Diode Dynamics 9012 SL1 LED Bulbs Conversion Kit - Single or Pair

SL1 LED Bulbs

Aftermarket or OEM? If you're looking to improve visibility on your vehicle at night, you've probably found many options for LED upgrades. Most bulbs on the market are too big to install, don't work with the electrical system, and have no focus or hotspot in the beam pattern. Even if they come close on those aspects, they still aren't anything close to the quality you would find with factory-installed lighting. Like most aftermarket products, most LED bulbs are not engineered and tested for long-term reliability.

With the SL1 LED, Diode Dynamics set out to engineer a proper OEM-grade solution. With its compact size, optically correct output, flow-simulated cooling, and boost-mode electrical circuit, our SL1 LED patented design is a properly-engineered solution that finally provides a real upgrade in performance, with high reliability: and it's tested and validated to meet those standards, just like OEM lighting.

Compact Size. Your order includes two bulbs to replace the factory bulbs in your vehicle. The bulbs are compact, in a patented design that isn't much bigger than the original halogen bulb. The drivers are close too! If you have a sealed lamp, they are designed to fit inside. The drivers and bulbs are tested to last over time, even when sealed inside. Please see further information on Vehicle-Specific product listings, or contact us.

Street Legal Output. Don't be fooled by high lumen numbers. Your vehicle's lamps are designed as a system, to focus light. If the light source in that system is out of focus, it doesn't matter how bright it is. You won't have a focused hotspot of light to shine down the road, and you'll have more glare. To correct this, the SL1 LED bulb was engineered with advanced optical design software, which simulates each ray of light in a process known as "ray tracing." Using this tool, our engineers perfectly matched the filament location, allowing the SL1 LED to focus light just like your original bulb, preserving the focus and hotspot with no added glare. This is a safe, functional output in compliance with photometric standards.

Tested to Perform. We try the SL1 bulb in factory lamps and measure the entire beam pattern using specialized equipment. It's an elaborate affair: a lamp is mounted to a computer-controlled rotating head called a goniometer. The light shines down a tunnel, where a sensor collects data as the light is rotated. The entire beam pattern is mapped, and we compare the total output to the original halogen. We can assure correct optical performance with proper optical engineering, testing, and validation in the application.

Staying Cool. You may have seen bulbs that use large straps for cooling or big fans that make noise. These bulbs still run hot, pushing the LEDs past their limits, resulting in output degradation after a few months. When it comes to cooling, sound engineering is required to remove heat from the bulb efficiently. The SL1 comes together as a whole system that was extensively tested, with dozens of iterations to achieve the best cooling performance possible. It includes a direct-solder copper core board, thermal phase-change interface material, and thermally-modeled zinc casting to get heat to the base. Base fins are designed for aerodynamic performance in conjunction with the flow rate and pressure of the Sunon bearingless microfan. The result is a highly effective and reliable cooling system, keeping the bulb running at maximum potential. 

Fitment. With its patented design, the SL1 LED fits where other bulbs won't without cutting or modification. There are no hanging metal straps, just compact bulb plugs right in, with an exclusive reinforced shroud to keep the heat off any other components or wiring. Only slightly larger than a standard halogen bulb, it fits behind dust caps and in tight spaces. The driver and bulb are tested to function when sealed inside - no worries about heat buildup! The bulb's base sizes are also keyed for exact applications, not one-size-fits-all, and the compact driver easily tucks away.

Driven. Rather than a simple buck regulator found on other bulbs, the SL1 uses a unique boost-mode circuit, which prevents thermal imbalance in the LEDs overtime - again, just like you would find in OEM LEDs. It also has transient protection for long life in automotive circuits. Diode Dynamics engineers also analyzed dozens of OEM electrical systems. They added current monitoring circuitry to mimic the electrical characteristic of halogen bulbs, drastically reducing the need for CAN-BUS adapters (though they're still needed on some applications).

Reliability. Every part of the SL1 LED was designed for reliability, from the custom wiring with strain reliefs and solderless terminals, to the exclusive zinc castings, to the reinforced high-temperature PP-GF plastics (the same used in halogen bulb bases). Each component was designed and tested, with dozens of variations reviewed until we achieved the maximum performance possible. Finally, the SL1 was put through its paces in our environmental testing chambers - where the bulb successfully performed through dozens of thermal cycles, from -40 through 85 degrees Celsius (-40 to 185F). Whether you're in the Sahara or northern Canada, the SL1 will keep performing for years and is backed by a three-year warranty. Click here to learn more: Reliability Testing of LED Bulbs Video.

Experience. After over a decade in business, Diode Dynamics is one of the most trusted names in automotive LED lighting. We directly assemble and engineer our products in the United States, allowing for higher quality and performance with the newest and brightest LED technology. No matter what you're driving, we pride ourselves on offering only the best possible LED solutions. Don't hesitate to get in touch with us if you'd like to discuss your lighting project!