How to properly install h4 LED lamps. LED headlights as additional lighting elements

In the era of Zeus and Hercules, every earthly day began with the goddess of the dawn Eos going to heaven. She was carried by two immortal horses - Phaeton and... Lamp. Note that there was definitely no horse named LED on Olympus. However, humanity has decided to abandon incandescent lamps and gas-discharge analogues in favor of more economical and durable semiconductor light sources. Today they are installed in the headlights of even relatively inexpensive cars.

Down with the halogens!

Automotive LEDs spoiled their reputation at the beginning of their career: secondary market was inundated with outright “leftists.” As a rule, the light source for the head optics was a dozen tiny LEDs shining in different directions—correct light distribution was not worth even dreaming about. However, the Philips LED headlight soon appeared, in which narrow strips of LEDs exactly corresponded to the location of the filament in a conventional light bulb. And soon many Chinese manufactories began to produce similar designs.

In fact, LEDs cannot be installed in headlights homologated for halogens, and we have talked about this more than once. But eastern manufacturers stubbornly write H4 or H7 on the packaging of their products! Illegal? Undoubtedly. However, let’s leave the legal side of the issue for now. Our main task is to test LEDs for professional suitability. For this purpose, we purchased five kits for installation in headlights designed to work with H4 lamps. Please note that all purchased LEDs are capable of operating at voltages of both 12 V and 24 V. This indicates that they use high-quality power stabilization units - the so-called drivers.

The differences between a lamp trying to be correct (top photo) and a completely unsuitable one: the correct lamp has separate lines of LEDs for high and low beam. These rulers are similar in size and location to the filament coil in a regular lamp. The correct lamp has a screen covering the lower hemisphere of the low beam luminous element. In addition, the correct lamp is equipped with a driver that allows operation at a voltage of 12–24 V, as well as a cooling radiator.

Regloskop listens

Let's start with a simple check - perhaps that's where it all ends. We are going to the service station to see an old friend of the magazine, Anatoly Vaisman, to test the LEDs directly on the car. We took the popular Kia Rio as a carrier. This car was also chosen because. By the way, many people install LEDs instead of halogens solely in order to change lamps less often, because on some cars this operation is labor-intensive (for example, you have to remove the bumper) and, accordingly, expensive.

Three out of five products failed: instead of the exemplary “tick”, something resembling a UFO from a television horror story appeared on the screen. But two subjects - Philips LED headlight and G7 Head light conversion kit - gave an acceptable picture. And if during the technical inspection the inspector does not carefully look through the transparent headlight cover to see what kind of lamp is installed in it, then, in theory, he should not have any complaints. In addition, in headlights with a diffuser or lensed optics, you will not be able to see the light bulb from the outside! In general, the probability of missing a technical inspection is very high.

It turns out that some LEDs can still be installed (at least from a technical point of view) in headlights? To get accurate confirmation, we turned to the “highest court” - the testing center of STC AE LLC, where we conducted control tests of LED sources for compliance with the requirements of UNECE Regulation No. 112–00 regarding low beam.

Refuse!

In addition, some light sources do not sit tightly on the workplace and rotate slightly around their longitudinal axis. It is clear that when moving, the light distribution picture will be confused. A working temperature There were so many different types of cooling radiators that we were even afraid for the safety of the plastic headlight casing.

We also note that in most cases back cover The Rio headlights can be closed when installing LED bulbs - only the huge Philips lamp block simply did not fit under the cover. Headlight of the GAZelle on which they carried out bench tests, turned out to be less hospitable. How to drive without a cover? The headlight will quickly turn into a waste basket.

As for the statements of manufacturers of LED light sources about full compliance with their original, as well as the H4 inscriptions on the boxes, this is an outright deception. Only the letter L should be used to designate LEDs and their installation should be approved instead halogen lamps Only the car manufacturer has the right or.

By the way, Philips representatives officially responded to our request that you should not drive on public roads with such a light. These lamps are intended primarily for ATVs, snowmobiles and other off-road equipment. However, sellers of oriental lamps care about all these subtleties, excuse the pun. Is it shining? Is the connector suitable? Enjoy it for your health!

