Many motorists tune their "steel horse", changing the standard lamp in the high and low beam headlights to LED. They do this on the basis of saving and improving the operational characteristics of light optics. But very often, such modernization is considered by the traffic police as illegal and may entail certain penalties. Are LED lamps stripped of their rights?
LED lighting itself is sold in retail chains on a legal basis, but its installation in low or high beam headlights is an offense because the changes made do not correspond to the factory characteristics of the vehicle. Many motorists who own inexpensive models (they already have LEDs installed at the factory) are concerned with one question: "Do they strip the rights for LED lamps mounted independently?". After all, no one wants, when faced with the traffic police inspector on the road, to find out “unpleasant news” that he was fined or deprived of a driver’s license.
Classification of lamps used in vehicles
Which are better: xenon, halogen or LED bulbs for cars? In cars, manufacturers install the following types of headlights:
- Halogen. This is the most common type of automotive optics for high and low beam. The power of the light flux provided by such headlights varies in the range of 1500-2100 lm. The duration of their work is from 500 to 1500 hours.
- Xenon They have good focusing ability and have a high-quality reflector. Compared to halogen, these headlights are more complex in a structural sense. Similar optical devices are divided into bi-xenon and monoxenone. Power of a light stream - 3200 lm, and duration of work - 4000 hours.
- LED light. A modern type of lighting technology, which is characterized by durability (the duration of being in working condition is 5000-10000 hours) and power (about 6000 Kelvin). How do LED lights shine on cars? Very bright.
Briefly about LED lamps
The light source of LED lamps (for cars, household and industrial appliances, as well as street lighting) are electronic devices such as LEDs, which are distinguished by their miniature size. In English, it sounds like a Light-Emitting Diode (abbreviated LED).
What is an LED lamp (SL)? It includes a base that fits all modern GOSTs and standards; a DC power supply unit that provides continuous emission of light, as well as a powerful semiconductor board specially designed for this product. What is the principle of operation of the LED? Everything is very simple: an electric current passes through the semiconductor, and a bright glow occurs.
Benefits
LED lamps are becoming increasingly popular among motorists as lamps for dipped / main beam headlights. This is due primarily to them:
- Increased brightness (compared with halogen counterparts).
- Reliability (in case of failure of one of the LEDs, the headlight continues to work, only with a slightly lower light output).
- The absence of a blinding effect, which adversely affects eye fatigue.
- Low power consumption (which significantly reduces the load on the generator and car battery).
- Pretty quick payback.This happens within 6-7 months from the start of their operation.
- Instant transition to the operating mode, that is, the inertia of on / off.
- Increased resistance to vibration (which is especially important when used in a car).
- The absence of harmful emissions and components, that is, environmental safety. Note: for the disposal of LED lamps do not have to adhere to any strict requirements.
- Long uninterrupted operation.
- Modern design.
- The color of the radiation, which you can choose at your discretion.
- The best value for money.
- High resistance to all kinds of external influences and durability.
- The ability not to bask.
disadvantages
Due to certain disadvantages of LED lamps, their scope is limited. These include:
- The distribution of light flux occurs in an uneven manner.
- Typically, the brightness of the glow can not be adjusted (that is, changed) using an electronic device such as a dimmer.
- Lamps are not suitable for use at very low or very high temperatures.
- Very often LED lamps are sold without specification.
Are they dangerous?
LED lamps are one of the cleanest sources of light in environmental terms. The principle of operation of LEDs involves the use in the manufacture of lamps only safe components. Most importantly, the product does not include mercury, so do not worry if the bulb is damaged or if it fails.
Some experts insist on the dangers of cold light emitting diodes, which are many times more than other light-emitting elements. But this statement is true only if it is a direct and long look at the light source.
Other scientists believe that they injure the retina through a blue glow. But at present, LEDs have already been developed that have a spectrum of light adapted for the human eye.
Which LED bulbs are best for cars?
Many manufacturers of light-emitting automobile devices now produce very popular LED lamps. The most common standard is the low / high beam lamp base H4 and H7.
