What are the advantages of LEDs and why are they used with caution?

Types of LEDs for cars

Low beam lamps

Low beam LEDs provide higher quality lighting than their halogen counterparts. Instead of a weak, watery yellow light, they produce a cleaner light.

High beam lamps

LEDs are an excellent option for long-range electric lighting. They consist of a miniature LED panel that easily fits into the high beam reflectors of modern models.

Warning lamps and side lights

Signal lights and markers with LED offer lower consumption and greater light energy efficiency. The lights are more noticeable during the dark and daylight hours.

Fog lamps

Fog lights are much more energy efficient than halogen headlights, using less energy while providing a cleaner quality of light.

Diodes in the salon

LED strips are suitable for interior decoration, as they emit light from the entire RGB color spectrum. Buy lighting that comes with color remotes.

Installation options for LED lamps for cars

The versatility of automotive LED lamps allows them to be used to solve a number of different issues. Usually 12 volt LEDs with a w5w t10 base are used.

Low beam

Previously, diodes were too dim and not suitable for low beam installation.

But more powerful modern models easily cope with this task, almost approaching xenon in their characteristics.

Front brake lights and side lights

One of the characteristic features of LED dimensions is resistance to temperatures up to 100 degrees.

Such lamps are located in close proximity to the headlight, so they require additional protection to prevent crystal destruction.

The diodes are equipped with current stabilizers, so they are reliable and safe.

The directional angle of the diodes is wide enough for them to function properly. The main disadvantage is the size, so before installation you will need to carefully compare the dimensions of the lamp with the hole in the headlight.

SMD diodes are more compact. They are characterized by high brightness and enhanced directivity characteristics.

There are also decoys that can be installed on machines with automatic computer checking.

Rear brake lights and side lights

Most often, two-pin base lamps are installed in rear brake lights, less often – single-pin ones.

They differ in the number of diodes and the power of the allocated lighting.

Some models operate in pulse mode from a built-in converter.

Interior lighting

The white color of the diodes is especially noticeable in the cabin, so the choice of temperature must be taken very seriously. Lighting should not cause discomfort or interfere with the driver.

For this purpose, fiston-type lamps are used, which differ in the functional length of the fiston.

Interior lamps are classified into three categories:

• Replacement for standard lamps, installed in the lamp socket. The dimensions and designs of such models are close to traditional ones. This is the best option when there is a fixed minimum space.
• Lamps with dimensions larger than standard ones. They are also mounted in the classic lamp socket, so you need to select the dimensions in advance. The parameters of such a lamp are determined by a large number of LEDs to improve brightness.
• Rectangular matrices with different numbers of diodes. The most powerful option, but its placement is not possible in all lampshades.

Fog lights

Ice lamps are inserted instead of fog lights, acting as additional side lights to attract attention to the car during the day or evening.

You can read more about how to choose fog lights for SUVs here.

The use of such lamps reduces the risk of accidents on the road, making the car visible in any conditions. This type of headlights simply cannot be replaced in cities with high humidity levels, for example in St. Petersburg.

Number plate illumination

The light output of the diodes is high enough that they highlight the license plate favorably and effectively at any time.

You can use different color options, including standard white or decorative color.

Turn signal lamps

The high brightness and characteristic color of LEDs make them convenient for use when indicating turns. Such a signal is clearly visible on the road, regardless of weather conditions and time of day.

Tuning

Installation of additional luminous elements and accessories that make the appearance of the car more original and stylish.

This can be illumination of the bottom, wheels, or any other fragments, depending on the design idea.

Ribbons

Adhesive-based LED strips deserve special attention.

They are cut into sections of different lengths and are popular as trunk lighting or interior elements. Additionally, the tapes are equipped with protection against moisture and damage.

CARCAM H4 — 2990 ₽

An affordable option in the lower price segment of the Russian market. CARCAM H4 is a simple H4 40W/2pcs kit with 4000 lumens, which will be significantly better than any of the most expensive halogen bulbs.

One element consists of six CREE LEDs, which produce a luminous flux of 4000 Lumens, which guarantees high-quality lighting in any conditions. An aluminum radiator and fan built into the device provide reliable cooling.

• More than 30,000 hours of operation
• Protection class ip68
• Cree LEDs

PROS:

1. Low price, availability on the Russian market.

MINUSES:

1. The brand is not focused on producing automotive lighting, like Philips.

The main criteria for choosing a high-quality diode lamp for a car

Factors in the selection of lighting equipment depend to a large extent on the characteristics and needs of the machine. Be prepared for the fact that you will have to polish the headlight glass in order to get high-quality directional light rather than scattered light. Also keep in mind that purchasing modern LED headlight bulbs can significantly change the appearance of your car.

