Tag Archives: conversion

Measurement Specs on the new GTR Lighting GEN 2 LED Headlight Bulbs

Posted by betterautomotivelighting on

There’s a new LED headlight product out there that people are getting really excited about because it’s an LED bulb bright enough to be used in your fog lights or your headlights, and it’s not built like an HID conversion kit. The new GEN 2 LED Headlight bulbs by GTR Lighting have 2 really unique things going for them:

1. They are “All-In-One” which means there’s no external driver or ballast.

2. They come with 5 different color shields that allow you to have 6 different colors of light output!

These two benefits listed above also come with their own problems:

1. Because the LED driver is built in and the bulb is “all-in-one” it’s actually taller than the old style with the external driver even though the bulb part is shorter.

2. Because they have hot-swappable color shields when you’re using one it adds a little bit of size to the diameter of the light emitting portion, thus making it not work with the color shields installed in some applications. If your car has a tight fit for the bulb opening, you might only be able to use these bare, without the color shields. Here are some pictures to demonstrate:

Here you can see a side by side comparison of the GEN 1 LED Headlight bulbs (left) and the GEN 2 LED headlight bulbs (right).

Here you can see a side by side comparison of the GEN 1 LED Headlight bulbs (left) and the GEN 2 LED headlight bulbs (right).

Here you can see the underside of the two bulbs. The one with the silver metal fan is the original kit and has a much larger diameter than the new bulbs.

Here you can see the underside of the two bulbs. The one with the silver metal fan is the original kit and has a much larger diameter than the new bulbs.

This picture again shows the GEN 1 (left) versus the GEN 2 (right) and you can see the bulb base is smaller on the new bulbs, but the bulb length is longer also. This fixes one problem of having a large base, and potentially raises a new concern of the bulbs being too long to fit some applications. It's more important to have a smaller diameter than a short length, so the new design will definitely fit more applications.

This picture again shows the GEN 1 (left) versus the GEN 2 (right) and you can see the bulb base is smaller on the new bulbs, but the bulb length is longer also. This fixes one problem of having a large base, and potentially raises a new concern of the bulbs being too long to fit some applications. It’s more important to have a smaller diameter than a short length, so the new design will definitely fit more applications.

Here you can see all of the measurements from the GTR Lighting GEN 2 Dual Beam Headlight Bulbs.

Here you can see all of the measurements from the GTR Lighting GEN 2 Dual Beam Headlight Bulbs.

The new GEN 2 dual beam LED headlight bulbs from GTR Lighting are actually larger than the old style when you have a color shield installed, but this isn’t really a concern with the dual beam bulbs because housings for this style of bulb are huge. If for some reason you do run into a fitment issue with the dual beam bulbs (a very rare problem) you can always remove the color shields to gain some space and run them at 5,000K color.

The single beam bulbs from the new GTR Lighting LED conversion kit lineup come in 2 sizes: the larger styles like H11, 9005, and 9006, and the smaller styles like H1, H3, and 880.

Here are the sizes of the larger single beam styles:

Here you can see all of the measurements from the GTR Lighting GEN 2 Single Beam Headlight Bulbs.

Here you can see all of the measurements from the GTR Lighting GEN 2 Single Beam Headlight Bulbs.

Here are the sizes of the smaller single beam styles:

How to Remove Radio Interference Using Ferrite Coils for HID and LED Headlights

Posted by betterautomotivelighting on

Many people nowadays are installing aftermarket HID and/or LED conversion kits in their headlights and fog lights. These new conversion kits use an external power booster, called a Ballast for HID setups and a Driver for LED setups. Both of these external power supplies do similar functions, but technically they are quite different. Also, both of these products create RFI (Radio Frequency Interference); in fact every electronic device ever made creates RFI, but there are different types of this electrical interference. Sometimes when installing an LED conversion kit or an HID conversion kit in your vehicle the result can be better, brighter light, but also a side effect of AM or FM radio interference. This is characterized by where you once were able to pick up a radio station, with the new lights installed and turned on, now that same radio station is just white noise.

Here is an example of a DIY ferrite coil that can be used in lighting installs.

Here is an example of a DIY ferrite coil that can be used in lighting installs.

