BEAMTECH S1 LED Kit Review
An inexpensive, fanless LED kit with a strong original reflector beam-pattern result and simple internal electronics—but the much lower current chart scores, limited warranty, cool 6700K color, and decoder requirement are important context.
- Reflector performance
- 1.5BulbFacts score · 5.0 baseline
- Projector performance
- 0.7BulbFacts score · 5.0 baseline
- Measured output
- 2,310 lmper pair · about 1,155 lm per bulb
- Color temperature
- 6,700 Kmeasured
Our verdict
The BEAMTECH S1 was a compelling low-cost reflector option in the original 2018 test because its halogen-like emitter placement produced a clean cutoff and a 4.5/5 pattern rating. The current chart record is much less competitive in both reference housings. Its simple fanless construction still has appeal, but buyers should weigh the low current scores, large hot rear heat sink, cool-white color, decoder requirement, and unconfirmed durability.
What we liked
- The original reflector test recorded a clean cutoff, 4.5/5 beam-pattern rating, and low 49-lux glare result.
- Fanless solid-state cooling and an internal driver simplify the package and eliminate fan noise.
- The flat six-emitter layout and rotatable collar were designed to mimic a halogen filament position.
What to consider
- Current chart scores are 1.5 in the reflector housing and 0.7 in the projector housing, both below the 5.0 reference baseline.
- The 163°F bench temperature and large rear heat sink make clearance and heat management important installation checks.
- The current chart records a decoder requirement; exact-vehicle fitment, RFI, lifespan, and current glare remain unconfirmed.
Build quality
The original review focused on the S1’s unusual simplicity. Six emitters are arranged flat to approximate the position of a halogen filament, the driver is integrated into the bulb assembly, and a solid metal heat sink replaces an active fan.
That layout removes a separate driver box and fan from the installation, but it shifts the practical concern to the rear of the bulb. The heat sink is large and ran hot on the bench, so space and ventilation matter more than the tidy wiring suggests.
The retail presentation is secondary to the evidence. The original test praised the construction for enabling a controlled reflector pattern; the current measurements below show why that historical result must not be treated as a current ranking.
Reflector headlight performance
The current chart records modest reflector output and a 1.5 performance score. The original 2018 test was far more positive about the beam shape, recording a 4.5/5 pattern rating and low glare under its earlier test format.
Test-version context: Headline measurements and comparison graphs use the current version 2.1 chart record. Original version 1.0 lux, glare, and pattern findings are preserved as historical context and are not mixed into current graphs. Reference-housing results do not guarantee the same result in a selected vehicle.
Gray dots show every scored kit. Named markers are current BulbFacts recommendations. The 5.0 reference is a baseline, not a maximum.
Reflector performance score 1.5 compared with 54 scored LED kits and the 5.0 reference baseline.
- Low-beam hotspot
- 426 luxper bulb
Reflector low-beam output of 426 lux compared with 54 scored products.
- High-beam output
- 763 luxper bulb
Reflector high-beam output of 763 lux compared with 54 scored products.
- Glare measurement
- Not recordedcurrent chart · 49 lux in original v1.0 test
- Beam pattern
- Not recordedcurrent chart · 4.5 / 5 in original v1.0 test
Current chart output measured 426 lux per bulb on reflector low beam and 763 lux per bulb on reflector high beam. The resulting 1.5 performance score is compared with a 5.0 baseline; it is not a 1.5-out-of-5 star rating.
The original version 1.0 article recorded 2,400 lux per bulb on low beam and 4,350 lux per bulb on high beam. Under that earlier setup, low beam was described as 49% above its recorded halogen result and high beam as 23% higher. Among the first ten popular Amazon kits in that 2018 comparison, it ranked second overall.
The original reflector beam received a separate 4.5 / 5 beam-pattern rating and 49-lux glare reading at 8 inches. The review praised its clean cutoff and minimal scatter. Those historical results remain meaningful editorial evidence, but they cannot substitute for missing current glare and pattern fields or guarantee the same behavior in another housing.
Projector headlight performance
The current projector result is the S1’s weakest measurement set: 138 lux on low beam, 152 lux on high beam, and a 0.7 performance score. A 5/5 pattern field is recorded, but no current projector glare result is available.
Gray dots show every scored kit. Named markers are current BulbFacts recommendations. The 5.0 reference is a baseline, not a maximum.
