LED replacement headlight "bulbs"

[jimrankin]

I have had very little luck with the longevity of the headlights on my S2K. I'm using standard 7" Deitz type headlight buckets with H4 type light bulbs and if I run them on the street, especially in the daytime, they seem to overheat and the cheap plastic end where the wiring plugs into the three prong bulb base distorts, or melts completely. Since I use the type of headlight lens/reflector with a ring of LEDs surrounding the edge (used as my turn signals) I'd like to keep them and find something that creates less intense heat than the Halogens. There seem to be some good LED replacements for the H4 bulbs but they come as kits with small fans for cooling and control modules. Anyone try to fit these into a typical chrome headlight bucket yet? I've already thought about venting the buckets to cool the H4's so venting for a small fan isn't an issue.

There are some whole 7" LED headlight units available that will easily install as a full replacement but I'll lose the very bright and noticeable LED turn signal feature I like in the current lights. Thanks, JR

[coffee break]

A) I'm wonder if there are sockets that are made of a more temperature resistant material.

B) Heat sink with cooling fins sandwiched between the bulb and housing

C) Drive faster, more cooling air

[jimrankin]

There are several H4 bulb pigtails on Amazon/CL so I'll probably get replacements there if I don't get any feedback on making the LED kits fit. The ones that come with the headlight buckets are Chinese crap with very thin wire for the current required for the H4 bulb so that may be part of the problem.

As for driving faster, I'm not sure the CHP would go for the excuse "my headlights overheat below 90MPH" ;-)

[BirkinBernie]

Jim,

 

Get Painless Wiring headlight pigtails:

 

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/prf-80300/overview/

 

I have had a Painless harness on my Birkin since building it in 2001. I also have 7" Dietz type headlights with halogens. I run them all the time and have never had an issue.

 

Bernie

[jimrankin]

I was looking at the painless pigtails as a replacement. Have some painless stuff on the car including my headlight switch. Most of the painless stuff is made by them but the switch was an import that failed quickly. Painless replaced it without a problem and the new switch has worked perfectly. The first switch had an obvious manufacturing defect and fell apart internally.

Really want to get into an LED bulb install though. Going to take a really long trip next year on roads I don't know and want to run headlights whenever moving. Spare H4 bulbs are easy to find but the LED units are more reliable under road shock and general 7 type vibration.