Piaa 530 leds?

[twinrider]

I'm considering getting Piaa 530 Led driving lights. I've noticed a few members have installed them and would like to hear general impressions regarding their brightness, light spread, etc. I'm also considering Rigid Industry SRM2 Specters but the attraction of the Piaas is that they are supposed to have a proper beam cutoff so can be used with the low beams without bothering oncoming traffic. I'm just a bit concerned that they might not be very bright as they are only 6 watts per light.

Thanks for any feedback.

 

[Don in Lodi]

Wattage with LED's is not a good way to determine light output. You need the lumen, or even their kelvin temp. The whole great thing about LED set-ups is that they draw few amps or watts to give you a huge output of light. So theoretically you can hang a bunch of LED lamps on your electrical system without killing the battery.

 

[twinrider]

Definitely, that's why I'm trying to get feedback from those who have installed them.

 

[Don in Lodi]

Looks like the 530's are 6000 kelvin. That's a bit into the blue side of the spectrum. It's a shame they don't give a lumen number. All sorts of web sites talk about lumen vs kelvin and how they relate. Seems the more blue the less efficient the light getting reflected back. While the blues hurt oncoming driver's eyes, less light gets reflected back to the operator's eyes. I think I'd try to find a light with a cooler color, something like 4k to 5k. More like high noon white. The lower numbers get better and better into the fog and rain. And the higher numbers get more and more useless for seeing with.

 

[twistedthrottle]

I know nothing about Kelvins but I can speak to Lumens. Lumens are measured at the SOURCE of the light. We're talking right at the diode itself. This does not account for how they are driven from this source or the clarity of the lens. Keep that in mind. You could have a higher lumen light that emits less light than a more efficent and better designed light of fewer lumens.

Kev

 

[Kevhunts]

I'm considering getting Piaa 530 Led driving lights. I've noticed a few members have installed them and would like to hear general impressions regarding their brightness, light spread, etc. I'm also considering Rigid Industry SRM2 Specters but the attraction of the Piaas is that they are supposed to have a proper beam cutoff so can be used with the low beams without bothering oncoming traffic. I'm just a bit concerned that they might not be very bright as they are only 6 watts per light.

Thanks for any feedback.

I'm running a pair that I have mounted just like the halogen kit option. I have them aimed just like the low beams and have had no issues with on-coming drivers. While these are not as bright as those Baja Squadrons, the light tends to make signs, reflectors, & critters eyes "pop" and the spread is wider than the stock headlights. They do have a slightly bluish tint but are not like those annoying fake HID bulbs you seen on the road.

 

[HoebSTer]

I have the PIAA Fog kit for several months now. I find the pattern to almost reflect the low beam pattern of the OEM headlight. The LED pattern although is wider and fills in some of the lower dark spots on each side. I really like the 6000k Lumens which provide ample visibility in daytime as well as an improvement over stock. I would like to see the pattern of the driving in person, as it extends much further out than the fog.
Over-all I really like the lights and would get them again in a heart beat. PIAA offers the brackets to mount to the original holes up under the headlight. I have a pair of the brackets which mount to the crash bars on my bike. I haven't chosen to install them there yet with fear of a tip-over and breaking a light off.

So, I give them a ::008:: 9 out of 10 score if I had to score them.

Jeff

 

[ainsworth]

Twinrider
Some time ago I bought and wrote something about led lamps
http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=4727.msg89200#msg89200
Last weekend I wrote something about "first experience" with led lamps
http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=5342.msg94289#msg94289
I can´t make a "responsible test" (I talk about test with measurements and not quick test) but I think in some days I´ll do. When I can do the test I go to write about.
Now the set up is
Original driving lamps, an individual switch to switch on/off position with low or high beams for lamps with 3 Leds (780 LM) each, and the second pair directly over de high beam lamps with lamps of 4 led (3000LM) each.
The small leds lamps is for day light driving, and big leds lamps to use with high beams
I hope my comment be usefull for you, and if your are patient in some days, when streets be without ice I go to make more pictures and a best test

 

[twinrider]

Twinrider
Some time ago I bought and wrote something about led lamps
http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=4727.msg89200#msg89200
Last weekend I wrote something about "first experience" with led lamps
http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=5342.msg94289#msg94289
I can´t make a "responsible test" (I talk about test with measurements and not quick test) but I think in some days I´ll do. When I can do the test I go to write about.
Now the set up is
Original driving lamps, an individual switch to switch on/off position with low or high beams for lamps with 3 Leds (780 LM) each, and the second pair directly over de high beam lamps with lamps of 4 led (3000LM) each.
The small leds lamps is for day light driving, and big leds lamps to use with high beams
I hope my comment be usefull for you, and if your are patient in some days, when streets be without ice I go to make more pictures and a best test

Thanks for the comments. I actually had what look to be the same LEDs you have on my Dakar and TDM but was plagued by reliability issues. Which is why I'm going for a name brand this time. Hopefully yours will hold up better.

