That is some really fun shit. Ive got a separate drawer in my workshop full of that stuff that i havent looked at in years. I let it go mostly out of frustration. Packages of cree leds, various styles of star boards, heat sink adhesives, driver boards, from digikey mouser et al, flashlight reflectors, more star boards to match those reflectors. Cannibalized headlights, flashlights, and personal head lamps. Its fun but the goal posts change so fast. And it can be Infuriating. If you thought nagging and naysaying was bad here at MA...
Heres a thread from the way-back-machine that im a little embarassed to read.
http://budgetlightforum.com/node/24242
Id been trying to enlist a little advice from three or four sources/forums and getting smacked down at every turn with admonisments against experimenting with lights meant for the road. Non starter. If you read the link you'll see that i was reduced to lying about my intentions and still getting lectured.
So it goes.
I get it. But still.
Like i said earlier, it should HORRIFY any one of those hand wringing hall monitors of the internet that i am using landscape bulbs on the road, yet not a single time have i been flashed in irritation by oncoming traffic. In fact, in the six/seven years since that post trucks and suvs have only gotten taller and aftermarket highpowered "street legal" lamps have only gotten more powerful, that lately i have no fucking idea anymore if im supposed to be flashing oncoming traffic because its blinding me. Most times i just give up and look to the right. (edited)