Projector performance score 0.7 compared with 54 scored LED kits and the 5.0 reference baseline.
- Low-beam hotspot
- 138 luxper bulb
Projector low-beam output of 138 lux compared with 54 scored products.
- High-beam output
- 152 luxper bulb
Projector high-beam output of 152 lux compared with 54 scored products.
- Glare measurement
- Not recordedcurrent projector test
- Beam pattern
- 5 / 5separate pattern rating
Projector beam-pattern rating of 5 out of 5 compared with 47 products with recorded ratings. Higher is better.
Current projector output measured 138 lux per bulb on low beam and 152 lux per bulb on high beam. The separate 5 / 5 pattern rating describes beam shape, not brightness and not the 0.7 performance score.
The original version 1.0 article recorded 700 lux per bulb on projector low beam and 1,294 lux per bulb on projector high beam. Those historical values are retained for completeness but are not directly comparable with the current score graph.
The current data record points to a projector file named Sealight-S1.jpg. Because that filename does not identify the BEAMTECH product, it is not shown here as BEAMTECH evidence. The numeric record remains visible, while both projector image positions are honestly marked unavailable.
Output, color, and stability
The current chart records a distinctly cool 6700K color and 2,310 measured lumens per pair; no warm-up stability measurement is available.
BEAMTECH S1 Kelvin
BEAMTECH S1 lumens
Color temperature measured 6,700K, placing the kit toward the blue end of the cool-white range. A cooler-looking bulb is not automatically more effective in rain, snow, or other conditions where scatter can reduce visibility.
The current chart records 2,310 lumens per pair, or about 1,155 lumens per bulb when divided evenly. The original version 1.0 test recorded 4,620 lumens per kit. These versioned figures are preserved separately rather than combined.
No cold-start or two-minute-to-30-minute output-drop result is recorded. The 30-minute temperature is useful thermal evidence, but it does not establish output stability or long-term lifespan.
Installation and cooling
The internal driver and fanless design simplify wiring, but the 39 mm rear heat sink, 163°F temperature, decoder requirement, and DRL behavior all need attention before ordering.
Per-bulb draw
30-min temp
Fan noise
Physical size and fit
The original record lists a 39 mm heat-sink dimension, but its exact width or base-to-rear basis was not preserved. The collar is recorded as rotatable in 90-degree increments, and the internal driver removes a separate electronics box from the harness.
The current chart lists H1, H3, H4/9003, H7, H11/H8/H9, H13/9008, 880/885/893/899, 9004, 9005/HB3, 9006/HB4, and 9007. A matching base alone does not confirm fitment: verify seating, emitter orientation, rear clearance, ventilation, dust-cover space, and electronics for the selected vehicle.
Power draw and cooling
Power draw measured 16.7 watts per bulb. The 33.4-watt pair total is derived from that per-bulb value rather than independently measured as a complete kit.
After 30 minutes, temperature measured approximately 163°F / 73°C. The solid heat sink dissipates that heat without a fan, but the original review advised checking space and ventilation. This bench result is not a completed long-term durability test.
Noise, electronics, and DRL behavior
The fanless assembly recorded 0 dB of fan noise. That removes an active-cooling sound source; it does not establish how the complete lighting system will sound in every vehicle.
The current chart records the kit as requiring a decoder in both reflector and projector entries. Vehicle monitoring systems vary, so a decoder note is not a universal fitment guarantee. Radio-frequency interference was not recorded.
The recorded DRL/high-beam dimming result is No. Exact behavior depends on the vehicle’s circuit, and no selected-vehicle compatibility claim is made here.
Warranty and long-term testing
Coverage
The current chart lists a one-year warranty; the original version 1.0 review recorded warranty as unknown. Coverage is not evidence of measured service life, and current terms should be confirmed before ordering.
Long-term lifespan remains N/A because a completed runtime result is not recorded. The fanless design, temperature reading, and warranty do not replace durability testing.
Should you buy it?
The BEAMTECH S1 makes the most sense for a price-conscious buyer who specifically values fanless construction and is willing to verify fitment, heat-sink clearance, electronics, and beam aim. Its original reflector test remains a useful example of how emitter placement can produce a controlled cutoff.
The current chart tells a more cautious story. Reflector and projector performance scores are both well below the 5.0 baseline, projector output is particularly low, the color is a cool 6700K, and a decoder is recorded as required. Projector users or buyers prioritizing current measured output should compare other tested options.
