Headlamp replacements’ comparison method

There are many replacements of headlamps on the market. Offered replacements parts should be “identical” as original and type approved. In fact it means that should have similar to original outside appearance and mounting fixtures and external size allowing for replace original one. From legal point of view to be placed in vehicle replacement headlamp should be type approved. Most important aftermarket criterion is low price. They are often offered for half or even less of original components price. From the other side the replacements can have less performance than original. When final customer want to make comparison between original and aftermarket headlamp it is a problem because there is no standard procedure or information allowing to compare performance. Similar problem have components wholesalers or end sellers. It is also important for traffic safety because many of contemporary headlamps meet some type approval requirements with significant surplus. To try solve this problem was developed method on the base measurements done using “Headlights’ analyser”. This device allow for measurements of illumination distribution of beam pattern. Appropriate analysis of recalculated illuminance can give important information allowing for comparison beam patterns of different headlamps, especially replacement. This method is based on as much as possible identical aiming of each headlamp using analytical finding of cut-off line than comparing important characteristics of road illumination and glare.