2014-2016 Headlights

[1engineer]

Did you actually read this? I don't think you did.

This is about diffraction based on size and rate of particles and how the impact diffraction. Since you are not changing the reflective properties of your headlights those factors remain constant, quite simply this has nothing to do with the incorrect claim that HID lights scatter more. The results in figure 1 are variable with regards to optical axis which you are not changing when you replace the terrible factory halogen bulbs with HID bulbs. this is comparing how fog lights react through different conditions (dust, snow, rain)

there is nothing inherent about HID light that makes it scatter more. what is true is that blue light causes distractions because of scotopic sensitivity because of how your eyes work but you can get HID lights in warm temps the same color as the factory lights.



here is a source showing that you can get HID lights in warm temps
H11 Xenon Conversion | XenonDepot Xtreme H11 HID Kit

I think maybe we are talking about two different concepts maybe.
My point is output, not color is the problem in dust, sand, fog, snow or really heavy rain. Simply put, too much light reflects and scatters off the particles in front of you. Any light in any color is a problem when encountering a heavy concentration of the above materials.

The only real way to drive in those.conditions is to slow down and use a low output of light, like fog or marker lights. So installing higher output headlamps are useless when those conditions occur. Most of the time the stock headlights are useless so more or brighter light is even more useless because it is just getting reflected off the material in the air. Fog lights that don't put out much light and mounted low and most important going slow is the only way. Another link, this is for fog but is applicable in any low visibility condition. Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

 

[SierraMare]

Interesting discussion. I appreciate the OP's attempt to modify his rig, it is from work like this that I find my own inspiration to consider mods I never thought about.

Regarding light and improving vehicle lighting, I found this part from 1E's Daniel Stern link to be relevant:

"... shows that in the United States more people inappropriately use their front fog lamps in dry weather than use them properly in poor weather.

Why? Because we human beings generally can't accurately tell how well or how poorly we see. We have subjective impressions, reactions, and feelings about how "good" or "bad" our headlamps are, and they feel very real to us, but they're very far out of line with the objective, measurable, real lighting performance and seeing ability. It's not that we're fooling ourselves, it's that our visual systems just aren't equipped to correctly assess how well or how poorly we can see."

So based on this, I guess if it looks better, even if that is just perception, then go for it. At the end of the day many of us enjoy modding our rigs in ways we think improves them, and most of these mods are made based on our perceptions. And that is probably okay as long as it doesn't impact safety. But as been pointed out before, many of us lift which from a safety standpoint is bad. As long as one is aware of and accepts that every mod is a tradeoff, then I think a "live and let live" attitude is best as people gently share and debate their mods.

Oh wait, that's utopia, isn't it, and this is after all an internet forum? Okay, carry on...

 

[1engineer]

Interesting discussion. I appreciate the OP's attempt to modify his rig, it is from work like this that I find my own inspiration to consider mods I never thought about.

Regarding light and improving vehicle lighting, I found this part from 1E's Daniel Stern link to be relevant:

"... shows that in the United States more people inappropriately use their front fog lamps in dry weather than use them properly in poor weather.

Why? Because we human beings generally can't accurately tell how well or how poorly we see. We have subjective impressions, reactions, and feelings about how "good" or "bad" our headlamps are, and they feel very real to us, but they're very far out of line with the objective, measurable, real lighting performance and seeing ability. It's not that we're fooling ourselves, it's that our visual systems just aren't equipped to correctly assess how well or how poorly we can see."

So based on this, I guess if it looks better, even if that is just perception, then go for it. At the end of the day many of us enjoy modding our rigs in ways we think improves them, and most of these mods are made based on our perceptions. And that is probably okay as long as it doesn't impact safety. But as been pointed out before, many of us lift which from a safety standpoint is bad. As long as one is aware of and accepts that every mod is a tradeoff, then I think a "live and let live" attitude is best as people gently share and debate their mods.

Oh wait, that's utopia, isn't it, and this is after all an internet forum? Okay, carry on...

Story:
Last year a friend of mine invited my wife and I to their lake house to watch a movie. On most summer evenings, fog will come in off the lake and usually come about half way up their property and that's it. Just about every evening. Well, the "screen" for this movie we were going to watch was the fog! They had a projector set up on the lower deck and we sat up on the upper deck and watched an old black and white film shown on the fog bank. It was pretty cool and the clarity was fuzzy but sort of good. What was sort of weird was when the fog rolled around a bit the people on the screen moved too! They had to go down and refocus a few times because the fog front moved a bit closer.

Why am I writing this? Because it perfectly illustrates what happens in a heavy fog, dust, snow or rainstorm. The light (ANY light) will just reflect off the moisture or dust particles. Snow and fog are worst. Dust and sand, depending on type, can be just as bad. So slowing down, using low light bulbs and keeping the light low to the ground is the only way to drive in those conditions.

 

[e60ral]

that's all true, but also beside the point in the context of a claim that you shouldn't upgrade your headlights because "standard headlights also cut through dust in the desert far better than aftermarket HIDs" and "Toyota knows what they're doing."

 

[supratt]

We are splitting hairs here boys. Lets just enjoy these trucks...

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[tryangle]

Finally!

So I've nearly finished my headlight retro fit. I'm really liking the way it turned out. I kept the stock projectors but went with HID's and did a clear lens swap. I tuned the lens for great color and a crisp cut-off line. I also added clear reflectors for a cleaner look.

http://vid113.photobucket.com/albums/n204/Too-many-hobbies/IMG_2087_zpssf0mye0p.mp4

[MENTION=12771]supratt[/MENTION] - those LED running lights looks amazing! I've been searching for something like that since I bought this rig. Forgive me if you've previously posted this: do you have the info or links to where you bought those lights? Much appreciated!

 

[supratt]

[MENTION=12771]supratt[/MENTION] - those LED running lights looks amazing! I've been searching for something like that since I bought this rig. Forgive me if you've previously posted this: do you have the info or links to where you bought those lights? Much appreciated!

Hey thanks. I purchased/tested many, many LED lights over the last year in an attempt to make something that looked clean and somewhat factory. This was the best solution I came up with. You can get these strips off Ebay and they can be lengthened or shorted to fit whatever shape you want. We are lucky to have headlights with straight borders and angular corners so they follow the contours perfectly and look like they belong. Good luck, I wanna see what your design looks like when its done.

Once I finish my d/s light, I will post some better pics and show the colorful light spectrum output and clean cutoff at night as a result of the clear projector lenses and the HID kit. And FYI since people get all worked up over glare apparently caused by HID's in non-HID projectors, its the grain in OEM fresnel lenses that exacerbate the problem. These modified, properly spaced projectors are clean, real clean.

 

[philsey]

We are splitting hairs here boys. Lets just enjoy these trucks...

[/URL]~original[/IMG]

Nice work. Also appreciate that you stayed above the tired old fray of the HID whiners.

Oh well, I sure know I can SEE farther, wider, and clearer at night. Well, maybe not in the fog or dust once or twice a year.

eace:

 

[supratt]

finished my headlights finally. Really happy with them. Here is a night video...

http://vid113.photobucket.com/albums/n204/Too-many-hobbies/IMG_2129_zps1srselco.mp4

 

[r3apingcha0s]

By any chance how did you remove the headlight assembly. Removed the visible bolts and still not coming out. Thanks

 

[Baymax]

Link of video not working, anyway you can post up? Would love to see the headlights in action thank.

 

[gringo8251]

Any chance you have a good link to see your lights in action? Thanks. You've done a lot of work...interested to see the outcome.