The solution for your problem might be what is called a ferrite coil, also known as a ferrite bead, a ferrite choke, or an RFI choke. All of these names mean the same thing. Ferrite beads prevent interference in two directions: from a device or to a device. A conductive cable such as the input power for the HID or LED headlight bulbs acts as an antenna – if the device produces radio frequency energy, this can be transmitted through the cable, which acts as an unintentional radiator. In this case the bead may be required to reduce RFI. Conversely, if there are other sources of RFI, such as an ignition module or battery charging alternator, the bead prevents the cable from acting as an antenna and receiving interference from these other devices.

Ferrite coils are already used in everyday household uses. You can find them on USB cables, power cords for your television or home stereo, and even on input power cables on your automotive satellite radio:

Ferrite coils are commonly used in household electronics to reduce interference signals.

Ferrite coils are commonly used in household electronics to reduce interference signals.

LED Conversion Kits Small Ferrite Coil:

For an LED Headlight conversion kit you can use a large ferrite coil and wind the input power wires around it, or you can use a small ferrite coil, and just clamp it over the power cable:

LED Conversion Kits Large Ferrite Coil:

 

HID Conversion Kits Small Ferrite Coil:

For the HID conversion kits you can put a smaller ferrite choke around the power input cable of the ballast like this:

HID Conversion Kits Large Ferrite Coil:

For the HID conversion kits you can put a larger ferrite choke around the power input cable where the small wires are exposed. This allows you to wrap the wiring around the choke for a better result. This is how to install the larger ferrite coil:

Sources for Ferrite coils:
Large style designed for looping wires around coil: RND-6 ( Wurtz number 7427151 ) snap on chokes
The inside hole size is 0.57″ (over 1/2″, 14.5 mm)

Small style designed snap onto power input cable: RCT2 RFI Radio Frequency Interference Ferrite Chokes – Black
measures approximately 1.25 x .75 x 75 inches

Headlight Upgrades for new style 2015 Ford F150

Posted by betterautomotivelighting on

The new U-Shaped headlight housings coming on the 2015 Ford F-150 are definitely a unique new style, they even have an aftermarket style flair to them that many enthusiasts are already falling in love with. Gone are the days of having to replace your headlight housings with aftermarket units in order to have an aggressive look!

This new U-Shaped F150 headlight will come in an LED version, designed by OSRAM, with built in high power LEDs, or you can get the less expensive option that comes with halogen bulbs. If your truck has the halogen bulb option, you’ve still got options! You can upgrade to LED or HID headlight bulbs by using the products outlined in this article. Aftermarket LED conversion kits are still not brighter than HID, but they do turn on instantly, they last longer than HID and they are significantly easier to install.

Here are the products that you can use to upgrade these new headlights, fog lights, and tail lights:

2015 F-150 U-Shaped Headlight Bulb Upgrades:
Low Beam: H11
H11 LED Conversion Kit Upgrade
H11 HID Conversion Kit Upgrade

High Beam: HB3/9005
HB3/9005 LED Conversion Kit Upgrade
HB3/9005 HID Conversion Kit Upgrade

Fog Lights: H11
H11 LED Conversion Kit Upgrade
H11 HID Conversion Kit Upgrade

Rear Parking Light / Brake Light / Turn Signal Bulb: Red 3157
3157 LED Bulb Upgrade

Reverse Light Bulb: White 3157
3157 LED Bulb Upgrade

Here are some close-up shots of the stock headlights so you can double check, if your headlights look like these, then the products listed above will work for your truck:

Installing LED Headlights in 2014 GMC Sierra

Posted by BetterAutomotiveLighting on

We had the opportunity to see how someone installed their GTR Lighting LED Headlight Conversion Kit in a 2014 GMC Sierra so we thought you might like to see it also! The LED Headlights from have a built in heat sink and fan for forced air cooling. These cooling features do make these bulbs larger in size. Sometimes, as in the case of the 2014 GMC Sierra, the dust cover needs to be slightly modified. An extra rubber flap was added by this installer (custom build) to keep out water. The downside to this method is they are still not 100% sealed like they were in the factory, but this does allow you to still use them and at least keep water away from the LED system.