One of the options for changing your appearance is to buy headlights with illuminated “angel eyes”. These are spectacular LED circles that create an unexpected, pleasant effect and make the car more aggressive. Optics today are considered as one of the important elements of tuning, therefore, when selecting LED lamps for a car, you need to take into account the following factors:

• the manufacturer of the lamp itself, the presence of positive reviews about this brand among other buyers;
• the level of the lamp you are selecting, its position in the manufacturer’s model line;
• purpose specifically for the area in which you want to use this light bulb;
• warranty available - one of the advantages of LED light sources is durability;
• light consumption - an important factor in purchasing such lamps will be energy savings, so consumption should also be taken into account;
• Full compatibility with connectors and types of your optics, no need for modifications.

When choosing lamps, you need to take into account that the light sources fully retain all the expected advantages and do not provide unpleasant surprises in operation. If you select lamps only based on cost, be prepared for the fact that such equipment will not last long. It is important to get the most beneficial features, not just functional advantages.

There are many advantages to using LED lamps that are noticeable from the first day of operation. You can install these light sources yourself; it does not require any serious knowledge. Look in the operating instructions for your car to see how you can replace the lamp you need, follow the required steps and enjoy the result. To get visual confirmation of the need to purchase such headlights, we suggest watching the following video:

4Drive LumpLED H4 – 1990 ₽

The 4drive kit is similar in price to previous LEDs and includes two units in a durable package. The kit produces a bright high beam of 3800 lumens and is easy to install. In addition to the aluminum body, you get a ventilation system to keep the lights in working order. They are shock resistant and you won't have to worry about them being exposed to all the damage.

• Brightness is 3 times higher than standard halogen!
• Lamp service life is more than 5 years!
• Self-installation in just 5 minutes
• Dense white beam of light at 500 METERS
• Phillips Luxeon Z ES Series LEDs
• Don't blind oncoming cars
• Cools quickly

PROS:

1. Service life, self-installation.

MINUSES:

1. The lights will be too bright for oncoming traffic, but at the default setting their output closely resembles the brightness of a standard headlight system.

Read a detailed review of 4DRIVE H4

Read the full review of 4DRIVE H4

12 volt LEDs for cars

12-volt LEDs for cars have 11 main advantages, which will be useful for you to know about; they are gradually replacing old light bulbs from use; even in cars, drivers are trying to install LED backlighting. Today it is widely used for:

• car interior lighting;
• dashboard lighting;
• trunk lighting
• replacing conventional light bulbs installed in headlights

Selection diagram for LED lamps for a car

The demand for LEDs is quite justified, because they have many advantages over incandescent lamps and mercury lamps.

12 volt LEDs for cars: their advantages and efficiency

1. Economical energy consumption. LED lamps consume 70% less electricity than incandescent lamps. 2. LEDs do not burn out, so they do not have to be replaced even after a long period of use. 3. They do not require special conditions for disposal, because LEDs are not hazardous to the environment, unlike mercury lamps. 4. The brightness of the lighting remains constant, regardless of the service life of the lamps. 5. LED lamps are very durable. They are made of aluminum and polycarbonate glass, capable of withstanding high impact loads. 6. LEDs provide good illumination. With this light, all objects and their colors are clearly visible. 12 volt LEDs for cars are ideal for low beam. 7. LEDs turn on instantly and can operate at any ambient temperature. 8. LED lighting does not cause eye fatigue because it does not have a low-frequency ripple effect. 9. Powerful flashlights made from LEDs do not dazzle your eyes. 10. They heat up less, so they will not damage the optics in the car.

• LED devices produce brighter light when compared to incandescent light. Therefore, your car with LED headlights will be more visible on the track. 12 volt car LED bulbs are widely used in fog lights. A strobe light with LEDs will help make your car more visible on the road at any time of the day. An alarm with a bright LED will scare away burglars.

Ultra-bright automotive LED lamps - design features

The design of LED light bulbs with E27 base can be seen in Figure 1

Fig.1 LED lamp design

Regardless of size, all LED light bulbs have a standard set of elements:

