The best LED car lamps for 2022

Currently, LED lamps are trying to completely replace the "classic" halogen / xenon lamps from the design of the car. And the reason for this was not only their reduced power consumption. Among other things, they are much more resistant to vibrations and shocks, do not require frequent replacement, which is worth a lot in Russian road conditions. Moreover, they do not need additional time to warm up and they light up faster. This circumstance is extremely important on the road, because the supply of light signals is one of the most important elements of car safety in the process of movement, through which accidents are prevented.

The design of LED lamps

They are also called LED-lamps (from the English "light-emitting diode" - "light-emitting diode"). Such a light source does not contain gases inside, unlike halogen. The design itself is quite simple - the light produces a single crystal, which is mounted in a small reflective bowl, and to which power contacts, wire connections, a radiator and a distributing lens are connected. The body of the LED lamp is mainly made of plastic.

The LED lamp is always equipped with a matrix of one of 4 types:

• Ordinary blue LEDs;
• Diodes according to the RGB standard (red, green, blue - red, blue, green);
• Diodes that are attached to the surface of the light bulb (SMD);
• Diodes that are fixed on the board (OWL).

According to the base used in the design (in other words, by type), diode lamps can be marked with various Latin letters and numbers, for example, H11 or W5W.The exact gradation is presented in the ECE (Economic Commission for Europe) - "Document on consumer safety of the Economic Commission for Europe".

Main differences from halogen light sources

The design of the halogen source consists of a tungsten filament, which is enclosed in a sealed glass flask filled with an inert gas and halogen. Due to the gas, the brightness of the glow increases, so it allows you to increase the heating temperature of the thread. However, the resource of such devices is not durable - only 5,000 hours, while the LED lamp has about 30,000 hours. Moreover, "halogens" have a high heating temperature - about 150 degrees Celsius and categorically do not tolerate jumping voltage. LED sources are much more tolerant in this regard.

Main differences from xenon light sources

It is still much worse with xenon: it takes up to 3 seconds for such a lamp to light up at full power, and the LED will light up within 0.1 seconds. The brightness of the xenons is also low - about 70 MegaCandels (candles) per 1 square meter. For diodes, this indicator starts from 100 units. There is nothing to even stutter about the service life of xenon - only 3,000 hours.

Advantages of LED lamps

• Reduced electricity consumption - compared to halogen or xenon, it is several times lower. Standard consumption up to 30 W saves fuel. Of course, it cannot be called very noticeable - approximately 0.2 liters of gasoline will be saved for every 100 km. However, with reduced consumption, the load on the battery and, in general, on the entire power system of the machine is reduced.
• Enhanced stream of light - the light temperature of modern diodes varies between 6 thousand - 6.5 thousandKelvin, which corresponds to a bright sunny day. Imitation of daylight natural light, and not bright artificial light, makes it easier to drive at night. With such a light, the eyes are less tired, the roadway is better illuminated.
• Legality of installation - some LEDs can be installed independently at will, such an operation is not prohibited by law (at one time, the legality of installing xenon and halogen lamps was in question). Installation is possible on brake lights, turn signals, working lights in the cabin. It is also possible to install head lighting (H7 and H4) without special permits, but only if the car will be operated outside the public road network.
• Extended service life - Subject to the rules of proper use of LED lamps, they can last up to 10 years.
• Low susceptibility to shock and vibration - due to the fact that in the design of the diodes there are not fragile filaments and a glass case, then, in fact, there is nothing to break there upon impact. The thin wires themselves and the semiconductor element are securely fixed and protected by a plastic lens. Bearing in mind the uneven Russian roads, this factor will be important.
• Speed - LED lamps turn on at full power 200 milliseconds faster than classic lamps. Thus, installing them in the brake lights will allow the car driving behind to react more quickly to a stop in front of the driver.

Disadvantages of LED lamps

Their main disadvantage is that during operation they emit a considerable amount of heat in the direction that is opposite to the flow of light.Thus, their effective service life will directly depend on the quality of the heat removal system construction. If the heat is not fully removed, then this will reduce the life of the lamp by an order of magnitude.

In addition, LED lamps are much more expensive than traditional ones and are often sold immediately in sets (it is not always possible to find one copy on sale). The price can exceed the cost of ordinary ones by 50-60 times, however, this circumstance is more than offset by an extra long service life.

LEDs need a rated current to work, so you will have to use resistors or additional sources of electricity in the car's power system.

Places for installing LED lamps in a car

As mentioned above, it is possible to install diodes to provide head lighting only in the factory (if the motorist will operate the car on public highways). In all other cases, independent installation of lamps is possible. In general, the installation location will depend on the base of the LED source:

• Bulbs with an H7 / H4 base are often installed on headlights (although it is possible to install HB3, H3, H11, HB4 in the factory);
• H11, 10, 8 bases are suitable for fog lights;
• For direction indicators and marker lights, W5, 14HP, P21W and P21 are intended;
• For the main turn signals, T4W, W5W and T10 are used;
• Reversing lights use T20 and W21W sockets;
• Rear brake lights use 5W, P21;
• It is possible to install a T5 plinth in the cabin.

