Car, Truck & SUV Lighting
Aftermarket lighting upgrades are one the quickest and most cost-effective way to give your ride a custom appearance that everyone will notice while simultaneously improving driving visibility.
One of our specialties is LED lighting. LED's are revolutionizing the automotive industry. They offer a superior style and appearance, run cooler, outperform, and outlast the bland lighting provided in car, truck, and SUV OEM packages.
We also offer lighting packages that will give your car or truck a show quality appearance. From Plug and play HID kits, LED headlamps and color strips, to complete custom lighting tailored to your vehicle's specifications, Apex's expert installers will design a package for you that no other shop can offer.
Every vehicle is different and options are limitless, contact us now to discuss the lighting you envision for your car, truck, motorcycle, or van and our team of lighting professionals will help design that custom lighting project you've been dreaming about. To learn more about our approach to automotive customization, check out our about us page.
Lighting Services
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HID Headlights
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LED Headlights
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LED Bulb Swaps
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Halo Headlights
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LED Light Bars
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LED Tailights
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LED Light Strips
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Wheel Lighting
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Underglow Lighting
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Puddle Lights
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Strobe Kits
Apex Lighting Services
HID Headlights
HID Headlights are High-Intensity discharge bulbs that use an electrical gas-discharge to produce a high-intensity light. The light produced by HID bulbs is created by an arc discharge between two closely spaced electrodes. The discharge created is hermetically sealed inside of a small quartz glass capsule. HID lights require an electrical ballast to regulate the voltage supplied to the gas. The amount of light produced is significantly greater than a standard halogen headlight while still consuming less power.
HID headlights are common on modern vehicles, especially luxury vehicles. They produce a light that more closely resembles natural daylight. The light produced is more of a white light than the traditional yellow light that incandescent bulbs of the past produced.
At Apex Customs Phoenix we specialize in the installation, replacement, and maintenance of high-performance HID lighting. We can upgrade your car, truck, or van to HID lighting, swap out bad ballasts or bulbs, and recommend the best HID application for your vehicle.
LED Headlights
LED Headlights are the latest innovation in the automotive lighting world. They are significantly brighter than traditional halogen and incandescent lighting that was used on cars and trucks for years and put off the same amount of light as a 35 watt HID headlight kit. LED headlamps consume less power and turn on instantaneously unlike their halogen and HID counterparts. Another benefit of LED headlights is they do not require the large ballasts that HID kits require. They are available in a number of color temperatures like HID headlights and provide solid longevity and reliability.
At Apex Customs we have developed one of the most reliable direct swap LED headlight brands in the market. Axium lighting offers unparalleled lighting output and reliability to provide you with an automotive LED solution you can trust. To learn more about this innovative solution, check out our Axium Lighting page .
There are a variety of options of LED headlight upgrade and swaps. At Apex Customs Phoenix we can upgrade your headlights to LED, swap out old LED headlights, and provide a number of custom options for your headlighting needs.
LED Bulb Replacements / Swaps
LED bulbs have become a popular lighting feature on modern vehicles due to their low energy consumption, longevity, lower heat dissipation, and color temperature options. LED lighting can now be used for every bulb used in an automotive application. Turn signals, running lights, overhead lights, reverse lights, map lights, you name it.
LED's are a great way to upgrade your car, truck, or motorcycle. They offer a genuine return on investment with their low cost and quick installation that results in a noticeable difference. At Apex Customs Phoenix we can swap our your old interior and exterior bulbs in a variety of colors and sizes. We can transform your ride from a yellow dud to a white palace in a matter of minutes.
Halo Angel Eye Headlights
Halo kits are one of the single more head-turning upgrades you can make to your vehicle. With a small investment, you add a custom lighting look to your car or truck that will give it a show car look. Halo headlights, also commonly referred to as Angel Eye headlights are a white or colored luminous ring of light that goes around the edge of your headlamp bulb. They create an aggressive, distinctive look that will turn heads and provide an unmatched custom look.
Apex Customs Phoenix offers a wide variety of Halo Headlight options. We are an authorized dealer of Oracle lighting kits which offer the best Angel Eye lighting kits on the market. We can either swap your entire headlight housing for a pre-built custom headlight that comes with Halo Rings pre-installed, or we can open your factory housing and add a set of halos to retain the factory look.