1. Diffuser. It has the shape of a hemisphere. Its main function is to distribute the light beam and increase the luminescence angle. The diffuser is made of transparent plastic. The use of this material became possible because the diffuser in LED lamps does not heat up to high temperatures. 2. LED chips. They are responsible for the power of the lamp. Their number depends on the size of the lighting product. Chips in high-quality light bulbs are responsible for the long service life of the product and its performance characteristics. 3. The printed circuit board transfers heat from the LED chips to the heatsink to ensure they operate at a safe temperature. 4. The area where the temperature reaches its highest point is below the PCB. A special feature of LED lamps is that the temperature is directed not outside, but inside the device. Therefore, LED lamps need a special heat sink element. 5. The heat sink removes heat from the printed circuit board with LED chips. The radiator design elements are made of aluminum alloys. The radiator consists of many metal plates. This design increases the heat dissipation area. 6. The capacitor smoothes out the output voltage ripple. 7. The driver converts alternating current to direct current. 8. The base of the socket protects the LED lamp body from electric current. The base is made of polymers. 9. The socket is necessary for contact of the lamp with the socket of the lighting device. It is made of brass with nickel plating. This material is not afraid of corrosion.

How to make LED light bulbs for cars with your own hands

If you try, you can make LED lamps for your car with your own hands. You can see how to make an LED yourself in the video:

Types of LEDs that are used in cars

To obtain the required lighting brightness in different parts of the car, the following types of LED lamps are used:

• The H1 base is used in the front high beam headlights. Truck drivers often use 24-volt LED car lamps, which successfully replace xenon lamps;
• To make the low beam lights brighter, install H4 and H7 lamps.
• in the trunk and interior they use C5W, W5W, BA9S;

INTERPOWER H4 LUMILEDS — 4550 ₽

This kit is very bright and emits rich light without leaving any blind spots that can be a problem when driving at night. You get great lamp life. The service life of each diode is 50,000 hours. You get a weatherproof design and a sophisticated cooling system that ensures you don't experience wear and tear.

PROS:

1. Great brightness, universal use.

MINUSES:

1. Difficult to repair, but wear-resistant kits do not often break down.

Philips H4 Philips X-Treme Ultinon — 8200 ₽

LED lights from Philips are much more expensive than previous models, but "you get what you pay for." Philips X-treme achieves a brightness ratio that is twice that of competing devices. The 23W luminaires create a projection pattern that simply cannot be replicated on the market with less lumen quality. The blur-free projection is fully customizable.

PROS:

1. Abundance of settings, high lighting brightness.

MINUSES:

1. High price, limited compatibility. Although these LED elements technically work with most vehicles, the instrument headlight housing does not fit these bulbs.

The best models with H7 base

H7 Dled Sparkle 2 — 2150 RUR

These are moderately priced and bright LED light bulbs. The Dled Sparkl kit has been optimized for easy assembly and installation. Products with increased service life. The kit is also designed to maintain a color temperature sufficient for normal and pleasant lighting of the track.

PROS:

1. Complete set, value for money.

MINUSES:

1. Average power.

Halogen lamps for cars from Aliexpress

The good old halogen lamps are still widely used throughout the world. Newfangled LEDs and xenon have not been able to completely oust them from the market.

The main advantages of these light bulbs are their practicality and low cost.

At the presented sellers you will find halogen lamps with different sockets for different brands of cars.

MeiShangYang

Lamps for car headlights from the manufacturer MeiShangYang attract buyers due to their price-quality ratio. Main characteristics of the model:

• possible types of sockets from H1 to H11;
• operating voltage – 12 V;
• declared power – 55 or 100 W4
• the color of the light being studied is white;
• color temperature indicator – 5000 K;
• glass material – quartz, body – stainless steel.

The budget model is not inferior in quality to products in a higher price segment. It features stable technical characteristics. Provide the best illumination of the road in high and low beam modes, as well as in combination with an anti-fog system. The emitted radiation is correctly distributed. Able to work even in extreme weather conditions (heavy rainfall and snowfall). This is especially important if the headlights are leaking. Quartz glass withstands temperature changes. The declared power of the model is 55 and 100 W. But actual measurements indicate that the figures are slightly overestimated.

Users note that the road lighting is not the most powerful, especially on surfaces with artificial lighting, but this drawback is not significant if the determining factor when choosing lamps is their cost. When purchasing, you can select the required type of base, and also take into account that the manufacturer’s prices are indicated per unit of product.

Buy

OSRAM

The model from the manufacturer OSRAM belongs to a new line with an increased luminous flux, which works without obvious “distortions” of illumination. It has proven itself to be excellent both on city streets with artificial lighting and on country roads. A characteristic feature of the model is the presence of pure xenon in the gas composition. Thanks to this, the lighting range increased by 30%, and the light became whiter and more comfortable. This is especially noticeable during long trips. Main characteristics:

• operating voltage - 12 V;
• power – 55 W;
• the color of the light being studied is white;
• color temperature indicator – 5000 K;
• body material – aluminum.

The light studied by the model does not blind oncoming drivers. Guarantees good visibility of the road surface.