If diode light sources with a power of 12 W and having a luminous flux of thousands of Lm are installed in the headlights of the passing beam of the car, then such a circuit must be provided with a radiator.If diodes in the H4 base are used on these headlights, then two bulbs with a total power of 17 W are installed at once, with one for 1000 lm for the low beam, and for 1500 lm for the main beam.

Possible errors when installing LED lamps

The main problems that arise when installing such lamps may be their compatibility with the car's control unit. For example, it may constantly require a connection check. The reason lies in the fact that the auto computer monitors the presence of a light source based on its electricity consumption, and the diodes consume little of it, so the control unit may simply “not see” them. The problem can be solved in two ways. Firstly, you can contact a car service, where at the program level they will “register” the presence of an installed LED lamp in the car control unit (an expensive way). Secondly, independently install a ballast or a “trick”, artificially forcing the control unit to consider the LED lamp installed (cheap way). You can buy such a ballast in any car shop, it is called "LED can-bus". The price of the device is from 200 to 300 rubles.

Some properties of LED lamps from different manufacturers

• It is no secret that it is better to purchase equipment such as diode bulbs from well-known brands. Although Asian manufacturers are now widely represented in this market segment. The following are typical features for various manufacturers:
• Chinese manufacturers often use cheap components, which reduces the life of the lamp;
• In the same kit from a Chinese manufacturer, diodes may have different light temperatures, which will affect the quality of lighting (for example, one diode will shine with white light, the second with yellow);
• In Chinese samples, you can often find a poorly designed heat removal system, which again will affect the duration of their use;
• Western models, on the other hand, are equipped with ceramic insulators on a permanent basis, which cannot be melted, even if there are problems with heat dissipation;
• LED lamps of European manufacturers are fully reflected from the lamp, which provides a bright and uniform light, they do not dazzle drivers driving in the oncoming lane and are completely acceptable even to tired eyes;
• As a rule, the declared technical characteristics for LED lamps from Western manufacturers are fully true. If the operating period is indicated in the amount of 30,000 hours, then there is no doubt about it.

Rating of the best LED car lamps for 2022

Plinth H1

H1-G9TB-Philips ZES

Philips Lumileds Luxeon Z ES LED Car Bulb for low beam or high beam. It can also be used in fog lamps. H1-G9TB car headlight bulbs provide excellent light border. Supplied as a set of two items.

Name	Index
Number of LEDs, pcs	6
Manufacturer country	Germany
Driver	External
Radiator	Available, flexible
Stream of light, Lm	1000
Total power, W	18
Warranty period, months	12 months
Price, rubles	3900

• Maximum brightness;
• The presence of a radiator;
• Excellent heat dissipation.

• Small problems when installing in old machines - there is not enough space for installation.

Plinth H3

Kit H3-J1 Seoul

Budget LED-lamps of South Korean production with good light output. Each lamp consists of a matrix of 6 CSP Seoul LEDs. They are used as a worthy alternative to halogen lamps in high / low beam headlights. In production, a unique light scattering technology is used.

Name	Index
Number of LEDs, pcs	6
Manufacturer country	South Korea
Driver	Compact
Radiator	Missing
Stream of light, Lm	1800
Total power, W	18
Warranty period, months	12 months
Price, rubles	1900

• Simulates the filament of a standard halogen lamp;
• Has increased brightness;
• There is a current stabilizer.

• There is polarity.

Plinth H4

Light bulbs H4-55W - 4 Philips Luxeon MZ

This set of two lamps contains the most powerful LEDs currently produced by the German company Philips. Used exclusively for high beams. The lamps have increased brightness and use four diodes.

Name	Index
Number of LEDs, pcs	4
Manufacturer country	Germany
Driver	External
Radiator	Missing
Stream of light, Lm	2000 – 4500
Total power, W	30-55
Warranty period, months	12 months
Price, rubles	8000

• Unique arrangement of LEDs (at the level of a standard lamp spiral);
• The ability to adjust the base on the thread with a special key;
• An active cooling system is used.

• Not detected.

Plinth H7

Bulbs H7-S1 – 6 CSP LED Seoul

This kit uses the latest light diffusion system, functioning diodes give the impression of a conventional halogen lamp. Can be used for both high and low beams. The lamps in the kit are polarized (if one does not light up, then you need to dismantle the second one, deploy it and connect it again).

Name	Index
Number of LEDs, pcs	6
Manufacturer country	PRC
Driver	External
Radiator	Missing
Stream of light, Lm	1600
Total power, W	18
Warranty period, months	12 months
Price, rubles	1690

• Soft white light;
• Built-in stabilizer;
• Flanged lamp type.

