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  #1  
Old 09-02-2015, 04:41 AM
gijoe79916 gijoe79916 is offline
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CREE LEDs in an SVX?

I bought a set of CREE LED headlights to put into my SVX. I also bought the load resistors just in case I might need them. Put them in with and without the load resistors and nothing, can't get a single lumen. Has anyone tried this? What am I missing? My 94 SVX does not have daytime running lights and with the load resistors you would think that they would work just fine. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.
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  #2  
Old 09-02-2015, 12:31 PM
SoobCrazy SoobCrazy is offline
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Re: CREE LEDs in an SVX?

Well first off, I will say that you should NOT install those LEDs in your stock projector housings. It has to do with the optics of an LED vs. an incandescent bulb. The "shape" of their outputs is different and replacing a bulb with an LED (or HID) will not produce a 1:1 increase in lighting.

If you install the LEDs (or HIDs) you will be throwing less light at the road, where you need it, and more up into the night sky, into other motorists eyes; basically all the extra light output will be wasted.

You can retrofit modern LED (and HID) projectors into the SVX headlamp housings. THIS IS THE ONLY LEGAL WAY TO DO THIS. HID retrofit kits are illegal to install on a road-registered car and if you read the fine print, they SHOULD say "for off-road use only."

Just an FYI.
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  #3  
Old 09-02-2015, 01:41 PM
bishop bishop is offline
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Re: CREE LEDs in an SVX?

Talking to my friend that does HID installs the HID's will work in the svx head lights because the projectors housing are the ones you need. If that makes sense, its the chromed plastic reflector housings that dont work with HID's because of how the light is dispersed.
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  #4  
Old 09-02-2015, 06:37 PM
wdb wdb is offline
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Re: CREE LEDs in an SVX?

Quote:
Originally Posted by bishop View Post
Talking to my friend that does HID installs the HID's will work in the svx head lights because the projectors housing are the ones you need. If that makes sense, its the chromed plastic reflector housings that dont work with HID's because of how the light is dispersed.
This sounds right to me. Projectors capture all of the light behind a lens and so should be more conducive to bulb type changes than reflector headlights, which are very sensitive to the exact location of the light source.
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  #5  
Old 09-03-2015, 02:08 PM
SoobCrazy SoobCrazy is offline
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Re: CREE LEDs in an SVX?

Quote:
Originally Posted by bishop View Post
Talking to my friend that does HID installs the HID's will work in the svx head lights because the projectors housing are the ones you need. If that makes sense, its the chromed plastic reflector housings that dont work with HID's because of how the light is dispersed.


Nope, false, 100% full stop, do NOT pass Go, do NOT collect $200. This statement is completely wrong and uninformed. You need to go back and correct your friend, because he is spreading misinformation worse than Fox News. He may be a damn fine HID installer, but a physicist, he is not...

Sure the SVX has projectors. So do the 2006-7 WRX and STI. However, the WRX uses halogen bulbs while the STI uses HIDs.

Those two cars share the same housing, but the projectors are different, go ahead and measure one of each. I'll wait... Like I said in my previous post: the reflector or lens is designed for the specific light source that particular application uses.

Halogen bulbs use a straight, coiled filament to produce light. This produces a straight, rectangular light source.

HID bulbs have two electrodes and pass a current from one to the other. This creates an arc or "arch" shaped light source.

An LED uses a diode to produce light which is neither long and straight, nor an arc, it is a single point, like a period ".".

Can you see how using an identical reflector or projector with all these different shapes will cause the light produced to become scattered and unfocused?

Daneil Stern Lighting: Thinking of Installing HIDs?

Retrofitting Xenon or LED - Can It Be Done?
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  #6  
Old 09-03-2015, 02:09 PM
SoobCrazy SoobCrazy is offline
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Re: CREE LEDs in an SVX?

Moar links!

Are HID Kits Legal or Safe

Can I use HID bulbs In My Halogen Car?

