LED headlights and snow

[URL]https://www.truck-lite.com/media/wysiwyg/LEDHeadlightBrochure_1.pdf[/URL]

See page 2.

Here are their manufacturing locations - https://www.truck-lite.com/locations

I am not gaslit, and I am not a "low information buyer". I am not defending a Chinese product with a US label. I deeply care about IP and IP theft. I exactly know what the Amazon lights are and why they cost what they do. You have an issue with how much Truck-lites cost and that part I can understand, everyone has different levels of paying for something that they are comfortable with. FWIW, I have seen truck-lites in person and they are excellent headlights. I have also seen the cheaper copies too and they do not even come close in terms of light quality and pattern.

You can continue to be intelligent and support whoever you like with whatever justifications pleases you. But don't go calling other people names. It is entirely possible that you may have the same problem with truck-lites and there is only one way to know. However, when @jjvw and @NashvilleTJ say they don't have a problem, I entirely trust that they do not have a problem.

As I said before, you have made up your mind that Truck-lites and the copies are equivalent based on whatever information collecting you did. If it makes you happy that you paid 3x less for your set, so be it.


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Then why does this list Country of Origin as “China”? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007K8AA7I/?tag=wranglerorg-20

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Did you even look at it? Or did you simply jump up to defend your preconceived notions?

I did look at it. And in the photos I see enough differences in the castings, connector, and other minor differences, to know it is not it the same product. I also see enough similarities to know it’s a visually close representation of the real thing. In other words, a knockoff. You also cannot tell by the adds which internal components are used in construction - and that is where the meaningful differences lie.

Did you bother looking up the meaning of Occam’s Razor? There was a point there that you missed.
 
I did look at it. And in the photos I see enough differences in the castings, connector, and other minor differences, to know it is not it the same product. I also see enough similarities to know it’s a visually close representation of the real thing. In other words, a knockoff. You also cannot tell by the adds which internal components are used in construction - and that is where the meaningful differences lie.

Did you bother looking up the meaning of Occam’s Razor? There was a point there that you missed.

I work in the semiconductor industry and I am in high volume manufacturing side (and was previously in transistor design level R&D).

I can all but guarantee that the LEDs on the knockoffs are utter garbage. And yes, I know a good deal about LEDs and how they work :)
 
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I did look at it. And in the photos I see enough differences in the castings, connector, and other minor differences, to know it is not it the same product. I also see enough similarities to know it’s a visually close representation of the real thing. In other words, a knockoff. You also cannot tell by the adds which internal components are used in construction - and that is where the meaningful differences lie.

Did you bother looking up the meaning of Occam’s Razor? There was a point there that you missed.
I wonder if the Chinese counterfeits from the TL reject pile are required to swap out the lens covers.
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Just because 2 similar things come from china, if that were the case, does not indicate they are the same. China builds a lot of stuff to the specifications of that order. Chinese junk is made to what ever spec they choose, usually what ever part is handy at the time of assembly. I have seen, held and seen the lighting difference between the TLs and the knockoffs. They are not the same, not even close. I run the knockoffs, I know what they are and don’t claim otherwise.
Look at phones for example. iPhones are made in china so are the cheapest phones available. Are they the same? No, they are made to different specifications.
 
Go ask the reseller on Amazon that entered the listing.

I am sure that Jo & Mikes Truck, Trailer and Fleet Parts, operating out of his home, and reselling parts that he buys in bulk from many sources, has his information correct…
 
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Just because 2 similar things come from china, if that were the case, does not indicate they are the same. China builds a lot of stuff to the specifications of that order. Chinese junk is made to what ever spec they choose, usually what ever part is handy at the time of assembly. I have seen, held and seen the lighting difference between the TLs and the knockoffs. They are not the same, not even close. I run the knockoffs, I know what they are and don’t claim otherwise.
Look at phones for example. iPhones are made in china so are the cheapest phones available. Are they the same? No, they are made to different specifications.

Spot on, Golly. I don’t know why this is not more universally understood. China has some of the most sophisticated and advanced manufacturing capabilities in the world. If the purchaser specs high quality, you get high quality. Many items which where once manufactured here, now built offshore, and now of diminished quality, is usually the direct result of the purchaser specing lower quality materials in order to further reduce cost.

‘Course, China still has many, many less sophisticated factories filled with child labor, so there is that…
 
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Thanks for the lightsplaining. A very tortured pathway you bunch have created to avoid paying the slightest attention to reason, logic, or evidence. It’s called cognitive dissonance, and people do it all the time so they don’t have to admit their assumptions are wrong. Not that I don’t trust your personal experience. I actually do. It’s just that your personal experience has no scientific methodology behind it. So, it’s totally dependent on assumptions nobody can make. Glad you’ve had good experience with your Trucklites. I’ve had good experience with my “cheap Chinese knock offs” until one particular point two weeks ago. Let’s leave it at that and stop playing this asinine juvenile game.
 
Thanks for the lightsplaining. A very tortured pathway you bunch have created to avoid paying the slightest attention to reason, logic, or evidence. It’s called cognitive dissonance, and people do it all the time so they don’t have to admit their assumptions are wrong. Not that I don’t trust your personal experience. I actually do. It’s just that your personal experience has no scientific methodology behind it. So, it’s totally dependent on assumptions nobody can make. Glad you’ve had good experience with your Trucklites. I’ve had good experience with my “cheap Chinese knock offs” until one particular point two weeks ago. Let’s leave it at that and stop playing this asinine juvenile game.
Sounds like we're not even close to being worthy of fulfilling your requirements, it's clear from your increasingly snarky responses that you would be happier elsewhere.
 