• The problem of polarity could be solved with a "trick", but it is not included in the kit.

Plinth H8

OSRAM H8 LEDriving FOG LAMP 6000K 12V

This lamp is designed for use in fog lamps only. The model is characterized by high reliability and good light dispersion. The color temperature indicators are enhanced. It has a high degree of reliability and a long working life.

Name	Index
Number of LEDs, pcs	2
Manufacturer country	Germany
Driver	External
Radiator	In stock
Stream of light, Lm	1350
Total power, W	55
Warranty period, months	12 months
Price, rubles	6000

• Assembly reliability;
• No polarity;
• The right price / quality ratio.

• Narrow specialization.

Plinth H9

IPF V303HLB

This model is a veteran of the LED lamp market, produced in Japan since April 2015, received excellent recommendations. The diode has a simply prohibitive working life - more than 50,000 hours.The sample has a correctly constructed light beam geometry and does NOT blind oncoming drivers.

Name	Index
Number of LEDs, pcs	2
Manufacturer country	Japan
Driver	External
Radiator	In stock
Stream of light, Lm	3600
Total power, W	12
Warranty period, months	18 months
Price, rubles	6000

• Has its own cooling system;
• Extended warranty period directly from the manufacturer;
• Connects to all known regular connectors.

• There may be minor problems with the detection of the car by the on-board computer (ballast may be required).

In plinth H11

Brave Way H11 9005 9006 Turbo

A clear representative of the Chinese industry with Aliexpress. The model is declared as multifunctional, suitable for both low beam and high beam. Possesses the increased light transmission. Declared a standard working life of 30,000 hours.

Name	Index
Number of LEDs, pcs	6
Manufacturer country	China
Driver	External
Radiator	Missing
Stream of light, Lm	12000
Total power, W	12
Warranty period, months	12 months
Price, rubles	2500

• Extremely low price for advanced features;
• Versatility of use is declared (for cars, trucks, motorcycles);
• There is protection against dust and moisture.

• Ballasting will be required in 15% of cases;
• Definitely not installed in special vehicles of the brand "Volvo";
• For other European vehicles, you may need to purchase an adapter.

In plinth HB2

KAFOLEE 9003 HB2 LED Headlight 16000LM

Another representative of the Chinese market.Billed as a 100% replacement for halogen headlights for both low and high beams, the light is claimed to be 200% brighter and has 150% more dispersion. A full 360 degree lighting angle is set.

Name	Index
Number of LEDs, pcs	2
Manufacturer country	China
Driver	External
Radiator	Missing
Stream of light, Lm	16000
Total power, W	80
Warranty period, months	24 months
Price, rubles	1700

• 2 years warranty;
• Support in Russian (there is even a "hot line");
• Dust and moisture resistant housing.

• The 100% need for ballast for European cars is honestly stated.

In plinth HB3

HB3 9005 Dled Sparkle

The design uses high-power diodes of the latest generation. The case has the most compact design, which is extremely convenient for installation and operation. Built-in overheating protection allows you not to use external coolers. There is a possibility of additional focusing of the light beam.

Name	Index
Number of LEDs, pcs	2
Manufacturer country	Russia
Driver	External
Radiator	In stock
Stream of light, Lm	13000
Total power, W	12
Warranty period, months	12 months
Price, rubles	3450

• Has an adjustable stand
• Has its own moisture protection;
• The design uses ultra-bright LEDs.

• Not detected.

In plinth HB4

Solarzen HB4-38s35 kit (LG group)

The latest version of this model is used for fog lamps. The light bulb uses 38 LEDs, the body is made of a solid aluminum part, the power consumption of the sample is reduced by 8 times.The model is framed in a presentable package, it can be a good gift for a knowledgeable specialist.

Name	Index
Number of LEDs, pcs	38
Manufacturer country	South Korea
Driver	External
Radiator	In stock
Stream of light, Lm	900 (each diode)
Total power, W	13.5
Warranty period, months	12 months
Price, rubles	2400

• Comparatively low price for such powerful equipment;
• Easy and intuitive installation (does not require adapters);
• Universal for both foreign and domestic cars.

• There is no voltage stabilizer.

Instead of an epilogue

The conducted market analysis showed that the majority of Russian car enthusiasts prefer to buy Western-made LED lamps. Indeed, even despite their inflated price, one can be more than confident in a Western product than in an Asian one. Moreover, you should not buy very cheap fakes from the Internet sites of consumer goods, for example, from AliExpress.

The most laudatory reviews for this category of products from Russian users are received by the world-famous Philips company. Their light bulbs are made using the highest quality components and in general they are one of the first in the world to use this technology and supply a similar product to retailers.

In addition, most consumers note the fact that in Chinese online stores the product has overestimated specifications, while domestic or Western sites do not sin by providing real information.Thus, we can conclude that when buying LED lamps, focusing solely on price is by no means the best option. It is better to opt for a well-known brand.