halogen bulbs with LED was the only option.
Night and day difference between my LED bulbs and the stock halogen.

 

[quietpeen]

When i went to install my LED bulbs, I noticed the projector in my housing can not be removed and replaced. If the morimoto kit comes with a new projector housing, and they fit in factory halogen projectors, i am sure they will have better, controlled light output than mine.
When i purchased my headlight housings, i was under the impression they used led bulbs for low beams. Found out they used halogen H1 bulbs. They were so dim you could hardly tell you even had your headlights turned on.
Replacing my halogen bulbs with LED was the only option.
Night and day difference between my LED bulbs and the stock halogen.

the HID kits for the oem projector lights do no come with a new projector housing. The bulb gets plugged right into the oem projector, and it absolutely will have better light output than what you have now with your aftermarket lights and LED's

I don't think anybody disagrees that the LED's gave you an upgrade from the halogen bulb, but to compare price and quality of a bulb being used in an application it was not intended for to a HID bulb being used in the fashion it was intended for is the problem.

 

[2010 Infantry Vet]

the HID kits for the oem projector lights do no come with a new projector housing. The bulb gets plugged right into the oem projector, and it absolutely will have better light output than what you have now with your aftermarket lights and LED's

I don't think anybody disagrees that the LED's gave you an upgrade from the halogen bulb, but to compare price and quality of a bulb being used in an application it was not intended for to a HID bulb being used in the fashion it was intended for is the problem.

I agree 100% if i would have known my new housings didnt have LED bulbs, I would have bought used factory housings, and bought a different bulb kit. But for my housing that i already purchased, this was my best bet. You live and learn, and thats where forums like these come in handy to learn.