LED Light Bars
LED light bars are all the rage in today's aftermarket and off-road communities. LED light bars offer a power light that can be used as fog lights, off-road daytime running lights, work lights, ATV lights, tractor lights, or industrial and marine lighting. When driving off-road, there is nothing that cuts through the night like a powerful LED light bar. Light bars combine a number of super bright LEDs into a single housing to provide a powerful wall of daytime quality light to cut through even the darkest of nights.
Common uses of LED light bars are to place them on the bumpers or roof of an off-road vehicle. At Apex Customs Phoenix, our expert installers can securely mount your light bar with minimal damage to your vehicle and route the wiring so it is hidden and safe from the elements. We can hook your light bars to an aftermarket switch, or integrate them into factory switches.
LED Tail Lights
LEDs are the perfect solution for automotive braking applications. They light up more quickly than traditional incandescent bulbs and provide a brighter, more noticeable light improving the safety of your car or truck. They also offer a distinctive, modern look to improve the look of your ride while reducing the energy consumption and power strain on your vehicles electrical system.
Apex Customs Phoenix offers a variety of LED tail light customization options. The most common LED upgrade is to swap out your factory lights to a prebuilt aftermarket LED Tail Lamp to provide a custom unique look. In some cases, we can modify factory tail light housings to utilize LEDs rather than traditional bulbs.
LED Light Strips
LED strips are another easy way to add a custom look to your vehicle. LED strips are flexible circuits that are populated by surface mounted LEDs and other components. LED strips are available in a variety of colors and sizes and typically come with an adhesive backing from the manufacturer. They can be cut to various lengths and connected to lighting controllers to add cool synchronization features like music, timer, remote, and switch activation.
At Apex Customs Phoneix we offer a number of LED strip sizes, colors, and installation options. Our certified installers can customize any lighting application you are looking for. We specialize in discrete installations that retain a factory look. We will hide the wiring and install the strips so they are hidden from view while ensuring the electrical connections are done professionally. We can even integrate the lighting to turn on with your factory switches and remotes.
Wheel Lighting
LED wheel lighting is a relatively new trend that has taken the aftermarket lighting world by storm. Wheel lighting is accomplished through the use of an aluminum wheel ring mounted with colored LEDs designed to fit around the brake rotors of your car, truck, or SUV. The TRON inspired wheel ring's illuminate the barrel of the rim to provide a head-turning custom look that will provide sophistication and flair.
At Apex Customs Phoenix our certified installers are able to install wheel lighting that will hold up to the elements while looking fantastic. Wheel lighting installations require electrical wiring to be run next to mechanical components that undergo extreme stress, it's critical that your installation is done professionally to ensure your investment is protected. Our installers will run wiring in such a way to ensure it's protected from the wheel, braking, and suspension components as well as the harsh elements the underside of your vehicle is exposed to.
Puddle Lights
Puddle lights offer a unique customization to your car, truck, or SUV that is both functional and unique. Puddle lights are designed to help prevent drivers and passengers from stepping into puddles when they are getting out of the vehicle. Puddle lights can be installed in a variety of locations, the two most common of which are underneath the side mirrors, at the bottom side of the doors, or the undercarriage of the vehicle. LED's are a perfect application for puddle lights due to their compact nature and bright lighting features.
The coolest new trend for puddle lights are lights that display a custom logo, word, or picture. The most common of these lights display the logo of your vehicle. Logo LED puddle lights are a customization that will truly set your car, truck, or SUV apart from the rest.
At Apex Customs Phoenix our installers can hook your ride up with any puddle light application you're looking for. Whether you're looking for several puddle lights on the undercarriage of your vehicle or a single led at the bottom of your side mirror, we've got you covered. We will ensure the wiring is hidden, the lights are installed with minimal damage to your vehicle, and your lights are protected from the elements.
Strobe Kits
Stobe LED kits are commonly used for industrial and emergency vehicle applications. LED strobe kits create a continuous or variable strobe effect on a series of LED bulbs. Strobe kits can be programmed to produce a wide variety of patterns and effects and come in a range of colors. Most strobe kits are illegal for use on regular streets and are only for use in offroad or show applications.