An undoubted advantage will be the affordable price of the product and a high service life according to the standards of “reinforced” models.

Among the shortcomings, the short life of the lamps is noted. The model does not load the on-board system of the vehicle, i.e. the wiring going to the headlights does not heat up). Popular with many car enthusiasts. Quality product for the price stated.

Buy

FISHBERG

Lamps for car headlights manufactured by FISHBERG with H7 socket. Used to operate in low and high beam modes, in combination with fog lights. Main characteristics:

• light temperature 4000-4500 K;
• declared power – 55 W;
• operating power - 12 V;
• number of pieces per package – 2 pcs.

The llama model from FISHBERG is one of the most budget options for purchase. Despite their low cost, they have proven themselves well. Many buyers note that there is no significant difference between Chinese-made products and more expensive models. They emit warm light, the temperature of which is about 4000 K. The bulb is made of high-quality glass with a protective barrier against ultraviolet rays. The lamps are suitable for head lighting. You should not expect a powerful and bright glow from the model. The luminous flux level is within 900 Lumens with an average beam range. The lamp will be safe for all traffic participants; it will not blind drivers of oncoming vehicles. Service life varies within one year

Buy

XSTORM h7 halogen

Lamps for car headlights from the manufacturer XSTORM are a halogen model with an H7 socket. The set includes two lamps. Main characteristics:

• type – halogen lamp;
• emitted light color – white;
• connector type – H7;
• operating voltage – 12 V;
• declared power – 100 W;
• color temperature – 5000 K.

The body is made of aluminum. The high power level provides bright illumination of the road surface both in city conditions with artificial lighting, and in suburban highway conditions.

The advantage of the model is that it is able to operate at higher temperatures compared to models with the same power, but without halogen filling. The model guarantees car owners a high level of light output. Installation does not take much time. The lamps are universal and suitable for most car brands. Visually they do not differ from higher cost models. They give a clear light boundary. But some users note that it is slightly overestimated.

Also, one of the disadvantages of the model is its short service life.

Buy

YILONGFAN

A set of the latest models of car headlight lamps from YILONGFAN, consisting of two units. They belong to the halogen type group with an incandescent filament. The buyer is offered several options for bases: H4, H7, H11, H1, etc. The case is made of stainless steel with high-quality glass with ultraviolet protection. Main characteristics:

• operating voltage – 12 V;
• declared power – 55 W;
• temperature of light radiation – 5000 K.

The model attracts buyers with an affordable price without losing the quality of road lighting. Installation takes no more than 10 minutes. Mainly used for low beam headlights or in combination with fog lights. They are distinguished by stable technical characteristics and correct distribution of light radiation. The glass flask tolerates temperature changes well. The model works well in bad weather conditions, but in high beam mode the light brightness may be reduced if you compare this model with more expensive models. Most buyers are satisfied with the price-quality ratio of the product. It is important to remember that the manufacturer indicates the price per unit of product.

Buy

Philips H7 X-treme Ultinon 6000K — 9000 ₽

The Philips 6000K kit offers the best reliability and strongest build on the market. Philips SafeBeam helps concentrate light for improved visibility. The lighting intensity corresponds to the premium class segment, which is confirmed by the high price. Luminous flux up to 1760 lm, vibration and shock resistant, cool white light, +200%* more light.

PROS:

1. More precise control of electric lighting improves visibility, which helps you drive better and more safely at night.

MINUSES:

1. High price. No cheating.

CARCAM H7 – 2490 ₽

The CARCAM H7 35 LED kit will really appeal to budget buyers. This kit is a little more expensive than the company's previous kit we reviewed, but it also comes with some upgrades. Cooling system with fan in aluminum housing. You also get 50,000 hours of battery life.

• More than 30,000 hours of operation
• Protection class ip68
• Cree LEDs.

PROS:

1. Rich functionality, high power.

MINUSES:

1. After prolonged use, these lights may flicker slightly.

Clearlight Flex H7 3000 lm 2 – 3500 RUR

The Flex line is a reasonable price and high performance. These LEDs also produce a very precise, focused beam pattern that any driver will appreciate. Please make sure your vehicle is compatible with the lights before purchasing. Compatibility information can be found on the manufacturer's website.

PROS:

1. Value for money.

MINUSES:

1. Not compatible with all car brands.

The best models with H11 base

What are LED lamps and why are they needed?

Car LED bulbs are gaining popularity among car owners, displacing halogen bulbs due to their advantages (video author - Roman Romanov).

What are they?

