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For Royal Enfield owners and enthusiasts
- Sun Dec 30, 2012 10:30 am
#21070
Bulbs, he means bulbs! Perches, globes? What next! Just teasing Norm, I'd be interested to find out how the LED replacements are coming on! REgards, Mark
- Sun Dec 30, 2012 12:50 pm
#21073
Norm, i was offered one of these but was warned that they are illegal, not sure why, might be worth looking it up before shelling out...
- Sun Dec 30, 2012 1:05 pm
#21075
As long as it's white light they are OK as far as the law goes.
The question is, will it do the job?
The question is, will it do the job?
Classic C5 Euro 4 at the moment.
Also CBf250.
Also CBf250.
- Sun Dec 30, 2012 3:02 pm
#21078
Just been reading up, still not convinced that LED headlight bulbs are legal, it appears that there could be problems with the light beam pattern being incorrect as the headlight unit was not designed for these bulbs, if this is so then the MOT will fail, also as the voltage varies depending on revs on a Bullet, will LED's work in this situation ? please let us know the outcome Norm...
- Sun Dec 30, 2012 3:22 pm
#21079
Norm, the H4, or indeed any other tungsten or halogen headlight lamp, (i.e bulb or globe) has miniture filaments which are set at precise focal points (pre-focussed) in the headlight units reflector and lens to provide the correct beam pattern, cut-offs and dip/main beam options.
The problem with the H4, H7, H1 OR H3 type LED lamps is that there is no single focal point - the LEDS are arranged along the length of the lamp and emit light to very many points of the reflector and through the lens. PeteF, you are correct that the law states that is must be a white light, but also the MOT test will check beam pattern and operation of both high and low beams. The LED H type lamps are cool white (4500K approx) by the way.
As Bertie says the reason why these LED lamps are illegal is that, not only are they not CE marked but they would fail miserbly the beam pattern test. They also would not offer a discernable main and dip beam performance.
This is due the the arrangement of LEDS on the lamp, there is no way of changing this until someone makes a single chip high output LED H4 or H7 type lamp - and I haven't yet seen one of these.
On holiday in Turkey last year I did see a clone CG125 with a bright dazzling white headlamp - this was an H4 type LED. The glare was hideous and there was no beam as such. Riding with this lamp would present a major hazard to oneself and other road users.
The benfits of LED - long service life and low current consumption are well documented but for the headlight application there is currently no option, at least in the retrofit market.
My Electra XS has LED front position lamp, instrument lamps and warning panal lamps. I have spent a considerable sum on rear stop tail (red and white) LED lamps but not found a 100% satisfactory product as yet. Therefore I run a Halfords HD rear 380/1157 lamp, and as a headlight the Philips Moto-vision, which is excellent.
I will keep experimenting with the rear lamp and may make something up myself using 12v LED warm white and red LED strips, but I fear that you will be very disappointed with the LED H4 lamps Norm.
The problem with the H4, H7, H1 OR H3 type LED lamps is that there is no single focal point - the LEDS are arranged along the length of the lamp and emit light to very many points of the reflector and through the lens. PeteF, you are correct that the law states that is must be a white light, but also the MOT test will check beam pattern and operation of both high and low beams. The LED H type lamps are cool white (4500K approx) by the way.
As Bertie says the reason why these LED lamps are illegal is that, not only are they not CE marked but they would fail miserbly the beam pattern test. They also would not offer a discernable main and dip beam performance.
This is due the the arrangement of LEDS on the lamp, there is no way of changing this until someone makes a single chip high output LED H4 or H7 type lamp - and I haven't yet seen one of these.
On holiday in Turkey last year I did see a clone CG125 with a bright dazzling white headlamp - this was an H4 type LED. The glare was hideous and there was no beam as such. Riding with this lamp would present a major hazard to oneself and other road users.
The benfits of LED - long service life and low current consumption are well documented but for the headlight application there is currently no option, at least in the retrofit market.
My Electra XS has LED front position lamp, instrument lamps and warning panal lamps. I have spent a considerable sum on rear stop tail (red and white) LED lamps but not found a 100% satisfactory product as yet. Therefore I run a Halfords HD rear 380/1157 lamp, and as a headlight the Philips Moto-vision, which is excellent.
I will keep experimenting with the rear lamp and may make something up myself using 12v LED warm white and red LED strips, but I fear that you will be very disappointed with the LED H4 lamps Norm.
- Sun Dec 30, 2012 5:20 pm
#21081
Worst part is after I ordered them I remembered my Inter is positive earth
- Sun Dec 30, 2012 8:23 pm
#21093
another question ,do they have an mot in oz?wow stu you are the font of all knowledge regarding l.e.d,s i must say i know of a few people who use them on diesel conversions due to poor battery charging ,but as i said in the past my yanmar clone has the high output stator and all my bulbs work perfectly,anyway on that note i,ll be seeing ya paul.
- Sun Dec 30, 2012 9:52 pm
#21098
Paul, the states out here have different rules but in Vic we only need a RWC (MOT) on change of ownership which means you can go 50/60 years without getting one. There is still the odd one owner out there.I know of a bloke who bought a new MG TF as an apprentice and still has it registered.
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