If you're looking for a lighting strobe kit, our highly qualified technicians at Apex Customs Phoneix have you covered. We can install strobe kits in just about any location on your vehicle whether it's discreet or purposely noticeable. We can integrate your strobe kits into your vehicle electrical system or provide additional batteries to allow the system to run independently. We will also ensure the wiring is protected from the elements and hidden from view.
Underglow Lights
Underglow lighting, also referred to as ground effects lighting, is one of the most unique lighting upgrades you can add to your ride. LED underbody kits attach to the chassis of your car, truck, or SUV to illuminate the ground underneath the vehicle. Popular in car shows, under glow lighting adds an unmistakable aesthetic appeal to your ride that will catch the attention of every passerby.
When ground effects lighting first hit the automotive industry, the most common kits came as large lighting tubes filled with neon gas. Although neon gas only produces red colors, manufacturers utilized a mixture of other various to produce up to 150 color combinations. The problem with neon tubes is they consist of compressed gas which makes them prone to breakage over speed bumps. Thankfully there is a new underglow lighting solution that is capable of standing up to the harsh elements a car, truck, SUV or motorcycle encounters on the road.
LED ground effects lighting is the hottest new trend in underglow lighting. LEDs are not only available is a wide range of colors, they are flexible and durable enough to withstand the hazards of a vehicle's chassis and underbody. At our Phoenix automotive LED lighting shop, our expert technicians can install any under glow lighting kit you are looking for.
Custom Lighting Packages
For the true lighting enthusiasts looking for a combination of lighting upgrades, Apex Customs Phoenix offers packages that allow you to do all your upgrades at once at a reduced rate. If you're looking to upgrade your headlights, add some Halo's, and swap out your interior lights for LED's we've everything you need. Our sales staff can help put together a package of LED's that will take your car from boring to thrilling in one afternoon.
Oracle Lighting
At Apex Customs we only put our reputation behind brands we know will give you the quality, durability, and performance that will go the extra mile. When customizing a car, we understand the importance of high-quality products to really give your car the edge it deserves. Oracle Lighting and Diode Dynamics are exactly that, they are the market leaders in all things automotive lighting are we are proud to carry and install their products.
Oracle Lighting is the leading US specialty automotive LED manufacturer and retailer. The have been in business for well over a decade and carry a wide variety of automotive lighting solutions including:
- Halo Kits
- Pre-Assembled Headlight Housings
- LED Sealed Beams
- LED Controllers
- LED Strips
- LED Off Road Lighting
- LED Headlight Bulbs
- LED Wheel Rings
- HID Kits and Ballasts
- Xenon Light Replacements
- HID Off Road Lights
- LED Illuminated Badges
- LED Light Pods
- LED Switches
- LED Interior Bulbs
- LED Turn Signals
- LED Scanner Bars
- LED Side Markers
- Door LED Projectors
- LED Motorcycle Kits
- Chrome and HOD Bulbs
Diode Dynamics is a premium manufacturer of automotive LED Lighting products. Their primary focus is on developing innovate lighting products with superior quality and excellent customer services. One of the aspects of Diode Dynamics that we like best at Apex Customs is they manufacture the majority of their lighting products in the USA in their St. Louis Missouri factory. All of the products offered by Diode Dynamics are backed by an industry-leading no-hassle warranty with an emphasis on providing hte best service and support experience possible.
Diode Dynamics Offerings
- LED Bulbs
- LED Light Bars
- HID Halos & Strips
- LED Angel Eye Rings
- LED Strips and Kits
- HID Lighting
- Fog Lamps
- Sidemarkers
- 4th Brake Lights
- LED Deamon Eyes
Lighting Color Temperatures
Choosing a color temperature for your lighting from the vast array of options available can be a challenging task. In general, if you're looking for the white light you see on most modern luxury vehicles then a color temperature in the 5000K to 6000k is your best choice. The 5k to 6k range resembles sunlight the closest and is easiest for the human eye to see. You're going to get the best visibility from this color range.
What is Color Temperature?