LED Conversion Kit installed in the 2014 GMC Sierra

 

GTR Lighting LED Conversion Kit in a 2014 GMC Sierra

 

GTR Lighting LED Conversion Kit in a 2014 GMC Sierra

 

GTR Lighting LED Conversion Kit in a 2014 GMC Sierra

 

GTR Lighting LED Conversion Kit in a 2014 GMC Sierra

 

GTR Lighting LED Conversion Kit in a 2014 GMC Sierra

 

The owner of this 2014 GMC reported that the light output is brighter than stock, and still has a good beam pattern like the factory bulbs. It is not recommended to install the dust cover completely over these LED conversion kit bulbs because without the proper airflow created by the fan inside the heat sink, they have a high risk of overheating and failing. The truck’s original bulb was bulb model 9012 and the product used in this install was the GTR Lighting #7010269 9006 LED Headlight Conversion Kit.

WARNING: HID Bulbs Will Melt Subaru BRZ Fog Lights – Try These LEDs Instead!

Posted by BetterAutomotiveLighting on

Did you know HID lights will melt the fogs on your BRZ? We will show you what happened to our BRZ and show you 2 good high power LED options so you can STILL have upgraded fog lights.

 

brz

If you’re like us, we love the look and power of HID bulbs in our vehicles and will use them any chance we get. So when it came to updating the Subaru BRZ we went all out and put HIDs in the headlights and fog lights. The strength and intensity of HID lights make them a perfect safety upgrade in headlights and fog lights during poor weather conditions. However, we found out that HIDs were not an ideal choice for our Subaru BRZ fog lights. In the Subaru BRZ, the power of the HID bulbs was too great for the fog light housings; within a few days they began to melt.

burnt fog lightburnt fog light 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HID light sources provide the brightest illumination available and are considered the benchmark against which other forward lighting technologies are measured. HID light sources provide three to four times the light output of standard halogen light sources and promote better driving visibility by providing enhanced peripheral vision and improved down-road illumination. HID Bulbs use up to 65% less energy than conventional lighting and can last up to 10 times longer, but all of that light creates heat. I recommend never installing HID bulbs in Subaru BRZ fog lights. We had these 35w HIDs installed in the fog lights for 1 week until we noticed some bubbles forming on the lens. Then within another week we also noticed the chrome reflector starting to flake and melt. As soon as we could, we ordered new housings and replaced them with new LED lights instead.

So now what, are you stuck with dim, yellow light in your BRZ fog lights? Not to worry, we’ve found two great options from Black Top Racing that will look great and keep your fog light housings intact.

Their first option is a 950 lumen 80 watt LED bulb from GTR Lighting. These bulbs will give you the crisp, white light of HID, with the long life and simplicity of LED bulb replacement.

led_fog_light_kit_level_1 2

Comparison of stock bulb and GTR Lighting LED Bulb in fog light housing.

 

Their second option is a complete LED Conversion Kit that boasts 2,200 lumens per bulb—that’s up to 2.5 times the output of standard halogen bulbs! Totally plug and play, this kit will give you the crisp, white 6000k look of HID without the higher HID price tag. Although the LED Conversion Kit doesn’t quite match the power level of HID, the LED Kit is a great choice where heat and melting issues arise. The LED bulbs in the Conversion Kit are molded from aluminum to conduct and dissipate heat through the bulb.  Also, an embedded fan in each bulb creates a forced-air cooling system to cool the bulb, prolong the bulb life, and protect your fog light housings.

 

LED bulb in housing.

LED bulb in housing.

Comparison of stock bulb and GTR Lighting LED Conversion Kit bulb in a fog light housing

Comparison of stock bulb and GTR Lighting LED Conversion Kit bulb in a fog light housing

So if you want to update your Subaru BRZ fog lights, learn from our mistake and looking into these other great options. And if your looking to make any other upgrades to your Subaru BRZ, take a look at all the other BRZ specific options Black Top Racing has to offer.

How to Upgrade to 2006+ Style 350z Tail Lights

Posted by betterautomotivelighting on

The Nissan 350z starting in 2006 came standard with really cool LED tail lights, so if you were “lucky” enough to get an older model (2003-2005) you’re stuck with the boring reflector/halogen style tail lights. In this writeup I’m going to show you how easy it is to convert your 2003-2005 Nissan 350z to use 2006-2009 style OEM tail lights.

