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OEM vs LED, the apples to oranges comparison


Mojoe

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This is the apples to oranges comparison. They are not the same light and have very different values. I actually hate writing this thread a little, and you will see why. To start with, my issue I needed fixed is that the OEM did not illuminate to my liking as I backed out of my shop or into it. LED would be the likely fix, so I ordered them last week, and did the install today.

 

You can see my options listed here.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/cat/led-vehicle-replacement-bulbs/vehicle/2011-subaru-wrx%20sti-sedan-back+up+light/59-1140-37-487397/

 

When deciding which one to go with, I simply went by the LM rating of brightness. 106 being the highest, but only in a blue light. I didn't want that. I went with a 100LM you see for $5.95. They were looking to all perform the same, so I went with the middle one.

 

Stock OEM

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l284/dsnowgod/A4FE5E0C-29A9-4040-9289-BBFC2A6E9243_zpsgaynpmvy.jpg

 

LED

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l284/dsnowgod/3E089F58-6513-43CB-B4C1-5686A42E5A23_zps2hbwb16l.jpg

 

The LED clearly did not do what I wanted. I even left them in until it was dark last night to check again during actual use. I'm pretty disappointed. The area lit up is no where near what I was hoping with the LED. I am open to suggestions if someone knows how I can get more light without having to change stock power support to the bulb.

Edited by Mojoe
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been there done that in several cars. most recently an LED trial in my Fusion Sport. Granted that was now 3yrs ago, but still.

 

the easiest option IMO was to find a set of HID's from the bone yard or pop in a whiter traditional color bulb into the OEM Socket. That's what I did on the minivan and the results were great.

 

I ended up passing on the HID's for the sake of cost really. However, in the past cars I've had they have worked out great.

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Along the same lines, but way overkill. I used a pair of Baja Designs Squadron XL's on my rear shackles of my F150, tied in with a relay to automatically switch on, they work like a champ, but, it may suck bad to be behind me while I am backing.....

 

Probably going to do some flush mounts in the bumper for fill in, as what I used is more for distance it appears.

 

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h138/rfrf5500/LED%20lights/IMG_0086_zps8eae7c33.jpg

 

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h138/rfrf5500/LED%20lights/IMG_0087_zps59f9e3f7.jpg

 

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h138/rfrf5500/LED%20lights/IMG_0127_zpsfea8193a.jpg

 

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h138/rfrf5500/LED%20lights/IMG_0126_zps1c92f34c.jpg

 

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h138/rfrf5500/LED%20lights/IMG_0125_zps8335d230.jpg

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The title should be 194 bulbs oem vs led..

 

We all assumed you were talking heads or fogs as I think most people know that 194 leds are not bright enough for usable light output.

 

I guess in the very informed light world, I can see your point. I wouldn't know what you were talking about. Therefore, I posted what I felt comfortable talking about.

 

Where were you in Clays LED there all last week? You probably could have helped out there.

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The title should be 194 bulbs oem vs led..

 

We all assumed you were talking heads or fogs as I think most people know that 194 leds are not bright enough for usable light output.

 

I haven't found any plug in LED's that are very "bright" or bright enough to see distance with.

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There's no heatsink on those. Best case scenario they melt, worse case they take out your socket and possibly harness as well. I picked up a similar set to replace the reverse lights on my 335i (The E92 has pathetic stock reverse lights), and they melted the first time i used them.

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I guess in the very informed light world, I can see your point. I wouldn't know what you were talking about. Therefore, I posted what I felt comfortable talking about.

 

Where were you in Clays LED there all last week? You probably could have helped out there.

 

I posted in clays thread my experience with h11 50 watt led lowbeams.

 

http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy296/rocky31186/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20141213_170955_zpsrsmk807p.jpg

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I would suggest trying either of these models in 921/912 which should interchange with your 194 wedge base application. Depending on the orientation of the bulb in the backup light housing (side emitter vs. end-emitting) consider these two:

 

http://retro-solutions.net/product-info.php?921_912_906_T15_5W_CREE_LED_Reverse_Wedge_Bulbs-pid699.html

 

or

 

http://retro-solutions.net/product-info.php?921_912_906_T15_5W_CREE_LED_Reverse_Wedge_Bulbs-pid787.html

 

They advertise 470 lumens each, and are priced as a pair. They may not be quite 470, but I understand they are damn bright. They also have decent current regulation and will step down and dim on their own if they get too warm (should not be an issue in a reverse light application).

 

I don't know much about them, but if you're feeling froggy I've always thought these were intriguing:

 

(3500 lumens above your license plate - $150)

 

http://www.vleds.com/new-lpf.html

 

http://www.vleds.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/imageBig/900x/17f82f742ffe127f42dca9de82fb58b1/l/p/lpf_5.jpg

 

http://www.vleds.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/imageBig/900x/17f82f742ffe127f42dca9de82fb58b1/l/p/lpf_4.jpg

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There's no heatsink on those. Best case scenario they melt, worse case they take out your socket and possibly harness as well. I picked up a similar set to replace the reverse lights on my 335i (The E92 has pathetic stock reverse lights), and they melted the first time i used them.

 

Only the ebay/amazon specials melt because they have no current regulation or thermal management. Superbrightleds stuff is generally good quality if you choose the right bulb for your application, and they have good customer service if you do have a failure. Their light output claims are also accurate.

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I don't know much about them, but if you're feeling froggy I've always thought these were intriguing:

 

(3500 lumens above your license plate - $150)

 

http://www.vleds.com/new-lpf.html

Very nice, would be perfect for my truck. Big claims on that light output. But as we've found out its not just about light output its about how that light gets cast. and LED bulb in a reflector housing is just not going to work well.

 

Been seeing a bunch of bulbs with little projectors on them, etc wonder how well those work.

 

If that license plate thingie was $75 or under i'd order it today. $150 is hard to swallow when you can get a sirius 20" light bar for just over $200.

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