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In 2019, we began incorporating LED projectors into our headlight systems. LED projector technology gradually improved, but this year we are proud to introduce the next evolution of LED projectors: the Nova Edition. The Nova edition are the most powerful headlights ever created for the corvette.
Traditional Bi-LED projectors use a single LED chipset built into the projector housing. The light emitted from this chip is collected using a quasi-hemispheric reflector bowl, passed over a cutoff shield and focused through a primary lens.
Traditional LED projector With main lens and frame removed
The Nova edition projectors have two major improvements:
1) In addition to the main chipset, a secondary chipset provides increased central hot-spot output via Total Internal Reflector. This type of optic is designed so light from the secondary chip is focused into a “throwing” pattern to significantly increase the down-road illumination of your headlights. Because these optics are behind the cutoff shield, the additional output does not affect the sharpness of the cutoff pattern.
2) In addition to the low beam light sources, the Nova projector also features not one but two supplemental high beam chips. These chips use hyperboloid optics incorporated into the main focal lens to increase high beam throw. The result is a high beam that not only provides additional height and width, but a substantial increase in down-road illumination as well. A pair of copper heat sinks on top allow efficient cooling of these chips during prolonged use increasing reliability and longevity.
Nova Projector
The additional chipsets provide another benefit in diffusing and cooling. Trying to get similar output from a single chipset requires the chip to be driven hotter, potentially reducing the chip lifespan. Using multiple chips to produce light can increase light production without increasing the operating temperature of a single chip resulting in a longer-lived chip and greater reliability even at high output.
How much does the Nova Projector improve headlight performance?
Objective test: 15 feet from wall with Morimoto light meter. Measurements taken at Top Dead Center (TDC) and 30 degrees off-axis to left.
Photos: Taken with Samsung S22 Ultra in Manual mode with 1/60 speed, 320 ISO.
High beam:
TDC: 3200 Lux
30 degrees off-center: 53 Lux
Nova Edition ACA Bi-LED projector The Nova Projector installed in an ACA housing. The Nova projector is characterized by two lens "dimples" for the secondary high beam chips.
Nova Edition Low beam:
The hot spot of the Nova projector is about 30% larger with a more gradual transition to the pattern spread. This results in a uniform illumination of the road at any distance and a steady fade to maximum pattern width. A foreground limiter prevents excessive illumination of road surface close to the car allowing the driver to effectively see further down the road with minimal eye strain.
Nova Edition High beam:
Immensely powerful and tight pattern focuses on throw over flood providing highly effective long-range illumination. (Note: The “wings” in the edges of the foreground appear to be artifacts of the hyperboloid lenses and might provide illumination as “cornering” lights)
What about the Stealth Light Cannons?
Our Stealth Light Cannons require frosting of the projector lens to prevent refracted sunlight from damaging the shroud during the day. I'm currently exploring ways to repeatedly frost the Nova lens while leaving the secondary high beam lens unaffected.
In comparison to our current SLC projector setup, We ran the same comparative test, but with projectors exposed. (Output from a fully-installed system will be slightly reduced due to the main lens)
High beam
TDC: 4300 Lux
30 degrees off-center: 6.2 Lux (no change)
Nova edition SLC
Low beam
TDC: 3540
30 degrees off-center: 8.4 Lux
High beam
TDC: 7100 Lux
30 degrees off-center: 8.6 Lux (no change)
Subjective notes: SLC projector system
Nova Edition Low beam:
The hot spot of the Nova projector is about 30% larger with a more gradual transition to the pattern spread. This results in a uniform illumination of the road at any distance and a steady fade to maximum pattern width. A foreground limiter prevents excessive illumination of road surface close to the car allowing the driver to effectively see further down the road with minimal eye strain.
Nova Edition High beam:
Immensely powerful and tight pattern focuses on throw over flood providing highly effective long-range illumination. (Note: The “wings” in the edges of the foreground appear to be artifacts of the hyperboloid lenses and would likely not be seen once mounted in the C6 Housing.)
