Should You Use LED Light for Headlights? Tips for Optimal Safety

Yes. Yes, you should. That was easy, right? The best advice is the one that’s the most straightforward. Luckily, that’s not where our article ends, as we’re not even close. Knowing that you can use LED lights as your headlights is one thing.

Installing them on your vehicle is another. When it comes to altering your headlights you need to pay attention to a few things, with safety topping that list.

How to Keep Safety on a High Level When Installing LED Headlights?

LED Headlight

A few steps forward, and here we are. You want to install your new LED headlights. That is great! Millions of people all over the world are already relying on these lights. They’re very popular all over the globe.

But, when you decide to install them, there are a few things that must be taken care of to make sure that the user’s safety is guaranteed. Trust us, these are things you must pay attention to even if you buy quality products such as those you’ll find at Underground-Lighting and similar outlets.

The first thing you need to know before installation is that LED lights come with a few potential hazards. Here are some of the most important:

  • These lights are well known as being able to produce an electric shock. You need to take precautions to avoid connecting yourself to the wrong electrical current.
  • Secondly, there is a danger that you might cause a fire. If you make a mistake when installing your new lights. Poorly installed LEDs can cause circuits that will eventually lead to fire enabling massive damage to the entire vehicle.
  • Taking into account that LED headlights are installed in the corners of your vehicle the space for maneuver is quite small. You’re required to wear protective gear to avoid cuts and bruises, which can cause a lack of concentration and eventual poor installation which translates well to the two hazards listed above.
  • While the user’s safety is paramount you also need to take care of your vehicle. Lights that are not installed as they should are usually classified as poor wiring. When you have this definition tied to your LED lights installation the chances are that circuits will start to appear all over your car. This might lead to other systems malfunctioning and you do not want that.
  • Last but not least issue us an incorrect placement of LED lights. This is also deemed as poor installation and can lead to massive issues with the car in general. It can lead to other systems not working, your headlights malfunctioning, and in the end cause a fire or other damage due to poor installation, increased heat, and poor ventilation.

Knowing these hazards exist is vital if you want to ensure the safety of your vehicle. Having these lights is a nice touch, enabling your vehicle to shine brighter, and offering more security on the road, and a new appearance among other things. But, if not installed properly they will cause more damage than good.

How to Choose the Best LED Headlights For Your Car?

Once you’ve settled on the decision to have them installed on your vehicle, the time is right to start thinking about how to choose an ideal pair. First of all, you need to learn about compatibility. You need to pick those lights that will suit your care as if they’re coming straight from the manufacturer.

The ideal way to determine this is by going through the user’s manual which often hides the answer. If that doesn’t provide an answer you can use one of the many bulb finders available online.

Lastly, you can contact professional handymen with expertise in this domain. Talking to a professional can never hurt.

When you find lights that physically suit your vehicle, don’t think that the search is over. You’re not there quite yet. We’re about to move to a more important subject. It’s time that you start thinking about the brightness.

You do not want lights that underachieve nor do you want those that shine too bright. The ideal measure is what you’re looking for. LED headlights usually have between 2 thousand and 4 thousand lumens. If you want to look good on the road but have other drivers in mind you should go with something in the region of 2.500 and 3000 lumens.

If you’ve settled on the decision in the two paragraphs above, you can move to selecting the ideal temperature for your LED headlights. The usual temperature of headlights is around 3,000K which is a yellow that is often associated with fog lights.

At the other end of the specter, you will find 8,000k lights that shine bright blue. While the latter option might attract you, it’s not the best option from both the appearance standpoint and the on-road safety. So, for an ideal measure go with something between 5,000K and 6,000K.

Choose the Best LED Headlights
Source: blog.betterautomotivelighting.com

Pros & Cons of LED Headlights

While we’re all for it, you can find people who disagree with our love for LED headlights. So, to make sure that both sides are heard we are going to list a few cons and pros of LED headlights.

Pros

  • LED Headlights have a much longer lifespan.
  • They cost more, but as a result, they live longer which makes them more economical compared to standard options.
  • Better brightness overall, adding to the safety of night driving.
  • LED headlights provide better on-road safety due to the instant illumination making both your vehicle and any obstacle on the road more visible.

Cons

  • They are a pricey investment, and the initial cost might be too much for some despite the advantages available on the road.
  • They are more complicated for maintenance and installation compared to regular bulbs, both needing cooling components and precision with installment.
  • For better options you need to both part with more money and require professional installation.

Bottom Line

Getting LED headlights
Source: jdpower.com

There you have it. As you can see, there are plenty of reasons why you should turn yourself toward LED headlights. But, before you do, please read this article once again. You need to know how to approach this cosmetic upgrade to your vehicle.

It’s not only about being pretty. It’s about being practical and we gave you quite a good idea of how to be that.