There are two types of automotive LED lamps, which differ in the power they require from the on-board network: 12 V and 24 V. The 12 V on-board network is installed on passenger cars, and on trucks there is a 24 V network. There are often voltage surges in the on-board network, which is negative affects the LED, so a driver is installed in it, which acts as a current regulator. An LED with an installed driver becomes a universal light source and can be used in both 12 V and 24 V networks.

When choosing an LED light bulb, you should pay attention to the type of base, power and brightness. Additionally, LEDs can be selected based on color temperature. LED labeling contains information about its characteristics.

Photo gallery “Schemes for producing white light in LEDs”

1. Scheme for obtaining white light from 3

2. Scheme of production using phosphor and crystal

3. Production scheme using phosphor and ultraviolet LED

Benefits of use

There are a number of advantages, considering which you should give preference to LED lamps:

• efficiency (low energy consumption);
• no heating;
• the white light of LED lamps does not distort the perception of surrounding objects and improves the visibility of the car for other road users;
• ability to choose color;
• long service life;
• additional protection from external influences, moisture and vibrations;
• lenses of LED lamps allow you to change the angle of radiation;
• environmentally friendly;
• improve the appearance of the car.

LEDs can be used for both head lighting and interior lighting. If they blink warning lights, they will attract increased attention.

Disadvantages of use

Along with obvious advantages, LED lamps for cars have disadvantages that do not allow them to be completely used instead of halogen and incandescent lamps:

1. High price. This is explained by the complexity of production and the high cost of the materials used, which increases the cost of products.
2. LED sources cannot be repaired, and replacement requires additional costs.
3. Over time, the LED lamp burns out, resulting in a decrease in light brightness.

LEDs - benefit or harm?

Scientists in Spain conducted a study on the effect of LED sources on the eyes. As a result, it turned out that with prolonged exposure, light from diode lamps can cause blindness. This happens due to the special glow emanating from the lamps, which has such an effect on the retina of the eye that it can damage it. True, the study was conducted with household light sources. Car analogues are much less powerful, so their impact is too small to cause damage to the retina.

The main barrier to installing LED lights is the cost of the bulbs. It is 20-30 times higher than the cost of conventional incandescent lamps. Therefore, the initial installation costs are too high. In addition, it is necessary to resolve the issue of additional current sources in order to provide the necessary operating current.

LED bulbs for cars

Common LED Problems

The main problem for LEDs is the issue of reliability. Unscrupulous manufacturers save on LEDs, using simplified driver circuits, and do not pay enough attention to cooling.

It is advisable to purchase LED lamps from well-known manufacturers. After purchasing a product, you should keep the receipt and packaging for the entire warranty period so that you can replace the lamp if it fails before the period specified in the warranty.

A typical malfunction of LED lamps is low-quality drivers, due to which capacitors burst, LEDs burn out or overheat due to insufficient cooling.

Selection criteria by car brand (labeling, etc.)

Currently, different types of lamps and light sources are installed on the car.

Selection diagram for LED light bulbs

They differ in the type of base, power, brightness, color temperature, etc. The selection of lighting fixtures should be made taking into account the make, model, class and other characteristics of the car. All recommendations from the manufacturer can be found in the user manual.

Well-known light bulb manufacturers make it easier to select products by providing the user with the opportunity to select and order products via the Internet. Philips makes it possible to select your car lamps using an interactive guide. Osram provides a special service for selecting lamps by car brand.

Philips X-Treme Ultinon H11 — 6700 ₽

These intense light beam diodes increase lighting power by 200%. They come with a temperature rating of 6500K and take advantage of LUXEON technology. This helps generate a white light beam that is close to daylight.

PROS:

1. By reducing eye strain, brighter lighting makes your night driving more enjoyable.

MINUSES:

1. High price.

Popular manufacturers and brands

Which LED lamps are the best, everyone decides for themselves. The assortment in stores is huge, you can choose according to various criteria: price, manufacturer, installation location.

Osram

This concern produces only lighting devices, including for cars. Factory defects and shortages practically do not occur. There is only one drawback - high prices.

Assortment of Osram ice lamps for cars:

• LEDriving for running lights and fog lights;
• LEDriving Standard and Premium;
• tuning bulbs;
• inspection lights;
• emergency lighting.

The most popular products with base H 11 LEDriving FOG Lamp with a brightness of 1660 lm and a 5-year warranty.

Philips

This manufacturer specializes in automotive lighting. Not only LEDs are produced, but also xenon. The company works closely with car manufacturers. The main difference from competitors' products is the clearly defined position of powerful sources to the reflector. Philips headlight bulbs do not glare. The most popular products are products with H4 and H7 sockets Philips X-treme Ultinon and fog lamps H8, H11 and H16.