Color temperature is the color designation for each hue in the light spectrum in relation to how it's perceived by the human eye. Kelvin is the unit of measure used for color temperature. A Kelvin is a unit of absolute temperature which is converted to Lumens which equates to the brightness emitted by the light. The higher the color temperature, the less helpful the light is at cutting through darkness leading to lower visibility which is contrary to the popular belief that higher temperatures mean more brightness.
| COLOR | TEMPERATURE | DESCRIPTION |
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| Yellow | 3000K | Pure yellow light emission commonly found in halogens |
| OEM White | 4300K | Yellowish-white emission similar to dim white light |
| Pure White | 5000K | Pure white light emission. Simulates natural light |
| Crystal White | 6000K | Pure White light emission with a bit of blue |
| Light Blue | 8000K | A bluish-white light emission with more blue percentage |
| Blue | 10,000K | Dark Blue light bordering on violet |
| Violet | 12,000K | Dark Violet |
What are Halo Projector Headlights?
Projector headlights, also known as Halo, Corona Rings, and Angel Eye headlights are a popular lighting customization in the aftermarket automotive industry. Project headlights are luminous rings inside of the headlamp assembly around the central headlight on a car or truck. Halo headlights were first introduced by BMW in 2000 and have become a very popular customization feature used by automotive enthusiasts to enhance the front end of a car or truck's appearance.
Beyond the cool factor, Halo headlamps have a functional quality which provides a stronger headlight beam over conventional crystal headlights. A projector headlight provides a more focused light beam providing a stronger light to see down a dark road. Angel Eye headlights have become standard on most luxury equipped European vehicles and are available today in a wide variety of colors, options, styles, and technologies. Corona rings will give your car or truck an aggressive look while also improving the light output of your headlights.
Projector Headlight History
When headlight technology was first introduced, the headlamp utilized acetylene lamps with a reflecting mirror to project the light forward. Over the years through technology advancements, headlights have evolved into a high-tech automotive part providing an array of customization options while creating high-impact illumination.
Headlight assemblies which became popular in the 1980’s were designed to encompass all of the front-end lighting components of a vehicle into a single unit. Their bulky construction, made out of parabolic reflectors, prevented intricate designs from being used by automotive designers. This lead to headlight assemblies on cars and trucks that were less than appealing. The projector bulbs that were developed in the early 2000s allowed auto manufacturers to design innovative headlamps and assemblies including the now common halo ring. The introduction of Halo headlights created a revolutionary look which gave new vehicles a designer look and stance to the vehicles front end.
The first halo headlights introduced by BMW were called Corona Rings. Over the years, lighting technology has improved drastically allowing halo headlamps to be utilized as daytime running lights (DRL) as well as evening city lights. Early halo headlights used halogen bulbs paired with a fiber optic system to transmit the light throughout the ring channel. This technology was replaced by BMW by energy-saving LEDs to power the corona ring channel. BMW now integrates their halo rings into their bi-xenon headlights which is a signature design element which has server to distinguish BMW cars and SUV’s on the road. Today the Chevrolet Camaro and Impala both come standard from the manufacturer with halo-ring headlights equipped.
Types of Halo Headlights
Halo Headlights come in a wide variety of technologies, colors, and styles. Projector halo headlights come in three different technology types: CCFL, LED, and Plasma. Traditional Halo rings used by most auto manufacturers are illuminated by one or two incandescent bulbs which produce the distinctive “angel eye” effect by creating dark and bright spots inside the enclosed halo ring.
CCFL Halo Headlights
CCFL technology has been used for Halo headlight technology the longest. CCFL provides the smooth glow which hides the individual lights in the halo ring which most automotive enthusiasts prefer. Each CCFL halo ring is made from a small fluorescent tube which is developed to last up to 50,000 hours of continuous use. CCFL Projector Halo Headlamps are the most widely available and cheapest options available on the market because they have been available the longest.
The downside of CCFL headlights are they are not as bright and noticeable as LED and Plasma Halo headlight options. They are best for dark environments to get the best performance out of your Halo investment.
LED Halo Headlights
LED Halo Rings also known as SMD Halo's are developed and manufactured to be ultra-bright. The allows your Halo's to bee seen in both during the day and night. If you want your Halo's to be visible all the time, SMD Halo's are your best option. Another benefit of LED Halo headlights is the ability to have multiple colors due to the individual lights that make up the Halo ring. With kits like Oracle's colorSHIFT, you can change the color of your Halo ring with the simple click of a button or remote.
Another advantage of LED SMD Halo's is the ability to utilize LED controllers to do cool effects like sound activation and customized programmable patterns. LED Halo rings are also more durable than CCFL Halos with a life of 60,000 hours of continuous use. One disadvantage is LED Halo's are made up of individual lights so you don't get that continuous fluid look like CCFL or Plasma options.