Summary:
The Nova Edition of our Lux King headlights is by far the most powerful and effective headlight system available. This upgrade is not for everyone. Those who drive minimally at night or primarily in city/suburban areas with well-lit streets will not need the additional performance from the Nova edition. While the base version provides ample performance and longevity for most night driving, the Nova edition eliminates any illumination concern with night driving at all allowing for long rural highway driving with minimal eye strain. Those who routinely drive in the country or take long road trips will definitely benefit from the Nova Edition’s Performance.
The Nova Edition will be available as an upgrade option to either the Bi-LED ACA headlights, ACA modification (for those who already have an older version of the ACA headlights) and the Stealth Light Cannon V3 headlights (pending a solution to lens frosting). The upgrade is an additional $250. Mechanical installation will be the same, but there will be some minor wiring changes. Both ACA and SLC systems will remain plug-and-play.
I've purchased 20 sets of Nova projectors for initial production which will also be available in our C6 corvette "Lux King" kit. I will be anxiously awaiting feedback from these first customers to determine how much inventory to purchase in the next batch.
Sign me up! I have the current edition Bi-LED ACA headlights which I really like, but I live rural with lots of deer around and I drive my vette a fair amount at night. Anything that helps avoid the critters is worth the price!
Sign me up! I have the current edition Bi-LED ACA headlights which I really like, but I live rural with lots of deer around and I drive my vette a fair amount at night. Anything that helps avoid the critters is worth the price!
No problem. Please note that if you have the current version Bi-LED ACA headlights (the version with the silicone cover around the back of the projector) You will need to select the "Complete modification service" and send in your headlights for the modification since removal of the old projector is more complicated than older versions. Please also include the LED drivers that came with your kit.
1) Finding suitable SEALED LED projectors for inner and outer positions
2) Supply chain issues with the shrouds.
The market demand for these was also significantly lower than for our other headlight systems and did not justify the cost of solving these issues at the time.
1) Finding suitable SEALED LED projectors for inner and outer positions
2) Supply chain issues with the shrouds.
The market demand for these was also significantly lower than for our other headlight systems and did not justify the cost of solving these issues at the time.
that’s unfortunate but I understand. Thanks for the reply. I’ll keep an eye on these new projectors when I get my car.
In 2019, we began incorporating LED projectors into our headlight systems. LED projector technology gradually improved, but this year we are proud to introduce the next evolution of LED projectors: the Nova Edition. The Nova edition are the most powerful headlights ever created for the corvette.
Traditional Bi-LED projectors use a single LED chipset built into the projector housing. The light emitted from this chip is collected using a quasi-hemispheric reflector bowl, passed over a cutoff shield and focused through a primary lens.
Traditional LED projector With main lens and frame removed
The Nova edition projectors have two major improvements:
1) In addition to the main chipset, a secondary chipset provides increased central hot-spot output via Total Internal Reflector. This type of optic is designed so light from the secondary chip is focused into a “throwing” pattern to significantly increase the down-road illumination of your headlights. Because these optics are behind the cutoff shield, the additional output does not affect the sharpness of the cutoff pattern.
2) In addition to the low beam light sources, the Nova projector also features not one but two supplemental high beam chips. These chips use hyperboloid optics incorporated into the main focal lens to increase high beam throw. The result is a high beam that not only provides additional height and width, but a substantial increase in down-road illumination as well. A pair of copper heat sinks on top allow efficient cooling of these chips during prolonged use increasing reliability and longevity.
Nova Projector
The additional chipsets provide another benefit in diffusing and cooling. Trying to get similar output from a single chipset requires the chip to be driven hotter, potentially reducing the chip lifespan. Using multiple chips to produce light can increase light production without increasing the operating temperature of a single chip resulting in a longer-lived chip and greater reliability even at high output.
How much does the Nova Projector improve headlight performance?