In general, it is no coincidence that there was no LED horse in the Olympic stables. The gods preferred to use the services of the faithful Lamp... Which we advise you too!

TEST RESULTS FOR HEADLAMPS WITH LED LIGHT SOURCES

Releasing modern LED car lamps, manufacturers take into account that many car enthusiasts will install them instead of standard ones. Therefore, most LEDs are produced with standard sockets, which makes it possible to easily, without any modifications, simply replace a traditional lamp with an LED one. the main problem, arising during installation, in another; Which lamp to choose for different car lighting systems?

Front side lights

Today, in most cases, manufacturers install lamps without a base on manufactured cars. Such a lighting fixture has the code W5W (the base is marked as T10). If you have a lamp with a base installed, it will be type T4W (base brand BA9S) or H6W lamp (here the BAX9S base has protrusions offset from each other by 120 degrees). For example, devices of the T4W type with a BA9S base are standard for Russian VAZ cars (models 2101-2106).

When installing side lamps, it is necessary to remember the peculiarities of the location of these lighting devices: they are located next to a powerful heat source - high beam lamps. Therefore, there is a risk of destruction of LED crystals. To avoid such a “trouble,” manufacturers of LED lamps supply their products with current stabilizers. They reduce the voltage supply as the temperature rises. Designations of lamps with stabilizer:
- T10-1WF, T10-5SF, T10-9SE: without base;
- BA9S-1WF: with base.

Tail lights, brake lights

Today, the majority of cars are produced with two-pin conventional lamps, where one contact is responsible for the dimensions, the other for the feet. The marking of such a lamp is P21/5W, the base is designated as BAY15D, or 1157. LED lamps with two contacts have the following markings:
- 5WF series;
- SMD: such devices can have from 15 to 27 LEDs;
- SF: considered a budget option that uses SuperFlux (or "piranha").

If a lamp with one contact is installed in the car, then the base will be designated 1156, or BA15S. A number of Japanese and American cars can install lamps without a base. In this case, single-pin ones are marked as W21W (7440 series base), two-pin ones as W21/5W (7443 series base).

Turn signals

Single-contact lamps with a power of 21 W (P21W) and a BA15S or 1156 socket are installed here. If the optics in the car are transparent, then lamps with yellow glass are suitable: PY21W with a BAU15S or 1156 socket. To replace these lamps with LED ones, it is necessary to use products of the SF, SMD, 5W series. There is also a nuance here; After installation, the LED lamps begin to blink much more often, so you will have to replace the standard turn relay with a special one designed for . However, you can get out of the situation in another way; You need to connect a resistor in parallel to the LED, simulating a standard lamp, then the blinking frequency will be normalized.

Let's start with the self-evident fact that modern technologies and the source products of these technologies are changing and improving around us. This also applies Vehicle, which from year to year become better in some ways, worse in others, but on the whole they change again. More pragmatic, safe and convenient solutions sometimes displace existing ones. This also applies to lighting devices on our cars, starting from interior lighting lamps, dimensions and ending with low-beam and high beam. Today, the use of LEDs in low and high beam lamps is considered the most promising and advanced technology. And many motorists who share this point of view simply change the halogen lamps in their headlights to LED ones. But is it possible to do this, is it legal? This is exactly the topic we will cover in our article.

Is an LED lamp an approved equivalent for a halogen lamp?

Before we talk about the fact that an LED lamp and a halogen lamp are still different things, let’s turn to technical documents regulating the use of such light sources on vehicles. At the moment, the “Technical Regulations” Customs Union"has become a kind of Mecca for us in relation to technical requirements to cars. And this is where you can find some interesting things about the differences between halogen and LED bulbs.

