SAE Working on Standards for LED Retrofits

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...A new [SAE] task force is working on devising technical provisions for LED retrofit light sources (i.e., "LED bulbs" designed to replace halogen bulbs in headlamps). No such task force was ever convened for "HID retrofits", which are basically technically impossible to do in a safe and effective manner. But there is enough R&D momentum toward genuinely functional LED retrofits, and there are enough bogus products flooding the market, that such a task force is warranted.


(From drivingvisionnews.com)
 
Good. Those LED bulbs are very inconsistent. I want to see something like an API donut I can trust.
 
I think they should hurry up and get something done about all the ignorant people putting aftermarket LED bulbs in their old style headlamps. The beam produced is a safety hazard.
 
Sort of curious why they are so vehemently against an hid retrofit.

Rebasing an HID bulb, where the hot spot may not be the same as an incandescent is one thing. But if going this path, why not make a performance spec that doesn't force led or hid, but rather the approach to make a "genuinely functional" (their term) retrofit regardless of the tech. If the stipulation is to start with something, like a projector, so be it.
 
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Sort of curious why they are so vehemently against an hid retrofit.

Rebasing an HID bulb, where the hot spot may not be the same as an incandescent is one thing. But if going this path, why not make a performance spec that doesn't force led or hid, but rather the approach to make a "genuinely functional" (their term) retrofit regardless of the tech. If the stipulation is to start with something, like a projector, so be it.


Largely due to safety.

Factory HIDs have the high voltage module and wiring all contained within the lamp. They also have tethers so that if the housing leaves the vehicle body in an accident, it cuts the wiring to the unit. I have never seen an aftermarket unit have either of these features. The voltage output running to an HID bulb can kill. This is especially important to emergency crews.

If someone has aftermarket HIDs and get into an accident, and some firefighter dies because of these cheap retrofits, I hope that person goes to jail for a long, long time.
 
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You'd think that LED's had snuck up on the SAE last week. I'd like to see both standards and labeling ready at the end of the year.
 
Originally Posted By: WobblyElvis
I think they should hurry up and get something done about all the ignorant people putting aftermarket LED bulbs in their old style headlamps. The beam produced is a safety hazard.


It MIGHT help with future retrofits, but the ones who've already done it probably won't replace theirs and there will still be plenty of cheap "unapproved" retrofits that people will buy. I'm afraid glare is going to be a way of life for the foreseeable future.
 
Im currently working on doing a projector retrofit on a set of headlamps. Gonna run HIDs for now since I have all the equipment for it but would like to go to LEDs at some point provided I have enough room behind the light. Dont really want to push any more light into my factory housings without the projectors as I already have been flashed for my current setup of Relays and 9007 Phillips Xtremevision. The Crown Vic headlamp is such a terrible design. Hopefully they have this setup by that point.
 
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http://standards.sae.org/wip/j3145/

SAE standard J3145 is a work in progress:

Quote:


Forward Lighting LED Substitute Light Sources for Halogen Light Sources


Scope:
This SAE Recommended Practice is intended as a guide for specifying LED Substitute Light Sources as Equivalents for corresponding RID filament light sources and is subject to change to keep pace with experience and technical advances. This document defines criteria for technical equivalence in order to make a substitution of a filament light source with an LED light source without compromising the performance of the RID device.

Rationale:
The technology of high power LED packages has progressed to a level where applications involving LED Substitute Light Sources as Equivalents for corresponding RID filament light sources is becoming technically feasible. The SAE document is intended to describe the industry best practice in specifying such replaceable LED light sources.
 
I will admit that I have LEDs... They are BroView S7's in a 9008 dual filament style retrofit. They use Philips LEDS that are laid out in the pattern of the original filament and on low beams give me far more light and better beam pattern than halogens. The high beams are not as tight and useful as the original halogens. The other issue is color rendering - halogen bulbs have an inherent CRI of 100 vs 80-90 for LEDs.

I've only ever once had someone flash their highbeams at me, but it was as I was cresting a hill and they were at a low angle.

If I can find decent headlight housings cheap enough, I am going to do an HID hi/lo projector retrofit for better beam characteristics and color rendering. I'm not trying to be obnoxious or stand out, its just that the crown vic/grand marquis headlights suck (as Cotton already pointed out). Quite frankly, I'd even do halogen projectors so I don't have to worry about ballasts going out - one less failure point.

While I understand the hypocrisy, I really hate all the idiots out there with [censored] LEDs or HIDs that blind eeveryone - especially trucks and jeeps. The jeeps can be REALLY bad around here with 8+ high flux LED retrofits that are meant for offroad use. There are so many bad kits out there - I really had to take my time and wade through a lot of garbage to come as close as possible to Philips' original design that's marketed in some SE Asian markets.
 
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This was a subject I wanted to ask about - what are current options for upgrading older, marginal lighting systems?

I have an older Audi I am refurbishing this winter. One issue is the marginal stock lighting (single headlamp with dual 9005/9006 bulbs in each). They are wholly inadequate, and were so when new. You can't run higher wattage bulbs or you fry the switch in the column stalk. You could build a relay to allow higher wattage bulbs, but I was hoping there was a new technology I could just plug and play. I don't know what the current state of the art is.
 
DV all over again. … think they should get ahead on this as there are some terrible blinding lights out there now …

I stick with conventional bulbs in standard watts … but try to get pretty white on the spectrum …
Even then after getting flashed at ~ I have shimmed my lights a bit more to the road shoulder …
 
Originally Posted By: Oro_O
This was a subject I wanted to ask about - what are current options for upgrading older, marginal lighting systems?

I have an older Audi I am refurbishing this winter. One issue is the marginal stock lighting (single headlamp with dual 9005/9006 bulbs in each). They are wholly inadequate, and were so when new. You can't run higher wattage bulbs or you fry the switch in the column stalk. You could build a relay to allow higher wattage bulbs, but I was hoping there was a new technology I could just plug and play. I don't know what the current state of the art is.


I recently replaced the 9005 high beam bulbs in my 2013 Toyota LandCruiser with some IPF LED's model 351HLB2 - they work like a charm. Not sure what you mean by "dual 9005/9006 bulbs" in your application, but if they are indeed two bulbs in each housing, the bulb I used can be substituted for either 9005/HB3 or 9006/HB4 applications.

Here's what I purchased:

IPF_LED2_20DEC17_zpsggo4t3si.jpg


Front of truck with low beams (OEM HID) and fogs (Halogen):

IPFLED1_22DEC17_zpseoqacwdm.jpg


At the same exposure with the IPF LED high beams switched on:

IPFLED2_22DEC17_zpsbax7viqp.jpg


Low beams and fogs projected onto my garage door:

IPFLED4_22DEC17_zpsd8acfqa5.jpg


And at the same exposure with the IPF LED high beams switched on:

IPFLED3_22DEC17_zpsduhrwazz.jpg


The IPF LED's are rated for 5000 lumens each and they certainly look every bit of that.

HTH
 
This must have snuck up by surprise on the SAE. I don't see why this matter and other standards issues regarding LED replacement lamps weren't started years ago. I've run across simple matters such as a LED lamp base not fitting into a factory socket. The Chinese will never initiate anything, it's got to be our job.
mad.gif
 
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