HID vs. LED

[Rough_Rider_Racing]

I have run HIDs for a fair while now and with the led lights coming in i have observed this. Its really a horses for courses kind of argument. Same as you are not gona use a cutting horse to win the kentucky derby each type of light has its own benefit. LED Bars or lights will not get the penetration and distance down the road that a hid will (my 70w KC PODS will light up a road side cow well over a km away). But HID will not give you the close range fill and spread and "Day like" light quality. So based on that i would say for desert where there is little for light to reflect off of and your vision is probably only needed out to 100-200 feet LED lights and bars are probably the better choice. If you are puting lights on your tow rig or something and want to see those road side cows or deer well in advance i would say get yourself some good quality high Wattage HID lights. Or even on your trail wheelin rig id say it would be a 50 50 split decision on lighting.

All that being said there is another option. In Australia on our winch challange trucks the top guys run 24 volt to the winches. So another popular thing to mount on is 24 volt air craft landing lights and wire it to the 24 volt system. They ** ĦAy, caramba!**** ĦAy, caramba!**** ĦAy, caramba!**** ĦAy, caramba!**e on hids in my opinion!!!! Food for thought.

[SPONSOR]

Membership in the largest desert racing community has its advantages - Participate in Forum Discussions - Send and Receive Private Messages - Maintain Public Photo Albums - Access to Groups - User Profile in our Social Network - Increased Access to more Sub Forums - Reduced Online Advertisements Join our community today

[BRINGTHERUCKUS]

Light color has a lot more to do with it then most people think. talking to Mike Dehass at KC he explained to me and basically its one of the factors in what limits the distance on the LEDs. but KC pods are dang near bullet proof.

[hotdogwater]

Here's a link to an old post on this topic from the shop section.

http://www.race-dezert.com/forum/sho...-for-the-blind

Short answer is: both. Need light at a distance to go fast so HID, LED is great for flood/fill up close. I like the amber LEDs so other racers can see you coming in dust in daylight even.

[Jacob7672]

yes, both. I have 2 Hella HID spots for distance and a large Rigid roof bar for everything in-between. Ive always liked HID but when I got this pre runner it had the bar and i am very impressed.

[MAD MAX 8]

3 vision X lights. 1 pencil in the middle and 2 driving on the side. Ive raced with all kind of different lights on lots of different cars. That is the best set up I have found.

[Rough_Rider_Racing]

Pods are lighting pornography! They are good but i have had to replace one ballast in 3 years. Not a bad run. I would even consider lights at the bottom of the A pillar (like on a TJ Jeep) pointing out on a 45degree angle to fill in that dark spot on the inside of corners. Sometimes i find you are turning into those zones with blind faith that theres nothing there. At the end of the day i dont think there is such a thing as "TOO MUCH LIGHT" unless a 747 mistakes you for a landing strip lol. More light= less driver fatigue! Proven fact!

[Jerry Zaiden]

KC PODS = bad arse! KC also has a new HID that retails for $189 each we have them in stock and for RDC peeps they are $160 each.

[sirhk100]

Are those KC's internal ballast? If so, damn I like them! What's the diameter? Personally for the price of LED's you won't even remotely begin to get me away from my HID's especially considering LED's don't have near the distance of the HID setups yet. I love the 2 halogens for up close stuff and the 4 HID's for what's coming up way ahead that's for sure!

[Jerry Zaiden]

Yes internal ballasts, lexan lens, composite body. They are so bad a ss for the money!!! I was blown away when i got them. Game changer for sure. Same price as a hella 4000 halogen. But the KC is a 35watt HID 8".

[sirhk100]

So they sound like they'd also be noticeably lighter in weight then the hella 4000's also I'm assuming with composite body/lexan lens combo? Also from that picture you just posted, the mounts look nice and solid as well. Damn... If I didn't already have lights I'd be all over these! Hmmm...