“light source class” - characteristic of the physical principle of light emission: incandescent lamp (class 0); incandescent lamp with the bulb filled with halogen-containing gases (class H), gas-discharge lamp (class D), light-emitting diode (class LED);

From here it becomes clear that the LED class is not halogen or xenon at all. It goes without saying that one cannot be replaced by another. Since, in essence, by installing a lamp with a different principle of light emission, we change the class for the light source in the headlight. There is one more interesting note about installing LED lamps, again from the same Technical regulations Customs Union (Appendix No. 4)

1.3. Requirements for lighting and light signaling devices
1.3.7. Adaptive front lighting systems that perform the function of low beam, regardless of the light source used, low beam headlights with LED light sources, as well as low beam and fog headlights with light sources of any class having a rated luminous flux of more than 2000 lumens, must be equipped with automatic correction device for adjusting the headlight angle. Low beam headlamps having light sources with a rated luminous flux of more than 2000 lumens must be equipped with an operable headlight cleaning device.

Let's summarize. LED headlights must have an adaptive system that allows you to automatically adjust the beam of light on the road. It is clear why this was done, so as not to blind oncoming people, thereby ensuring safety. Well, the presence of wipers, nozzles of something similar for washing headlights is also a must!
Now we can already summarize that the LED lamp not only itself is a different class of light source, but also when used in headlights it requires two conditions:

Adaptive automatic system headlight tilt;
- headlight cleaners.

If something goes wrong with you, that is, there are lamps, but there are no prerequisites for them, then the failure itself may lead to problems with the law.

About the operating mode of LED lamps

Many motorists consider the rationale regarding the operating mode to be far-fetched. That is, it seems like the color scheme has not changed and the lamps are not blinking, which means the mode of operation under which charges will be brought is not at all what they want to present to us. One can argue here for a long time, but if we take existing practice, we can quote an excerpt from the resolution of June 21, 2017 in case No. 05-0402/350/2017 Judicial precinct No. 350 of the Savyolovsky judicial district (Moscow City)

Letter No. 132/s of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation dated June 16, 2009 clarified that the development and production of vehicle headlights is carried out for a specific light source intended for use in vehicle headlights, in accordance with the requirements international rules- UNECE Rules. According to these Rules, each headlight must have a marking indicating the category of the light source with which the headlight must be used on a vehicle. In this case, the operating mode of lighting devices, based on the disposition of the above norm, should be understood as a set technical characteristics headlights corresponding to a particular light distribution that ensures safety traffic depending on the road situation and weather conditions, in turn, light distribution according to the UNECE Rules is determined by the category of the light source used and the design of the lighting device.

Draw your own conclusions about the operating mode... You can also turn to TRTS again, where in Appendix No. 9 you can find

9.4. When installing lighting and light signaling devices on a vehicle that are not provided for by its design, as well as changing the design of the headlights (changing the class of the light source in them), the requirements of UNECE Regulations No. 48, 53, 74, paragraph 1 of Appendix No. 3 to these technical regulations.

Now we open UNECE Rules No. 48 (these are Rules for cars, and No. 53 and No. 74 for motorcycles and mopeds), to which TRTS refers. And here you can find:

2.7.6 combined lights: Devices having different light sources or a single light source operating in different modes (for example, in different OPTICAL, MECHANICAL or electrical modes), wholly or partially common illuminating surfaces and a common housing.

That is, the Rules allow for an OPTICAL mode of operation and even some kind of mechanical one... And this is not bullshit, this is an international document! As a result, the statement only about flickering as an electrical mode of lamp operation is not valid. This means that with a possible replacement of the lamp and in fact the light source, it is quite possible to disrupt the operating mode for the lamp. It turns out something like this.

Well, one more excerpt from TRTS

9.2. If it is necessary to replace a light source provided by the design of a vehicle with a light source of the same class with different photometric characteristics or a different class, such a replacement can only be carried out together with the light module corresponding to the light source being replaced, or the headlight assembly. Installation of non-standard light modules is not allowed if the illuminating surface of the diffuser in the area of ​​passage of the light beam of the non-standard light module has optical elements involved in the formation of the light beam. In case of changing the class of the light source, a conclusion from an accredited testing laboratory is required on compliance with the UNECE Rules applicable to the relevant types of headlights and light sources, the photometric parameters of the headlight with replaced light sources and light modules.

