For the Naysayers: LED Replacement Bulb Beam Pattern

[Wabujitsu]

Beamtechs aren't what I, or most, would consider "cheap chinese bulbs". Yeah they are on the cheaper side but then we are now in 2025 and things like this keep getting cheaper. You can get $10 bulbs now on Amazon...THOSE are the ones to stay away from.

But since you posted up, why not put your money where your mouth is - put that beam pattern on a clean wall. Lets see how it really holds up to the good stuff.

Kevin, the problem with that is (1) overexposure on my iPhone at night, and (2) folks claiming I edited the photo after the fact. It’s all a matter of trust - and the Internet, for good reasons, isn’t very trusting. Unless there’s an acceptable way to do it during daylight hours.

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[Wabujitsu]

It’s really not that hard to post a proper headlight aiming photo. Night time, mark line 3’ high with making tape, back up 25’ and shine lights at wall.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/front-headlight-adjustment.104827/

See my above post for the issues involved.

 

[Wabujitsu]

I posit that the brighter the light, the more scatter will be projected. No design can completely eliminate that - especially considering the size of a headlamp assembly. However, what is “too much“ scatter? Scatter allows you to see the sides of the road, reflective street signs down the road, and possibly dangerous objects/animals farther down the road. I’m only talking about low beams here.

So, what is too much? If one is never flashed by oncoming traffic, is that a good metric?

 

[TheRaven]

Kevin, the problem with that is (1) overexposure on my iPhone at night, and (2) folks claiming I edited the photo after the fact. It’s all a matter of trust - and the Internet, for good reasons, isn’t very trusting. Unless there’s an acceptable way to do it during daylight hours.

Just give it a try. See what happens. Yes people will make all kinds of claims...but they're doing that right now, so what's the difference?

I posit that the brighter the light, the more scatter will be projected. No design can completely eliminate that - especially considering the size of a headlamp assembly.

No. Good projectors throw A F-TON of light, and provide complete dark above the cutoff. Look at Oracle's Oculus system for example. Incredible brightness below the cutoff, perfect dark above. That's a benchmark lighting system.

 

[Wabujitsu]

Just give it a try. See what happens. Yes people will make all kinds of claims...but they're doing that right now, so what's the difference?



No. Good projectors throw A F-TON of light, and provide complete dark above the cutoff. Look at Oracle's Oculus system for example. Incredible brightness below the cutoff, perfect dark above. That's a benchmark lighting system.

Kevin, I will give it a try - and I certainly don’t expect these to be better than Oracles

 

[Wabujitsu]

Just give it a try. See what happens. Yes people will make all kinds of claims...but they're doing that right now, so what's the difference?



No. Good projectors throw A F-TON of light, and provide complete dark above the cutoff. Look at Oracle's Oculus system for example. Incredible brightness below the cutoff, perfect dark above. That's a benchmark lighting system.

Furthermore, I will take a photo with my iPhone, and my Meta smart glasses.

 

[roaniecowpony]

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-V/part-571/subpart-B/section-571.108
I really hate reading any government document. It’s like pulling teeth to find what you are looking for. Basically, if a bulb is replaceable, it has to replaced by the same type bulb approved by DOT. So, while use of LED bulbs in halogen housing are not specifically banned, they are also not allowed in an application that was not OEM. It also goes into that if a headlight unit is not able to be adjusted, an aiming device must be added. Lots of gray area in the rules. Basically it seems like you would have to be a nuisance for these rules to be enforced.

Thanks for that reference. I was somewhat familiar with 571.108 from reading it in the past. Agree these are mfr's requirements I think the "legality" issue is either in another CFR or at the state level regarding modifications. You know they are somewhere buried in a regulation regarding what is roadworthy on a Federal hwy or a state road. California is easy as it refers to 571.108 and regurgitates a lot of the text. Codes: Code Search

 

[Gangplank]

See my above post for the issues involved.

Not sure what you are going on about here. It’s easy to do. The fact you keep going on about how great your cheap Chinese lights are without posting a photo pretty much tells the story.

 

[Wabujitsu]

Not sure what you are going on about here. It’s easy to do. The fact you keep going on about how great your cheap Chinese lights are without posting a photo pretty much tells the story.

Two photos already posted, at least another to come. Not sure what you’re going on about. You seem offended by my Chinese lights; that’s regrettable.

 

[Gangplank]

Two photos already posted, at least another to come. Not sure what you’re going on about. You seem offended by my Chinese lights; that’s regrettable.

Not offended by your CCLights but we can't evaluate how the beam pattern is based on the photos you posted. I can happily move on....

 

[Wabujitsu]

Not offended by your CCLights but we can't evaluate how the beam pattern is based on the photos you posted. I can happily move on....

I will do another photo tonight. I was feeling like crap last night.

 

[Gangplank]

I will do another photo tonight. I was feeling like crap last night.

Sorry to hear. Hope you are feeling better.

 

[Wabujitsu]

Sorry to hear. Hope you are feeling better.

Here are two photos, unaltered - an iPhone 14 Pro and Ray Ban Meta glasses. 25’ distance; center of the beams is 24” AGL. Very bright fog lights were also on. I wanted to include them.

 

[Wabujitsu]

Here are two photos, unaltered - an iPhone 14 Pro and Ray Ban Meta glasses. 25’ distance; center of the beams is 24” AGL. Very bright fog lights were also on. I wanted to include them.

When I say “AGL,” I’m talking about from the concrete slab my Jeep is sitting on. I used a level to the fence.

 

[bd100]

Incredible brightness below the cutoff, perfect dark above. That's a benchmark lighting system.

If in hilly country, I'd prefer a bit of light above the cutoff. Otherwise, on the downhill you can end up not seeing very far ahead.

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