Considering the welcoming committee, Jerry, you’re probably right. I did not originate the snarkiness. Right at this moment, I’m dealing with a very busy life and a dying father I travel to care for every few weeks. I came here for help when needed, and to learn from people with a wide range of experiences about Jeeps. Instead, I get insults about my choices. And if this is the way newcomers are treated at this website, then it might just be the last thing I need. It’s the same cliquish bullshit that occurred in high school, and it’s not necessary. Thanks for the recommendation, but I think I might just stick with that other site, where at least a range of choices is tolerated.
 
Considering the welcoming committee, Jerry, you’re probably right. I did not originate the snarkiness. Right at this moment, I’m dealing with a very busy life and a dying father I travel to care for every few weeks. I came here for help when needed, and to learn from people with a wide range of experiences about Jeeps. Instead, I get insults about my choices. And if this is the way newcomers are treated at this website, then it might just be the last thing I need. It’s the same cliquish bullshit that occurred in high school, and it’s not necessary. Thanks for the recommendation, but I think I might just stick with that other site, where at least a range of choices is tolerated.
What would be better would be if you just grew a little thicker skin and stopped complaining about a minority of the responses and going snarky. Most of us, me included, were simply trying to help you. I offered you a very simple answer with an easy effective choice.
 
Actually, I quoted you and answered. It is still a possibility, assuming I am eventually willing to spend that sort of money. Chances are, though, I would choose Halogen before heated led. But I did not ignore your solution by any means.
 
Not choosing someone’s suggested option is not a sign of disrespect. But badmouthing someone else’s choice as inferior often is. It’s called tact, and basic respect for people we don’t know, whose choices may be based on different criteria than our own. Hope other newcomers here have a better experience here than I did.
 
Not choosing someone’s suggested option is not a sign of disrespect. But badmouthing someone else’s choice as inferior often is. It’s called tact, and basic respect for people we don’t know, whose choices may be based on different criteria than our own. Hope other newcomers here have a better experience here than I did.

And your attempt to gaslight yourself into believing your counterfeit lights aren't the real problem you are having with the weird Arizona snow is quite entertaining.
 
Not choosing someone’s suggested option is not a sign of disrespect. But badmouthing someone else’s choice as inferior often is. It’s called tact, and basic respect for people we don’t know, whose choices may be based on different criteria than our own. Hope other newcomers here have a better experience here than I did.
You asked for our opinions but it's entirely clear you weren't happy with them. Most newcomers here, however, are very happy with the solid tech support offered and hang around. Which is why this forum is growing faster than other Jeep forums. If you change your mind and choose to hang around please do, but please leave the snark elsewhere. That came through in most of your posts, all of which I read through a few minutes ago Snark is not a positive trait and it's not appreciated.
 
I’m sure you do get all kinds of weather there. Yes, Colorado is known for its dry snow, as is Utah. It’s the primary reason those are two world-class ski destinations.
If you really knew about LEDs, you would know they don’t produce anywhere near as much heat as other light-producing technologies. Primarily, because they are more efficient. I have worked with LEDs in about 2/3 of my career for industrial applications, where heat was a critical factor. As an example, in one application, we created AI (artificial intelligence) vision-guided robotics to automatically sew together components of artificial heart valves. Heat induction into the process was a problem, as was the wavelength of the light. As I recall, the wavelength had to be 435nm in the violet range in order for the part to be adequately fluorescent, and the total exothermic radiant heat had to be very low. I don’t recall the value, but it wasn’t easy to meet. What we found is that although the LED diode itself gets just as hot as halogen bulbs, it occupies a tiny fraction of the surface area. And therefore, the amount of total exothermic heat from a LED light with similar light output to a halogen, measured in terms of exothermic radiance, is far less. In laymen’s terms, the LED does not heat up surrounding materials and assemblies nearly as much as halogens of similar value. A greater exothermic radiant heat figure from a light source is an indication of LESS EFFICIENCY, not greater. When it comes to LED light technology, more heat radiating from the light assembly is an indicator of lower quality, not greater. Did you not consider this when you bought your US-made Trucklights for $435 compared to the apparently more-efficient WHDZ LED “copies” for around 100 bucks? Add to that the fact that your snow is typically considerably drier than what I experienced last week, and you have a very UNscientific point.
Before you label me a pinko commie sympathizer, I do prefer buying American when it makes sense to do so. But to buy an inferior product (at LEAST in terms of efficiency) for 4-5x the cost, does not seem to make much sense now, does it? 😁
Disclaimer: Not everybody you consider to be of lower intelligence is actually as you may perceive them. People you may seek to chastise for not making choices in the same way you do, are not necessarily making their choices without thinking them through. Considering that the conditions which existed last week as described only happen maybe a couple times a year, and that it’s even less frequent that I would drive in those conditions at night, does it really make sense to spend $435 to solve a problem that, in all likelihood, might exist once every few years? Especially when there may be much simpler solutions we haven’t found yet? Especially if the $435 doesn’t actually solve the problem. Are the Trucklite units of higher or lower quality than the WHDZ? I have no idea, and neither do you. Blind loyalty is just as great a fault as ignorance, so let’s can the condescending BS, shall we?

This is the post that started all the snarkyness, and set the tone for the entire thread. You were then one who turned a few good responses into personal attacks.
 
I can all but guarantee that the LEDs on the knockoffs are utter garbage. And yes, I know a good deal about LEDs and how they work :)
On a completely different question, WHY, do almost every one of these LEDs come in 6000 or 6500 Kelvin? I would get LEDs if I could get them in 4500- 5000 K and not have to spend several hundred dollars for them.
 
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