Comparison pix: LED bulbs vs Incandescent

[Chris Bamford]

I picked up my pre-ordered LED headlamps from Langs' at Hershey and installed them in the '26 Touring earlier this week.

This was an upgrade I have been resisting for some time. Although I use a previous-style LED in my Speedster headlamps (and they serve very well) I am put off by the bright whiteness of the light. Appearance-wise, I really enjoy the warm, yellowish glow of the original incandescent lamps, it jives perfectly with the patinated appearance and general 'old used car" look of the touring.

However, with winter close and our shortened daylight hours looming (December sunrise and sunset are only 7-1/2 hours apart in Edmonton), I bit the bullet and went modern for better headlamps. This is a car driven frequently after dark, and in reality, I'm probably the only person unhappy with the look of the LEDs. My bride, for one, is 100% in favour!

Front view, LED on the left, incandescent on the right. And what about that toe-in, eh?

Light switch on DIM:

Light switch on BRIGHT

Old & New side by side. LED users are instructed to align them in the sockets such that the thick black band is exactly at the top when installed (or, could be at the bottom depending on which way the external headlamp connector is oriented.) There are two small hex set screws (one visible in the knurling at the black dot) which can be loosened to rotate the lamp body relative to the base. A hex wrench is included with each bulb.

[Tim D]

Those new LED bulbs are worth the money they work awesome.

[JohnM]

Those new LED bulbs are worth the money they work awesome.

Yes!! I too like the look of the incandescent bulbs, but let's be practical here. If I'm going to be out frequently at night playing in traffic, I want to see and be seen. They are very pricey, but I am satisfied with their performance. The next hurdle is how long will they last? Time will tell.

[Moxie26]

Let's be practical. On a practical level... Being the current draw that each of these bulbs will take from the battery, Incandescent bulbs as standard whether it being 21 candle power or 32 candle power headlight bulbs with a 21 candle power tail light will easily draw four to seven amps that your generator has to work a little bit longer to replenish your battery. With the LED bulbs you can have both headlights and a tail light of LED bulbs. Only take maybe 2 or 3 amps if that, putting LESS strain on your generator to recharge your battery and in less time. Being practical, what would be the obvious choice?.....

[TRDxB2]

Those new LED bulbs are worth the money they work awesome.

One other thing they do is to compensate for dull reflectors

[Steve Jelf]

A distinguishing characteristic of LED headlights is their tendency to blind drivers coming the other way.

[Hudson29]

"This is a car driven frequently after dark, and in reality, I'm probably the only person unhappy with the look of the LEDs."

You are NOT alone. I have a set of the focused LED headlights sitting on the front seat of Ole Rough & Ready just waiting to be installed. A few weeks ago when coming home from a meeting in town after dark, one of the "high" beams burned out. We have a lot of deer out here and actually seeing them before the leap in front of the T would be nice.

I love the soft yellow glow of the stock 6v bulbs but I will replace them just for practicality.

Paul

[Allan]

Steve, that was my main gripe about LED lights also. BUT, finally we have an LED bulb with its own built in reflector, to direct its output as it should be, rather than a big blob of very bright, ill directed blue light. These tick all the boxes, except the colour of the light.
I believe the poster is a little confused though. The right headlamp has the LED bulb.

Allan from down under.

[TXGOAT2]

We have deer and wild pigs here. I need good lights. I don't mind a clean, bright light and the low current demand is a big bonus with a T. Weak, yellowish light doesn't do a good job of illuminating wildlife.

[Allan]

Pat, you are probably right about wildlife being more noticeable, at T speeds, because you will be closer to them when you see them.
Somewhere I saw studies of blue LED lights, LEDs with the warmer light and quartz spotlights. At distance in a modern vehicle, the blue light washes out the colour of things in the distance. It is not until critters move that they become visible. Warm LEDs were better. Quite lights picked up the colour best, so the driver was aware of the critters earlier.

All a bit pointless to a T driver.

Allan from down under.

[Chris Bamford]

Here are comparison photos of my new LED headlamps in the dark. Dim vs Bright settings.

Photos were shot in low ambient light with no flash. The iPhone lightens things up a bit.

The Dim light pattern suggests both headlamps could stand a slight lift. The Bright setting looks pretty good as is.

[CatGuy]

"This is a car driven frequently after dark, and in reality, I'm probably the only person unhappy with the look of the LEDs."

You are NOT alone. I have a set of the focused LED headlights sitting on the front seat of Ole Rough & Ready just waiting to be installed. A few weeks ago when coming home from a meeting in town after dark, one of the "high" beams burned out. We have a lot of deer out here and actually seeing them before the leap in front of the T would be nice.

I love the soft yellow glow of the stock 6v bulbs but I will replace them just for practicality.

