Other than household and commercial lighting, LED lights have also entered the automobile world. In recent years, the automobile industry has seen an influx of new LED headlight assemblies that have ended the dominance of halogen lights. LED headlights were once exclusive to high-end cars but now can be found as a standard feature in mid-variant and even base-model vehicles. Although LED lights have been around for decades, recently their adoption by car manufacturers has significantly increased. If you are planning to change your car’s halogen lights with LEDs, this article is for you. Read on to learn about the difference between halogen and LED lights and why LEDs are better than factory-fitted halogen lights.
In this article:
1. What Are Halogen Lights?
- What are Halogen Capsule Headlamps?
2. What Are LED Lights?
3. Can I Replace Halogen Headlights with LEDs?
4. Why You Should Switch From Halogen Headlights To LED?
- Energy Efficient
- Increased Brightness
- Luxurious Appearance
- Money Saving
5. How To Convert Your Halogen Headlights With LEDs?
6. How To Choose LED Lights For Your Car?
- Single Beam LED Lights
- Dual Beam LED Lights
- Bulb Size
1 What Are Halogen Lights?
The most common type of headlight used in vehicles is halogen lamps. The primary reason is that they are affordable and reduce the production costs for auto manufacturers. Halogen light is a form of an incandescent bulb that features a tungsten filament and halogen gas. As the current passes through the filament, it heats to incandescence, emitting light. The halogen bulbs get their name from the halogen gas filled inside the bulb’s quartz capsule. When the bulb is turned on, the current passes through the filament, and tungsten particles burn off the filament and then get deposited back by the halogen gas. This is also known as the halogen cycle and it allows the bulb to reuse tungsten particles, giving it higher luminous efficiency and longer life compared with incandescent bulbs.
What are Halogen Capsule Headlamps?
Halogen capsule headlamps are a type of headlight bulb that is commonly used in cars. They are designed to produce a bright, white light that is similar to natural daylight. Halogen capsule headlamps are made up of a small, quartz capsule that contains a tungsten filament and halogen gas. When electricity is passed through the filament, it heats up and produces light. The halogen gas helps to extend the life of the filament by redepositing evaporated tungsten back onto the filament.
2 What Are LED Lights?
LED stands for Light Emitting Diode and it features a semiconducting material (the diode) that emits photons (light) through a process called electroluminescence. Electroluminescence is an optical phenomenon where light is produced when an electric current is passed through a material. In contrast to the incandescent light bulbs that rely on heat to produce light, LED lights run much cooler and are comparably more energy-efficient.
3 Can I Replace Halogen Headlights with LEDs?
Yes, you can replace halogen headlights with LED headlights. In fact, there are many benefits to making the switch! LED bulbs are more energy-efficient than halogen bulbs, which means longer-lasting performance with an added environmentally-friendly incentive. LED headlights also provide a pure, bright white light to illuminate the road ahead, which is particularly important in especially dark or hazardous weather conditions.
To replace halogen headlights with LED headlights, you’ll need to purchase an LED conversion kit for your car or truck. The installation process is relatively simple and involves uninstalling your halogen bulbs, installing the new LED lights, and connecting the LED ballast. However, it’s important to note that some vehicles may require additional modifications to accommodate LED headlights.
It’s also worth noting that some states have laws regarding the use of LED headlights. For example, in California, LED headlights are only legal if they meet certain requirements, such as being certified by the manufacturer and meeting specific brightness standards. It’s important to check your local laws and regulations before making the switch to LED headlights.
4 Why You Should Switch From Halogen Headlights To LED?
LED lights have gained a lot of popularity in the automobile industry and are being used on modern cars and motorcycles extensively. Due to the numerous advantages of LEDs, they are not only recommended for the headlamps but for daytime running lamps (DRL), taillights, and fog lamps as well. Some benefits and reasons why you should upgrade your car headlights to LEDs are as follows:
Energy Efficient
LED headlights are almost 90% more efficient in comparison to halogen lights. They draw less power from your vehicle’s battery and produce more light compared to halogen bulbs. The luminous efficiency of a halogen bulb is around 20% with 80% of energy wasted as heat. The less heat generation in LED lights makes them significantly more efficient and allows them to last up to 20 years before failure, compared to standard halogen bulbs that have a life of approximately 2000 hours. Furthermore, LED bulbs use up to 40% less energy than Xenon HID lights.
Increased Brightness
An essential benefit of changing your halogen lights to LED lights is increased brightness. LED headlights are brighter and offer a more directional stream of light in comparison to traditional halogen lights. The light emitted by LED headlights has a whiter hue, which allows you to see the road ahead with greater visibility and clarity. Upgrading your halogen lights to LED lights can be extremely beneficial if you drive a lot in the dark or you are an off-road enthusiast who likes to venture into the woods. HID (High-Intensity Discharge) lights are also a popular option when it comes to automotive lighting upgrades and they offer similar gains to halogen bulbs. However, the light color offered by HIDs is very clinical and cooler in color temperature compared to LEDs and they have a blinding effect on cars ahead. In a nutshell, LEDs offer optimum brightness and color temperature without blinding the drivers on the road.