That is, in theory, even lamps can be changed to another light source in the headlight, but it is necessary to have a conclusion, in other words, approval or certificate that such lamps have been assessed for compliance with safety as part of the headlight of such a vehicle.

Penalty for installing LED lamps in a headlight unit if such lamps were not previously provided

First, you should refer to the list of malfunctions for which the operation of the vehicle is prohibited, and find there the following paragraphs 3.1...

The number, type, color, location and operating mode of external lighting devices do not meet the requirements of the vehicle design.

Light fixtures do not have lenses or use lenses and lamps that do not match the type of light fixture in question.

In general, if there is no lamp, or maybe there is something wrong with it, or the lenses do not fit the lamp, then this is a violation. And a violation, as we know, cannot but go unpunished, at least on paper, but as happens in life, you know more than we do. So, nominally here it is necessary to apply Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, part 3.

Driving a vehicle with lighting devices... the color of the lights and the mode of operation of which do not comply with the requirements of the Basic Regulations for the admission of vehicles to operation and the duties of officials to ensure road safety - entails deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for a period of 6 months to 1 year with confiscation of the specified devices and accessories.

From this it is clear that for the use of LED lamps there is not even a fine, but deprivation driver's license.

Confiscation of LED lamps in case of violation

If it turns out that LED lamps are placed where they should not be installed, such lamps may be confiscated. The compiled protocol on the violation will be sent to court, where the judge will decide the fate of the violating driver and the lamps. After all, deprivation of a special right is possible only by a court decision. But the confiscation of things for administrative violations can occur without trial; this is permitted by Article 243 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation. Confiscation of lamps can be carried out in accordance with the law, on a video camera or in the presence of two witnesses (seizure protocol). In this case, the inspector’s decision can be challenged in court. But actually, it doesn’t matter how the subject of the administrative violation will be confiscated, the main thing is that it can be done, and quite legally.
There will be another depressing circumstance: after the end of the period of deprivation of special rights, you will have to take an exam, which can also partly be attributed to some kind of additional punishment.

Question and answer on the topic “Fine for installing LED lamps”

Question: Is it possible to install LED lamps instead of other types of lamps?
Answer: With a probability of 99 percent. The points:
- the manufacturer most likely included in the design only the use of halogen lamps, you need to look at the VIN and find out from the dealers;
- halogen headlights do not provide automatic adjustment for light, which is mandatory needed for LED lamps;
- A headlight cleaner is a must.

Video about the fine for LED lamps

Many drivers tune their cars by replacing the standard low-beam headlight bulbs with LED ones. This is done in order to save money and improve performance in the operation of optics. But in some cases, such modernization of a car may be illegal and entail a fine for LED low beam lamps in accordance with the Code of Administrative Offenses. Actually, LED lighting technology is not an offense. The penalty entails that the changes do not comply with the factory characteristics of the vehicle's optics.

Car manufacturers use different types of headlights as standard:

• halogen;
• xenon;
• LED

Halogen headlights are the most common type of automotive optics. Halogen optical devices are used for high and low beam modes. The operating reserve is 500-1500 hours, the luminous flux power is 1500-2100 lumens.

Xenon lamps have a more complex design, have a high-quality reflector and have good focusing. Can be monoxenon or bi-xenon. The operating reserve is up to 4000 hours, the luminous flux power is up to 3200 lumens.

LED headlights are a modern type of lighting technology, capable of producing a powerful stream of white light with a power of up to 6000 Kelvin. The work reserve is 5000-10000 hours. These are the brightest, most powerful and durable headlights.

Modern LED headlights are installed in some foreign cars latest generation– Porsche, Audi, Lexus. If you have one of these models, then the LED lamps in the optics correspond to the standard configuration. But if the factory equipment includes halogen or xenon headlights, then the answer to the question becomes obvious: is it possible to drive with LED lamps? If you change anything in your car without complying with the technical parameters established by the manufacturer, this is a violation of the safety regulations for operating the vehicle. The same consequences entail.

