Lead Headlight Fabricator Seeking Input - LEDs, Carbon Fiber, the Works!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by jonvo, May 5, 2010.

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  1. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

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    What do you mean.....there are several HID projectors
     
    #61 sfv41901, May 27, 2010
  2. Manksgloob

    Manksgloob Member

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    That's what I thought. I meant the question as a segue to why aftermarket Prius headlamp assemblies had projectors only on the halogen models, but not the HIDs.
     
    #62 Manksgloob, May 28, 2010
  3. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

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    Doesn't the black color of the carbon fiber reduce the intended reflectivity of the original silver colored reflector? I suppose the added LEDs compensate for the loss?
     
    #63 2009Prius, May 28, 2010
  4. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

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    The chrome on the reflector is no longer need since hes using a projector. The LED are just for looks. There serve no real purpose in night time driving.
     
    #64 sfv41901, May 29, 2010
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  5. Inspire

    Inspire Junior Member

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    I think e46 shrouds would look nicer on them. I thought about retrofitting projectors to the car but I'm having trouble find cheap bi-xenon projectors!
     
    #65 Inspire, Jun 2, 2010
  6. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    a question just came to mind... what will you do for high beams?... projectors only accommodate 1 beam... yours seems to be low beams (i assume)
     
    #66 V8Cobrakid, Jun 2, 2010
  7. Inspire

    Inspire Junior Member

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    ^ they're going to be bi-xenon. meaning the low/high beams come from the same bulb.
     
    #67 Inspire, Jun 2, 2010
  8. jonvo

    jonvo New Member

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    As INSPIRE, who helpfully responded, our projectors are bixenon; capable of both low and high beam. The projector has a built electromagnetic solenoid (magnetic coil) that runs off an electrical current (high beam). Once a current runs through the circuit the cutoff shield is retracted to expose the bottom portion of the projector. Light is refracted and you have your high beam. When time permits, I'll mount these up to a Prius and aim it. For the HID owners, these will fit but with minor modifications [IF ANY] ... to what extent, I don't know. I'm going to make a relay harness with 'plug n play' in mind. If the Prius' headlight systems are advanced in terms of warning and detection, we'll have to play with heatsinks. (I hate heatsink cause it requires drilling into the chassis to mount these suckers. They get incredibly hot)

    INSPIRE, bixenon projectors are the cheapest I've seen. This can be partly due to the market but when projector retrofitting was in it's earlier years (4-5 years ago), the E46s were going for 100/projector. Now for the same price, you get two projectors, bixenon pigtails, shroud, etc. I still remember when the S2K were $375/set and TL BIs were $475/set.
     
    #68 jonvo, Jun 2, 2010
  9. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    ty.. so, a setup similar to the "shield" the genII currently uses.. but in a projector...
     
    #69 V8Cobrakid, Jun 2, 2010
  10. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

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    I remember that all to well. Then you had the TL/ZKW combo.......that was the best bi-xenon back then. I still have a set of my AP1 S2Ks w/custom shield.
     
    #70 sfv41901, Jun 2, 2010
  11. jonvo

    jonvo New Member

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    That's correct. Same "shield" as in the HID reflected headlight but incorporated into the projector.
     
    #71 jonvo, Jun 3, 2010
  12. jelloslug

    jelloslug It buffed right out!

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    I would LOVE a set of Bi-xenon projectors with real LED accents. Are you going to offer them with the chrome housings though? IMO carbon fiber is a bit ricey and played out.
     
    #72 jelloslug, Jun 3, 2010
  13. jonvo

    jonvo New Member

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    Of course ... this is just a demo prototype for Toyota. The purpose of this project was to test the capabilities of the Prius' headilght. The second project will be more function than form.
     
    #73 jonvo, Jun 3, 2010
  14. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    IMHO the whole reason for a retrofit is to get a great output with a great cutoff which means the projector is key. Yeah you can get cheap crappy E55 or whatever, but they blow in comparison to some of the better projectors like the S2K AP1, the RX AFS projectors, or even the FXs.

    I've got my retrofit ready to go, just finishing up some homemade control electronics :D

    Do you have a output and cutoff shot from the projectors you are using?
     
    #74 2k1Toaster, Jun 3, 2010
  15. jonvo

    jonvo New Member

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    The E55 and E46 (for that matter) are pretty darn good in terms of size vs performance. Of course they don't compare to the beefier TLs but nonetheless, are quite adequate. For those who seek additional clarity and cutoff sharpness, you can do a clear lens mod and a shield mod.

    I'm getting an urge to retrofit into the signal (top reflector) and move the signal to the "city lights" (orange reflectors). Imagine 4x (four) low beam source and 4x (four) high beam source. Overkill anyone??????
     
    #75 jonvo, Jun 3, 2010
  16. jelloslug

    jelloslug It buffed right out!

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    How about a sequential chaser setup in the LED row for the turn signals.
     
    #76 jelloslug, Jun 8, 2010
  17. jonvo

    jonvo New Member

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    That's a possible idea but will require a great deal of work. The use of microcontrollers, software simulators, circuit boards/memory bank, etc will greatly add to the cost of the retrofit. If you can somehow generate a public response for LED chasers, I can incorporate that in the upcoming project. We're currently working on the 2nd set that will look more stock.
     
    #77 jonvo, Jun 11, 2010
  18. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    You can do it with less than $3 worth of parts if you are a good engineer. I agree it can be sold for a large additional cost like all electronics, but as far as R&D and prototype implementation, it's peanuts.

    I'm doing it on my retro.
     
    #78 2k1Toaster, Jun 11, 2010
  19. Supreme

    Supreme Hypebeast

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    update?
     
    #79 Supreme, Jun 29, 2010
  20. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

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    #80 sfv41901, Jun 29, 2010
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