I was wondering what the law is on LED lights ?
What lights can be changed to the LED type without running the wrong side of the law ?
What are peoples views / finding on these lights ?
Do they last longer than ordinary bulbs ?
thanks in advance.
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Here's some information about LED car lights, copied from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headlamp
I can't vouch for its authenticity.
"The limiting factors with LED headlamps presently include high system expense, regulatory delays and uncertainty, and logistical issues created by LED operating characteristics. LEDs are commonly considered to be low-heat devices due to the public's familiarity with small, low-output LEDs used for electronic control panels and other applications requiring only small amounts of light. However, LEDs actually produce a significant amount of heat per unit of light output. Rather than being emitted together with the light as is the case with conventional light sources, an LED's heat is produced at the rear of the emitters. The cumulative heat of numerous high-output LEDs operating for prolonged periods poses thermal-management challenges for plastic headlamp housings.
Prolonged operation above the maximum junction temperature will permanently degrade the LEDs and ultimately shorten the device's life. The need to keep LED junction temperatures low at high power levels always requires additional thermal management measures such as heatsinks and/or cooling fans which are typically quite expensive.[45]
Additional facets of the thermal issues with LED headlamps reveal themselves in cold ambient temperatures. Not only must heat be removed from the rear of the headlamp so that the housing does not deform or melt, but heat must in addition be effectively applied to thaw snow and ice from the front lenses, which are not heated by the comparatively small amount of infrared radiation emitted forward with the light from LEDs.[46]"
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Audi make LED headlamps. They even come with a switch to go from R/H drive to L/H drive
(it can be connected to the sat nav and do this automatically)
Unless the light assembly is designed for LED use, the use of LED bulbs is a waste of time.
Last edited by: Zero on Fri 21 May 10 at 14:20
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That'll be the A8 you're talking about Z?
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dunno what car they bung em in, I just saw an article on the design of such.
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LED car lights - L'escargot