Misconceptions of many drivers

Many drivers are mistaken in thinking that they have the right to change the lamps in the optics of their car themselves. It should be understood that LED headlights and LED lamps are not identical concepts. Despite the fact that manufacturers produce LED lamps with a base suitable for installation in standard headlights, this does not make replacing conventional halogen or xenon lighting fixtures with LEDs legal. Factory LED headlights are equipped with a stock projection lens designed for that light source.

Therefore, the installation of LED lamps in PTF entails a fine in accordance with the regulations, which deal with non-compliance with vehicle operating requirements and road traffic regulations.

5-KoAP-1.docx

Penalty for installing LED lamps

Fine for diode light bulbs in headlights that do not correspond to the factory optics configuration is 500 rubles. The same consequence will occur in any other case of non-compliance technical parameters standard optics (for example, when replacing halogen lamps with xenon ones or installing xenon optics with LED ones). Behind led light bulbs Low beams are fined only if they do not comply with the operational documentation provided by the vehicle manufacturer or have not received confirmation of compliance as part of the vehicle.

When can your rights be revoked?

Deprivation of rights for LED lamps is possible only if self-replacement in any way affects the functioning of optical partings - changes the number, color according to GOST or operating mode. All this meets the requirements of Article 12.5 of the Administrative Code. But in practice, the issue of checking and recording violations is controversial, because the procedure requires appropriate equipment, which not all traffic police posts have.

Methods for checking headlights by traffic police officers

Traffic police officers can check LED lamps for a car on site only visually, or by checking them with the technical documentation for the car. To more accurately determine the parameters of the lamp, a special flat screen with a white matte finish and a device that fixes the relative position of the screen and the vehicle for measuring light indicators are required.

Therefore, in practice it is quite rare, because For the protocol, the traffic police officer requires more compelling reasons. They are usually limited to a verbal warning or a fine. In the latter case, it will allow you to clarify the grounds for the order and, if necessary, challenge it in court.

Legalization of LED lamps for cars

Excerpt from the document:

“The objective side of the composition of the relevant administrative offense can only occur in the event of a simultaneous discrepancy between the color of the lights and the operating mode of such devices with the requirements specified by the manufacturer in the operational documentation, and in cases where additional lighting devices are installed.”

“However, if only the color or operating mode of the light devices installed on the vehicle does not comply with the above requirements, driving such a vehicle may be qualified under Part 1 of Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation.”

Have you noticed how LEDs have smoothly and imperceptibly entered our lives? They are everywhere. They are everywhere. But just a few years ago, LED optics seemed fantastic. Especially in the auto industry. True, now, every year, more and more automakers are installing LED headlights on their cars instead of standard halogen or xenon optics. This became possible due to the fact that the cost of LED lamps has dropped significantly.

As a result, a widespread fashion for LEDs came into the world and immediately a demand for LED optics appeared in the auto world. But not everyone can afford to buy new car with LED headlights. Therefore, many companies realized that the time has come to produce LED lamps for low and high beams, which can replace conventional halogen and xenon lamps in headlights. Naturally, many car enthusiasts decided to purchase similar lamps for themselves and install them on their cars. But is it legal? And is there any liability for installing non-factory LED optics? Let's figure it out.

Technologies of the 21st century are increasingly taking over our world. Every year more and more incredible innovative ideas appear, and yesterday’s fantastic technologies are becoming a reality today. The progress of the digital age has not spared the auto industry. Especially car lighting devices, which have undergone significant changes over the past decades.

Moreover, progress in auto lighting technology over the past few years has become more significant than over the past 50 years. As a result, we saw how xenon optics first appeared in the automotive industry. Then, LED. Now - laser light illumination.

But today we are not talking about that. As we have already said, all over the world (including in our country) LED lamps that are installed in car headlights are currently becoming extremely popular.

IN last years More and more drivers are starting to think about replacing halogen and xenon headlights with LED ones. How effective is it, etc. you can find out from our review article.

But there is one main question, which worries many. Can it be installed in regular headlights designed for halogen or xenon lamps, newfangled LED lamps? Is there liability in Russia for installing LED lamps in front optics?

