Thread: LED Replacement Defender headlights

I am intrigued by Led bars mounted on bull bars and blocking the Los of the driver, even if by a trivial amount. Plus possibly being considered a pedestrian hazard
Legal or Illegal?

Originally Posted by Tombie

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HID has a specific set regarding Auto levelling AND washers.

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No, HID is not specified - it is the brightness (that includes all HID lights) that is specified, and this may include some LED lights.

At least some HID lights are likely to also fall foul of colour temperature rules, and any replacement of bulbs with HID lights in reflectors designed for metal filaments will certainly fail on beam shape.

An interesting question of course is the legal position of vehicles that predate these ADRs - there were no ADRs for most of Series 1 and 2/2a production, and I don't think these very detailed lighting ADRs came in until well into Defender production. (Earlier rules, varying between states, would have been vaguer, and more subjective)

John

Throwing my hat into the ring as well... Please be mindful there is a big difference between a replacement lamp unit (entire headlamp assy, as an example) and a globe-replacement. A lamp unit can be made to work with all the components together correctly and be compliant. e-mark, ADR, etc compliance can be obtained, and if fitted according to the requirements will be legal and safe. Many of the quality LED replacement headlamp assemblies (JW Speaker, etc) are a legal modification with exceptional lighting performance. Many heavy trucks now run these as they produce better lighting and are extremely long-lived. However, putting a HID or LED GLOBE into an existing lamp unit with a reflector designed for a specific incandescent globe will almost definitely not meet the requirements (cut-off, glare, etc) and therefore will be an illegal and unsafe modification, with all of the issues that can go with that. Technically a globe outputting less than 2000 lumens can be used in a dipped (low) beam, but these aren't common (typically around 20-25W HID) and generally aren't the right colour anyway for legality, and they would still need to meet the glare and cut-off requirements, etc. which most wouldn't. And this would give you similar lighting to a good conventional globe anyway, so pointless really. Irrespective of the ADR13 washers and levelling requirements or any of the other side discussions. And an e-mark for a LHD product does not mean it's legal in Australia (RHD). It actually pretty much guarantees it is illegal in Australia as the cut-off goes the wrong way. You see inconsiderate drivers regularly with their HID-converted massive ball of blue-white light blazing out the front of their cars in all directions blinding everyone. Sure, they can see a bit better, but everyone else is struggling to and has their visibility significantly compromised. Safe? Considerate? Sure as hell not legal.

Others here have touched on rendered colour also and this is also a factor. 6000K plus is illegal. Period. Legal headlighting needs to be sub-4300K. HID globes need to be 'burned in' on the very first striking of the arc. Philips do this on every HID globe they manufacture and it takes up to a half-hour under controlled conditions. The globe is also checked for light output and colour, etc and rejected if not compliant. All OEM globes are produced this way and will show the signs of being lightly used when bought new. Cheapie kits just knock out a globe and stick it in a box. They may fire them up for a few seconds to check they work before packing them, thereby effectively setting them wrong. The first time you fire them up the colour will be set depending on how long you leave them on, how warm it is, the voltage, how humid it is, etc. Basically you have little or no control over it and they will almost definitely be illegal for light output and colour if for no other reason.

Note that a HID globe conversion for your high-beams only is fully legal as long as the low beams remain illuminated when they are operating. Low-beams are a no-no as detailed above. So H4 can't be done, has to be separate element (like on D2a, as one example). The regs are written around some common-sense here - Basically you only use your high-beams when no-one else is around (right?) so you can have the light-of-a-thousand-suns being emitted from your high beams... sort of.

Upping the wattage of low beams using conventional incandescent globes is also illegal. Must be 55W for cars and 75W for trucks. There are up-rated standard-wattage options out there that are legal and compliant (using different filament materials and gasses to improve light output at similar heat and UV levels). These will be clearly marked as ADR compliant on the packaging. I run Philips +100s (fully legal) and they definitely are a worthwhile upgrade to the standard globes and totally safe with full UV-cut. High wattages will degrade your polycarbonate lenses quickly anyway, if the extra UV doesn't yellow them first. So you end up with less light output than standard in a short time. Pointless. Common issue especially on EF/EF Falcons and VR/VS Commodores of the same era.

Another thing to note is, although not really enforced as far as I am aware at this time, the applicable fines for having non-compliant lighting are truly staggering. Well into five figures per light element (ie. per globe, etc). In theory at least, a non-complaint HID globe conversion could cost you $30k plus in fines if they decided to actually enforce the law to the full extent.

If you have a Defo and the readies to do it then go ahead and put a quality LED replacement headlamp set in (with the associated hardware required to be fully compliant). They are excellent, legal, safe and will not cause distress to other drivers.

For what it's worth, LED tail-lights also fall under similar regs for colour, brilliance and glare, etc. Please consider buying e-mark or ADR compliant ones for your trailer, etc and avoid the non-compliant cheapies. Following a vehicle fitted with cheap-and-nasty glary (is that a word?) tail-lights is extremely tiring and distracting at best.


Long post and no-doubt there will be those that want to become outraged and tear this apart. I have attempted to remove some of the confusion and myths surrounding these things and hopefully it will be viewed in that light. To the best of my knowledge all of the above it true and accurate at the time of posting.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

No, HID is not specified - it is the brightness (that includes all HID lights) that is specified, and this may include some LED lights.

At least some HID lights are likely to also fall foul of colour temperature rules, and any replacement of bulbs with HID lights in reflectors designed for metal filaments will certainly fail on beam shape.

An interesting question of course is the legal position of vehicles that predate these ADRs - there were no ADRs for most of Series 1 and 2/2a production, and I don't think these very detailed lighting ADRs came in until well into Defender production. (Earlier rules, varying between states, would have been vaguer, and more subjective)

John

But it is...

HID lights producing more than 2000 lumens (a measure of light) may be fitted to dipped beam (low beam) lights on road vehicles. However, the vehicle's lights must also align to ADR13 have headlamp cleaning devices (washer jets or wiper) and have self-levelling systems to prevent the brighter lights being projected into oncoming vehicles.


The road rules prohibits against dazzling another road user with bright vehicle lights.


Higher powered lights with a higher end white colour, such as Phillips Crystal Vision 4300K (Kelvin) are not allowed for road use.

And here... 77/00 and 78/00

Some very interesting posts here, thanks guys.


I've long thought that many of the modified trucks being featured in our magazines are probably illegal for various reasons, lighting being one of them in many cases.


So, to summarize, my take on this is:
Leave the low beam alone. High beam can upgraded. The Phillips/Narva replacement globes with + output should be OK. ADR-approved replacements with self-levelling etc should be OK.
Is that right?


Gotta say, the Defender's lights, plus the pair of spotties, are all I need.

Can anyone tell me how these LED upgrades will effect the lamp height mechanics that the Defenders have?? (Which is operated by the 4 position switch on the dash)

So I would gather that the current defender head lights are not self levelling?

Wolf

Originally Posted by Wolfman_TWP

Can anyone tell me how these LED upgrades will effect the lamp height mechanics that the Defenders have?? (Which is operated by the 4 position switch on the dash)

So I would gather that the current defender head lights are not self levelling?

Wolf

I have the Trucklites Phase 7, they use the securing ring from your original headlight and fit inside the original bowl so headlight height adjustment still works and isn't effected at all.