Paul

And now I have a new fear! Imagine a deer climbing into the Roadster with me! Now, on my Model A I was able to find warm white LED bulbs that look more stock.

[TRDxB2]

The reason that LED headlights have a tendency to blind oncoming drivers is that they were not adjusted properly when they were replaced.

The new focused LED bulbs are a great solution to Model T driving at night and provide proper lighting when adjusted properly.
NOTE: The color temperature of the light emitted,6500K bright white, will not give the same contrast on snow as the older warm light bulbs, 4500K. Also, if you recall that fog lights were predominately yellow/amber to reduce the reflected glare of the white fog. On the other hand you would never use fog lights for driving in clear weather at night.

A suggested best color temperature for headlights is 5800K. https://www.naoevo.com/blog/auto-led-bu ... t-driving/

4300K – The Warm Comfort:
4300K color temperature strikes a balance between warmth and clarity. Emitting a light similar to natural daylight, it offers optimal contrast and reduces eye strain during extended night drives.
You can see that, the 4300 kelvin is the color of most stock HID systems. It’s far more white than 3600K, but it still has a very slight YELLOW tint. While more modern than 3600K, some customers still find that the 4300K isn’t cool or blue enough.
Pros:
Provides a balanced blend of warmth and clarity.
Reduces eye strain and fatigue during prolonged night driving.
Enhances visibility without causing excessive glare.
Cons:
May not provide the highest level of brightness compared to higher color temperatures.
Some drivers might prefer a cooler, whiter appearance.

5800K – The Color Closest to The Sun
The 5800K color temperature produces a more neutral, white light. It strikes a balance between warm and cool tones, offering good visibility while maintaining a modern appearance.
Besides, 5800K is the CHOICE of OEM, to maximize eye comfort while driving at night. This reduces fatigue and the risk of eye strain to make driving in the dark a safer, more pleasant experience.
Pros:
– Offers a clean, modern appearance with a hint of cool white light.
– Provides improved visibility and contrast on the road.
– Illuminates road signs and obstacles effectively.
– Balances brightness without causing excessive glare to oncoming traffic.
Cons:
– May not be as warm and comfortable for some drivers as lower color temperatures.
– Slight blue hue may be less suitable for rural or off-road driving conditions.

6500K – Cool and Intense Visibility:
6500K color temperature emits a cool, intense white light with a noticeable bluish tint. It’s often associated with the futuristic appearance of high-end automotive LED headlights.
This color temperature offers high brightness and visibility, making it ideal for highway driving and open roads.
However, its intense brightness can be a double-edged sword, potentially causing discomfort and glare for other drivers.
Pros:
– Provides intense brightness and visibility, ideal for highways and open roads.
– Offers a stylish and modern appearance with a cool white hue.
– Illuminates a wide area, making it suitable for high-speed driving.
Cons:
– Intense brightness can lead to glare for oncoming traffic.
– Blue tint may reduce contrast in certain driving conditions, such as rain or fog.
– May cause more eye strain during prolonged night drives.

[NoelChico]

I’m working on a 1916 Roadster project. The headlights are not currently wired. I’m contemplating using a small 12 volt battery for initial start before switching to magneto, and LED bulbs in the headlights/taillights. I hope to charge the battery off the mag post. There is no dimmer switch so I plan on using single input bulbs wired parallel for the headlights. Can I point them down in the dim position and not affect approaching drivers? I’m sure this has been done. Is there enough power in the magneto to keep the battery charged with the lights on using LEDs? Noel

[Allan]

Noel, you must use LEDs with their own focused lens to be able to aim the light beam. They can be oriented to point where you want them to, rather than just belt out a big blob of bright light.

Frank's post about the different colour temperatures of LED lights mirrors what I had read before. The lower temperature lights are easier on the eye and give greater contrast in colours for a more natural look. The higher the temperature, the more washed out the appearance and the greater the difficulty distinguishing just what is ahead of you. At model t speeds there is no need to be able to see 1000 yards a head. Much better to see clearly what is 100 yards ahead.

A big Thing is made of the modern, stylish, sleek, look of the high temperature blue lights, but that is not what most of us are interested in in out T's.
Barely rating a mention is the fact that these blue lights are cheaper to manufacture than the warmer lights, so they get the push.

I suggest all T owners contemplating LED lights read the first link in Frank's post.

Allan from down under.

[John Codman]

I don't drive my T at night, and I have reached the point where I try not to drive anything at night. The plain ole incandescents probably haven't been turned on in the last 10 years. I may check my brake light to see if it can be replaced with a brighter LED.

[Moxie26]

John... Take a look at the website for Logolites at : www.logolites.com ........ I have both of these bulbs in both of the rear marker-license plate/ stop lights for on my 26 Runabout.... Yeah, I added another combination light on the rear passenger fender to match the combination on the driver rear fender.