Plasma Halo Headlights
Plasma Halo's are the latest technological advancement from Oracle. Oracle's goal in developing Plasma Halo's was to combine the advantages of both CCFL and LED so customers wouldn't have to choose between the two technologies. Released in 2013, the major downside of Plasma Halo's is the inability to change colors.
Plasma Halo's provide the smooth, fluid look that CCFL offers only in an ultra-bright package which can be seen during either day or night. If you are only looking for a single color for your Halo Rings, Plasma is without a doubt your best option. Plasma Halo's offer 100,000 hours of continuous use so they will never burn out and will last the life of your vehicle.
One other drawback of Plasma Halo's is you can't control them by remotes or controllers like the LED variety.
What is LED Lighting?
Incandescent bulbs have dominated the automotive industry since the days of Henry Ford. Today there is a new player in town that is quickly forcing old faithful to the lighting scrap heap. LED lighting, short of Light Emitting Diode, has become the bulb of choice for vehicle manufacturers and car enthusiasts a like. An LED is a transistor, combined with a substrate, which emits light when electrical current is applied. The LED bulb has a number of advantages over traditional incandescent lighting which makes is attractive for automotive use:
LED Lighting has become so popular for car and truck applications that there are now LED options for every conventional automotive lighting application. Headlights, taillights, turn signals, running lamps, car interior lighting, engine bay lighting, you name it, LEDs can handle it. LED’s have also created new applications for automotive lighting that previously didn’t exist. LED Lighting can be installed in applications and locations that were previously impossible with fluorescent and incandescent bulbs. The days of the fluorescent undercarriage lighting tubes that were subject to damage from weather and vibrations are over!
Chevrolet Corvette Paves the Way for Automotive LED’s
The first use of LEDs in an automotive application was on the Chevrolet Corvette in 1983 which had an LED on the center high mount stop lamp. LEDs are perfect for a stop lamp because they light up instantaneously giving the driver behind more time to react to the light and avoid an accident when a car or truck makes an unexpected stop. 0.2 seconds faster make may seem insignificant, however, at 75 mph this translates to 21 feet of extra braking distance which could literally mean the difference between life and death.
LED’s have an RGB color spectrum which allows them to emit any color from the same LED unit. In order to display different colors, an LED unit is either setup with three different LEDs, one emitting blue, one emitting red, and one green light in one unit, or they can be built as one LED which is doped with three difference substances allowing for blue, green, or red when electrical current is applied. Through the use of resistors to control the current applied to the bulb, LEDs can emit any combination of colors.
The multicolor capabilities of LEDs make it possible for one strip of LEDs to perform multiple functions in an automotive application. They can blink amber for turn signals, light up white for backup lights, or red for braking. LEDs can also be timed to either light all bulbs simultaneously as a single unit or sequentially to create a lighting pattern such as a running turn
Flexible Compactness
LEDs are small and compact which allows them to be made into small, flexible lighting strips which can be twisted and tweaked into locations that traditional incandescent lighting would never fit. Running lights are a perfect example of this. LEDs can be contoured to the shape and style of a vehicle's body providing a unique, unmistakable look such as the LED “whiskers” that are characteristic of Audi headlights. LED strips can be used in interior applications such as foot well or dash compartment lighting. They can be used in exterior applications such as undercarriage lighting, puddle lights, or engine compartment lighting. They can be installed in such a way that they are hidden and invisible when not lit. LED’s are perfect for these applications because they don’t burn out, consume little energy, produce low heat, and are maintenance free.
LED Headlights are In
LED headlights are the hottest new trend in automotive lighting. They have become powerful enough, bright enough, and reliable enough to replace the traditional incandescent and HID headlamps that have dominated the automotive industry for generations. Modern LED design has combined advanced optical design with intricate cooling devices to make them the application of choice for car & truck enthusiasts. LED headlamps offer a wide spectrum of color temperatures without the unreliability traditionally found in HID and incandescent bulb kits.
Benefits of LED Lighting
Long Life
Long life time stands out as the number one benefit of LED lights. LED bulbs and diodes have an outstanding operational life time expectation of up to 100.000 hours. This is 11 years of continuous operation, or 22 years of 50% operation. If you leave on the LED fixture for 8h per day it would take around 20 years before you’d have to replace the LED bulb.
