The new metal POP display has been updated by learning from years of field use and experience. The new display includes a 110v AC volt power supply connected to the RapidAim and Xtreme bulbs. It can be used to demonstrate the power and brightness of Concept and Xtreme bulbs. Also provided are leads with alligator clips used to test the bulbs for normal operation.
On a few units, we found that the Xtreme bulb polarity had been switched. Its a simple fix. Here is a video showing how to handle the adjustment.
Keywords: POP display, Xtreme polarity, RapidAim bulbs, Xtreme bulbs, Concept bulbs, 110v AC power supply, Alligator clips, Bulb testing, Polarity adjustment.
The third generation of the Ford Super Duty 2011-2016 began using the quad headlight system. We have good success with this halogen to LED migration. Then with the model change to the fourth generation 2017-2022 the Ford Super Duty 250-550 initially presented a problem migrating from halogen to LED lights.
The truck uses a quad light system. Each light emitting hole uses an H13 halogen bulb. When a user engages the low or high beams, all four lights brighten or dim. That is an entirely different methodology than most vehicles on the market that have seperate low and high beams. The most common bulbs are H11 and 9005 for high and low.
We were having great success with a simple change of the halogen bulb to our LED H13 upgrade for the 2011 through 2016 model years. Then in 2017, the system changed. We found that the 2019 Ford Super Duty F250-F350 was causing our bulbs to fail. It was the most prominent year to produce that result. It seemed to ramp up and and then after 2021 it tended to dissipate.
Diagnostics – We diagnosed that the vehicle was producing up to 22 volts on our volt meter. Our bulbs were designed to handle 6-16 vDC. The truck was over voyaging our bulbs and causing them to prematurely fail. The addition of decoders did not fix the problem. We asked our contacts about what had changed and finding empirical information failed to yield results. After some time, we concluded the CANbus was modulating electricity. With the ever changing load within the vehicle, it tended to adjust the voltage to the lights.
We spent a few years testing bulbs and decoders and eventually found that with our invention of the RapidAim bulb that was designed to handle 7-40 volts, the problem went away.
At this time, only our RapidAim part #21131 is designed to handle the increased voltage. Once we are comfortable this fix is long term, we will migrate the Xtreme 22131 to the higher voltage rated.
At this time, the 21131 is the only bulb that is approved for the 2017-2022 Ford Super Duty.
Update – We have found that the 2023 and newer Super Duty F250-550 now use an H11 Low (upper hole) and an HB3 (9005) as the High (lower hole).
Condensation is the change of the physical form of water from a gas to a liquid resulting in small droplets of water forming on the inside of the lens. Halogen lights run much hotter than LED lights which also helps evaporate the condensation in lights. Stock halogen headlamps are routinely designed with a vent or built in breather membrane that allows airflow in and out to dissipate condensation. This membrane does not allow water ingress (water leaking into a light).
As the LED produces heat, it does create a slight pressure and temperature differential between the cooler outside air and the warmer air inside the lens. The air moves towards the heat. As LED’s run much cooler that halogen and don’t create enough heat to dissipate the moisture filled air, it can take more time for condensation to dissipate. These are natural causes of condensation and in most cases condensation will dissipate over time. The amount of time it takes for condensation to dissipate depends on the environmental conditions including weather and humidity.
We recommend the use of LED bulbs with a fan cooling system if you experience persistent condensation in your headlights. The fan cooling LED bulbs run on higher temperature and the fan blow the air inside the headlamp housing and boost and evaporation of condensation.
Condensation is a naturally occurring condition that can affect any light. It does not suggest a defect in a product, the housing or sealing of the light. Leaks generally do not occur (which case there is water ingress that could lead to a system failure) during normal LED upgrade. The explanation contained herein is intended to help end users differentiate between these two conditions so they understand what, if anything, needs to be done.
In the rare occurrence where water ingress and leaking is occurring and you have a significant amount of water entering a light or housing, please contact our support team so we can investigate and help you with your case.
Keywords: LED headlights, Condensation, Halogen lights, Breather membrane, Vent, Water ingress, Fan cooling system, Headlight housing, Evaporation, Weather conditions.
Adjust The Mounting Tab:
Check if the LED bulbs are sitting at the right orientation after you install the bulb. If the bulbs are not in the correct orientation, you can adjust the mounting tab to correct the orientation.
For the Concept Series:
1. Observe the angle of the LED diodes and set to the correct angle if needed.
2. Locate the set screw on the LED bulb collar.
3. Use the hex wrench provided to loosen the set screw.
4. Rotate the collar to the required position to achieve correct installation alignment.
5. Tighten the set screw.
For the Xtreme Series:
When installing LED headlights in your vehicle, you may encounter issues that indicate the need for a decoder harness. This guide will help you determine if a decoder harness is necessary and explain common problems and solutions associated with LED headlight installations.
Common Issues Requiring a Decoder Harness
When you install LED headlights, you might experience the following problems, which suggest that a decoder harness is needed:
No more errors or flickering. The newly designed decoder harness addresses all these issues! It is designed to handle both CANbus and PWM systems used in the latest vehicles, providing a plug-and-play solution for any LED headlight and fog light conversion. This harness has been tested for compatibility with most Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, VW, BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and many other CANbus systems currently in use.
Some CANbus systems monitor the current input of the light bulb they control. When they detect a current larger or smaller than the original bulb’s specification, it causes a problem. The decoder harness can help by accommodating the power demands of the new LED bulb, allowing the system to adjust to the aftermarket product.
Pulse width modulation (PWM) technology is used to reduce the heat output of halogen bulbs, extend their lifespan, and save power. However, LED headlights require a constant current, not the pulsed power supplied by PWM systems. Installing LED headlights in a vehicle with PWM configurations can result in flashing bulbs or bulbs that turn off after a few minutes. The decoder harness includes large capacitors that store power to eliminate the pulse, providing the LED headlights with a constant flow of current.
Keywords: LED headlights, Decoder harness, LED headlight installation,Bulb flashing, Headlight error, CANbus systems, PWM systems, LED headlight problems