For car headlights we offer:

• Vision – with increased visibility by 30%;
• WhiteVision – bright light, close to white xenon;
• White Vision ultra;
• RacingVision – with 150% increased brightness;
• X-tremeVision – with 130% increased brightness for drivers with low vision;
• LongLifeEcoVision – with extended service life.

X-treme Ultinon with a temperature of 6200 K at 12 V and a service life of 12 years are considered elite. These LEDs are equipped with SafeBeam technology to prevent dazzling oncoming drivers. There is no need to contact a car service for installation.

Reference! If you compare the Philips X-Treme Vision at 6000 Ks with an MTF bulb (Korea) at 5500 K, you can see that the latter are too bright and blinding.

Hella

Hella products can be found in almost any car manufactured in Europe.

Produced:

• high beam sources;
• fog and additional lights;
• optics for license plates, glove compartment, dashboard, interior, trunk (C5W 1W 4000 K, C5W 1W 5000 K, W5W 1W 5000 K with white light color).

In addition to lighting devices, Hella produces control units for glass wipers, sensors for measuring oil levels, cruise control, and systems that regulate the temperature in the cabin. Products are sold in various price segments.

Galaxy

This Chinese company produces LED headlights for cars, the quality of which differs little from German ones, but the retail price is lower. Lamps for high and low beam are available for 1800, 2000, 2400, 3000 and 3600 lm with a power of 20, 25, 30 W and a temperature of 5000, 6000, 6500 K. A six-month warranty is provided. Each bulb has 16 evenly spaced diodes, so the lighting is not spot-on. All products are resistant to temperature changes and vibrations, the declared service life is up to 50 thousand hours.

4Drive H11 – 1990 RUR

4Drive is suitable for buyers with a moderate budget. For little money you get: brightness, settings, which are not often found on devices at this price. 4Drive are equipped with cooling, waterproof surface, easy to install interface.

PROS:

1. Average price, average characteristics.

MINUSES:

1. The kit has compatibility issues. Light bulbs flickering after intensive use.

Read a detailed review of 4DRIVE H11

Read the full review of 4DRIVE H11

Optima Premium Fog H11 — 3500 ₽

Producing 5100K of pure white light, these LEDs do not heat up. Thanks to cooling radiators, they are able to work without problems (20,000 hours of continuous operation). Also, in 2 minutes they can be installed on any type of vehicle. The lamp components are made in Japan, the lenses are made of fiber optics, and are available in two luminance options - 4200k and 5100k.

PROS:

1. Thoughtful installation, high power, affordable price.

MINUSES:

1. After prolonged use, these lights flicker and the overall brightness decreases.

Connecting LED headlights

Connection diagram

It is worth knowing that the brightness of the LEDs depends on the correct connection, or rather, the correctly selected voltage. It is also worth knowing that the supply voltage for each individual LED color is not the same; you need to calculate the energy both with the engine running and with the engine turned off. Typically, 3.5 volts goes to the bulk of the LEDs, in some cases the voltage range can vary from 2.0 to 2.5 volts. The service life of LEDs with proper and careful use is simply phenomenal, or more precisely up to 2500 hours during continuous operation.

In itself, connecting LEDs does not take much time and is not a very labor-intensive process. The absence of an incandescent filament makes the design of LED headlights relatively simple and does not require any extensive knowledge in radio electronics. Moreover, the connection is carried out according to a pre-designed scheme.

Calculation of a simple circuit

You have a great opportunity to install LED lamps in any position, of completely different colors and sizes, nothing prevents you from making all kinds of patterns from LEDs, this will give the car even more originality.

The LEDs are connected directly through the battery, but not directly, but through a series-parallel connection, which allows you to connect several LEDs simultaneously without losing the same voltage. The nine-volt stabilizer, being a universal device, provides optimal connection of LED lights.

When connecting the lights, you should use gel silicone, which will insulate them and protect them from moisture.

Tips for choosing

How to choose the right LED lamps - The nuances of choice:

What is the SECRET of the right LED lamps? In simple words:

Before you decide to switch from halogen lighting to LEDs, it's best to be aware of a few selection factors.

Legality of LEDs

You can't just replace the bulbs in your halogen headlights with LEDs. Instead, it is better to upgrade the entire headlight and ensure that it has the characteristics that prove it meets transportation safety standards.

Car and headlight compatibility

The priority when purchasing headlights is the compatibility of the LEDs of interest with the car. It is important to carefully research the size and type of plinth before purchasing. The user manual for most vehicles contains this information. Please check your model number before purchasing.

Problems with the on-board computer

In later models produced since 2014, the defects are caused by incompatibility between the LEDs and the machine's computer system. This is commonly found in luxury cars such as Mercedes, Audi and BMW. To correct such defects, connect capacitors between the LED plug and the power supply.

