Brightness/ alignment of new cars/ LEDS head lamps

[Nasher]

Question:

Tell me you don’t know how LED lights work without telling me you haven’t got a clue.

Answer:

There is no reason they couldn't be designed with swappable bulbs, apart from manufacturing costs. The only thing which matters is the lens....

 

[Jonnycoupe]

The pixel lights have 1 million lenses/reflectors. They are highly precise integrated multiple light source units.

There is lots of reasons.

 

[Nasher]

The pixel lights have 1 million lenses/reflectors. They are highly precise integrated multiple light source units.

There is lots of reasons.

They are less complicated than a projector and all they need is a simple backlight.

The only difficult part is the software to make it all work.

 

[Jonnycoupe]

yes you are right, Im wrong. Clearly

 

[jpaul]

seems tesla have a global matrix headlight configured by software -lot's of leds vs bmw who have 25afaik
.. just waiting for Hue ones now which can be configured for yellow/fog, or just do an outdoor movie projection.

 

[Conscript]

Just a musing on my part, but wouldn't it be rather neat if the dipped beam lowered itself automatically dependent on how fast you're going? I assume that most lights are set to give you a long enough throw for good visibility at high speed. But for urban driving, you don't really need to be able to see a million miles down the road.
Pretty sure automatic levelling is already a requirement based on load, shouldn't be too difficult to also base it on wheel speed. Cruising at 70MPH on the motorway, lights at normal height. Driving around town at 30MPH or so, dip the lights a little.

It's not going to eliminate dazzle, but perhaps it would be a nice compromise of keeping nice bright headlight technologies, but somewhat reducing the risk of affecting other drivers all the time.

Here is the thing though - can you even 'adjust' these modern lights?

I believe they are in my current and previous car (GT/GR86) - there's an adjustment screw on the back of the headlights. In fact, I am considering raising mine slightly in the current car, as it feels like they are too low.
Conversely, I want to look into seeing if it possible to adjust my girlfriend's headlights (2017 Kia Sorento). If I recall, at a previous MOT, the tester actually adjusted them up slightly as they were aimed too low. But I'd like to reverse that; even though I haven't had oncoming drivers flash me, I've often found that when I'm following other cars at a safe distance, the headlights cut off still seems to be above their rear view mirror.

 

[Jonnycoupe]

Just a musing on my part, but wouldn't it be rather neat if the dipped beam lowered itself automatically dependent on how fast you're going? I assume that most lights are set to give you a long enough throw for good visibility at high speed. But for urban driving, you don't really need to be able to see a million miles down the road.
Pretty sure automatic levelling is already a requirement based on load, shouldn't be too difficult to also base it on wheel speed. Cruising at 70MPH on the motorway, lights at normal height. Driving around town at 30MPH or so, dip the lights a little.

It's not goin

They have an urban, motorway and countrylane distribution based on factors just like that .

 

[MrRockliffe]

Just a musing on my part, but wouldn't it be rather neat if the dipped beam lowered itself automatically dependent on how fast you're going?

Mine do in the BMW and Porsche.

 

[Jonnycoupe]

seems tesla have a global matrix headlight configured by software -lot's of leds vs bmw who have 25afaik
.. just waiting for Hue ones now which can be configured for yellow/fog, or just do an outdoor movie projection.

Poor example, its not even active as a feature in any markets - so much for the 'tech' strapline, just that silly COB arrangement does a TESLA text on the wall.

This is how its really done.

Quite a stark diffirence to the cooling system between 'legacy automakers' and Tesla specification. Really interesting technology and hopefully gives an insight to those who can think you can just change a bulb.

 

[Nasher]

Just a musing on my part, but wouldn't it be rather neat if the dipped beam lowered itself automatically dependent on how fast you're going? I assume that most lights are set to give you a long enough throw for good visibility at high speed. But for urban driving, you don't really need to be able to see a million miles down the road.
Pretty sure automatic levelling is already a requirement based on load, shouldn't be too difficult to also base it on wheel speed. Cruising at 70MPH on the motorway, lights at normal height. Driving around town at 30MPH or so, dip the lights a little.

