Headlights

[Esoterica]

Sorry, this just seems like a likely thing that would have been discussed here before, but in using the forum search engine and google I couldn't find any discussion of it. I did find some mention from google of first generation police laser units not being able to target into always on headlights, but there was also mention that the laser units have improved to resolve this problem. The article was rather dated, so I'm not sure if the claimed information still applied.

One of my vehicles utilize always on headlights and is due for new ones, typically I prefer the HID lights for all my night driving, they both help me see better and do a better job of annoying slow drivers in front of me when I line up with their mirrors. This had me wondering though if any particular type of headlight, maybe not completely jam a laser unit, but considerably hamper it's ability to function better than another.

I just can't help but wonder if the brightness of say HID headlights would make laser targeting into them less effective, or if maybe there are some newer type of full light spectrum headlights out there that also emit high levels of IR light and maybe working better for laser prevention than another type?

[MetalFlame]

Most LiDAR guns have very tight narrowband filter in front of photo receiver and everything that's not "in-sync" and on same wave lenghth,is filtered away.High beams,low beams,park lights...etc.does not distort,delay or have any effect on speed measurment.

[TSi+WRX]

Exactly - currently, this is a non-issue. You won't make it any easier - nor more difficult - for either police LIDAR or the enforcer, on a quantitative basis.

On a subjective basis, however, there are things to consider.

First and foremost, remember that whatever makes your vehicle stand-out "apart from the pack" can and will induce more enforcement attention to be paid to your vehicle. This can include "lighting modifications," particularly in area where enforcement attention is given to such modifications. The incongruence of your work-van, paired with HIDs (particularly if they are noticeably more "blue" than 5000K or more yellow than 4000K) can garner your vehicle some rather unwanted attention, especially if the areas you travel through are more zealous with lighting-code enforcements.

[ Note that although throughout North America, this is a "ticket-able" offense due to violation of lighting codes (i.e. a "fix-it ticket"), exactly how this is enforced, as well as the repercussions of the enforcement activity will be severely dependent on the prevaling sentiments of such in the particular locale, and can vary tremendously from one area to another. ]

A side-problem is just as which you've indicated in your own text - yes, you will cause some discomfort to forward vehicles, but this can not only work to your "advantage," as you so put it, but also to your detriment in that the severe oncoming-glare typical of improper plug-and-play ("P-n-P") bulb-ballast-ignitor kits into incandescent/halogen lamp housings - particularly of the reflector type that's typically seen on most of today's work-vehicles - is also exacerbated by the ride-height of your work vehicle. To a degree, this type of visual offense to oncoming traffic does make it more dangerous to you - as the driver of said vehicle - who must "face off" with said traffic, especially on two-lane roads. But more importantly, this exaggerated glare-effect, from your ride-height, may also do more to elicit frowns from enforcers, particularly in lighting-code enforced areas.

Although a switch-over to a full-optics retrofit may drastically cut such glare issues (as well as offer you truly superior visual benefits, from behind the driver's seat) when compared to improper P-n-P kits, the visual discongruence of your vehicle sporting such lighting can still run you afoul of the first consideration noted above.

[ Please also note that even if you were able to obtain "projector" headlight asseblies for a drop-in P-n-P fit into your vehicle, and then to add a P-n-P "improper" HID kit to this setup, you may actually make things much, much worse, as the vast majority of such aftermarket "projector" kits offer absolutely horrendous optics, and typically actually REDUCE, significantly, your vehicle's lighting capabilities. Many HID-enthusiasts, however, will purchase one of these cheap housings to then RETROFIT full OEM-optics from OEM-HID systems into their carcasses. ]

In all honesty, Esoterica, you may be much better served with obtaining some auxiliary lighting elements (standard incandescent-halogen) to run on your work-van, instead of going the HID route. This should both help your driving visibility significantly, as well as should achieve your secondary goal - and furthermore, also should not elicit "first glance - something's wrong" feelings from enforcers.

[ahmadr]

^ x2
'converting' standard headlamp reflectors to accept HID bulbs is a very bad idea. If you want to go HID, get the OEM HID reflector if available.

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...nversions.html

[amoney]

Police do not have to use headlights to get your speed, the laser is already unsteady and bouncing around the entire front of your car to recieve a reading from.

You want to stop laser... get a laser jammer.

[Esoterica]

Most LiDAR guns have very tight narrowband filter in front of photo receiver and everything that's not "in-sync" and on same wave lenghth,is filtered away.High beams,low beams,park lights...etc.does not distort,delay or have any effect on speed measurment.

I realized this was likely something to do with the fix from first generation LIDAR unit problems, guess this answers my next question as well. It likely won't work as a good DIY jammer system to tape the buttons down on all the extra IR TV remote controls I have laying around and place them all on my dash and in my grill. I must have 20 extra remotes around here that someday I'll find a use for as well as help justify the $200+ I spent on my Logitech touchscreen universal remote.

Thanks Tsi+WRX for that detailed response, well done!

If you want to go HID, get the OEM HID reflector if available.

Thanks, this is what is already in there, just took a rock or some type of road debri to one side and can see the hole in the outer glass and it's also now considerably dimmer on that side, amazed it even still works actually.

You want to stop laser... get a laser jammer.

The intent was never to fully block laser without a jammer, I was just in the market for needing new headlights on one of my vehicles and started to wonder if maybe one type or the other would be a better option before buying them.

I'd just hate to buy expensive HID headlights and then learn for example maybe they enhanced laser detection.

[TSi+WRX]

I'd just hate to buy expensive HID headlights and then learn for example maybe they enhanced laser detection.

NP, and no need to thank me. Just glad to help, as always.

Honestly, you should be no worse (nor better) off, given that the ancillary concerns are, er.....not concerns (i.e. non-match for the vehicle, outrageous coloration, strict lighting-code enforcement, etc.).

Although one would think that projector elements should offer less "reflection" compared to typical reflector elements, there were some visible-light photos which showed that the projector lens effectively serves as an optical collimator and "magnifies" the reflector elements behind it. Exactly how this may translate to IR scenarioes is unknown, however, it's speculated that neither type of headlight housing really holds too much of an upper hand over the other.