View Full Version : LED Motorcycle headlights?
andrewsmith
24-09-12, 08:38 PM
LED Motorcycle headlights, has anyone had any experience with how they actually work?
Just a bit curious how they are able to produce a good light levels with a standard bulb for Hibeam
TCochrane
24-09-12, 08:46 PM
Do you mean HID's?
andrewsmith
24-09-12, 08:52 PM
no LED. I know how HID's work as they work in a not to disimilar way to a Fluorescent tube (just at a higher discharge level)
Only know Audi use it so far
http://www.audi.co.uk/new-cars/a8/a8/attention-to-detail/led-lights.html
http://www.electronicsweekly.com/Articles/22/01/2010/47855/led-headlights-beam-beyond-premium-cars.htm
andrewsmith
24-09-12, 09:38 PM
Ducati use a varient with a Xenon bulb (or similar) on the Panagale
yorkie_chris
25-09-12, 08:11 AM
Nope.
Look at most LEDs, they've got some fairly small emitting angle of 120 degrees or so compared to halogen or HID.
The efficacy is excellent, my dive torch is a cree XM-L making around 900 lumens from under 10W of power. You'd need closer to 50W to get similar performance from halogen.
They can also have some serious throw with the right optics.
However, nothing you can drop into the standard headlights to get anything like a reasonable result in terms of proper beam pattern, brightness and throw.
Best bet would be to make some with some XMLs or SST-90s behind some 40mm or so aspheric lenses and have them as fairly tight beams to add throw to the high beams.
SST90:
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff53/Packhorse/Lights/magasphericsst90.jpg
(photo borrowed from packhorse of candlepowerforum/ccrexplorers forums)
andrewsmith
25-09-12, 08:23 AM
Cheers YC
You answered my next question too. Might look into building a couple of spotlights over the winter
You build the dive lamp?
yorkie_chris
25-09-12, 08:25 AM
Getting there, collecting parts and materials
http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/283/torchhead.jpg
andrewsmith
25-09-12, 08:30 AM
whats the aim off battery?
yorkie_chris
25-09-12, 08:45 AM
What do you mean the aim off battery? It would really be conducive to conversation if you'd type more clearly in something resembling English.
Although to take a flying guess at what you mean; the battery will be in a separate container mounted on the waistbelt connected by a power cord. The container will have 6x 18650 lithium cells in parallel which should give 5.5+ hours of runtime at full power.
andrewsmith
25-09-12, 08:56 AM
aye thats the one
littleoldman2
25-09-12, 09:01 AM
What do you mean the aim off battery? It would really be conducive to conversation if you'd type more clearly in something resembling English.
Although to take a flying guess at what you mean; the battery will be in a separate container mounted on the waistbelt connected by a power cord. The container will have 6x 18650 lithium cells in parallel which should give 5.5+ hours of runtime at full power.
Andrew does speak in something resembling English if only remotely.
On a serious note Many of the after market LED light are above 1200cd ( the ridiculously high limit for DRLs) and many of the retailers have no idea what the light output is or the shape of the beam. In the near future this may become part of the MOT.
yorkie_chris
25-09-12, 09:03 AM
Yeah that's why I'd recommend having them as something like driving lights on a separate switch and not as general headlights.
You could glue this to your lid lol
http://mobile.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=225316
I want a cree like on my head torch I can fit in my dip beam lamps.
My lenzer cree is so bright every one at work goes mental if I look up when its on.
yorkie_chris
25-09-12, 10:32 AM
They don't work well with reflectors that are designed for incandescants sadly.
The one in my headlamp has quite a small lens.It would need the cut off sorting out as its a circuler beam pattern .I think it could be made to fit in the H7 appature.The front lens is only clear so the reflector shouldn't interfere.
yorkie_chris
25-09-12, 11:21 AM
That would be cool, but I wouldn't think a head torch would usually produce near enough light to compete with 55W of halogen.
Go somewhere dark and get some beamshots, you'll have to find a way to set the exposure of your camera to get a fair comparison.
andrewsmith
25-09-12, 11:29 AM
Be interested to see the comparison.
I'm looking at this for a secondarys or a retro-fit into the Curvy running light
These http://dx.com/p/t6-smooth-crown-waterproof-xml-t6-3-mode-1200-lumen-white-led-bike-light-with-battery-pack-set-82507?item=6 could be used as a starting point for some very bright driving lamps. I've been using them on my pushbike for a couple of years now, a pair will give at least 100m forward vision, they cant be used in traffic as they are at full power and would need mods to the reflector and lens to be safe on a motorbike. These http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2-in-1-CREE-XML-XM-L-T6-LED-Bike-Bicycle-Light-HeadLight-HeadLamp-Rechargeable-Battery/617640855.html are now available for about £15 again XML-T6 LED I'll be giving some a go this winter to see if they're any good.
Be interested to see the comparison.
I'm looking at this for a secondarys or a retro-fit into the Curvy running light
There's loads of comparisons etc for XML-T6's on Youtube.
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