mjncad
Super Member
I did a mix of one trapezoidal and one flood for my front and rear work lights. That way I get the best of both worlds.
LED headlights???
- Thread starter jgrreed
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MJPetersen
Veteran Member
I put LED in my headlights. They are at least as bright as the originals, I believe brighter, but to be conservative at least as bright, but not nearly as bright as what I understand you guys are talking about. I used a standard bulb for 12 volts that is commonly available and adapted it to my existing lamp sockets. I figure that if they last even 1/10 th of the advertised time then they should long outlast the tractor.
I chronicled my experiment in LED headlights here. I really like the ultra white light and low power draw, which will allow me to install others so that I can get more light. Mine cost me about $15-$20.
Mike
I chronicled my experiment in LED headlights here. I really like the ultra white light and low power draw, which will allow me to install others so that I can get more light. Mine cost me about $15-$20.
Mike
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Here is a light that I found at vehiclelight.com
I called them about the $199 price tag and what they told me that most of the cost is in the design of the housing. With 10 one watt LED's there is a lot of heat that needs to be dissipated. Also, LED's do not work real well with simple reflectors and needs a special lens.
They also told me that they are selling many of these for use on combines for night work.
I haven't bought one yet 'cause I'm still choking on the price.
Jack
I called them about the $199 price tag and what they told me that most of the cost is in the design of the housing. With 10 one watt LED's there is a lot of heat that needs to be dissipated. Also, LED's do not work real well with simple reflectors and needs a special lens.
They also told me that they are selling many of these for use on combines for night work.
I haven't bought one yet 'cause I'm still choking on the price.
Jack
OP
jgrreed
Platinum Member
Did they say what pattern it is? Trapezoid, flood, or spot??
Look up the price of a Grote Trilliant..... it dislodge the price you're choking on now, and obstruct your small bowel instead!!!
-Jer.
It is basically a Flood pattern.
LRH
Silver Member
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2005
- Messages
- 229
- Location
- GA USA
- Tractor
- '97 NH Boomer 1925 HST 4WD, // Kubota B3030 HSTC
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The LED assy you have is probably much brighter, and a cool bluish white compared to the OE lamps supplied with your Yanmar. Most older Japanese tractors did not use Euro "H" bulbs nor sealed beams, which would have been state of the art compared to what they did use; which were about equivalent to the average backup light with just enough light to get the tractor out of the field and put away in the barn, but not enough light to do much work. The reason your's look just slightly brighter is due to the fact all of the LED,s are facing forward, and not using the reflector to shape the pattern. You are still better off with with these due to the low current draw. My B3030 has poor headlamps for such a modern tractor , but the bulb placement against the reflector does throw a good pattern for a 21CP bulb. I have tried 1156's @21w/32CP and 795/795X bulbs 50W/108CP, but the small wiring looks inadequate. What would work the best for mine and your front lights would be the 1156 replacement LED's that have the LED's on the side and wrapping around to the back so some light bounces off the reflector. I just don't feel like ordering them and paying $10.00 freight on a $10.00 bulb. I might just put amber 1156NA's in them and wire in an alternating wig-wag flasher for more safety when cutting grass along the roadside.
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MJPetersen
Veteran Member
My original bulbs were not all that bright as you stated 25/35 watts apiece. Bulbs that I used MR11s do have the LEDs exposed in front of their own reflector (unlike the MR 16 which is completely enclosed, and I experimented to try to get some of the light to bounce off the reflector, but as you stated most just shoots straight out the front. It is far better than original, but not what I really want.
I had never heard of this bulb, but you can bet I am going to be doing some research on it in the VERY near future. I have a daughter going to the States for a month right after Christmas and she could bring me back a few.
The advantage of using the MR11s is that they are easily locally available. Thanks for the suggestion and if you have a suggestion on where these bulbs can be purchased let me know.
