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Led bulb for headlights?

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by Tundra701, Oct 15, 2017.

  1. Mar 6, 2018 at 12:15 PM
    #31
    ScooterInNV

    ScooterInNV New Member

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    Thanks! Any install tips? Did you have to cut the dust boot at all?
     
  2. Mar 6, 2018 at 12:41 PM
    #32
    SleeperTRDPro

    SleeperTRDPro The small package good things come in

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    No cutting required, unscrewed the heat sink thing inserted the bulb, reinstalled rubber dust boot then screw on the heat sink thing. I found a good spot to zip tie secure the small ballasts and reinstalled headlight housings. I did have to loosen a set screw on the bulb mount in order to position the leds vertically per the instructions.
     
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  3. Mar 20, 2018 at 7:31 PM
    #33
    MatthewPTguy

    MatthewPTguy Not a new member

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    Borla dual cat back exhaust system, K&N replacement air filter, Headlight Revolution 40" Stealth LED light bar, Headlight Revolution LED fog light replacement bulbs, Line X bed liner, de-badge
    So... I installed the Headlight Revolution GTR LED gen 3 Headlight bulbs.... and I am NOT pleased with the light beam... seems way less light than what @Richie D posted with the same light... yes, I installed them properly... very disappointed... not sure what the difference is. Going to contact the company and see what they say. Might switch to the Philips LED...
     
  4. Mar 20, 2018 at 8:07 PM
    #34
    tundraj

    tundraj New Member

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    I too have installed the GTR LEDs and am somewhat pleased with their output. Are they brighter than stock? Absolutely. Have you been flashed? Nope, never. How's the beam pattern? Could be better. Nowhere near what a projector type of light shows. It's a spectral mess, but to be fair, so was the halogen it replaced. Just less bright.

    Will I keep them? Yes. Considering the alternatives, it's useable as is. Much brighter than stock, just wish it had a nicer pattern and that I'm not sure if it's simply the lamp, the housing or both. Think it's a combination of both. The housing isn't terrific so the lamp can't perform magic with it.
     
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  5. Mar 20, 2018 at 9:06 PM
    #35
    MatthewPTguy

    MatthewPTguy Not a new member

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    Yeah... I saw the you tube video Headlight Revolution posted comparing the stock halogens, the GTR led gen 2, and some HID lights... the GTR gen 2 seemed to throw a more consistent pattern of light that didn’t appear spotty... not sure if the gen 3 is different in that respect or not. AND was it put in a truck that was stock or did it have a leveling kit that raised the beam up higher... mine is stock. AND maybe my expectation was too high... but for what I paid for them, I was expecting something better... How much for the 2018 LED headlights and wiring harness to make them work in my 2017? ( ugh )
     
  6. Mar 21, 2018 at 12:23 AM
    #36
    tundraj

    tundraj New Member

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    Speaking of it, did you adjust the beam with the motor switch? At first, mine were low, so I adjusted them up a good bit and am pleased enough with the light output.
     
  7. Mar 21, 2018 at 5:53 AM
    #37
    MatthewPTguy

    MatthewPTguy Not a new member

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    I did, thanks... yeah, since I have the stock suspension, I keep my headlights at the highest setting all the time... when I tilted the GTRs down, it seemed like I was just running the stock fog lights...

    I’ve heard other folks talk about the Philips LEDs... similar price... but I’m afraid it’s going to be the same issue... I suppose I’d be happier if the pattern was less spotty and more consistent. I love the color as it matches the GTR gen 3 fog lights I have ( which work great IMO). IDK... I might reinstall one of the halogens on one side and compare the two... it’s just a PITA to get to lights... taking off the grille, etc... I’m getting very good at it, I’m just tired of doing it!
     
  8. Mar 21, 2018 at 6:25 AM
    #38
    tundraj

    tundraj New Member

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    I didn't see this particular video until after I installed mine, as they had made another install video earlier, but you did make sure to twist them the right way, correct? That will make a difference. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy73Jp1XIsU&list=PLhombf0sgTNwsKhIew95lQoudkeMKW07g&index=9&t=0s
     
  9. Mar 21, 2018 at 7:18 AM
    #39
    MatthewPTguy

    MatthewPTguy Not a new member

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    Borla dual cat back exhaust system, K&N replacement air filter, Headlight Revolution 40" Stealth LED light bar, Headlight Revolution LED fog light replacement bulbs, Line X bed liner, de-badge
    Yup... triple checked them... dust covers seated properly etc... thanks! All I’m asking is that the light from the sun to be emitted from my headlights and not have oncoming drivers flash me! :curls::facepalm::facepalm:

    Not too much to ask, right?!
     
  10. Mar 21, 2018 at 7:26 AM
    #40
    tundraj

    tundraj New Member

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    I was expecting to be flashed but it's never happened. So either folks in this part of the country don't mind it or they're simply used to it. Truthfully, so many cars nowadays have LED headlights, these don't seem all that unusual. Now if I turned on the light bar...
     
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  11. Mar 22, 2018 at 1:11 PM
    #41
    AxelsHumanDad

    AxelsHumanDad I am Groot

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    KAIG, NW of The Frozen Tundra
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    Some suspension tweaks
    If you live where it gets cold, I mean really cold, I would stay away from the GTRs.

