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Aftermarket LED replacement for headlights

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by Sharon Gadonniex, Feb 23, 2024.

  1. Sharon Gadonniex

    Sharon Gadonniex New Member

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    Hello !
    I have a 2010 Prius, and recently replaced the halogen bulbs for my headlights (not the high beams) with EALight H11 LED ones by Sealight .... aaaand the battery drained so much over the course of 2 days, I needed to replace it. I am finding it hard to believe the LED bulb did that, but thought I would check here to see if it's a known problem. FWIW, I put the old halogens back, and will measure the battery voltage tomorrow to see if I am crazy or not.

    Appreciate any thoughts!
     
  2. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    ????? Do you turn on the lights without running the car????
    Because once you start the car, the hybrid battery is supplying power to 12v system.
     
  3. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

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    No, definitely not. LED headlights use only about 1/5 of the power as halogen headlights do (~ 7 W vs. 35 W). It is something else.
     
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  4. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    If the LED or wiring was malfunctioning in some way, it could be the cause... But seems unlikely.
     
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  5. Sharon Gadonniex

    Sharon Gadonniex New Member

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    I am conducting (pun intended) an experiment to see if there is different battery drain between LED and halogens. I will report back in a few days :)
     
  6. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    If the headlights go off within 0-60 seconds after you shutdown and leave the car, they are not the problem. There is an electro-mechanical relay guaranteeing they are off.

    So you either had an old battery, the 95% likely answer, or there is something else draining the battery. The rear hatch light and the front map lights can be that 5% but the test is the same - are they off when you leave? Be sure the rear hatch light works by opening the hatch before ruling it out. That circuit can still contribute to a drain even if the bulb is burned out.

    I would not go to the trouble to try the halogens.

    There are other things aftermarket LEDs can do. One is blind oncoming traffic if cheaply made. Another is get really hot when they are on. A third is make a whining sound when on - many have a little fan to solve the previous issue. Fourth, some can transmit rf interference to other devices in your car when the LEDs are on. For example, TPMS pressure sensors can be interfered with causing a trouble light. None of these drain the battery.
     
    #6 rjparker, Feb 23, 2024
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2024
  7. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    ???? Hello?????
    Are you just leaving them on with the car off just to see???
    Why?


     
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