LED Headlamps!

[ehjorten]

The below link is to a PDF version of the PowerPoint presentation that I put together.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B19kK-AdPCqrc0VTQ284c2FOTkk/edit?usp=sharing

I was fortunate enough to recently acquire a set of 7" round GE Nighthawk LED lamps from one of our suppliers at work.  They are going through some "field trials" on my '77 K20!

The first LED ones that I was exposed to were prototype ones from JW Speaker maybe 2 years ago.  I looked into what it would cost when they first came out and it was about $2,000 for a truck set!  Not that neat, they looked really 'bug'-eyed, and I didn't think that they would look good on any vehicle.  Flash forward to today and GE has these Nighthawk ones that actually look pretty good!  They have a little darker appearance than the sealed-beams, but I think they look pretty good on the truck.  The best part is that they are completely drop-in replacements with no wiring changes necessary (they plug into the stock sealed-beam socket) and draw less current than the sealed-beams, so no worrys about upgrading the stock wiring or running relays.

They are still expensive (I checked Amazon.com and you can pick-up a set for just over $600).  I don't think I would spend that kind of money for these lamps unless I was living up in Alaska in the winter and really needed GREAT light output!  I expect that the price will eventually come down and the lifetime is about 7.5 times greater than sealed-beams.  With quality 7" round sealed-beams costing $20 a pop that is equivalent to around $300 in replacement costs given the lifetime.

I noticed that the Google Docs version of the PDF looks like crap and it doesn't show the pictures very well (looks better if you download the file).  I have a light meter at home and I measured the light output and it is at least 2x that of the sealed-beams and the light pattern is much more homogeneous.  It is pretty dramatic in person!  I've yet to drive it at night due to the summer hours.

[Displaced_Txn]

Not bad, I'm more for the jw speakers as we always ran them on our trucks in texas that went all over the world.  And plus the jw comes with a black housing which is a huge bonus in my book.

[Irish_Alley]

doesnt look bad. but how many leds?

[ehjorten]

Looks like one small led chip set for low and one chip set for hi!  They are indirect light, so they gather most of the light on the reflector and shoot it down-road.

[Irish_Alley]

Cool. Thought it would be like one of those flashlights with20000 less lol

[ehjorten]

No, no, no!  You can't even really see the LEDs.  I am not a fan of direct light from LEDs, the point light is too harsh on your eyes.  In the picture the LED chip set is down in the very middle of the black bar across the center of the lamp.  You can see 2 black cap screws and it is directly centered between them.  There is one on top of that black bar for low-beam and one on the underside for high-beam.  They are covered with a small bulb shield to prevent any direct light from coming out of the lamp.

[Irish_Alley]

How much

[ehjorten]

For me I got them for free from a supplier, but...found them on Amazon for $600 a truck set!  Pretty pricey still.  If you get the lifetime out of them that they claim (15,000 hr B50 life) then they should last you 7.5 times longer than your sealed-beams.  Sealed-beams are getting to be about $20 a pop and I think only GE actually makes them anymore.  So $40 x 7.5 is $300.  If they could be $300 it would be a wash.

[Irish_Alley]

ouch. i have my same bulbs that i got in my truck when i bought it, this was 6 years ago. so they would have to last 100+ years to justify the cost. and if you happen to hit a deer or some big animal try claiming that on your insurance they prob will total your rig fast

[Pescados666]

The only single LED capable of that much light output that I know of would be a Cree with "Up to 1040 lm @ 10 W". 
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/3/0/6/4/4/9/webimg/631101055_o.jpg

[Skyshadow]

Pretty cool, but dang those things are pricey. Found some on Amazon for $285. You can get Rigid Industries lights (D or E series) for $100 less. As well, RI lights are made for hardcore environments.
http://powersports.rigidindustries.com/products

[Stewart G Griffin]

i think Truck-lite's are down to $215 in 5x7 and $181 for 7" round.

http://www.truck-lite.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=92027&langId=-1

[Stewart G Griffin]

i went with a Sylvania Silverstar for $25.  i couldn't bring myself to spend the $215 or so for an LED.

Of course, these aren't as good as an LED, but they are pretty good for a conventional headlight and pretty good in general.

[ehjorten]

I drove my '77 K20 all throughout this year's Elk hunting season and put a lot of nighttime driving on it with the GE Nighthawk 7" round LEDs.

I really appreciate them much more now!  They perform pretty good in adverse weather!  I think the higher wavelength light cuts through the fog much better with less back-scatter.  This is a known phenomena in the headlamp engineering world.

If you do some searching you can find a pair for under $400.  I know it is a big chunk of change for headlamps, especially if you don't drive much at night.

I just thought I would put out a follow-up review of these lamps.

[Irish_Alley]

if i did end up getting head lights over $100 i would make a new bumper with a big brush gaurd to cover the headlight