First off I’ll tell you that I am NOT A FAN of using aftermarket tail light housings when something this good and easy to install exists. There are some cheap ~$150 tail lights out there for the early year cars that resemble the OEM LED tails, but they don’t fit as nice as OEM housings, they’re not as bright, and they surely won’t last as long! So, my first suggestion is to get your hands on some stock 2006 and up LED tail lights. Just make sure they have the wire harness coming out of them. I’ll explain more on this later.

1. You can see here a 2005 Nissan 350z with the stock tail lights, these lights are actually being lit up by LED bulbs, but I want to show you how to change the whole housing:

Here are the original 2005 tail lights that use an incandescent light bulb.

Here are the original 2005 tail lights that use an incandescent light bulb.

 

2. The first step is to take the tail lights off the car, and remove the bulbs and wiring from the tail light. To do this remove the three 10mm bolts on each tail light that hold it to the car and carefully pull the tail light off and away, then twist and pull the bulbs out of the housing:

There are 2 wire harnesses going into the housing. Twist and pull each one off and set it aside.

There are 2 wire harnesses going into the housing. Twist and pull each one off and set it aside.

3. Here are the LED bulbs we were using before doing the upgrade. If all you want are LED bulbs for your 350z, then these are a great option! We used the Reflex series 7443 LED bulb in red and the smaller bulb is the 5-LED T10/194 from GTR Lighting in red.

The larger one is the Reflex Series 7443 in red, and the smaller one is the 5-LED 194 in red, both from GTRLighting.com

The larger one is the Reflex Series 7443 in red, and the smaller one is the 5-LED 194 in red, both from GTRLighting.com

These are the best LED bulb replacements you can get to fit the old style housing.

These are the best LED bulb replacements you can get to fit the old style housing.

4.  The wiring to go from the old style (2005) to the new style (2006+) is plug and play. However, you will not need the smaller 2-wire connector that was holding the 194 bulb in place. Tape that up into the harness so it doesn’t short out or get wet:

Remove the 194 bulb from the smaller connector, and use electrical tape to hide it and keep it safe. It's not required on the new headlights.

Remove the 194 bulb from the smaller connector, and use electrical tape to hide it and keep it safe. It’s not required on the new headlights.

5. Next, don’t just remove the 7443 bulb, but remove the adapter plug that connects it to the wire harness. This is the one that will plug into the new 2006+ LED tail lights. This is what through me for a loop at first. I thought we were supposed to use the connector lower on the car and make that work somehow but that is definitely not what you want to do. This 3-wire connector uses an adapter: With the adapter it can use a 7443 bulb and fit the older style tail lights. Without the adapter it plugs directly into the new style LED tail light housings:

Here you can see the wire harness on the back side of the new tail light matches up perfectly to the disconnected 2005 wire harness. Make sure if you are getting a set of new style tail lights for your car that it comes with this little harness!

Here you can see the wire harness on the back side of the new tail light matches up perfectly to the disconnected 2005 wire harness. Make sure if you are getting a set of new style tail lights for your car that it comes with this little harness!

The bulb adapter comes off easily by pressing the plastic clip in the middle.

The bulb adapter comes off easily by pressing the plastic clip in the middle.

Here you can see that the 7443 bulb adapter and the LED tail lights use the same connection.

Here you can see that the 7443 bulb adapter and the LED tail lights use the same connection.

If you are trying to source a set of 2006+ LED tail lights for your Z car, make sure it has that round plastic cap on the back side of the housing, along with the 3 wire harness/connector that comes out of it. Without these parts built into the housing it is not a plug and play install!

6. Plug the one remaining harness in and mount it to the car just like the old tail lights! There’s really nothing else to it: The new style LED tail lights will fit perfectly and just the same as the old style housings with no modifications required.

Plug and Play Wiring

Plug and Play Wiring

Here you can see the OEM 2006+ LED tail lights on the left (driver's side) and the original older style 2005 tail lights on the right (passenger side).

Here you can see the OEM 2006+ LED tail lights on the left (driver’s side) and the original older style 2005 tail lights on the right (passenger side).

The new tail lights are beautiful, bright and very high quality!

The new tail lights are beautiful, bright and very high quality!

