Thread: New driving lights...which ones?

Originally Posted by Tombie

Haha.

And it’s cool to have your own ideas.

I also am a huge fan of Science and Medicine...

I’m getting old, and the last thing I want is to be doing something or using something that is proven to be damaging/degrading my vision...

Also getting old.....which lights have been proven to degrade vision?

Originally Posted by edddo

Also getting old.....which lights have been proven to degrade vision?

Hi Temperature / Blue end of the spectrum.

AMA just did a release on the impact of LED lights.
It messes up body rhythm, sleep patterns, vision...

If you decide to go with HID keep the temp warm... better CRI, easier on your eyes (look up rods and cones and see how we see) and therefore less fatigue inducing.

Just looking at prices of various options. Easy to see why people go for light bars.
I dont plan to drive at night in fact I actively avoid it.
But recently I got caught short and had get to a camp after dark - my car with my eyesight, is quite dangerous without better lighting.
From an airflow to radiator perspective an 18 (ish) inch led light bar or 2, 7inch led lights might be a good option as they are so low profile.
The D1 is not endowed with excessive cooling capacity.

Thanks AK for the offer! Not sure which way to go just yet.

Originally Posted by Tombie

Hi Temperature / Blue end of the spectrum.

AMA just did a release on the impact of LED lights.
It messes up body rhythm, sleep patterns, vision...

If you decide to go with HID keep the temp warm... better CRI, easier on your eyes (look up rods and cones and see how we see) and therefore less fatigue inducing.

OK similar to spending too much time on PC or other IT devices in the evenings. The blue light reduces melatonin production, which we need for the natural onset of sleep.
My night driving would be very time limited...but certainly a consideration...thanks.

Originally Posted by edddo

OK similar to spending too much time on PC or other IT devices in the evenings. The blue light reduces melatonin production, which we need for the natural onset of sleep.
My night driving would be very time limited...but certainly a consideration...thanks.

Yes. One of the reasons I run a night mode on my devices..

All my devices switch to a warm mode in the evening.

A simple set of Hella Compacts would likely serve you well.

I have gone to the LED options for my driving lights and a lightbar because I got sick of replacing the HID's because of the stone damage smashing them, The LED's are far more "Robust" and can handle the odd boondie hitting them.

Originally Posted by edddo

.....

Thanks AK for the offer! Not sure which way to go just yet.

Going by your sig, I'm guessing you've got a D1.

If that's the case, I can highly recommend the Philips Ultinon H4 headlight package.
It comes with two properly designed H4 LED globes, two electronic boxes to run them, which plug into your 3 pronged headlight plug.
Other than the fact that you need to mount the electronic boxes(easy) they are pretty much plug'n'play.
But with the caveat that not quite as easy as the standard H4 plug'n'play setup.
The major issue is a lack of depth behind the headlight to allow for many H4 LED designs heatsink AND also allow for the rubber cover to be refitted to the rear of the light body.
The Ultinon design is simpler and it fits(the D1).

I bought my dad a set of cheaper LED H4's with the traditional heatsink rear end design for his Ford Explorer, which has more room for the heatsink. They worked well too, but won't fit the D1 easily.
Dad wanted better lights for similar reasons that you stare .. he avoids driving at night, but sometimes gets caught out. He's 84.

The electronic box with the Philips globes mounts easily on the rear panel behind the light with plenty of room to move around.

Reason for my use of the LED globes in my main lights was simple. It was that, or a loom update .. remembering that LEDs require less current. So with the LEDs now fitted, I didn't have to change wiring to get more power to a pair of halogens!
Took me less than an hour to fit the LED globes, and I reckon most of that time was taken up on 'smoko' breaks!

I fitted the LED bar before I updated the main lights. With the main lights being LEDs now have made the light bar almost redundant when I use high beams.
Whilst the LED bar does add additional brightness to the LEDs on high beam, it's nothing like the extra light they made with the halogen main globes.

So considering your reasoning for the driving lights, I'd reckon you're better to look into the options of either: better main globes(ie,. good quality LEDs), or updating the headlight wiring loom.

The Philips LEDs were about $200(maybe $220, I think), so, pretty much on the ultra high side, whereas my dads cheaper LED H4 conversion were more like $80.