LED headlights and snow

[JasonL83]

Happy New Year everyone!

I recently installed aftermarket LED headlights on my Gladiator from Truemods. They look great! That being said, my family and I drove from SE Michigan to Manistee yesterday (going back tomorrow) during a decent snow event, though not the worst I've been in and once we got to our destination, when I got out of my Jeep I noticed that my headlights were completely iced over. Luckily, we made the trip during the day and I was somewhat easily able to removed the ice with my hands. I saw on a Google search that this seems to be something that was discussed over on the Wrangler forum for even the stock LEDs. Has anyone had a similar issue here? If so, does anyone know of a solution? It seems that headlight heaters should be a thing for LEDs... Maybe they're is some sort of treatment that can be applied to reduce snow "stickage". I don't think the bucket shaped housings do us any favors......

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[Bigb55]

LEDs don't make enough heat. So Snow/ice/sleet often freezes onto the housing.

It's one reason why I chose the base halogens. Less likely to freeze over.

Heaters should be standard per DOT laws

 

[JasonL83]

Yeah, I know why the LEDs aren't melting the snow. Was just kind of curious if there were any solutions. I really do like the way they look and the improved visibility (when not covered in snow) they offer.

 

[ORACLElights]

Happy New Year!! LED headlight are wonderful and amazingly bright. They do all of the things we need of them, except, melt snow and ice. LED emitters are known for their efficiency and part of that efficiency is that they don't produce a ton of energy in the form of heat. Great light output / very little heat from the actual light.

With that in mind, ORACLE Lighting has produced our most popular headlight, the Oculus Bi-LED Projector Headlights available with a heated lens function for the coldest of environments. The Oculus is 100% plug-and-play, with no additional wiring required for the heating element. The heating function automatically activates when the headlight is on and the ambient temperature approaches freezing.



Check out all of the details HERE!

 

[DailyMoparGuy]

Not sure if this works but just trying to throw something out there for ya.

https://www.amazon.com/DuPont-Teflo...ocphy=9001834&hvtargid=pla-569060044939&psc=1

 

[JasonL83]

Well, it's got a good rating!

 

[LouisvEarlleJT]

LEDs don't make enough heat. So Snow/ice/sleet often freezes onto the housing.

It's one reason why I chose the base halogens. Less likely to freeze over.

Heaters should be standard per DOT laws

Same here!

 

[Sandman 4x4]

There’s one manufacturer that I know of that addresses that issue. MORIMOTO TWO STROKE 3.0 are designed with the cooling fans running the other way, blowing air through the stem and sides, that heat up and pass that out to the housing to warm the face, not sure how they work in arctic weather, but in Massachusetts they work well. No longer an issue for me in Florida.

 

[robinja]

If you run LEDs and live in an area with snow and ice, consider carrying a can of spray de-icer. It’s sold on Amazon and at Walmart… probably many other locations. Even halogens can get a nice coating of snow and ice if it’s cold enough.

 

[HAMP]

Can you send a picture of the True Mods Headlights you ordered? I also ordered a pair and since we haven't had any snow yet I'm curious to see if I should replace them with some oracles.
For reference these are the ones I have currently installed.
Amazon.com: TRUE MODS 9 Inch Round LED Headlights Replacement for 2018-2025 Jeep Wrangler JL JLU Unlimited Gladiator JT Accessories [DOT Approved] [DUAL HALO DRL] Sealed Beam Front Head Light Lamp Bulb : Automotive

 

[KevinC]

I would do everything I could to keep my LED headlights and find an alternative solution. For me, the easiest would be to install some old school Halogen driving or fog lights on the bumper. Use them in the snow only. The ones that get so hot you can't touch them. Back in the day we used aircraft landing lights for when we were in the woods at night. A cheap substitute for KC Daylighters, which nobody I knew could afford.

 

[nanook12]

I’ll just leave the halogen headlights on…I replaced the fogs though with leds…they aren’t recessed as much as the headlights

 

[JasonL83]

Can you send a picture of the True Mods Headlights you ordered? I also ordered a pair and since we haven't had any snow yet I'm curious to see if I should replace them with some oracles.
For reference these are the ones I have currently installed.
Amazon.com: TRUE MODS 9 Inch Round LED Headlights Replacement for 2018-2025 Jeep Wrangler JL JLU Unlimited Gladiator JT Accessories [DOT Approved] [DUAL HALO DRL] Sealed Beam Front Head Light Lamp Bulb : Automotive

The ones you linked to are the exact ones I got. If you haven't installed them yet and plan to use the included t-connector things to splice into the fender lights for the turn signals, make sure the connector pierces the wires. I had to double up (bend the end of the wire over itself) on the pigtail on the driver side to get it to work.

 

[HAMP]

The ones you linked to are the exact ones I got. If you haven't installed them yet and plan to use the included t-connector things to splice into the fender lights for the turn signals, make sure the connector pierces the wires. I had to double up (bend the end of the wire over itself) on the pigtail on the driver side to get it to work.

I didn't use the turn signal splice, but I also just ordered a pair of oracles with the heated lenses. when I said we didn't get any snow yesterday I finally got the Aux delete done last night and drove home in sleet. hooray for me.

 

[Sandman 4x4]

I would do everything I could to keep my LED headlights and find an alternative solution. For me, the easiest would be to install some old school Halogen driving or fog lights on the bumper. Use them in the snow only. The ones that get so hot you can't touch them. Back in the day we used aircraft landing lights for when we were in the woods at night. A cheap substitute for KC Daylighters, which nobody I knew could afford.

Yea in 78 I had a new tricked out Scout II TERRA truck, one of the original mid sized trucks you could get 4, 6 gas/diesel, 304,345 V8’s, 3, 4 or 727 automatic. Rear locker, front limited slip. I installed Cibie Z Beams for headlights with state of the art halogen bulbs, Cibie Bi-Oscars low on the grill guard that were fog and driving lights, then centered over the windshield a chrome remote spot light I put a KC Daylighter in, the 400w 100,000 candlelight power top on the line, so powerful I needed a 165 amp International truck alt, plus a second battery. I could aim that to a third floor apartment of a friend as I drove up that would light up his entire apartment! Or aim at fishing boats way off shore and illuminate the entire boat! With all mi lights on the alt was pegged and I could see down a 2 mile Long Beach! Those Daylighters were something else, except for their power draw.

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