About Me

Auto Parts That Typically Wear Out

Most vehicles are used every day or at least several times a week. With that much wear on a car or truck, it's inevitable that some of the parts may eventually wear out. For this reason, we started this blog to inform you about vehicle parts that often need to be replaced. We aren't auto mechanics or car specialists, but we do drive cars and we wanted to become knowledgeable about the various car parts and components that typically wear out. After doing our research, we decided to share our information with others to help prevent breakdowns and expensive repairs. By reading our blog posts you'll learn which auto parts including the alternator, fuel pump, and brake components you should periodically check to make sure they're still functioning properly.

Search

Categories

Archive

Latest Posts

Tags

Auto Parts That Typically Wear Out

3 Things To Keep In Mind When You're Upgrading Your Truck's Headlights From Halogen To LED

by Dale Gibson

If you're struggling to see at night or in inclement weather using the stock halogen bulbs that came with your semi, you may want to consider upgrading them to LED. LED conversion kits can be easily installed in a halogen headlight housing, and they can significantly improve your ability to see while you're driving. They're brighter than halogen bulbs and cast a wider beam of light, so they do a great job of illuminating the road. If you're thinking about upgrading to LED headlights, there are a few things you'll need to know about making the switch. When you're shopping for a conversion kit, keep the following three things in mind:

1. Quality Matters When You Buy an LED Conversion Kit

When you're searching for an LED conversion kit to upgrade your truck's headlights, make sure you read reviews from other truckers. Unfortunately, there are a few poor-quality products on the market that can be a hazard on the road. The position of the LED bulb within the headlight housing makes a big difference when you're switching from halogen to LED. It needs to be positioned so that the high-intensity LED beam from the headlight is cast downward towards the road.

Some low-quality conversion kits don't focus the beam well or have it positioned too high, which means your new headlights will blind oncoming traffic instead of improving your ability to see at night. When you buy a high-quality LED conversion kit, though, you won't blind other drivers and you'll be able to see farther down the road.

2. Heated Models Will Prevent Ice Buildup

Since LED bulbs are considerably more efficient at converting electricity to light, they don't generate as much heat as a halogen bulb. While this is usually a benefit of switching to LED headlights, it can become a downside when you're driving in cold weather. Halogen bulbs can become hot enough to prevent ice from forming on the headlight housing, while LED bulbs can't.

Thankfully, you can easily solve this problem by purchasing an LED conversion kit with a heating element in it. A thermostat monitors outside temperatures while you're driving, and it will automatically turn the heating element on when temperatures are below freezing. The heating element does a better job of melting ice and snow than a halogen bulb does, so you'll get improved visibility in cold weather after you make the switch to LED.

3. Converting Your Semi to LED Headlights May Require Purchasing an Anti-Flicker Box

LED bulbs draw much less power than halogen bulbs, and this can confuse your semi's electrical system. Some trucks have difficulty registering when the bulbs are on due to the low power draw, which results in them constantly switching the power to your headlights on and off.  This will cause your headlights to rapidly flicker on and off.

Not all trucks have this particular glitch in the electrical system. If your semi does, however, it's easily fixed by connecting anti-flicker boxes to your LED headlights. These simple devices just contain a capacitor and a diode. They draw enough power from your truck's electrical system for it to properly register when your headlights are turned on, which will prevent your headlights from flickering.

Overall, switching your semi to LED headlights gives you much-improved visibility at night and in inclement weather. As long as you keep the above caveats in mind, the upgrade is an easy one to make as well. When you need to improve your ability to see while driving, search for LED headlight conversion kits at any site that has commercial truck parts for sale. Read the reviews and pick a conversion kit from a reputable company to ensure that your upgrade goes smoothly.

Share