 

If you want to do other LED bulb upgrades to your car like LED rear blinkers, LED reverse lights, LED License Plate Lights or interior lighting on your 350z, check out Black Top Racing for all kinds of vehicle specific LED packages for your Z!

We only recommend GTR Lighting for high power LED bulb replacements because we only recommend the best!

We only recommend GTR Lighting for high power LED bulb replacements because we only recommend the best!

2013 – 2014 Dodge Ram HID Kit Install Guide

Posted by betterautomotivelighting on

We just revamped our 2013 – 2014 Dodge Ram HID Kit Install Guide for download here. This revised installation guide tells you how to remove the headlights from your 2013 and 2014 Ram trucks, how to remove the dust cover, how to install the bulbs, test and do the wiring. There’s even a section in the install guide for troubleshooting at the end!

NOTE: 2015 Ram trucks that use the exact same headlights require a different install method than 2013 and 2014!! This is because in 2015 Dodge changed the headlight control system and there is currently no plug and play HID kit on the market that will work for it without extra parts.

You can download the new revised install guide here:

Click to access 2013%20-%202014%20dodge%20ram%20hid%20Install.pdf

Here's Step 1 of the install guide, to see more simply download the install guide!

Here’s Step 1 of the install guide, to see more simply download the install guide!

This install guide is very intensive, talks about which kits work and which ones do not. Also we explain in detail some things to watch out for when doing the install, and tips and tricks that will help to make this install much easier. If you want to do an HID conversion kit on your 2013 or 2014 Dodge Ram, you MUST read our install guide.

We show you how to test and wire the entire system and give you troubleshooting tips too!

We show you how to test and wire the entire system and give you troubleshooting tips too!

Even if you’re just curious about how to do the install the instructions we put together will give you a complete idea of what’s involved before even buying the kit.

The Install guide is listed here.

The HID Conversion Kits are listed here.

New LED Headlight Technology Explained

Posted by betterautomotivelighting on

If you’re like most enthusiasts, you want to know what’s new and exciting coming to the marketplace and new headlight and fog light technology is no exception! I want to show you some information about a wild new product that I believe (within 4 years time or less) will revolutionize the automotive forward-lighting industry! Most car people have already heard of, and many have tried, the HID conversion kit available from many different places. Today they are commonplace at car shows and city streets. Until now an HID conversion kit has been pretty much the only product available for noticeably brighter headlights and fog lights, but just announced at SEMA in November of 2013 was the newest product in headlight upgrades. Introducing the LED headlight conversion kit!

LED Headlight Conversion Kits are Just Getting Started!

LED Headlight Conversion Kits are Just Getting Started!

Right now when this post is being made I have seen different types of LED headlight conversion kits that range anywhere from 4,000K – 7,000K and anywhere from 1,200 Lumen per bulb all the way up to 4,000 Lumen per bulb! This is a pretty stark array of options and one of the things to remember is that this product is quite new.  Right now most manufacturers only have one color available, but I think this year you’re going to see different places offering 5,000K 6,000K and possibly 8,000K as color options, but unlike HID kits there wills till probably only be one power level available for each style of LED headlight kit.

There are currently 2 styles of LED headlight conversion kits available: With Reflector and without Reflector. This (in my opinion) is the most important part of the whole product. Let me show you why:

The first style (the original type of LED headlight conversion kit) uses a giant LED chip on a flat surface and creates light in a chaotic and uncontrolled manner:

This LED headlight style with no reflector is an old model.

This LED headlight style with no reflector is an old model.

The new style of LED headlight conversion kits (released November 2013) are made by GTR Lighting and use a reflector around the large LED chip. What this does is focus the beam pattern and make it operate more like the original headlight bulb.

The new style of LED headlight has a hidden fan and a reflector around the LED chips.

The new style of LED headlight has a hidden fan and a reflector around the LED chips.

There are 3 main differences between the old style and the new style:
#1: The LED chips have an integrated rocker type reflector around each LED to help focus the light inside the housing, thus creating a more usable light. Just because an LED headlight kit is technically brighter than another due to having a higher Lumen rating, doesn’t mean it will work well. The trick is focusing the light – what use is a lot of light if it’s everywhere except where you need it?

