LED car lighting | OSRAM Automotive (2024)

FAQs

How good are LED car lights? ›

They get hot, they use relatively high amounts of energy and the filaments eventually burn out. LED headlights last longer and use less power, putting less stress on the car's electrical systems. Although not as bright as HID lights, they are brighter than halogen bulbs and they produce a more natural light colour.

Improved Brightness and Visibility

This improved illumination allows for a broader field of vision during nighttime driving, thus enhancing safety. Moreover, the crisp, white light emitted by LEDs provides better color rendering, allowing drivers to discern objects and road hazards more accurately.

Blinding over a greater distance: In addition, LEDs are blindingly bright over a greater distance than the halogen lighting they replace. LED chips emit at 100% of their relative luminous intensity along the center axis and lose intensity the farther away you move from the center axis.

A halogen bulb can generate the same light output with about 45 watts. An LED light achieves the same results with only 12 watts. For car headlights, typically rated at approximately 55 watts, the normal output range of a halogen headlight bulb is between 900 and 1800 lumens, depending on the bulb design.

1 – NAOEVO NH H11 LED Bulb 15600LM. Among all NAOEVO car lighting products, the NH H11 LED headlight bulbs have the highest lumens and wattage. This is due to NAOEVO's self-developed flip chip technology.

As a professional car light manufacturer, NAOEVO found that a high-quality LED light can have a lifespan of at least 5 years or more. (Of course, this depends on factors such as brand, heat dissipation, and frequency of utilization.)

LeRoy Angeles, Senior Compliance Engineer at NHTSA, wrote a letter in 2021 explaining that not a single aftermarket LED bulb has ever been approved by NHTSA. This means that every single aftermarket LED replacement bulb on the road is illegal, and yet no government agency is doing anything about it.

According to the LTO guidelines, using LED headlight bulbs should comply with the following characteristics: 1. Color Temperature: The LED headlight bulb should have a color temperature of between 4,000 and 6,000 Kelvin (K). This color range provides good visibility without being too harsh or glaring.

Light Brightness

Pursuant to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) luminous intensity of headlights must be between 500 and 3,000 candelas. The DOT and SAE certify headlights that are legal in the United States. As long as the headlight is labeled as DOT or SAE approved, it is legal to operate in all 50 states.

Disadvantages of LED Bulbs

Most white LED bulbs emit a cooler, blue-tinted light — rather than the “warmer” glow that is associated with incandescent bulbs. Some people prefer “daylight” or “natural light” LED options. Some LED fixtures may create sharp shadows that may not be desirable in certain places in the home.

Why is LED headlight illegal? ›

Headlights that register 3,000K or 3,000LM are the brightest headlights you can legally install in your car. Anything beyond that level is typically against the law and you run the risk of blinding another driver and causing an accident.

The stronger light quality, long lifespan and lower energy use of LED lights make them a great choice in general, and replacement costs should come down as market adoption rates increase.

Voltage:- 12V DC.

The primary concern revolves around the latest LED headlights found in most modern cars. Significantly brighter than traditional halogen headlights, a survey by the RAC indicates that 89% of drivers find them excessively bright.

Well, the brightness of light is measured in lumens. A halogen bulb puts out about 1,000 lumens. An LED bulb puts out about 4,000 lumens. Some aftermarket LED bulbs, many illegal, advertise an eye melting 12,000 lumens!

The Pros of LED Headlights

An LED bulb lasts about 15 times longer than a halogen bulb, so that's one reason to make the switch. LED headlights are a better option for car owners due to their energy efficiency, better visibility, and higher quality.