    Late October I switched from the Philips Ultinons to the GTR Gen3s.
    Everything was fine until late January when the temps here dropped well below zero. I had one lamp go to low beam only, and the other lamp flickered on both beams. I swapped the drivers lamp to lamp and the problem followed the drivers.
    The vendor I bought them from was helpful by email and exchanged the lights no charge other than return shipping.
    Early February, after four or five weeks of steady below zero temps in the negative twenties, the second set of lights failed. One lamp was no high or low beam. Again, the driver swap from lamp to lamp moved the problem.
    I then put the Philips lamps back in the tuck.
    Out of curiosity I made a test rig with a couple of H4 connectors and one of my 12v power supplies.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    The lights sat on my room temperature table for around a week. I powered them up and all was fine.

    I then put both light assemblies in the bottom of my freezer for a week. The temp on the drivers was -11.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]


    Quickly powering them up on my bench, one lamp was fine, but the other barely lit the high beam, and had some strange output from the low.
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Drivers swapped lamp to lamp and the problem follows.
    These drivers just do not like extreme cold.

    They are bright when they work, I'll give them that. But as I posted in another thread, the beam pattern is really crappy, with lots of scatter.

    This is all my personal experience and findings, but I won't recommend GTRs for headlights.
     
    Last edited: Nov 28, 2019
    MatthewPTguy likes this.
  12. Mar 22, 2018 at 1:23 PM
    #42
    MatthewPTguy

    MatthewPTguy Not a new member

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    How is the beam pattern in the Philips you were using? Why did you decide to switch to the GTRs to begin with?
     
  13. Mar 22, 2018 at 1:30 PM
    #43
    AxelsHumanDad

    AxelsHumanDad I am Groot

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    The Philips still have a little more scatter than the filament lamps the housing is designed for, but no where near as bad as the GTRs.
    I only went to the GTRs after soaking in all the hype that they are the brightest things out there(my own interpretation of course). Are they brighter than the Philips? Maybe. A little. Maybe.

    Now that it's a little warmer here, I might put one GTR in and get a direct comparison side by side with the Philips.
     
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  14. Mar 22, 2018 at 1:35 PM
    #44
    MatthewPTguy

    MatthewPTguy Not a new member

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    I’m going to see if I can return the GTRs... not sure if I’m going to try the Philips LED, or go back to filaments... I like it when all the lights up front match (led fogs) but not at the expense of crappy lights... the filaments are bad enough...
     
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  15. Mar 22, 2018 at 1:45 PM
    #45
    AxelsHumanDad

    AxelsHumanDad I am Groot

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    The vendor I bought the GTRs from offered to refund me. I haven't decided yet, but I know they won't go back in my truck.
    Like you, I prefer the color match to the LED fogs I put in, and I like the white light so much better than good old yellow-ish filaments we are used to.

    I bought a set of Philips X-tremeVision +130% halogen lamps. They're labeled "New Extra Light Brightness"...
    I'll keep them as spares for now, I didn't get to try them out for the color yet.

    [​IMG]
     
    MatthewPTguy[QUOTED] likes this.
  16. Mar 22, 2018 at 9:38 PM
    #46
    MatthewPTguy

    MatthewPTguy Not a new member

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    Hmmmm...
     
  17. Mar 24, 2018 at 11:46 AM
    #47
    War_Wagon312

    War_Wagon312 Puddle Dodger

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    Toyo MT 285/70/R18, led's all around, Baja Design squadron sport fogs, spider trax 1.5 spacers, led foot well lighting, interior chrome delete, kc hilites 40inch light bar grill mounted, 20%tint all around, color lugs black lugnut caps, 2019 pro head lights, led lights all around, spyder co tail lights, DMX1057xr, super crew box with kicker 10” sub,jbl door speakers, factory amp bypass trd air flow accelerator with drop in filter, x3 battery, Toyota bed cover, swing case,
    I am shocked that your results weren't the same. I know when I put the high beams on they aren't as bright as the low beam. What did it look like when you flashed your high beam? HR was easy to deal with I'm sure they would return them. You may have gotton defective lights. Its like the high beams are running and the low beam which is brighter isn't kicking on. I'm sorry bro. I would never push a bad product. I'm not affiliated with them or get kick backs in anyway. Let me know how it goes though.
     
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  18. Mar 24, 2018 at 6:50 PM
    #48
    MatthewPTguy

    MatthewPTguy Not a new member

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    No worries friend! The high beams are ok... going To call HLR on Monday and see about a return and refund. The fog light LED bulbs and stealth light bar I got from them work GREAT! Super pleased with them...
     
  19. Mar 25, 2018 at 7:45 AM
    #49
    War_Wagon312

    War_Wagon312 Puddle Dodger

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    Well I'm glad part of the order is working out. They should take care of you!
     
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  20. Nov 11, 2019 at 10:24 AM
    #50
    deerfarmer

    deerfarmer New Member

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    I have a 2016 Tundra, the headlights are very poor for this 70yr old. I have been looking at different plug and play LED units, some say better for projector housing, some say better for reflector housing. I have no idea what they are talking about. Cougar motor led's get a high rating as well as Hikari and Akarui. Any recommendations?
     
  21. Nov 12, 2019 at 8:26 AM
    #51
    chphilo

    chphilo Tundra addict

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    I was considering between Hikari and Nineo and went with Hikari. The beam pattern in Hikari is excellent with a sharp cut off line. I have not been flashed since the first day I installed it.

    Look into Nineo. It's cheaper than Hikari and seems just as good.
     
  22. Nov 28, 2019 at 11:07 AM
    #52
    Ajkkane

    Ajkkane Old fart.

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    Two things about LEDs in snow. 1 they will or may cause snow blindness, causing depth perception problems in the snow. 2 LEDs don't get hot to melt the snow on the headlights so you’ll have to stop and wipe the lens.
     

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