Mike
After posting I did a quick search on the numbers that you gave me and found that they are available here. I included a pic of what I found--it is a very reasonable $8.50. It is 14 volt, so it might not be as bright as it could be, but most interesting. I did find that the bulbs did not always come in this configuration like you described, but rather most often had all LEDs facing straight forward and sometimes a few pointing back. I like these, and think that I NEED them.
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Last edited:
LRH
Silver Member
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2005
- Messages
- 229
- Location
- GA USA
- Tractor
- '97 NH Boomer 1925 HST 4WD, // Kubota B3030 HSTC
My original bulbs were not all that bright as you stated 25/35 watts apiece. Bulbs that I used MR11s do have the LEDs exposed in front of their own reflector (unlike the MR 16 which is completely enclosed, and I experimented to try to get some of the light to bounce off the reflector, but as you stated most just shoots straight out the front. It is far better than original, but not what I really want.
I had never heard of this bulb, but you can bet I am going to be doing some research on it in the VERY near future. I have a daughter going to the States for a month right after Christmas and she could bring me back a few.
The advantage of using the MR11s is that they are easily locally available. Thanks for the suggestion and if you have a suggestion on where these bulbs can be purchased let me know.
Mike
After posting I did a quick search on the numbers that you gave me and found that they are available here. I included a pic of what I found--it is a very reasonable $8.50. It is 14 volt, so it might not be as bright as it could be, but most interesting. I did find that the bulbs did not always come in this configuration like you described, but rather most often had all LEDs facing straight forward and sometimes a few pointing back. I like these, and think that I NEED them.
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Yes, those are what I am talking about, except there are some that are bulb shaped that have the rear most row of LED's angled back about 45 degrees towards the reflector, versus straight out the side. These, and/or the ones you pictured above make better use of the reflector. Around where I live, most everyone only keeps the least expensive forward mounted LED's. As for the bulbs you are looking at being 14V; that is most likely the maximum normal voltage it is designed for; it will probably function from 8-20 volts without damage, and probably from 10-16 all day every day with no change in output or service life.
PILOON
Super Star Member
Interesting topic!
I too have been toying with LED's
What I discovered is that LED's ONLY project forewards (very narrow like 15 deg spread) and that is why we don't find them for home lighting. And also why 'direct replacement' bulbs have them sticking out like a pine cone in order to take advantage if the conical mirror reflector, but in fact with a LED a mirror is not req'd.
All told it means that with LED's a mirror is not required to concentrate the light and 'aim' it.
Just take a chunk of plastic and drill a series of holes and insert the LEDs and ALL the light will project in the direction the LED is aimed at.
In other words if you want a wide flat lighting simply curve your 'plastic holder' slightly and you will create a wide but flat flood light.
A LED does not spill in all directions.
I purchased about 50 LEDs from a HongKong supplier with appropriate resistors for something like $10 or $20 just to play with. Kinda neet stuff!
LED's don't work at 12 volts, so a dropping resistor is needed however you can do a 'series/parallel' job and eliminate the resistors
I too have been toying with LED's
What I discovered is that LED's ONLY project forewards (very narrow like 15 deg spread) and that is why we don't find them for home lighting. And also why 'direct replacement' bulbs have them sticking out like a pine cone in order to take advantage if the conical mirror reflector, but in fact with a LED a mirror is not req'd.
All told it means that with LED's a mirror is not required to concentrate the light and 'aim' it.
Just take a chunk of plastic and drill a series of holes and insert the LEDs and ALL the light will project in the direction the LED is aimed at.
In other words if you want a wide flat lighting simply curve your 'plastic holder' slightly and you will create a wide but flat flood light.
A LED does not spill in all directions.
I purchased about 50 LEDs from a HongKong supplier with appropriate resistors for something like $10 or $20 just to play with. Kinda neet stuff!
LED's don't work at 12 volts, so a dropping resistor is needed however you can do a 'series/parallel' job and eliminate the resistors