LED’s are different to standard lighting: They don’t actually burn out and stop working like a standard light, moreover, the lighting diodes emit lower output levels over a very long period and become less bright.
Energy Efficiency
Today's most efficient way of illumination and lighting, with an estimated energy efficiency of 80%-90% when compared to traditional lighting and conventional light bulbs. This means that about 80% of the electrical energy is converted to light, while 20% is lost and converted into other forms of energy such as heat.
With traditional incandescent light bulbs who operate at 20% energy efficiency only, 80% of the electricity is lost as heat. That heat wreaks havoc on the plastics that headlights, tail makers, fog lights, etc are made of. The low heat will help your car maintain the new look it had when it drove off the light.
Ecologically Friendly
LED lights are free of toxic chemicals. Most conventional fluorescent lighting bulbs contain a multitude of materials like e.g mercury that are dangerous for the environment.
LED lights contain no toxic materials and are 100% recyclable, and will help you to reduce your carbon footprint by up to a third. The long operational life time span mentioned above means also that one LED light bulb can save material and production of 25 incandescent light bulbs. A big step towards a greener future!
Durable Quality
LEDs are extremely durable and built with sturdy components that are highly rugged and can withstand even the roughest conditions.
Because LED lights are resistant to shock, vibrations and external impacts, they are a perfect fit for automotive lighting systems that are exposed to rough conditions and exposure to weather, wind, rain or even external vandalism.
Zero UV Emissions
LED illumination produces little ratiated light and close to no UV emissions.
Because of this, LED lighting is highly suitable not only for goods and materials that are sensitive to heat due to the benefit of little radiated heat emission but also for illumination of UV sensitive objects or materials such as in museums, art galleries, archeological sites, etc.
Design Flexibility
LEDs can be combined in any shape to produce highly efficient illumination. Individual LEDs can be dimmed, resulting in a dynamic control of light, color and distribution. Well-designed LED illumination systems can achieve fantastic lighting effects, not only for the eye but also for the mood and the mind.
Operational in Extremely Cold or Hot Temperatures
LED are ideal for operation under cold and low outdoor temperature settings. For fluorescent lamps, low temperatures may affect operation and present a challenge, but LED illumination operates well also in cold environments, such as for outdoor winter settings, freezer rooms etc.
Light Dispersement
LED is designed to focus its light and can be directed to a particular location without the use of an external reflector, achieving a higher application efficiency than conventional lighting. Well-designed LED illumination systems can deliver light more efficiently to the desired location.
Instant Lighting & Frequent Switching
LED lights brighten up immediately and when powered on, which has significant advantages for infrastructure projects such as e.g., traffic and signal lights.
Also, LED lights can switch off and on frequently and without affecting the LED’s lifetime or light emission. In contrast, traditional lighting may take several seconds to reach full brightness, and frequent on/off switching does drastically reduce operational life expectancy.
Low-Voltage
A low-voltage power supply is sufficient for LED illumination. This makes it easy to use LED lighting also in outdoor settings, by connecting an external solar-energy source and is a significant advantage when it comes to using LED technology in remote or rural areas.
#lightrestoration
Light Restoration
After years on the road in the Arizona sun, headlights and taillights become scratched, pitted and discolored, which impacts the clarity and effectiveness of these lights. At Apex Customs, we can restore the OEM lenses and housings on your headlights and taillights so they are crystal clear again, and function like new. The process includes use of a special compound and procedure that removes surface oxidation and imperfections in the lenses and housings. Apex can also smoke your lights, giving it a distinctive style, while preserving the functionality of these lights.
Light Restoration Benefits:
- Light Housings Look New Again
- Headlight Clarity is Restored
- Protected Against UV Damage
- Headlight Function Improved
- Distinctive Styling
Automotive Lighting Q&A
How do LEDs Work?
Automotive LEDs are manufactured with two primary components: the LED chip which produces light and the heat sink which keeps the bulb cool. LEDs convert DC power and convert it to light. The heat sink captures the heat that dissipates from the light. While LEDs do produce significantly less heat than traditional incandescent bulbs, they do produce heat which must be managed.
