Q about LED headlights
 

The 40 year old charging system on my bike engined kit car only just copes with ordinary H4 headlights, bearing in mind there was only one headlight on the bike, two on the car.

I’m using headlights more currently (sorry for the pun!) so thinking about fitting LEDs instead. There is no error-finding software...

Two questions: will they take less from the battery/alternator, and will they give as much, if not more, light output?

Thanks in advance.

Malcolm

All things being equal they should do. Be careful what you buy as there's an unbelievable amount of crap out there. You generally get what you pay for.

if your not fitting them in lamps Designed to have LED bulbs then it is illegal to fit them for road use.

if the bulbs do not have an "E" mark, there illegal to fit to lamps putting light on the road,
no if but or otherwise

Thanks, both, never thought about the legality aspect. The headlights are the 7" round reflectors as used in the original Mini, so not designed for LEDs.

Change the lamp unit as well to a "E" marked one for leds

ok its not going to be the period look

https://www.mandp.co.uk/twin-6in-h7-...tor-lamps.html

Are "E"marked ,arent "period" look but being projector based units, may well get you more light on the road

These fit in most 5 3/4" bowl type headlight housing (slight modification may be required):

https://furoreproducts.co.uk/headlight-3850-lumen-pair

30W - so should be lower power than a standard H4 bulb.

(They also do a version for 7" headlights)

James

Yes, LEDs produce more Lumens (light flux) per Watt. As a very loose guide, LEDs typically produce 10x the output of a Halogen bulb, so 5-6W of LED light output should match a 55W halogen bulb.

Be aware that higher colour temperature (whiter light with more blue content than a halogen) can make light seem less bright when you're behind it (and yet they seem more dazzling coming the other way) - an effect I've noticed with both Xenons and LED headlights.

As others said above, don't get a replacement bulb - they are illegal and dazzling and won't work very well anyway. Get a replacement 7" light unit that has all of the correct optics built in. This will give correct beam, more light on the road and use less electrical power.

Approaching from a different angle, I seem to remember in my distant memory that it's a Moto Guzzi engine fitted to your kit car? If it has the usual 3-phase motorcycle type generator you could also fit a mosfet regulator / rectifier as they are more efficient & run a lot cooler, as well as ploughing more charge into the battery when the engine's idling.

Thanks, Phil,

Mine’s actually CX500 Honda powered, and I have fitted an Ignitec unit, which improved things noticeably.

Looks like I’ll have to open my wallet to fully convert, or only drive in daylight! (I have fitted LED DRLs to help being seen).

Given the 'bike' heritage of the car, and the headlights being in freestanding shells are there any replacement units from the bike world that would suit?