 

[twinrider]

@Kevhunts and HoebSTer,

Great feedback, thinking I've narrowed it down to these getting these or the Squadrons depending on my budget.

 

[patrickg450]

I have the PIAA Fog kit for several months now. I find the pattern to almost reflect the low beam pattern of the OEM headlight. The LED pattern although is wider and fills in some of the lower dark spots on each side. I really like the 6000k Lumens which provide ample visibility in daytime as well as an improvement over stock. I would like to see the pattern of the driving in person, as it extends much further out than the fog.
Over-all I really like the lights and would get them again in a heart beat. PIAA offers the brackets to mount to the original holes up under the headlight. I have a pair of the brackets which mount to the crash bars on my bike. I haven't chosen to install them there yet with fear of a tip-over and breaking a light off.

So, I give them a ::008:: 9 out of 10 score if I had to score them.

Jeff

How about a photo

 

[bahill]

PIAA 530 LED driving lights mounted under OEM lights and Denali D2s mounted on GIVI TN225 Crashbars/Engine Guards. I am using the Denali 25 degree flood lens in the D2S’s at this time.

All I know at this time is they put out more light and put more light on the sides of the road the way they are positioned at this time. I haven’t had a chance to get out on a road dark enough to really see the difference down the road and I don’t really have them sighted in right at this time. So far I’ve been careful to have them off with oncoming traffic at night. Although it might be my imagination they do seem to provide more visibility to others in the rain and daylight hours.

I'll give an update after having time to play around with them more.

 

[ainsworth]

Thanks for the comments. I actually had what look to be the same LEDs you have on my Dakar and TDM but was plagued by reliability issues. Which is why I'm going for a name brand this time. Hopefully yours will hold up better.

thanks, i hope the same

 

[cbrunsw]

It's and old thread but I just installed the PIAA530 kit. So far I like it and it was a fairly easy install. Up here in Calgary it is light out till 10:00 or 11:00 at night in the summer so the lights are for more to be seen as compared to seeing better.

A guy almost cut me off on 17'th avenue last week and I don't know if he didn't see me or didn't care. Hence the lights.

 

[BravoBravo]

I have the Piaa 1100x Dichroic driving lights on my Super Ten. I don't have any pics of them illuminated on this bike, but the attached photo is what they looked like during the day on my last motorcycle, a 2009 Moto Guzzi Stelvio. When I traded in the Stelvio, I had them moved onto my Super Tenere. They are very bright, so during the night, I turn them off if there is any oncoming traffic.

-Bruce

 

[cochise325]

I put the PIAAs on my 2012 bike. They are awesome. They help you be seen and see. Easy to install. Check Rocky Mountain ATV MC for the kit.

 

[Marty]

I have a pair of adv monster m60's http://stores.advmonster.com/model-60-led-off-road-flood-light/ They are 3600 lumens each. Everything else that I have seen offered either is less lumens or does not mention how many lumens it puts out.

 

[twinrider]

I have a pair of adv monster m60's http://stores.advmonster.com/model-60-led-off-road-flood-light/ They are 3600 lumens each. Everything else that I have seen offered either is less lumens or does not mention how many lumens it puts out.

I went to Piaas when I got tired of replacing those generic Chinese lights. Zero issues since.

Also, anyone can say anything they like regarding light output, not like there's an industry watchdog vetting the figures....

 

[Big Blu]

I've got a pair of the Clearwater Darla, they do a and a good job to make me be seen, no so god a job in helping me see.
Next time I'll try a set of the PIAA 530 to help me see better.

Most LEDs are not well focus and just throw a blob of light out front, I'm thinking the design of the PIAAs do a better job of focusing the light into brighter, well controlled beam.. ??????

Paul

 

[cochise325]

I've got a pair of the Clearwater Darla, they do a and a good job to make me be seen, no so god a job in helping me see.
Next time I'll try a set of the PIAA 530 to help me see better.

Most LEDs are not well focus and just throw a blob of light out front, I'm thinking the design of the PIAAs do a better job of focusing the light into brighter, well controlled beam.. ??????

Paul

Spot on assessment. PIAA aims the LED bulb backwards at the reflector. That directs the light to the right place down the road. These things light up the night and you really see that when the light reflects off the highway signs. One of the nicest add-ons on my bike.