LED Headlamp comparison

[marcinpisz]

Anyone has the LED optional headlamps. Are they bright at night? Anyone tried with and without the LED's to see which is actually brighter at night. Interested in the brightness and visibility, not the power savings at all. Seems LED's limitation is lack of overall brightness from what I read on internet, the fact it comes with light washers standard on LED point to the fact that in fact LED's are less bright then the halogen version. I know halogen version is actually very bright.

[marcinpisz]

Originally Posted by marcinpisz

Anyone has the LED optional headlamps. Are they bright at night? Anyone tried with and without the LED's to see which is actually brighter at night. Interested in the brightness and visibility, not the power savings at all. Seems LED's limitation is lack of overall brightness from what I read on internet, the fact it comes with light washers standard on LED point to the fact that in fact LED's are less bright then the halogen version. I know halogen version is actually very bright.

This is on the 2010 Prius of course.

[Paradox]

The LED's are plenty bright. They have less lumens than HID's or Halogens, but that is why there are 2 projector beams within each housing and a third LED which acts as a flood light to light up everything. I don't think the decision to put the washers on only the LED equipped vehicles had anything to do with them being 'less bright'...

[nola_Prius]

I think the washers are kinda silly.
I guess unless you live in a really rainy and dusty area, they'd be useful.
I've never really had a problem with my headlights getting dirty, but then again,
I've always washed my car around once a week at least.

I like the idea of LEDs, but would like to see them in person. I've used HIDs for a while,
and really like the brightness of those, plus the fact that you can choose a color temp that suits your specific need/taste.

Since there are two projectors in each LED housing, does that mean there are a dedicated LED bulb for each projector? Of course...right?

[stream]

Originally Posted by marcinpisz

Anyone has the LED optional headlamps. Are they bright at night? Anyone tried with and without the LED's to see which is actually brighter at night. Interested in the brightness and visibility, not the power savings at all. Seems LED's limitation is lack of overall brightness from what I read on internet, the fact it comes with light washers standard on LED point to the fact that in fact LED's are less bright then the halogen version. I know halogen version is actually very bright.

You can't always believe what you read on the internet.

I've driven cars with HIDs for 10+ years, and the LED headlights on my Prius seem just as bright and white--and definitely more so than halogen headlights.

All the previous cars I've owned with HIDs came with headlight washers. HID headlights are a lot more affected by dirt on the lenses than halogens--so much so that in many countries (the U.S. being an exception) headlight washers are required by law with HIDs. I'm assuming LEDs have the same characteristics and therefore come with headlight washers.

[dhs]

Originally Posted by stream

You can't always believe what you read on the internet.

I've driven cars with HIDs for 10+ years, and the LED headlights on my Prius seem just as bright and white--and definitely more so than halogen headlights.

All the previous cars I've owned with HIDs came with headlight washers. HID headlights are a lot more affected by dirt on the lenses than halogens--so much so that in many countries (the U.S. being an exception) headlight washers are required by law with HIDs. I'm assuming LEDs have the same characteristics and therefore come with headlight washers.

Actually, my understanding is the reason why HIDs require washers is the dirt can get baked on by the extra heat of the HID's. As LED should run cool (less heat per unit light), then might not need it as badly. I could be wrong though.

[nola_Prius]

Originally Posted by dhs

Actually, my understanding is the reason why HIDs require washers is the dirt can get baked on by the extra heat of the HID's. As LED should run cool (less heat per unit light), then might not need it as badly. I could be wrong though.

Dirt was never an issue with my HIDs, and I've never had headlight washers.
I think it's a little gimmicky, if you want my opinion.

[IraS]

I have a Prius V (with the LED headlights). Last night, I took a short trip and was impressed with how bright the headlights appeared to be. They not only lit up the road ahead but, when I was sitting next to a wall, they even lit up part of the wall.

I can't really compare them directly to the halogen lights, but they seem to be brighter and whiter than the lights on my 2004 Prius (my previous vehicle).

The high beams on the Prius V are halogen. Only the standard headlights are LEDs.

[bob brown]

I don't know for sure, but perhaps the reason the LED's have a washer could be because they don't throw off enough heat compared to halogen and HID's to melt snow and ice and keep it from accumulating on lens? Of course the washer fluid would have to be heated and/or antifreeze solution.

[fuzzy1]

... Seems LED's limitation is lack of overall brightness from what I read on internet, the fact it comes with light washers standard on LED point to the fact that in fact LED's are less bright then the halogen version...

An older thread here indicated that LEDs had higher light output than halogens, exceeding a threshold where some countries require washers to control the dirt that causes glare for oncoming drivers.