Unlike halogens, an LED will not illuminate the reflector surface evenly. This is exacerbated by the fact that LEDs are a directional light source, whereas halogens are omnidirectional. Essentially, the light will end up in places it was not intended too. Even minute changes will alter where the light hits the reflector and gets projected out to. Replacing a halogen bulb with an LED, therefore, throws the reflector off balance. This ensures there’s a good throw and spread of light. Each reflector is meticulously crafted based on the precise specifications of the halogen bulb it intends to use. Failure to do so can blind or dazzle other drivers.
CAR LIGHT REFLECTOR UPGRADE
LEDs can be used in reflector headlights BUT (and it’s a big but) if you’re upgrading the bulb, you also need to upgrade the reflector bowl. You and I both know that halogens are a dated technology. Are LED Lights Safe To Use In Reflector Housing? In simple terms, the lens means that the light is more intense and more focused, so there is a less light waste. This is used to bend, spread, and magnify the light. However, before the light is projected out in front of the vehicle, it hits an ellipsoidal lens. The bowl and the light source operate exactly the same as in reflector headlights. On the other hand, projector headlights contain three components: a light source, a reflector bowl, and a lens. However, this means the light is less intense and less focused, so there is a more light waste. When the bulb is switched on, beams of light hit the mirrors and are reflected in front of the vehicle and onto the road.īecause of this, reflectors produce a wide beam that covers a large surface area. The bulb sits right in the center of this device. The inside is painted with reflective chrome paint and covered in precisely-located mirrors. Reflector headlights have two main components: a light source (bulb) and a reflector bowl.Īs the name suggests, the reflector bowl is a hollow hemisphere shape. They’ve been featured as standard since the invention of electric headlights in 1898. Think of reflectors as the OG vehicle headlights. The difference between the two is surprisingly simple: a lens! There are two possibilities, projectors or reflectors. What Is The Difference Between Projector and Reflector Headlights?įirst things first, you need to know what kind of headlights your vehicle currently has. Of course, that technology comes with a price: LED lights are often much more expensive than halogen or HID counterparts. Many units should still be working two decades after they roll off the showroom floor. Automotive engineers appreciate the efficiency of the technology and designers often implement LED lights as a way to enhance design elements of the vehicle. Today, LED lighting can be found in a much wider variety of vehicles, but is often available as an option. The limited initial application was due to the higher cost of the technology. Lexus and Audi were among the first manufacturers to use LED lighting. Many electric vehicles use LED lighting exclusively. LED lights are more efficient than the other two technologies, reducing wear on the alternator and requiring less fuel to operate. Most manufacturers use multiple LEDs of varying brightness to create a signature look. Efficient and powerful, a tiny LED light can emit the same amount of brightness as a halogen bulb. Unlike halogen and HID lamps, LEDs are semiconductors that emit light when powered by an electrical current. To be completely transparent, LEDs are a relatively new technology, so there’s still a lot left to learn. LEDs require additional electronics, heat dissipation devices, a driver, and potentially a purpose-built reflector bowl. However, if a vehicle currently uses halogens, it’s not a simple switchover. In theory, LED lights are compatible with reflector headlights. So what’s the next? Your car headlights, of course! In fact, you’ve probably upgraded all of the bulbs in your home, garden, and workspace. LED lights offer many benefits compared to the old ways of lighting, so of course there have been large markets sprung around this technology. The old lights of the world have been largely replaced with LEDs, and for cars this is no different.
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