Reply to: LEDs as bulbs on vehicles

[Diver]

Fun statistic I've just found:

Swapping to LED traffic lights etc. is projected to save Århus kommune 5 mil kWh per year lecky and cost 143 mil kr.

They also Ice over and get covered in snow as they don't generate enough heat to keep them clear, this has caused several accidents.

A lot of areas that are snow prone, particularly in the USA are switching back to standard bulbs in their traffic lights.

HTH

[threaded]

Fun statistic I've just found:

Swapping to LED traffic lights etc. is projected to save Århus kommune 5 mil kWh per year lecky and cost 143 mil kr.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

Originally Posted by NickFitz
I hate those new-fangled excessively bright headlights - the ones that look blue when seen from almost any angle other than straight on. I particularly hate the morons who drive with them on full beam on dual carriageways, apparently unconcerned by the fact that they're blinding every other driver on the opposite carriageway


I am puzzled about the regulations for HIDs because it appears that even manufactures are not fitting them correctly in the factory. The regulations state that the car must have either self levelling suspension or self levelling headlamps and also be equipped with headlamp washers.

It is possible to buy aftermarket kits - I've sen quite a few cars with non-factory HID, or ones that have been retro-fitted with HID but without the extra autolevelling kit. I've also seen one guy on an internet forum bragging about how he had "hacked" the vehicle computer (this was on a VW Golf) and raised the maximum level for the headlights because he thought they weren't set high enough.

I'm on my second car with HID lights - the standard height was reset three times by three different garages, all of whom claimed that the previous adjustments must have been done by a numpty - go figure?

[Paddy]

Originally Posted by NickFitz
I hate those new-fangled excessively bright headlights - the ones that look blue when seen from almost any angle other than straight on. I particularly hate the morons who drive with them on full beam on dual carriageways, apparently unconcerned by the fact that they're blinding every other driver on the opposite carriageway


I am puzzled about the regulations for HIDs because it appears that even manufactures are not fitting them correctly in the factory. The regulations state that the car must have either self levelling suspension or self levelling headlamps and also be equipped with headlamp washers.

[NickFitz]

That seems to be a contradiction.

How so? A light that has a blue tinge can still be excessively bright.

[d000hg]

I hate those new-fangled excessively bright headlights - the ones that look blue when seen from almost any angle other than straight on. I particularly hate the morons who drive with them on full beam on dual carriageways, apparently unconcerned by the fact that they're blinding every other driver on the opposite carriageway

That seems to be a contradiction.

[TykeMerc]

I don't mind the LED light clusters on cars (assuming they're factory fitted and the right colours, not by some numpty who thinks they're cool), what I don't like much are the xenon headlamps that try to fry my retinas.

[kaiser78]

The new facelift Nissan Qashqai model is now using LED backlights - look pretty groovy. Will be putting my order in this week...

[Peoplesoft bloke]

It also appears that the last Vectras used pwm to enable a single filament bulb to be used for stop and tailght functions - but even RC probably wouldn't notice the flicker on those as the filament would stay "warm"

[Peoplesoft bloke]

So that's why they flicker. Thank you.

Pulse width mod is still dc - leds only work in one direction. Interesting though, doing a quick Google turns up a bloke complaining of flicker on the led backlighting of his macbook - he says he sees this on car lights so maybe your eyes/brain are more sensitive to it than average?

[RichardCranium]

RC, have you run out of real things to whinge about? Come on... Brown's still in power, snow is stalling the country, the country's going bust...

Thank you for once again providing a valued, relevant and considered contribution that benefits us all with your insight, wisdom and wit.

Don't forget to put some boots on before you leave.

And is this your coat - the one with the toggles and the mittens sewn into the sleeves?

[RichardCranium]

If you drive them with pulsed current, you can make them brighter than if you drive them with dc.

So that's why they flicker. Thank you.

[Churchill]

I hate LED traffic lights!

[threaded]

Dunno about the reliablility of the led arrays in traffic lights.

They seem to die in patches with monotonous regularity.

Though I suppose a bit still works.

Round here the new ones couldn't stand the strong winds a few weeks back, hence many of them are hanging by their wires and now covered in snow.

[threaded]

There is a problem with LEDs being used in lights outside, in particular traffic lights as they don't generate heat. This means that when it snows and the snow collects on the light, the LEDs don't melt it like ordinary bulbs causing the light to be covered.

True, but not quite. The manufacturers know the LEDs don't make them as warm, so a heater that switches on in cold weather to melt snow on the lens is an option that can be fitted. Most councils don't purchase that option.