Two ways to shape a beam
A reflector headlight uses a shaped mirror behind the bulb to throw light forward. A projector headlight puts the light source behind a lens, with a shield that cuts the top of the beam off in a straight line.
Why LED bulbs in reflectors cause glare
A reflector is designed around the exact position of a halogen filament. An LED bulb gives off light from flat chips in a slightly different place. The mirror then sends light where it was never meant to go, including into the eyes of oncoming drivers.
The lamp looks brighter from the front, but less of that light lands usefully on the road.
What a projector retrofit changes
A projector controls the beam with its lens and shield. You get a wide, even low beam with a sharp cut-off, so the light stays on the road and below the eye line of other drivers.
A Bi-LED projector does both low and high beam from one unit.
What it costs
Projector upgrades at Headlight Heroes range from KES 30,000 to KES 75,000 per pair, depending on the projector size and specification your headlights can take.
