LEDs – Lighting Breakthrough
Technological advancement in the Automotive Industry Technology has gone from sonic to hyper sonic speed in the last three decades with the incorporation of electronics in cars. Cars have become more efficient with the use of the electronic fuel injection system, more comfortable with the advent of the active electronic suspensions and safer with various drivers electronic aids like the anti-lock braking system(ABS) and just recently, the forward collision warning system (FCWS). These are just a few of the breakthroughs in the past few decades.
Lights in cars have also evolved, its advancements moving parallel to the lighting industry in general. LED (Light Emitting Diode) Lights, used mostly in our offices and households, are now used in cars. And since 2009 when it was first introduced, we are seeing more and more cars sporting LED bulbs for headlights, cabin lights and taillights. Thanks to all the amazing benefits that LEDs have over the regular incandescent bulbs.
But as with any technological advancement, LED lights for cars come with their own set of pros and cons.
Pros
There are three main types of car headlight bulbs. These are the Halogens, HID or high-intensity discharge lights and the LED lights. But how do they compare? Halogen headlights, having more wattage, are less efficient compared to LEDs. The charge in halogen bulbs gets lost in the form of heat instead of being converted more to light. The high heat also makes these bulbs less durable.
HIDs are the brightest of the three types of car headlights. However, these come with a set of challenges. They can blind oncoming motorists and its intensity and brightness can create a shadow effect which makes it hard to see other objects when driving. They also come with many components, requiring a ballast and a different set of wiring kit, which increase the chances of component failure.
LEDs offer a decent illumination that is far better than the halogens and are not as harsh as the HIDs. Compared to HIDs, or halogens that take some time to light up and achieve full brightness, LED will light up immediately when it is turned on. This means, when used as brakelight bulbs, drivers behind you will have enough time to react when you step on the brakes for instance. LEDs are also friendly on your cars charging system as it requires a smaller wattage to light it up.
The biggest disparity is the durability. LEDS have a much longer lifespan. Approximately 15,000 hours compared to the 1,000hours of the halogen bulbs according to wikipedia.
The Drawbacks?
The most obvious disadvantage of LED lights is the cost. In fact, initially, only high-end vehicles like the Mercs and the Bimmers, come with LED headlights, Tail lights or turn signal lights.
A second issue is finding good quality LEDS. While the LED bulb sources are all over the net, there are a lot of LED bulbs in the market that are low quality. Low quality LED bulbs flicker or light up inconsistently. Low quality LEDs also heat up more as the components to control the heat, like the fins of the heat sinks, are either substandard or of inferior material.
Be careful in buying LED Bulbs. Buy from a well-known, reliable source. Check on product reviews and have it installed by a professional auto electrician.
The Pros outweighs the Cons
LED lights are the wave of the future in automotive lighting. With more car manufacturers switching to LED, it will not be long that cost will go down. However, even if you are sold-out to the idea, it’s important to check your cars manual first if LED bulbs are compatible to your car, better yet, ask your dealer.
Philippine road laws are also not specific to whether LEDs are allowed or not. There is usually some regulation on aftermarket car lights. But there is no stopping LED, and it will soon be a common fixture in cars, until a new breakthrough arrives.
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