Halo lights in headlight blinking

259 Views 11 Replies 4 Participants Last post by FJ-Sun, 8 d ago

Offroadrocks&roll

Discussion Starter · 10 d ago

i have replaced my factory headlights with an after market one from China that has a halo light blink. This is the second pair I have replaced with the same problem.
My last two headlight/halos have only lasted about four months each. True, there are fans that cool down the headlights which the lights contain. The headlights with halos cost about $300 bucks on Amazon. My mechanic says it’s the light system itself and not faulty wiring on his part. Anybody have this problem or can suggest a solution?
thanks

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FJ-Sun

· #2 · 10 d ago

Bad relay?

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Offroadrocks&roll

Discussion Starter · #3 · 10 d ago

Will definitely check that out. Thanks

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Voodoo7

· #4 · 9 d ago

Did the headlights you buy look like these? If so it’s a common problem. They are sold by many names but it seams most have a led halo problem. I used to have them as well until 90% of the halo was blinking or burnt out.

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FJtest

· #5 · 9 d ago

Cheap LEDs have a very common failure mode where they develop an internal intermittent connection between the silicon chip at the heart of the LED and the electrical connections to the chip.

As the LED chip heats up, the plastic LED package heats up and expands, applying stress to the connections to the chip. Eventually, one of the connections breaks, and the LED turns off. As soon as it turns off it starts to cool, and as it cools the plastic package contracts and forces the broken electrical connection back into contact. As soon as the connection is re-established, the LED turns on again, and the cycle repeats, causing the flashing.

In most cheap LED arrays, multiple LEDs are connected in series strings, so when one LED develops the intermittent internal connection, all the LEDs in that string flash.

It's just the consequences of using very cheap LEDs, frequently sourced from batches of LEDs that were rejected by the LED manufacturer because of reliability problems.

High quality LEDs, used within their current and temperature ratings, fail 'gracefully' with a very gradual reduction in light output over many thousands of hours of operation. Poorly made LEDs often fail catastrophically after a short period of use via the 'flicker' mode.

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Offroadrocks&roll

Discussion Starter · #6 · 8 d ago

Voodoo7 said:
Did the headlights you buy look like these? If so it’s a common problem. They are sold by many names but it seams most have a led halo problem. I used to have them as well until 90% of the halo was blinking or burnt out. View attachment 1231150

Yes, those exact ones. So what did you finally go with? Do you have Bali’s or not?
thanks

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Offroadrocks&roll

Discussion Starter · #7 · 8 d ago

FJtest said:
Cheap LEDs have a very common failure mode where they develop an internal intermittent connection between the silicon chip at the heart of the LED and the electrical connections to the chip.

As the LED chip heats up, the plastic LED package heats up and expands, applying stress to the connections to the chip. Eventually, one of the connections breaks, and the LED turns off. As soon as it turns off it starts to cool, and as it cools the plastic package contracts and forces the broken electrical connection back into contact. As soon as the connection is re-established, the LED turns on again, and the cycle repeats, causing the flashing.

In most cheap LED arrays, multiple LEDs are connected in series strings, so when one LED develops the intermittent internal connection, all the LEDs in that string flash.

It's just the consequences of using very cheap LEDs, frequently sourced from batches of LEDs that were rejected by the LED manufacturer because of reliability problems.

High quality LEDs, used within their current and temperature ratings, fail 'gracefully' with a very gradual reduction in light output over many thousands of hours of operation. Poorly made LEDs often fail catastrophically after a short period of use via the 'flicker' mode.

Do you use lights with Halos? If so what do you recommend? These Halo lights run around 300 bucks….not cheap.
thanks

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FJtest

· #8 · 8 d ago

I've got no recommendations because I don't have any interest in 'halo lights' or other cheaply-made imported doo-dads that don't enhance functionality or reliability.

Do $300 halo-lights improve your FJ in some way? Personally, I can think of much better ways to spend $300 (or $600) on an FJC.

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Voodoo7

· #9 · 8 d ago

Offroadrocks&roll said:
Yes, those exact ones. So what did you finally go with? Do you have Bali’s or not?
thanks

I like the look of halos and wanted to upgrade to a projector lenses with for better light output which I highly recommend! I went with the Angel EYE halos for the headlights but still have the crappy turn indicator from the originals since I haven’t found a new set of indicator lights I love yet. Had for a year now and they seem perfect. I also replaced the bulb that comes with the angel eyes with hikari leds. It’s an awesome combo for light output and clarity at night.

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FJ-Sun

· #10 · 8 d ago

Could be cheap LEDs, but is most likely that it's cheap driver board circuitry. Like cheap solder work, bad grounds, thin wires, cheap caps, junk resistors, etc. Sucks just as much because who has LED driver boards laying around. GRRRR...

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FJtest

· #11 · 8 d ago

FJ-Sun said:
Could be cheap LEDs, but is most likely that it's cheap driver board circuitry. Like cheap solder work, bad grounds, thin wires, cheap caps, junk resistors, etc. Sucks just as much because who has LED driver boards laying around. GRRRR...

I'm pretty familiar with LED and driver circuitry, and I'm hard pressed to identify a driver board failure that can cause a continuous flashing or flickering of an LED array after a period of normal operation. Flashing from thermally-induced intermittent bond wire connections are a typical LED failure mode.

Failure modes for LEDs | LEDnique.

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FJ-Sun

· #12 · 8 d ago

FJtest said:
I'm pretty familiar with LED and driver circuitry, and I'm hard pressed to identify a driver board failure that can cause a continuous flashing or flickering of an LED array after a period of normal operation. Flashing from thermally-induced intermittent bond wire connections are a typical LED failure mode.

Failure modes for LEDs | LEDnique.

I was just going on what the local electrical distributor told me. They had a shipment of lights come in and many of them started blinking, and pandemic and all, the contractor found someone who could fix the driver boards somehow. Problem solved. Given that LEDs come from almost literally anywhere, I'm sure they fail for a lot of reasons. I had a desk light that started blinking, tried to 'fix' it but the driver was a custom mess. The actual LED board worked fine with a battery, but the driver board started the blinking again. (And I really liked that desk light. So pissed... Chinese junk) Thought of trying to diagnose the driver, but don't have much in the way of diagnostic equipment. I have a fried that runs a repair service, but wouldn't want to pay them to diagnose it. Not worth it. LED lights are just another under engineered, cheaply built, landfill filler... I've had so many LED light bulbs for the home die too, and the warranty is less than useless: Yes, you really have to save that receipt to get anywhere with those companies. Who saves receipts for light bulbs? It's all such a racket...

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