In 2015 there are quite a few companies selling LED headlight kits.
The things that you need to look for are Heat Dissipation, Beam cut-offs, and the type of light emitting diodes that are being used. With LED headlight technology, you can’t have one without the other, and in the end, the same old adage, “you get what you pay for”, still rings true.
If you have great Philips or CREE LEDs in the product, but don’t have the technology and thermal management systems to properly interact with these LEDs, you are simply wasting your money.
Thermal management is key in getting the longest life out of the LEDs.
You want the LEDs to be bright, but you also want them to last the distance.
Beam cut-offs are also important so as to give the best beam of light possible out the front of your car, truck, motorcycle, or driving light.
A lot of companies simply do not have the depth of technology to be able to get these three elements working together, to maintain brightness, beam direction, and longevity.
Thermal management systems have come a long way since the “bad old days” when people started pumping more power through light emitting diodes.
The main issue was that light emitting diodes burnt out very quickly in high temperature environments.
LED headlamp bulb manufacturers are now using either the “Fan” type system coupled with copper pipe tubing technologies to dissipate the heat away from the light emitting diodes to prolong their life.
This in itself is a definite science, and without the right people, money, and equipment, you will not go far.
Luckily, a few companies are emerging as leaders in this industry and so providing the market with an affordable alternative to old halogen technology, and even HID technology.
There are many types of bulbs available that you can retro-fit into your car, but make sure you check the size of the LED bulb before you buy them.
Each car, or application, can have specific limitations on how much room is available in the headlights housing so make sure you check that the LED bulb is going to fit your specific application.
LED bulbs for cars are now becoming a lot brighter, but remember that they are still not as bright as HID.
They key to buying high performance LED headlight bulbs is to go with the leaders in the industry and pay the little extra for the best products on the market.
Look for companies who have been dealing in this technology from its conception and you will be well on your way to finding a solution that stands the test of time.