Legal points

Why are there laws regarding lighting retrofits?

• The beam should not be blinding to an approaching driver.
• The beam must reach far enough so that the driver is aware of upcoming road hazards when driving at elevated speeds.
• The color of the beam should correctly highlight colored road markings.

Note:

The legislation of the Russian Federation provides for punishment in the form of deprivation of rights for a period of 6 to 12 months for the installation of lighting devices that do not correspond to the type of headlights and their reflector. If the headlights were originally designed for halogen lighting, installing diodes would be illegal. Most people install LEDs inside the reflector designed for halogen electric lighting. This spoils the beam pattern that the reflector is supposed to emit, resulting in unnecessary beam spread and becoming a nuisance to approaching drivers.

What are the advantages of LEDs and why are they used with caution?

Incandescent lamps used in car headlights, lanterns, light signaling devices and interior lampshades have at least two disadvantages that make their use irrational. The first is the limited lamp life.

Not only in conventional, but also in halogen lamps, the filament becomes thinner over time, and then breaks under the influence of vibrations, disabling the lamp, unless the filament simply burns out due to some power surge.

The second disadvantage of incandescent lamps is that they spend only 10% of the energy consumed on lighting. The rest turns into heat, which means that 90% of the fuel used to provide energy to the lamps is wasted in the engine cylinders, which, however, does not prevent combustion products from harming the environment.

The attractiveness of LEDs is that they do not contain filaments at all. Accordingly, there is nothing to burn out. An LED can only be destroyed by a strong voltage surge or poor workmanship, which also affects conventional lamps, but when operating in normal mode, the LED's service life is several times longer than that of an incandescent lamp.

And LEDs are the most economical light source. To create a luminous flux comparable in intensity, an LED lamp requires half as much energy as an incandescent lamp.

LEDs have other advantages, but they have nothing to do with today’s conversation with the owner who has installed LED tuning for his car’s lighting system. According to the owner, the mentioned advantages of LEDs, as well as the external effect of LED lighting, prompted the redesign:

— The light in the car was gradually switched to LEDs. It started with the door lighting. Light bulbs in the lamp shades are 5 watts. They light up when the doors are open. I noticed that if the light bulbs burn for a long time, the lampshades get very hot, you can’t touch them with your hand. I look - the plastic of the lamp holder is turning black and melting. I changed the lamps to LEDs - please touch them with your hand.

I decided not to stop there. The next thing I did was replace the light bulbs in the ceiling lamps with LEDs.

The light in the cabin is now liked by everyone who has seen it at least once at night. However, to be fair, I must say that a lot of what I did was prompted by what I saw on the Internet. I found a story from one owner about tuning the lighting of the same car as mine, with illustrations. What he did was impressive. However, I did not go for the same global alteration; I limited myself to what I considered useful.

After the interior, I improved the trunk lighting. The standard lighting was not so great - only one lamp. I replaced the incandescent light bulb with LEDs, plus I installed LED strips under the ventilation grille holes.

I installed the same strips on the opposite wall of the trunk, where there was no lighting before. Now in the trunk, even on the darkest night, everything is clearly visible.

From what I saw on the Internet, the LEDs in the air ducts on the front panel looked interesting. I decided to do the same in my car. During the day, you will not see the same effect that exists when driving at night. And at night, two beams of light from the air ducts look great!

In principle, the interior was not touched anymore. I only installed a cover on the steering wheel in the backlight style, but the diamonds on it have a reflective effect, although some people, having seen the interior lighting, ask if I put LEDs in them too.

Next I moved on to outdoor lighting. The rear lights are dim. LED bulbs are sold for side lights, but in order not to create problems for drivers driving behind, I did not install them. But there are reflectors in the bumper.

I inserted LED strips into them, soldered them and connected them to the dimensions. Now the reflectors turn on together with the rear lights, but if the lights are so bright that they are not visible in good weather, then the reflectors are always visible. At the same time, they should not blind rear drivers, because they are much below eye level.

Since technical inspection does not approve of LED equipment, I have provided a special button that can be used to turn off the LEDs in the reflectors. To be honest, the position of the technical inspection is not clear to me. LEDs are more durable, do not heat up like incandescent lamps, and consume less energy. If energy consumption decreases, then the load on the generator decreases - why is this bad? Of course, if our brother is not stopped in time, he will do something bad, but why cut everything down at the root? In my opinion, with LEDs in the reflectors, the car has become more visible, and this is safety.

In general, I did not install LEDs in the headlights, but in the front dimensions I also changed the regular light bulbs to LEDs.

