Hella 500 H3 LED refit - Anybody done this successfully??

[im3crazy]

Trying out converting from xenons in the headlights (H1) and in the Hella 500 driving lights (H3). 

There seems to be adequate H1 substitutions out there with near-exact output. 

But I have NOT found any H3 bulbs worth trying in my older Hella 500's as DDLs

 

I've done a lot of site & Google searches, but no one (except a guy with a Jeep in 2010 on a sales site) mentions:

(1) If the H3 LED bulbs fit dimensionally as well as focus in the reflector, front and rear in the mount ( 18mm from baseplate to filament center incandescent/halogen) and

(2) output enough to be a reasonablly good Daytime Driving Light.   [I'm not thinking that any LED at this point would be even close to the xenon/halogens output]

 

Suggestions on a good H3 LED??

Thanks, Dave in Baltimore

 

 

[Tsingtao_1903]

I found these after spending quite a bit of time searching.  They are perfectly adequate for DDLs.  Check out the dimensions before making your decision.

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CTMT01G/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[venoak]

Have you tried calling Super Bright LEDS?

 

https://www.superbrightleds.com/search/led-replacement-bulbs/hella+h3/

[Tsingtao_1903]

These are white.  The dimensions are 32 x 12 which are very close to 32 x 11.5 of the H3 xenon lamps. 

https://www.amazon.com/Calais-Extremely-Bright-White-Plug-n-Play/dp/B01MXJAI6T/ref=sr_1_3?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1513105842&sr=1-3&keywords=calais+h3+LED

[layers]

Hi--

 

Halogen bulb filaments are exquisitely sensitive to location.  At the lab, we used a visual micrometer to verify a filament was in the proper position, within a couple thousands of an inch.

 

Neither HID or LED bulbs can duplicate halogen filament location or dimensions, so a beam pattern will be different with either substitute.

 

However, daytime running lights (DRL) are not very precise since their goal is a bright signal lamp instead of a roadway illumination device.  In fact, many cars use their high beams at low power for DRL function.

 

I suspect that a bulb with about 500 lumens output (maybe less...) would work fine when using a driving lamp as a DRL.  As I recall, the color should be white, amber or selective yellow (perhaps the best choice).

 

Keep us posted on your success!

 

Larry
 

[im3crazy]

Thanks for the suggestions.  Here's an update with an overlay and hot zone for the filiment "sweet spot."  The right and left bulbs are possible LED replacements.

 

The red lines show the optimum filiment location.  The center image is a "standard" H3 halogen bulb.  All three bulbs are centered on the same plane as their base plates to show above and below mounting plate dimensions, and their probable focus points.

The Calais brand bulb on the left at least shows the light output area in the zone. I am concerned that the length below the plate (14mm cmpared to 10 for the standard)

 

The bulb on the right is WAY out; notice the overall height.  I wonder if this would even fit inside my Hellas?  I might try just to make this a realistic test.

 

Next step is ordering these and a fitment and output test. Guess I'll be looking for a candela/ lumens output app for the Android!

 

[camdenthrasher]

I’ve thought about this before but could never come up with a solution for where to place a heatsink within the tiny space in the Hella 500 housing. Most H3 LEDs worth anything for headlight use seem to have a substantial heatsink necessary or even a little fan on them too. 

[AustrianVespaGuy]

@im3crazy let me know if you're interested in keeping halogen bulbs in your 500s but wiring them to run at reduced brightness as DRLs but then have them come up to full brightness whenever the high beams come on. Give you the best of both worlds, but far easier to make work with halogens than LEDs.

[camdenthrasher]

One of them I had been considering was linked a few posts up, but I’m not sure I would trust the ones that don’t have any heatsink at all to either 1) have the power output necessary to be a worthwhile and bright driving light, or 2) if they were bright enough initially, that they would have the longevity to not overheat and dim or fail. 

 

I’m totally interested in what you end up testing and finding out though. I spent a dumb amount of time over the summer investigating LED and then later trying to implement HID retrofit in my hella 500s. I’ve since given up on that for now. 

[Simeon]

Slightly controversial view: why is everyone so desperate to put LED lights everywhere? They rarely out perform incandescent bulbs, particularly in something like a headlight or driving light and you probably won't need to get the benefit of longevity since the lights are usually not on long enough to wear out at an annoying frequency. What's left? Low current for a given light output? What's the point since you should be sizing the wiring to suit the load in any case. 

 

Phew. I said it...

[Dudeland]

15 hours ago, Simeon said:

Slightly controversial view: why is everyone so desperate to put LED lights everywhere? They rarely out perform incandescent bulbs, particularly in something like a headlight or driving light and you probably won't need to get the benefit of longevity since the lights are usually not on long enough to wear out at an annoying frequency. What's left? Low current for a given light output? What's the point since you should be sizing the wiring to suit the load in any case. 

 

Phew. I said it...

I am glad you got it off your chest... I was of the same view, but I rolled the dice,  I got Superbright LED's they colored lights are really nice especially if your lenses are faded.  The LED headlights are a quantum shift in brightness and they are much more efficient.  I did it more from a safety standpoint rather than a vanity standpoint.    

[ray_]

11 minutes ago, Dudeland said:

I am glad you got it off your chest... I was of the same view, but I rolled the dice,  I got Superbright LED's they colored lights are really nice especially if your lenses are faded.  The LED headlights are a quantum shift in brightness and they are much more efficient.  I did it more from a safety standpoint rather than a vanity standpoint.    

 

 

Well.

 

Let's see your beam pattern

[Dudeland]

Well... it isn’t so much a beam as it is a shotgun. I have high shotgun and low shotgun. To be honest I haven’t put them against a garage. I will do that soon and let you know . LOL:)

 

[Simeon]

I have been slightly jarred by reading the tech info on Daniel Stern's excellent  website. Not that I have asked him about LEDs specifically but he is very dismissive of anything other than the correct incandescent bulb in the lense / reflector combo it was designed for. 

[ray_]

7 hours ago, Simeon said:

I have been slightly jarred by reading the tech info on Daniel Stern's excellent  website. Not that I have asked him about LEDs specifically but he is very dismissive of anything other than the correct incandescent bulb in the lense / reflector combo it was designed for. 

 

 

When I asked Daniel 2 years ago, he said Philips makes an H4 LED bulb that kinda sorta works, but likely won't fit our housings. Probably this one:

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-PHILIPS-OEM-LED-Bulbs-for-Headlight-H4-6200K-12953X2-MADE-GERMANY-FROM-JAPAN/152833049579?epid=1247293702&hash=item23958f43eb:g:oYkAAOSw9mFWIz1Y&vxp=mtr

 

My H4's and H4 Supers with Narva bulbs are actually quite good.

 

As Daniel had said about aftermarket HID's (in H4 housings), the splatted bright beam pattern may make one think they are seeing better.

 

But they're not.

 

Cheers,