Objective test: 15 feet from wall with Morimoto light meter. Measurements taken at Top Dead Center (TDC) and 30 degrees off-axis to left.
Photos: Taken with Samsung S22 Ultra in Manual mode with 1/60 speed, 320 ISO.
High beam:
TDC: 3200 Lux
30 degrees off-center: 53 Lux
Nova Edition ACA Bi-LED projector The Nova Projector installed in an ACA housing. The Nova projector is characterized by two lens "dimples" for the secondary high beam chips.
Nova Edition Low beam:
The hot spot of the Nova projector is about 30% larger with a more gradual transition to the pattern spread. This results in a uniform illumination of the road at any distance and a steady fade to maximum pattern width. A foreground limiter prevents excessive illumination of road surface close to the car allowing the driver to effectively see further down the road with minimal eye strain.
Nova Edition High beam:
Immensely powerful and tight pattern focuses on throw over flood providing highly effective long-range illumination. (Note: The “wings” in the edges of the foreground appear to be artifacts of the hyperboloid lenses and might provide illumination as “cornering” lights)
What about the Stealth Light Cannons?
Our Stealth Light Cannons require frosting of the projector lens to prevent refracted sunlight from damaging the shroud during the day. I'm currently exploring ways to repeatedly frost the Nova lens while leaving the secondary high beam lens unaffected.
In comparison to our current SLC projector setup, We ran the same comparative test, but with projectors exposed. (Output from a fully-installed system will be slightly reduced due to the main lens)
High beam
TDC: 4300 Lux
30 degrees off-center: 6.2 Lux (no change)
Nova edition SLC
Low beam
TDC: 3540
30 degrees off-center: 8.4 Lux
High beam
TDC: 7100 Lux
30 degrees off-center: 8.6 Lux (no change)
Subjective notes: SLC projector system
Nova Edition Low beam:
The hot spot of the Nova projector is about 30% larger with a more gradual transition to the pattern spread. This results in a uniform illumination of the road at any distance and a steady fade to maximum pattern width. A foreground limiter prevents excessive illumination of road surface close to the car allowing the driver to effectively see further down the road with minimal eye strain.
Nova Edition High beam:
Immensely powerful and tight pattern focuses on throw over flood providing highly effective long-range illumination. (Note: The “wings” in the edges of the foreground appear to be artifacts of the hyperboloid lenses and would likely not be seen once mounted in the C6 Housing.)
Summary:
The Nova Edition of our Lux King headlights is by far the most powerful and effective headlight system available. This upgrade is not for everyone. Those who drive minimally at night or primarily in city/suburban areas with well-lit streets will not need the additional performance from the Nova edition. While the base version provides ample performance and longevity for most night driving, the Nova edition eliminates any illumination concern with night driving at all allowing for long rural highway driving with minimal eye strain. Those who routinely drive in the country or take long road trips will definitely benefit from the Nova Edition’s Performance.
The Nova Edition will be available as an upgrade option to either the Bi-LED ACA headlights, ACA modification (for those who already have an older version of the ACA headlights) and the Stealth Light Cannon V3 headlights (pending a solution to lens frosting). The upgrade is an additional $250. Mechanical installation will be the same, but there will be some minor wiring changes. Both ACA and SLC systems will remain plug-and-play.
I've purchased 20 sets of Nova projectors for initial production which will also be available in our C6 corvette "Lux King" kit. I will be anxiously awaiting feedback from these first customers to determine how much inventory to purchase in the next batch.
I ordered my lights yesterday. Is it safe to assume you still have the Nova Edition Bi-led ACAs in stock? I'll be excited to post pics if they're as good as I think.
I ordered my lights yesterday. Is it safe to assume you still have the Nova Edition Bi-led ACAs in stock? I'll be excited to post pics if they're as good as I think.
Projectors are in stock in-house but the housings are at another warehouse. It typically takes a few days for them to arrive build. Expect they will ship by the end of the week.
Sharp Light Innovations Introduces "Nova Edition" Headlights
