Projector headlights aren’t a new concept – the idea itself is over 100 years old – however, the design was never implemented commercially in the early 1980s. Prior to factory L.E.D lighting that you see in many late model vehicles, projector headlights appeared frequently on high end vehicles in the 90s and 00s, available also as an aftermarket option or factory option to suit vehicles that otherwise came with standard (reflector) based headlights. It was common for these projector headlights to use either halogen or HID technologies to provide their light source.
Whilst standard/common vehicle headlights simply use reflectors to concentrate and direct their light beam, projector headlights utilise an elliptical shaped reflector in conjunction with an ellipsoidal lens positioned in front of the reflector. This lens is designed to project a clean cut beam pattern, minimising the risk of obscuring vision for oncoming traffic. The end result is ideally a more focused beam pattern with no dark spots and significantly brighter in a focused spot than standard/reflector headlights. Call it subjective, but many also prefer the aesthetic appearance of projector over reflector headlights. You can spot the visual difference between standard headlights and projector headlights below, from the front of the vehicle.
The elliptical lens gives a fishbowl or magnifying glass appearance, reminiscent of slide projector lenses that were popular in school classrooms
Put simply: cost and size! Reflector headlights are cheaper to produce and generally smaller than projector headlights, which require more depth in the engine bay. Reflector headlights tend to produce a bigger beam pattern that covers a larger surface area, so this can be a factor in a manufacturer’s decision to use them, but by and large it does down to the expense of manufacturing, which is why projector headlights are/were frequently found on high end vehicles, particularly in their early days.
Thanks to L.E.D technology, drivers can now gain significant light output increases by retrofitting their vehicle headlights with L.E.D performance globes, which also offer significantly longer life and whiter light than their halogen counterparts.
Caption: Narva has Surefit L.E.D globes as direct halogen replacement for standard and projector style headlights
However, owners of vehicles with projector headlights may run into trouble here: most aftermarket L.E.D headlight globes are designed for reflector-type headlights and utilise a large heatsink mounted on the rear of the globe, designed to keep globe temperatures down and protect the globe circuitry. The end result, if the L.E.D globe fits, can be an inferior light beam pattern that does a disservice to the benefits of projector-type headlighting.
NARVA has overcome these issues in its latest SUREFIT range of L.E.D replacement globes, which includes a model specifically designed for H7 projector type headlights. SUREFIT globes feature a built-in fan for heat dispersion, as opposed to a large heatsink, ensuring direct fitment without fouling or modification required to fit. The H7 projector model is also designed specifically to complement the beam pattern that projector headlights enjoy, so drivers do not end up with wasted light, inconsistent light on the road, or blinding oncoming drivers. You can see the difference between NARVA’s SUREFIT H7 projector L.E.D globe and an inferior L.E.D replacement globe below.
For more information on NARVA’s L.E.D replacement globes, visit www.narva.com.au
This article is brought to you by Mechanic.com.au Premier Community Partner NARVA