VIDEO: Why You Don't Install HIDs In Your Car

Last edited by SoobCrazy; 09-03-2015 at 02:11 PM. Reason: Double Post
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  #7  
Old 09-04-2015, 05:07 PM
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WYOSVX WYOSVX is offline
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Re: CREE LEDs in an SVX?

I sent mine off to have the HIDs installed. It wasn't cheap and they project like the picture of the HIDs with the proper projector cutoff.

I copied someone else doing it. Sent off to Canada. Like it a lot. If you're interested, I'll dig up the details, especially since you live in Wyoming, too.

You bring my Wyoming SVX count up to 6 that I've seen, which is not a comprehensive study at all.
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  #8  
Old 09-04-2015, 07:28 PM
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Re: CREE LEDs in an SVX?

Whats the best 9006 bulb for our cars. Was looking Nighthawk Platniums.
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  #9  
Old 09-05-2015, 04:36 AM
Blacky Blacky is offline
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Re: CREE LEDs in an SVX?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sean486 View Post
Whats the best 9006 bulb for our cars. Was looking Nighthawk Platniums.
In my experience, Nighthawks burn out very quickly and are not worth the extra expense. I bought a lot of them and was lucky to get 3 months use before burnout.

I just got my big $12.00 cheque from the class action suit against Sylvania.
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  #10  
Old 09-05-2015, 12:17 PM
bishop bishop is offline
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Re: CREE LEDs in an SVX?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sean486 View Post
Whats the best 9006 bulb for our cars. Was looking Nighthawk Platniums.
Silvania's.
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  #11  
Old 09-05-2015, 02:47 PM
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Sean486 Sean486 is offline
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Re: CREE LEDs in an SVX?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Blacky View Post
In my experience, Nighthawks burn out very quickly and are not worth the extra expense. I bought a lot of them and was lucky to get 3 months use before burnout.

I just got my big $12.00 cheque from the class action suit against Sylvania.
Highthawks are made by GE.
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  #12  
Old 09-06-2015, 05:03 AM
wdb wdb is offline
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Re: CREE LEDs in an SVX?

I like HIR bulbs. Pop right in, no rewiring etc. necessary. Not high watt (and high amperage) so they don't stress the wiring and housings. Great light output. And they last a very very very long time. I had a set for the high beams in the STi for 10 years and over 100K miles. It's possible to replace the low beams and high beams in the SVX with these.

Rallylights sells them. Great folks.

http://www.rallylights.com/all/lights/light-bulbs
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  #13  
Old 09-07-2015, 10:50 AM
gijoe79916 gijoe79916 is offline
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Re: CREE LEDs in an SVX?

Thank you for all of the responses. Housing and beam efficiency aside can anyone tell me why these will not illuminate? I understand that most say I SHOULD not use them but why will they not work period? I should also state that I have already purchased some Sylvania whatevers (new greatest thing above silverstars) for high beams and cut out the tabs and installed them in my low beam projector housing which is working fantastically.
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  #14  
Old 09-08-2015, 03:51 PM
SoobCrazy SoobCrazy is offline
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Re: CREE LEDs in an SVX?

Quote:
Originally Posted by gijoe79916 View Post
Thank you for all of the responses. Housing and beam efficiency aside can anyone tell me why these will not illuminate? I understand that most say I SHOULD not use them but why will they not work period? I should also state that I have already purchased some Sylvania whatevers (new greatest thing above silverstars) for high beams and cut out the tabs and installed them in my low beam projector housing which is working fantastically.
They are choosing not to work to keep you from being "that guy." Stop doing illegal things with your lights. DO a retrofit and bask in the awesomeness of 100% legal lighting upgrades.

(I'm starting to see how Uncle Scotty over on NASIOC got the way he is today... kiddie bois and all... )
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  #15  
Old 09-08-2015, 04:03 PM
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WYOSVX WYOSVX is offline
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Re: CREE LEDs in an SVX?

Everything's legal in Wyoming. Don't you watch cowboy movies?
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