In the market of automotive accessories, products from numerous manufacturers from the Middle Kingdom (NightEye, Oslamp, Infitary, Partol, S&D and so on) are most widely represented. However, their products must be treated with great caution. Why? The cost of a set of two bulbs is only 1,500-2,000 rubles. Moreover, the claimed characteristics are simply impressive: power - from 25 to 36 watts; brightness - from 3500 to 4500 lumens. That is, for such a low cost, such chic operational characteristics: most likely, this is a tricky marketing advertising move.
For example, a set of H4 G9X (24 W power and a luminous flux of 2400 lm) from Philips, which has been tested for several decades, costs 6900 rubles today. For some reason, I immediately want to believe in the indicators declared by the Dutch manufacturer.
Of the Russian manufacturers, products from DLED and Netuning are most widely represented.
The DL4 H4 SL7 Standart lamp, worth about 2,000 rubles (apiece), was designed specifically to replace the standard two filament halogen lamps. Power consumption is only 15 watts, brightness - 1300 lm. The compact dimensions (both the lamp itself and the driver) allow you to place them inside almost any headlight and close it with a standard cover. According to the manufacturer, the cut-off border of the lighting area when using these LED emitters completely coincides with conventional halogen lamps, so adjustment and reconfiguration of the headlight angle is not required.
H4 SL7 Premium with 12 miniature LEDs of the latest generation Lumi leds Luxeon ZES is much more expensive - about 3000 rubles apiece.However, its technical characteristics are higher - power 25 W and brightness 1900 lm.
Note: it is very convenient for the consumer that DLED sells its products for 1 piece. If one lamp fails, the motorist will not have to spend an extra 2000-3000 rubles.
Another well-established among Russian motorists, the developer is Netuning. A set of two H7-Smart2 lamps, each of which has 6 Philips ZES LEDs, costs about 4,500 rubles. Power - 25 W, luminous flux - 2500 lm. For comparison: the standard "lamp" with a power of 55 W creates only 1,500 lumens.
The presented review of LED lamps for cars gives some idea of the situation in the domestic market.
Drivers misconceptions
Most motorists are aware that for the re-equipment of halogen headlights with xenon lamps, they may face a loss of a driver’s license. But there is no such certainty about LEDs, and many naively believe that you can install them in the dipped or main beam headlights with complete impunity.
Most likely, this is due to the fact that sellers provide a potential buyer with all kinds of certificates, assuring that this type of product (namely LED lamps) is allowed in Russia for sale and, of course, for use.
Note: many of the certificates presented at the time of sale either expired or are suspended. No one prohibits the sale of such products. The question is different: is it possible to use LED lamps in a car.
What threatens the driver with the installation of LED lamps in vehicle headlights
The traffic police considers the independent installation of LEDs in the dipped / main beam headlights of vehicles as an administrative violation. The fact is that as a result of the modernization, the lighting devices cease to meet the requirements of the operation of the vehicle. Therefore, driving on such a machine becomes quite dangerous, as this can lead to an emergency on the road.
Are LED lamps stripped of their rights? Yes. In accordance with the Code of Administrative Offenses (paragraph 3, article 12.5), you can lose your driver’s license for a period of six months to one year. Also, the punishment for LED lamps can be expressed in the form of a fine of five hundred rubles. Moreover, lighting devices installed independently are withdrawn without fail.
And the rules of the road say that their installation is equivalent to such a violation as equipping the vehicle with special signals.
Important: LED lamps for the car are commercially available and it is not prohibited to sell them. That's just to install in the headlights, which are designed (based on the factory equipment) only for use with halogen or xenon lamps, is prohibited. This should be understood by every motorist who intends to make a similar tuning of his "steel horse".
We want to remind you once again: LED lamps for a car are available for sale and it is not prohibited to sell them. That's just to install in the headlights, which are designed (based on the factory equipment) only for use with halogen or xenon lamps, is prohibited. This should be understood by every motorist who intends to make a similar tuning of his "steel horse".
"The main provisions for the approval of the vehicle to operate ..."
