Making the switch to LED headlights is a smart move for any vehicle owner looking to enhance visibility and efficiency on the road. But with the plethora of choices available, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed. For starters, some LEDs have fans and some don’t? This week, we’re covering one of the most frequently asked questions at DDM: the debate between fan and fanless LED headlights. Read on as we unravel the debate, providing clarity on which option suits your car best:
Why Effective Heat Dissipation is Needed
Extended Lifespan: Effective heat dissipation ensures LED bulbs can operate within the recommended temperature range, prolonging their lifespan and maintaining stable performance. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures degrades LED performance and increases the risk of bulb burn out.
Preserving Light Quality: Heat affects LED light quality, leading to color cast or distortion. Adequate heat dissipation stabilizes LED temperature, ensuring consistent light quality and color rendering. Excessive heat can also decrease light output significantly, premature bulb dimming.
Ensuring Safety: Efficient heat dissipation prevents overheating, reducing the risk of fire or damage to surrounding materials. Proper heat management maintains safe operating conditions for LED bulbs and their surroundings, preventing potential hazards.
Poor heat dissipation in a headlight bulb ultimately leads to reduced performance and shorter lifespan. There are two primary cooling methods employed:
LED bulbs with built-in fans (active cooling mechanisms)
Fanless LED bulbs (passive cooling mechanisms).
About LEDs with Fans
LEDs with fans are relying on external mechanisms to dissipate heat. These fans accelerate the flow of heat extraction, making it a highly effective cooling method. This is why higher wattage, brighter, LED Kits utilize a built in fan design: increased power (brightness) generates greater amounts of heat that requires active cooling.
There are a few things to know before getting LEDs with fans. The whirl of the fan when operating creates a slight humming sound. And, unlike fanless LEDs, there is the probability of experiencing fan failure. LEDs with fans are also generally more expensive in price, as they are more powerful, emitting brighter projection than fanless LED kits.
About Fanless LEDs
Fanless LEDs rely on heat sinks to dissipate heat, which uses natural airflow to cool. They’re noiseless when operating, and there is no probability of experiencing fan failure with these bulbs. Additionally, they consume less power, reducing the likelihood of bulb burnout. Due to these characteristics, fanless LEDs typically have lower wattage and brightness levels. Because they are less powerful, they are less in cost ($) than LEDs with built-in fans.
At DDM Tuning, we utilize the fan design for LED kits with 30W and higher, starting at 8,000 lumens of brightness and increasing from there.
For our LED kits with 20W and lower, an output of 6,000 lumens, we opt for a fanless design.
Saber CPX 30W LED Kit (Fan LED) :
✅ 8,000 lumens a pair
✅ Advanced Canbus function, error free driving for modern vehicles & more. *Canbus is built into LED body, no additional wires to store.
✅ Compact, same size & shape as a halogen bulb
✅ waterproof/rust resistant/heat resistant
Saber ProX 65W LED Kit (Fan LED) :
✅ 14,000 lumens a pair, our brighter LED Kit!
✅ Canbus function, error free driving for modern vehicles & more. *Canbus is located on a wire.
✅ waterproof/rust resistant/heat resistant
✅ available in 3000K (yellow) too! Brighter Fog Lighting anyone?
Saber CPX 20W LED Kit (Fanless LED) :
✅ 6,000 lumens a pair
✅ Canbus function, error free driving for modern vehicles & more. *Canbus is built into LED Body, no additional wires to store
✅ Compact, same size & shape as a halogen bulb
✅ waterproof/rust resistant/heat resistant
