LED headlamp bulbs? Legal?
Discussion in 'Trucking Industry Regulations' started by istumped, Jun 5, 2019.
Page 2 of 2
-
-
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
-
-
In theory the bulbs either HID, LED, Halogen, candle... whatever is supposed to have some kind of DoT approved notice. But...how many do? That would be zero. Also to be cited for illegal equipment the police will have to measure the lumens with a lumen meter and the aiming. A "calibrated" lumen meter which could stand up in court costs more than a police cruiser so I don't see that ever being deployed on a wide scale.
Because idiots put super-nova bright after-market lights in and run around with them in sun-burn mode I purchased 4 Hella off-road rally lamps which seem to be about 10,000 times brighter than any of the e-bay, truck stop or Amazon HID & LED offerings. -
Bought a real good pair in 1977 at a truck stop in MN for $25.00, (price of 50 gallons of fuel), loved them, until I dropped them in a lake during a fishing trip. -
-
Halogens are in the 3000k (k for Kelvin color temp) range, more yellow like daylight, easier to pick out details.
The blue light thing first came along because high-end cars before LED's had HID light fixtures which had a blue cast so it became kewl for people who like to front that they are wealthy. Some people buy HID bulb kits for halogen fixtures and the results are mixed as far as reliability, proper aim, and light spread go.
I'd just put another H11 in there, not ones that are "blue" or extra bright, they will likely blow faster.
And if you want more light sometimes add aux lights which you can turn off separately, those are where LED's shine because the fixtures can be more compact and they don't have to light up in the cut-off pattern of headlights. The ADV Rider forums, populated by the kind of folks that ride motorcycles around the world for fun, might be a decent source of candid reviews. -
I purchased a 4 pack of replacement headlights for my w9 off amazon. A knockoff I’m assuming of the jw speaker ones. Honestly best $150 I’ve ever spent in my life. Not only can I finally see far and wide, there is an awesome cutoff so you don’t blind other drivers. I adjusted them so the cutoff is right at the bottom of a dry van door. When they pass me, I light up the trailer skirt but the aluminum rail is still dark. Also these pass DOT and have the markings.
The problem is people put brighter bulbs or use high beams that point to everyone’s eyes/the sky and wonder why they can’t see any better.Ffx95 Thanks this. -
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
Page 2 of 2