It's not going to eliminate dazzle, but perhaps it would be a nice compromise of keeping nice bright headlight technologies, but somewhat reducing the risk of affecting other drivers all the time.

I believe they are in my current and previous car (GT/GR86) - there's an adjustment screw on the back of the headlights. In fact, I am considering raising mine slightly in the current car, as it feels like they are too low.
Conversely, I want to look into seeing if it possible to adjust my girlfriend's headlights (2017 Kia Sorento). If I recall, at a previous MOT, the tester actually adjusted them up slightly as they were aimed too low. But I'd like to reverse that; even though I haven't had oncoming drivers flash me, I've often found that when I'm following other cars at a safe distance, the headlights cut off still seems to be above their rear view mirror.

I've adjusted them up slightly on a few cars. As long as it isn't shining on rear window. It only takes a tiny adjustment to make a big difference at range.

MOT testers like to adjust them back every year though.

 

[ttaskmaster]

Not always though, they're popping up on all sorts of makes and models and often struggle to be visible over the brake or headlights, as I've said. The simple fact is that that strip of LEDs would appear brighter if it illuminated all at once rather than in sequence. They're for bling, not to improve safety.

If they're not being implemented as designed, that's a different matter.
The theory behind the design remains sound, and even if they were purely bling, the purpose of bling is to be noticed!

 

[Conscript]

They have an urban, motorway and countrylane distribution based on factors just like that .

Mine do in the BMW and Porsche.

Well lah-di-dah, look at you two with your fancy JLR/BMW/Porsche speed sensitive headlights!
I am too poor to have even realised such technology already existed

Fine. As you were, then. I look forward to seeing my suggestion become popular in about 10 years time when all the peasants catch up

 

[MrRockliffe]

Well lah-di-dah, look at you two with your fancy JLR/BMW/Porsche speed sensitive headlights!
I am too poor to have even realised such technology already existed

Fine. As you were, then. I look forward to seeing my suggestion become popular in about 10 years time when all the peasants catch up

I do think they should be standard though. As should interior and exterior auto dimming mirrors. Makes a huge difference as to whether you get blinded by others.

 

[Jonnycoupe]

Well lah-di-dah, look at you two with your fancy JLR/BMW/Porsche speed sensitive headlights!
I am too poor to have even realised such technology already existed

Fine. As you were, then. I look forward to seeing my suggestion become popular in about 10 years time when all the peasants catch up

Should have patented it a few years ago

 

[jpaul]

Well lah-di-dah, look at you two with your fancy JLR/BMW/Porsche speed sensitive headlights!

we've still got Paris those lights that are sensitive to negative velocity .

didn't gibo have a bmw laser light replaced at several K - so with fancy lights if you bump one your premium probably goes up more too.

 

[Nasher]

we've still got Paris those lights that are sensitive to negative velocity .

didn't gibo have a bmw laser light replaced at several K - so with fancy lights if you bump one your premium probably goes up more too.

In a few years insurers will be writing them off for damaged headlights. Not financially viable to repair because the lights are too expensive

 

[Jonnycoupe]

The insurance groups take this into account...

 

[bigmike20vt]

I do think they should be standard though. As should interior and exterior auto dimming mirrors. Makes a huge difference as to whether you get blinded by others.

but the flip side may be having to pay a 4 figure sum if anything goes wrong with one of the lights.

I guess for me the question which is important is what are the chances of a cluster failing during an accepted life span of the car of say. 20 years?

 

[Nasher]

but the flip side may be having to pay a 4 figure sum if anything goes wrong with one of the lights.

I guess for me the question which is important is what are the chances of a cluster failing during an accepted life span of the car of say. 20 years?

LED headlights haven't been around long enough to tell yet. But I have seen a few knackered ones around. LEDs tend to get really dim or start flashing rather than just die suddenly.

 

[MrRockliffe]

but the flip side may be having to pay a 4 figure sum if anything goes wrong with one of the lights.

I guess for me the question which is important is what are the chances of a cluster failing during an accepted life span of the car of say. 20 years?

Wouldn’t be difficult to mandate longer warranties, along with making the LEDs more easily replaceable, rather than the sealed system you get these days.