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LED HEADLAMP BULBS.

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Dave P. View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dave P. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: LED HEADLAMP BULBS.
    Posted: 22 Oct 2017 at 17:08
Does anyone have any experience of the above??

I'm toying with the idea of fitting one to my 2009 Bullet.I'm going to start using the Bullet for my short commute to work during the winter which involves travelling in the dark.One concern I have is the direct lighting system on the bike which is dependent on rev's to maintain optimum voltage to the bulb.Would this present any problems as the revs rise and fall? With an H4 halogen bulb fitted the headlamp dims at low rev's.Any advice very welcome, thanks.

PS.I've just realized,direct lighting will be of the AC variety.

The inquiry still stands though, as they might get fitted to the Guzzis.

Edited by Dave P. - 22 Oct 2017 at 18:14
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1971 V7 Special. 1972 850GT.
1970 T120 Bonnie. 2009 500 Bullet.
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Brian UK View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Brian UK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Oct 2017 at 18:19
Assuming you have a reflector, not projector headlight, it's very unlikely any LED will give a good performance. The reflector requires a pin point of light to focus, the LED is normally an array of SMDs, so though you can get more light out of it, that light rarely goes where you need it to.
 
The simplest, cheapest and easiest upgrade is to use the Osram Nightbreaker Unlimited type, which directly replace the original, but put about twice as much light out front, in a beam pattern you can use. (Other makes of bulb are available).
Brian.

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Dave P. View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dave P. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Oct 2017 at 18:27
Thanks, Brian.I've already fitted a top end Philips +130 bulb.I was just wondering about the LED's because of their much longer service life.
TO LIVE OUTSIDE THE LAW YOU MUST BE HONEST.

1971 V7 Special. 1972 850GT.
1970 T120 Bonnie. 2009 500 Bullet.
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Andrew_C View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Andrew_C Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Oct 2017 at 18:34
The other thing to check is that you are really getting 12V at the lamp. A good earth, a nice fat wire, and / or a relay may help.
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Dave P. View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dave P. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Oct 2017 at 18:50
Originally posted by Andrew_C Andrew_C wrote:

The other thing to check is that you are really getting 12V at the lamp. A good earth, a nice fat wire, and / or a relay may help.


Thanks for that Andrew. There isn't anything wrong with the headlamp, I was just looking for the brightest lighting available.I have three Phillips H4 extreme vision bulbs up front on my old V7 special,it's almost like riding in daylight, so I've fitted the same type to the bullet.However, my thinking was that if LED's were even better then why not give them a try? The bullet of course has only one headlamp.
TO LIVE OUTSIDE THE LAW YOU MUST BE HONEST.

1971 V7 Special. 1972 850GT.
1970 T120 Bonnie. 2009 500 Bullet.
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Mike H View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mike H Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Oct 2017 at 23:30
What Brian said needs to be a complete LED specific designed lamp.

As regards working life, [filament bulb] how awkward is it to carry a spare around and be able to swap it in if necessary?

I usually carry and have carried a spare for years and can't remember when I last had one go - Murphy's Law of course, if got a spare, will never need it. LOL


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Brian UK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Oct 2017 at 15:09
I used to carry a spare inside the headlight shell, well wrapped up of course. The day I needed it, I found the filament had disintegrated.
 
Dave, have you checked the voltage at the headlight bulb, engine running? 1v drop in voltage = about 20% drop in light output.
Brian.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dave P. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Oct 2017 at 15:59
Thanks for the advice chaps.Just to reiterate, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the lights on any of my bikes.They are all very good, in the case of the three headlamp V7 Special, absolutely amazing.I was just wondering if LED's would be even better.You can't have too much light!!
The Phillips Xtreme Vision bulbs which I have fitted to the three bikes I have on the road are superb with an expected service life of around six hundred hours.The LED "bulbs" I've been looking at have a life of around five thousand hours!
I always carry spare bulbs, among other things, cables etc.
I think on reflection, I'll forget about LED's
Thanks again everyone.





Edited by Dave P. - 23 Oct 2017 at 16:02
TO LIVE OUTSIDE THE LAW YOU MUST BE HONEST.

1971 V7 Special. 1972 850GT.
1970 T120 Bonnie. 2009 500 Bullet.
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ranton_rambler View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ranton_rambler Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Oct 2017 at 19:22
Seems I'm too late......
I've been doing a bit of digging into LED lamps. In my case to get a half-reasonable light on a 6V Ducati with a 40W generator. I looked at some of the eBay offerings, but concluded that the way in which the LED's were mounted couldn't work in a reflector lamp.
Having chucked the query out onto the VMCC forum, I'm going to order one for my Ducati from http://www.dynamoregulatorconversions.com/led-headlamp-bulbs-shop.php.
A bit more expensive than some but I've emailed the guy (Peter Jury) and he says his bulbs are produced to put the light source in the same position as a filament would be. I'll let you know, but it'll be a while before it's ready for the road. Mine is a BA20d fitting, but he does list an H4.
On a general note, most of the LED headlamps I've encountered at work have the optics in front of the LED's but there are some around that use reflectors.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ranton_rambler Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Oct 2017 at 19:25
The other thing I forgot to mention, once LED's are above the switch-on voltage, there is no change in brightness. The nominal 6V LED's work from 4.6V upwards.
Also reduced current draw on the bike's charging system.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote red leader one Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Oct 2017 at 19:26
Are these bulbs/lights hotter and could they cause damage?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ranton_rambler Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Oct 2017 at 19:29
I believe they run cooler than filament bulbs. Most LED lamps I've seen have big heatsinks on them to keep the power electronics down at a sensible temperature, not for safety reasons.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Brian UK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Oct 2017 at 20:23
In most cases the actual LED runs cool, which is one reason why they are so efficient. But the headlight ones often have some sort of voltage regulator built in, and that can run hot.
 
By the way, that's the main reason why they maintain their brightness, as once the VR has switched on, the voltage at the LED is constant.
 
If you run a bare LED, the brightness does vary with voltage.
I made up an LED rear light and had a problem with it varying in brightness when the indicators were on during the MOT. When I checked it was because the tickover was a bit low, and the indicator bulbs were dropping the battery volts.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote tonti Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Oct 2017 at 22:56
I improved the head light output by using a Osram nightbreaker bulb AND i replaced the old 7" glass reflector which was perfect with a new 7" one that has a clear glass and has a multi surface reflector also called crystal reflector. I had to buy a pair as there sold as a light upgrade for classic cars.I think they cost about £28 via ebay. I tried the Osram nightbreaker off the bike with both the old and new and there was a noticable impovement with the multi surface one. Just as a matter of my curiosity i also tried 6 other headlamp bulbs new and used all different makes and the same wattage and it was suprising the difference in  output and light spread. The brand new nightbreaker won.
As for led's i've tried various combinations of these on another bike and found that non apart from idiot lights have given a better light output than standard bulbs.


Edited by tonti - 27 Oct 2017 at 23:02
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Brian UK View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Brian UK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Oct 2017 at 11:44
They are good for daylight marker lights, they can be seen better than normal bulbs.
Brian.

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