Replacing stock headlight bulbs with LEDs

The practicality of LED lamps is beyond doubt. Therefore, it is not surprising that many car owners have a desire to install LED-devices on their cars. But here a number of difficulties (nuances) arise.

Legislation and LEDs

On the factory conveyor, LED lamps are installed mainly on premium cars. In this case, it is considered that the LEDs are installed legally and no punishment will follow. And what threatens the car owner if he independently inserted LEDs into the headlights intended for, for example, "halogens"?

In this case, a violation of the traffic rules of paragraph 3.1 is detected, where there is a list of violations in which it is forbidden to drive a car. Namely, the “mode of operation” of the headlights does not meet safety requirements. In 2019, for such a violation, the driver was threatened with deprivation of rights from six months to 12 months. And the judges really deprived the driver's license for "some" light bulbs!

But today the situation has changed - in 2021, appropriate amendments were made. Now for the installation of LED a fine of 500 rubles is imputed. But if there is a combination of violations, for example, an incorrect mode of operation (there is an LED in the headlight for "halogens"), and even lights of the wrong color, then deprivation of rights is quite real. But there is an “opportunity” not only to get a fine. The traffic police officer has the right to refuse to register a vehicle due to unregistered changes to its design.

Is it possible to legalize the installation of LEDs

Yes, it's quite real. So that the inspection staff does not have any questions, a certificate is required confirming the compliance of the car with design changes with safety requirements. After that, the car will have to be registered again.

“Lucky” are car owners who have a car that has analogues (other, more expensive models), where LED lights are installed from the factory. In the technical regulations of the Customs Union (clause 77, p. 4, ch. 5), it is indicated that the machine "is not subject to verification" if the components provided by the manufacturer are installed on it. That is, you can only use exactly the same headlights as those of similar models.



There is another minus that someone may try to challenge. Manufacturers of LED lamps claim that their service life is at least 50 thousand hours of operation, which is hard to believe. And reality confirms this. Perhaps the fact is that the stabilizers were not installed? Hardly... Rather, it's all about the manufacturers, especially when you consider that the price range is simply huge: in US currency it is from 20 cents to 50 dollars apiece. However, what to choose for the rear lights?

Features of self-installation LED

Initially, LEDs played a secondary role: they were used as backlights - for example, on the dashboard. And also they served as indicators of door opening, additional interior lighting. Over time, LEDs began to be used as position and running lights. The pinnacle of the “triumph” of LEDs was their use in high and low beam lamps. LEDs have clear advantages over other types of lamps:

• ✅ instant ignition
  
• ✅ bright saturated light
  
• ✅ low power consumption
  

But there is also a fly in the ointment. LEDs are sensitive to the supply voltage: it should be in the range of 13-14,7 V. Also, do not forget about power consumption. Despite the fact that it is relatively low, the simultaneous inclusion of dipped beam dimensions and "stops", for example, when standing in traffic jams often, can lead to battery discharge (if it is not new for a long time), since the diodes in this case take 50 or more watts.

What LED lamps to install

One of the options for taillights is an LED strip (it already has current-limiting resistors) with devices like 3528, 5050 (or other analogues), placed in a circle near the location of the standard light bulb. Choose products with the desired brightness - it depends on the density of the LEDs, which is from 30 to 120 pieces per meter. Install a side glow tape on round lights.

Another tuning option is to install LEDs with a diameter of 5 or 10 mm in the headlight. Since to power the devices you need a voltage of 3,3 to 3,6 V, you will need limiting resistors with a resistance of 500-1000 ohms. But, given the power surges in the on-board network, it is best to assemble a simple electronic circuit.

Stabilizers

These are electronic parts that produce a constant output voltage, which is what is required to power the diodes. We need at least the simplest linear stabilizer of the L7812 type (the Russian analogue is KR142EN8V). If the current consumption does not exceed 1 ampere, you can do without a cooling radiator. But it’s better to put it: it is in broken power supplies, computers, etc. There are three outputs on the stabilizer, to connect it, turn it to face you, where there are symbols:

• ? connect the "minus" from the on-board network and the LED strip or a separate element to the central output
  
• ? connect a positive power source to the left contact (it is recommended through a fuse), to the right - "plus" from the LED
  

LED dimensions from Philips

In the manufacture of these lamps, the most modern technology for heat dissipation was used, which increases the service life of the product. The lamp is suitable for many car models, base type - H4. The device is characterized by increased safety due to the precise beamforming scheme. Bright strong light is provided by ThermalCool thermal management. In the manufacture of materials used to effectively dissipate heat. Lamp power - 16/17 W, at a color temperature of 6000 K. The manufacturer declares a five-year warranty for its products.

Optima

i-ZOOM i-HIR2-WW HIR2(9012) lamps can be installed as fog lamps (rear and front). Power 19,2 W, color temperature 4300 K. Base type PX22d. LEDs are sold in pairs.

canbus

Model Xenite 1009343 3,5W. Suitable for use as "dimensions", "stops", license plate lights, as well as interior lighting. Color temperature 5000 K. Usually sold in pairs.

ELEMENTS lamps

Supplied as a set - a couple of pieces. They emit warm white light. They can be used as reversing lights, fog lights, turn signals, license plate lights and brake lights if there are light filters. Power 2,3 W. The manufacturer claims a resource of 50 thousand hours.

Conclusions

It is unlikely that any of the owners of budget cars will run around the authorities to officially issue LED lamps. For such cases, there are two options - to go round, as far as possible, representatives of the traffic police and (or) wait for concessions from the legislation (and this does not happen soon with us).