Unfortunately, many car owners think that liability does not exist. After all, these are not xenon lamps, which are prohibited from being installed in halogen headlights. But that's not true. Responsibility actually exists and is very strict. For example, for illegally installing LED low-beam or high-beam lamps in the front optics, the driver may lose his driver's license. Surprised? Here are the details.

Why do many drivers believe that there is no responsibility for installing LED lamps?

Indeed, an interesting paradox has developed in our country. For example, most drivers know that in Russia there is liability for installing xenon lamps in halogen headlights in the form of deprivation of a driver's license. That is why we no longer see a lot of cars on the road with “collective farm” xenon. After all, you must agree, it’s very harsh.

But why then, every year, everything appears on Russian roads? more cars with LED lamps, which are usually installed by vehicle owners themselves?

The fact is that a very large number of car enthusiasts believe that LED lamps can be installed in front optics. Especially considering that many sellers of LED low and high beam lamps provide a large number of different certificates and permits, assuring buyers that LED lamps with halogen or xenon optics available for sale are indeed permitted in our country for use and sale.

But in fact, it turns out that most certificates for such lamps at the time of sale are either no longer valid or have been suspended.

Also, do not forget that if the sale of LED lamps is allowed and there are valid permits and certificates, this does not mean that every car owner has the right to install them in the headlights of his car.

Therefore, the presence of certification of LED lamps in Russia does not mean that you have the right to install them in your car. Yes, you can buy it. But no more than that if your headlights are strictly designed to work only with xenon or halogen lamps.

That is, the situation is exactly the same as with xenon lamps, the installation of which is strictly prohibited in cars equipped with front optics designed for halogen incandescent lamps.

Accordingly, installing in your halogen or xenon LED headlights low and high beam llamas, you will grossly violate the current Russian legislation, namely:

Article 12.5 Part 3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation:

3. Driving a vehicle with red lights or red reflective devices installed on the front part of it, as well as lighting devices, the color of the lights and the operating mode of which do not comply with the requirements of the Basic Provisions on the admission of vehicles to operation and the duties of officials to ensure road safety, -

entails deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for a period of six months to one year with confiscation of the specified instruments and devices.

What is the responsibility for installing LED lamps in halogen or xenon headlights?

Installing LED low or high beam sources in the front halogen or xenon headlights is equivalent to equipping the car with red special signals. Accordingly according to current traffic rules and the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, if a driver illegally and unauthorizedly installs LED lamps in headlights intended for halogen or xenon lamps, then he faces liability in the form of deprivation of his driver’s license for up to 1 year.

Agree that this is a very strict measure. Also, do not forget that ignorance of the laws does not exempt you from responsibility. Therefore, under no circumstances should you install LED bulbs on your car in headlights that are not designed for this purpose according to the factory specifications.

Someone might think that the above link to Article 12.5 Part 3 does not directly prohibit the installation of LED lamps in halogen or xenon headlights. But that's not true.

Article 12.5 Part 3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation refers us to the provision on the basic requirements for the admission of vehicles to operation and the duties of officials to ensure road safety, for violations of which the driver may be held administratively liable.

So, in particular, according to paragraph 3 of the regulations on the basic requirements for the admission of vehicles to operation and the duties of officials to ensure road safety, technical condition and equipment of vehicles involved in road traffic, in part related to road safety and security environment, must meet the requirements of relevant standards, rules and guidelines for their technical operation.

Accordingly, if a vehicle does not meet the relevant standards, its operation on public roads is prohibited.

What is the liability for installing LED headlights on a car equipped with halogen or xenon headlights?

In principle, none. Yes, of course there is also responsibility for this. But it is very difficult to prove your guilt.

Formally, if instead of halogen headlights you install LED optics on your car from a more expensive configuration of your model, then the maximum you will face is a fine of 500 rubles.

But according to the law, even if instead of xenon or halogen headlights you install on your car LED optics from your same model, but with a richer configuration, you are still required to formalize changes to the design of your car. The truth is that holding you accountable for this will be impossible and unlikely. After all, a traffic police officer will check the markings of the headlights and make sure that the lighting lamps installed in them correspond to the type of use of the optics. And the traffic police officer is unlikely to know that you are using headlights from a different version of the car.