Luxurious Appearance
You might have noticed how Audis, BMWs, Bentleys, etc. have a powerful road presence with beautiful-looking LEDs. Another advantage of changing your halogen headlights to LEDs is that you get rid of the dull, boring, and yellow appearance and achieve a better look and feel similar to high-end cars. A must upgrade to do if you have a customized car. Aftermarket LED headlights are also offered in various styles and colors that help you match the design of your vehicle. You can also go for LED light bars in addition to your headlights if you need auxiliary lighting for your truck the next time you go into the woods for an adventure. Some LED bulbs are offered in various color options, offering you a range of options to choose from. The color can vary based on temperature, for example, White (6000k), Blue (8000K), Purple (12000K), Yellow (3000K), etc.
Money Saving
A big advantage of choosing LEDs over halogen lights is that they are cost-efficient. Halogen bulbs generally cost less compared to LEDs, but the overall life of an LED light is much more compared to a halogen light. If you plan to keep your vehicle for a long time, you will have to replace your halogen bulbs more frequently than an LED. LED headlights can last up to 45,000 hours or more compared to halogen bulbs that have an average life of around 2,000 hours. This makes LEDs great for saving money on vehicle maintenance in the long run and prevents you from running into the hassle of changing your lights frequently.
5 How To Convert Your Halogen Headlights With LEDs?
If you want to replace your halogen bulbs with LED lights on your vehicle, you’ll be happy to know that your vehicle is already prepared. Almost any car that has traditional halogen lights can use LED headlights without any major changes to the system. There is plenty of aftermarket LED headlight conversion kits that you can choose from and they offer an easy switch from conventional halogen lamps to LED lights. These kits include a set of LED bulbs and drivers. The drivers regulate the flow of current to the LED bulbs, making them compatible with your vehicle. The LED bulbs in the kit are designed to be identical to your halogen bulbs with similar locking tabs and plugs for easy installation and connection. Follow the stepwise guide below to change your headlight bulbs to LED.
- Ensure your vehicle is parked securely, and the engine is turned off with keys removed from the ignition.
- Open the hood of your vehicle and look towards the front of the engine compartment to locate the headlight bulbs.
- Unplug the wiring connector from the bulb. They might have a metal clip or a plastic tab that needs to be pushed down to detach the wiring connector.
- Once the wiring has been disconnected, remove the back of the headlight holder and remove the old bulb. In some cases, the bulb has to be rotated to get it free.
- Grab your LED lights and install them into the headlight socket in the same fashion as you removed the existing bulbs. Be careful to not touch the LED with your bare fingers.
- Once the LED bulb is secured properly in the headlight socket, attach the wiring connectors.
- Repeat the same steps to install the remaining LED on the other headlight.
Once done, power up your headlights. Check the position of the newly installed LED lights. You can position the headlights by adjusting the alignment screws to ensure you don’t blind the other drivers.
6 How To Choose LED Lights For Your Car?
There are several headlight bulbs with different socket sizes, connectors, and beam types, making it difficult to choose the correct LED headlight for your vehicle. Here are some factors that will help you make a well-informed purchase while selecting new LED headlights for your vehicle.
Single Beam LED Lights
If your vehicle has two separate spaces for high beam bulbs and low beam bulbs, ensure to purchase high-beam LED bulbs. These LED kits are provided with two bulbs for each side and when one bulb is switched on, the other turns off. You cannot use a dual beam light on your single beam headlight setup. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure you are choosing the correct LED lights according to your vehicle.
Dual Beam LED Lights
The name ‘dual beam’ can be confusing, making drivers think it uses two bulbs. Dual-beam lights feature high and low beam functions built into a single unit. If you have only one bulb in the headlight assembly of your vehicle, it’s a dual-beam light and can be switched from high to low while the bulb is on.
Bulb Size
The most convenient way to check the bulb size of your vehicle is to take them out and look for the bulb size or the part number imprinted on it. You can also refer to your vehicle’s manual to find the actual bulb number. For example, a 2016 Dodge Ram 1500/2500/3500 uses two bulbs with part numbers H11LL and 9005LL. Here, H11 is for the high beam and 9005 for the low beam bulb.
Replacing your halogen lights with LEDs is a simple process and is a beneficial upgrade for a variety of reasons. From better light quality to reduced power usage and long life, the benefits are undeniable. Once installed, the LED headlights do not require any special maintenance and will last a long time. So, if you have 30 minutes to spare, a simple mod like converting your car’s halogen bulbs to LEDs can significantly improve the looks of your vehicle. Finally, visibility is an important factor while driving a motor vehicle because seeing what’s ahead when the road is dark is crucial for safety. Upgrading your factory lights to LEDs offers better visibility and safety, which makes it an important upgrade to your vehicle.