In addition, I installed blue LED lighting for the Renault brand emblem. During the day it is barely noticeable, but at night it looks simply gorgeous.

But that's not all I'm going to do. I'm thinking of putting lights on the door handles. There are plastic pads under the handles. They look dark, but are actually transparent. To be honest, their purpose is not entirely clear to me. I assume that they have something to do with the keyless access card for the car. Some versions of my model came with such a card, but maybe I'm wrong about these windows. Be that as it may, I will take advantage of their presence - I will put LEDs behind the windows, the handles will be illuminated.

Our verdict

It’s not for us to judge whether it’s good or bad, but we liked a lot of what we saw. However, it is also true that if our brother the motorist is not stopped in time to rework the lighting equipment, he will make trouble. Whatever one may say, everything needs expediency and moderation. So far, everything our interlocutor has done looks expedient, but whether he will be able to stop in time - time will tell.

Sergey BOYARSKIKH Photos and videos by ABW.BY

Why do motorists buy LED lamps?

LED light bulbs have light elements that produce energy-efficient, bright light because they do not emit the heat that is a byproduct of other types of lighting. The energy consumed by the diode is used for light, unlike HID and halogen applications, which convert most of the energy into heat.

Accordingly, these headlights require less fuel to emit light compared to other lighting technologies. This greatly affects the car’s consumption at night and in the evening.

Advantages of LED lamps

Initially, only the latest car models were equipped with LEDs, but it is now possible to install such lighting in older car models as well. Most often we use a diode solution for daytime running lights. This is due to energy savings, compared to conventional incandescent lamps, LEDs load the generator to a much lesser extent and also reduce combustion.

In comparison, two halogen bulbs consume 110 watts, while a set of LEDs consume only 10 watts. In addition, service life is also a plus of LED lamps. They last 10,000 hours, which is 30 times longer than halogen ones. It's worth checking out the new LED lamp model - Philips H7 LED, which gives light 200% brighter where it's needed. When purchasing LED bulbs, check to see if they are legal for road use.

In addition, the light emitted by LEDs is closest to the color of daylight and is ahead of not only halogen lamps, but also xenon lamps. Thanks to this, the environment we see when it gets dark is visible to us in a more natural version - the grass is green, the houses look the same as when we look at them during the day.

Counterfeits and bad models

If you visit most Chinese websites and stores that do not have a license, you will encounter low quality products. LED lighting should be purchased only from trusted brands, as it has become more affordable and there is no longer any point in purchasing cheaper Chinese analogues. By purchasing cheap fakes, you will pay 300 rubles less, but you will sacrifice the quality of lighting and durability.

Chinese counterfeits sold by unscrupulous stores most often do not have markings or other international quality marks. Such products do not guarantee reduced power consumption, but will most likely exhibit flickering and overheating problems.

conclusions

Most LEDs have become illumination superior to other types of automotive lighting, with output power two or three times that of halogens. When purchasing ice lamps, you need to consider a number of factors that will guarantee your satisfaction with your purchase, which we discussed in this article.

Let us briefly conclude:

1. When purchasing lamps, take into account the compatibility of the model (base, design, dimensions).
2. It's better to make sure that the headlights are legal and not Chinese knockoffs.
3. Because LEDs are much more energy efficient than halogen and other headlights, they use less energy while emitting clean light. This has the effect of improving your fuel consumption, which will save you money.
4. When comparing the life cycle costs of LED car headlights, you find that the money saved goes some way to offsetting the cost of the headlight kit itself.
5. When choosing samples, be guided by the recommended list of manufacturers and models provided in the articles.
6. Although CREE LED lamps are affordable, it is still better to choose CSP.

Adviсe

To prevent engine speed from affecting the brightness of the LEDs, you need to turn them on through a stabilizer. It limits the amount of current supplied to the LED, you can connect a kilowatt there, this will not affect the brightness.

If you have lighting installed wherever possible and this is not enough for you, then connecting LEDs to speaker wires is just for you. The terminals of the device are connected in parallel to the speakers. With such a connection, it is important to take into account the resistance of the speakers is often 4 ohms, but there are speakers with 6 and 8 ohms.

When connecting the tape parallel to the speakers, the load on your radio is reduced to avoid overheating. But the efficiency of the speakers themselves will also decrease; they will not produce all the power. To avoid this, you need to use an electrical circuit like (LM 3914).

It will reduce the load at the output to the radio due to its own high resistance. The signal must be pulled from the amplifier output, and not from the speaker wires. For proper operation you will need the correct connection and one resistor.

Of course, all this can be bought in a store, but why pay more?