#2: Hidden/Protected low profile fan – On the old style of LED headlight the fan was exposed and unsightly. On the new style from GTR Lighting you can’t see the fan, it’s hidden inside the heat sink and protected by a shroud. This makes them more reliable.

#3: The older style of LED headlights didn’t have a waterproof connection, and the new style does. Make sure whatever style you’re purchasing comes with a single waterproof connection! These things get mounted in places that likely will get wet!

You NEED to be using LED headlights with the reflector. Here's why:

You NEED to be using LED headlights with the reflector. Here’s why:

Difference between HID and LED Conversion Kits

Posted by betterautomotivelighting on

For a long time if you wanted to update your headlights to something brighter or a different color than stock the only option was to install an HID conversion kit, and this product has really been the only decent option for about 10 years now. In late 2013 a new product was announced by GTR Lighting that is set to shape the headlight landscape for the foreseeable future! I’d like to introduce to you the LED conversion kit and hopefully explain to you what the difference between this new LED kit product is when compared to an HID kit.

This infographic shows the main differences between HID and LED headlight conversion kits.

This infographic shows the main differences between HID and LED headlight conversion kits.

 

Here are the main points broken down even further:

1. First of all, HID and LED aren’t necessarily better than one another, they’re just different. You need to understand both products then decide what you want.

2. As of right now each brand is only offering 1 power level, where with HID you can get 15w, 35w, 55w, 75w and 100w. I imagine this will change in the future, but right now LED is only available in one size per manufacturer.

3. As of right now LED headlight kits are only offered in two color choices: 5,000K or 6,000K and most manufacturers are only offering one color. If you want a special color like gold or purple, maybe HID is more your style.

4. HID bulbs take anywhere from 4 to 15 seconds to fully “warm up” and get to their full light output level. On the contrary LED headlight kits are “instant on” and require no warmup time.

5. Single beam HID kits and single beam LED kits are equally plug and play as another. HID bulbs are smaller, so in some cases they’re easier to install. But when it comes to dual beam kits, LED is way easier to install. A dual beam (aka Bi-Xenon) will require a relay harness ran to the battery, and ballasts mounted and wired up at each headlight. The same bulb in an LED kit will be plug and play just like it’s single beam counterpart.

6. A lot of people are concerned about adding heat to their housings when doing headlight upgrades, especially when looking at replacing a low power bulb in a fog light with an HID. Now with LED it’s not an issue. LED headlight kits are almost half as hot as an HID bulb.

7. LED bulbs draw 2.33 amps at 23 watts and HID bulbs draw 4 amps at 35 watts. This is not really an issue for modern vehicles, but if you’re considering an install on an older vehicle with a weak electrical system, this power saving from the LED headlight might be desirable.

8. Considering that you wouldn’t ever have a defective bulb, by the time you went through one LED headlight kit bulb you could have gone through up to 15 HID kit bulbs. The longevity of LED is HUGE compared with HID.

9. Right now the best LED headlight kits produce roughly 2,600 Lumens of light per bulb, whereas a standard 35w HID bulb can produce up to 3,500 Lumens of light. This is the biggest benefit to sticking with HID. However, in the near future we could be seeing LED conversion kits that more than double that of a traditional HID kit.

LED Foglight Kit installed

LED Foglight Kit installed

Even though HID kits are still brighter than LED, and they come in more colors, LED Conversion Kits still have their merits. The above picture displays a 2013 Dodge Journey running a set of GTR Lighting 5202 LED conversion kit bulbs. The comparison shows how much better it is than the original 5202 bulb.

 

How To Install HID Low Beam Headlights in your 2007 – 2013 Chevy Silverado, Suburban and Tahoe

Posted by betterautomotivelighting on

One of our good friends at HID Light Reviews recently published a new video showing step by step how to install an HID conversion kit for the low beam headlights in any 2007 – 2013 Chevrolet Silverado, Suburban or Tahoe, using this HID kit from GTR Lighting – the install is the same for all of these trucks. You can see it here:

 

Whether you want to install new HID lights, replace your entire headlight assembly due to damage, or just replace an old bulb this video will help you out. This video applies to 2007-2013 Chevy Tahoe, Suburban, and Silverado.

HID Kit provided by GTRLighting. Find more information about hid lights, led lights, and other automotive accessories here: http://gtrlighting.com/