This document also has the answer to the question "Is it possible to put LED lamps in dimensions?" Paragraph three of the requirements states that the equipment and technical condition of any vehicle participating in the road traffic must comply with the requirements of certain rules, guidelines and standards for its technical operation (for example, regarding the operation mode of lighting devices, their location, color and type).That is, if such a correspondence is not observed, then the car is prohibited on the roads.
“Technical regulations of the customs union” of countries such as Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus
This is another document that gives a clear answer to the question "Is it possible to install LED lamps in the headlights?". It states that the installation of LEDs in the headlights is strictly prohibited if they are not intended for use with similar light sources. It turns out that already in several documents there are quite categorical prohibitions on the independent modernization of this kind of your car.
When can they be deprived of rights?
Purely theoretically, deprivation of rights can occur if a replacement made independently, has a certain impact on the functioning of optical devices, that is, on their color, mode of operation and quantity. But in practice the situation is as follows - not all traffic police posts have special equipment for conducting the optics verification procedure. Thus, it turns out that road service employees will not be able to record a violation.
If the driver does not agree with the penalty
If you do not agree with the actions of employees of the State traffic inspectorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, who wrote you a fine for LED headlights or deprived you of a driver’s license, then you have the right to challenge this in court. What should be done in this case:
- Submit a complaint expressing complete disagreement with the decision that is in the hands of the motorist. The most important thing is to do this within the first ten days from the date of execution of a certain document about a fine (or deprivation of a driver’s license). In the event that a potential “culprit”, that is, the driver of the vehicle, could not be present when considering his case (or the fact of violation was recorded simply by a camera), then the ten-day countdown will begin exactly from the moment you receive it in the post office. Important: if it so happens that the ten-day period is overdue, then a complaint must be attached to the complaint, written in simple writing, with a request to extend the deadline, reasonably indicating the reason for the delay.
- The following data should be indicated in the complaint: the name of the body where exactly you are sending your application (this can be either a court or the traffic police); number and date of execution of the decision; the essence of what happened and reasoned disagreement with the decision that was made about you.
- Not bad if there are witnesses who were directly present at the time of the inspection of the lighting devices by the traffic police. We must turn to witnesses to testify in the case. Do not forget that the passport data of witnesses are required.
- The complaint must be completed by a list of all documents submitted to it so that nothing is lost. Note: if you don’t quite understand the basis of the fine, you can always check it on the “traffic police hotline for fines”. And then - to challenge the order in court.
Is it possible to legally install LEDs in the headlights?
Probably, now you do not have the question "Do they deny rights for LED lamps?". That is, all plans for tuning your "steel horse" are broken into "to pieces." Do not hurry. Not so bad as you think, and the answer to the question "Can I use LED lamps in a car?" in some cases it is positive.
Today, there are two options for mounting LED-lamps in the headlights, which do not entail administrative responsibility:
- Directly at the factory. That is, the installation of standard optics, confirmed by documents from the manufacturer. At the same time, the intensity of the light flux is selected so that there is no blinding of the driver moving in the oncoming flux.Important: you can replace old LED-lamps with new ones, and it is absolutely legal.
- On a vehicle, provided that the factory equipment provides for the use of LEDs on cars of a similar model.
How to legalize the installation of LED lamps in the headlights?
In order to legalize the installation of SL performed independently, the following measures must be taken:
- To purchase light optics, which absolutely corresponds to the model range of vehicles (if in this line the manufacturer produces other models in a similar configuration). Note: the seller must present a valid certificate for light optics.
- Carry out its installation in the headlights of the vehicle.
- Contact the State traffic inspectorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia (at the place of registration of vehicles) with a statement on making the necessary structural changes to the car.
- Complete a procedure such as vehicle inspection.
- Get a document proving that the design of the vehicle fully complies with all requirements and standards.
If all these measures are carried out, then no fines threaten you.
Finally
Car enthusiasts should have a maximum of information on this issue. And then everyone should draw conclusions and make an independent decision: against him or for LED lamps. The article talks about the advantages and disadvantages of such lamps and much more.