LED's produce electrical power which excites electrons. When an electron jumps from one state to another, it produces a small amount of light called a photo. LEDs essentially cause photons to be produced by continuously exciting electrons through electrical work. This process differs from a halogen or incandescent bulb which uses electrical current to heat a filament until it glows.
How do I find the brightest LED bulbs?
The brightness of an LED bulb is measured in lumens. A lumen is equal to the amount of light emitted by the bulb per second and is the universal measurement used to determine a lights brightness. In addition to lumens, another consideration is how many LED bulbs are used in your application. Generally speaking, the more LED bulbs, the brighter the light you will receive from the device.
What's the difference between warm white and cool white?
White bulbs come in two temperatures. Cool white light generally has a temperature rating of 5000K and 8000k and produces a light similar to sunlight and fluorescent light. Warm white has a temperature in the 2500k to 4000k range and has a color more closely resembling incandescent lighting.
What is an LED panel?
An LED panel is a circuit board that includes multiple bulbs attached. A lighting panel replaces a single bulb to provide you with brighter lighting from multiple LEDs rather than just one.
My stock headlights are 55w, do I need 55w HIDs?
No. Because HIDs produce their light more efficiently than traditional halogen bulbs, they require less power to produce the same amount of light. 35w HIDs produce more than twice the amount of lumens than a 55w halogen bulb depending on the color temperature you choose. 55w HIDs produce about 40% more light than a 35w HIDs. A 35w HIDs create more than enough light for a low beam application which makes 55w low beams unnecessary. HIDs are not a good application for high beams because they take too long to fire up.
I’m looking for headlights with a slight tint of blue, what’s the best temperature color for me?
Any HID or LED headlight within a color range of 4300k to 12000k will produce a shade of blue. We recommend staying in the 5000K range or close to it to get your slight tint of blue while maintaining a white light and high level of visibility in the dark. Anything over 6000k will result in reduced visibility and light while driving in the dark.
Are HID/Xenon bulbs the same as HIDs?
No, Xenon bulbs are not true HIDs, they are merely halogen bulbs coated blue. HID bulbs require ballasts to regulate the level of electrical current used in the bulb to create the light. Coated blue halogen bulbs, especially the ones you find on eBay, typically do not perform very well and have a short lifespan. To get a true hyper white look for your lights and get the visibility you require out of your headlights; we highly recommend you stick to a HID or LED bulb for your headlights.
What is a HID relay harness?
Relay harnesses also referred to as dual in/dual out harnesses, are designed to pull the power for your headlights directly from the vehicles battery rather than the vehicle's OEM wiring harness. These are a good option when upgrading your halogen bulb headlights from the manufacturer to HIDs because the factory harness may not be designed to handle the power requirements of a HID kit. HIDs require less operating power than halogens. However, they do require a considerable amount of power when they first ignite. If your wiring harness is designed for lower power halogen bulbs, you can experience misfires on your HID kit and risk electrical fires or damage by relying on the lower gauged wires of your factory harness.
A typical symptom of underpowered HIDs is that only one HID light will turn on. The factory harness has just enough power to handle the ignition of one light, but not both. You can typically get around this by turning your lights off and then back on again quickly, but this is not a good long term or safe option.
Another symptom you may experience with underpowered lights is your HIDs will flicker when they’re on as the electrical current in your factory harness is not constant enough to keep them on consistently.
Can I use HIDs for my high beams?
HIDs are typically not recommended for use on your vehicle's high beam headlights. The reason for this is due to the delayed firing that HIDs experience when turning on. High beams are often used to flash on and off quickly, maybe to warn another driver or increase your visibility temporarily. The delay produced by HIDs will make this difficult or impossible. We recommend keeping your high beams as halogens or upgrading them to and LED bulb to match the color of your HIDs.
If you want to use HIDs for your high beams, you can accomplish that upgrade through the use of a HID relay harness. If you are already using or plan to use a relay harness for your low beam headlights, you’ll need a separate harness for your high beam HIDs.
What is an error code eliminator?
Modern vehicles have incorporated sophisticated monitoring systems in the vehicles computer system to warn the driver that your headlight is burned out. Typically when you upgrade or swap out your factory grade headlights for an upgraded system, your vehicle's computer system will detect a different in voltage and turn on the headlight out warning light. An error code eliminator will tell your vehicles computer system that everything is fine and there is no need to turn on the warning light.