At the current recorded $30–39 estimated price, the S1 is inexpensive, but low price and a one-year warranty do not resolve the unknown lifespan result. Treat the historical praise and current measurements as different test records, then confirm the requirements of the actual vehicle before ordering.
If those tradeoffs fit your vehicle, check the current price or compare the current chart before deciding.
Full measurements and specifications
Open this reference for every recorded measurement, specification, unknown, and test-version detail. The main reflector and projector evidence remains visible above.
Show all recorded measurements and specificationsFive groups · current v2.1 + original v1.0 context
Measured output
- Reflector performance score
- 1.5 in the current chart; 5.0 is a reference baseline, not a maximum
- Reflector low-beam hotspot
- 426 lux per bulb current; 2,400 lux per bulb in the original version 1.0 article
- Reflector low-beam improvement
- Not recorded for the current value; original article described a 49% improvement, or about 1.5 times its recorded halogen result
- Reflector high-beam output
- 763 lux per bulb current; 4,350 lux per bulb in the original version 1.0 article
- Reflector high-beam improvement
- Not recorded for the current value; original article recorded a 23% improvement over its halogen result
- Projector performance score
- 0.7 in the current chart; 5.0 is a reference baseline, not a maximum
- Projector low-beam hotspot
- 138 lux per bulb current; 700 lux per bulb in the original version 1.0 article
- Projector low-beam improvement
- Not recorded
- Projector high-beam output
- 152 lux per bulb current; 1,294 lux per bulb in the original version 1.0 article
- Projector high-beam improvement
- Not recorded
- Measured lumens
- 2,310 lm per pair current, or about 1,155 lm per bulb derived; 4,620 lm per kit in the original version 1.0 record
- Lumen improvement
- Not recorded
Beam quality
- Reflector beam-pattern rating
- N/A in the current chart; 4.5 / 5 in the original version 1.0 test, separate from the current 1.5 performance score
- Projector beam-pattern rating
- 5 / 5 in the current chart; separate from the 0.7 performance score
- Reflector glare measurement
- N/A in the current chart; 49 lux at 8 inches in the original version 1.0 test
- Projector glare measurement
- N/A; not recorded
Power, color, and thermal behavior
- Measured color temperature
- 6,700 K
- Measured electrical draw
- 16.7 watts per bulb
- Derived pair draw
- 33.4 watts per pair
- 30-minute running temperature
- 163°F / 73°C on the bench
- Cold-start to 30-minute output drop
- Not recorded
- 2-minute to 30-minute output drop
- Not recorded
- Fan noise
- 0 dB; fanless solid heat sink
- Cooling method
- Fanless solid heat sink
Dimensions, features, and recorded compatibility
- Maximum bulb width
- 39 mm heat-sink dimension recorded; exact width basis was not preserved
- Base-to-rear dimension
- Not recorded
- Diode-handle dimension
- Not recorded
- Rotatable H7 collar
- Yes; 90-degree increments recorded. The standardized label does not imply every listed size uses identical hardware
- LED diodes
- Six emitters per bulb; diode manufacturer and exact model not recorded
- Emitter layout
- Flat orientation designed to mimic a halogen filament position
- Driver configuration
- Internal
- Recorded product sizes
- H1, H3, H4/9003, H7, H11/H8/H9, H13/9008, 880/885/893/899, 9004, 9005/HB3, 9006/HB4, and 9007
- CANBUS behavior
- Current reflector and projector chart entries say Requires Decoder; exact-vehicle electronics behavior is not guaranteed
- Exact-vehicle fitment
- Unconfirmed; verify bulb type, seating, orientation, rear clearance, ventilation, dust-cover space, DRL behavior, decoder needs, and electronics
- Housing context
- BulbFacts reflector and projector reference housings; results do not guarantee performance in a selected vehicle
Warranty and test status
- Estimated price
- $30–39 in the current chart; original article discussed a price around $36
- Recorded warranty
- 1 year in the current chart; unknown in the original version 1.0 review
- Long-term lifespan
- N/A; no completed durability result recorded
- DRL / high-beam dimming
- No in the recorded test
- Radio-frequency interference
- N/A; not recorded
- High-beam test photographs
- N/A; no matching high-beam photograph is available. The current projector image mapping is not shown because its filename identifies a different S1 product
- Publication date
- April 18, 2018
- Last updated
- May 31, 2026
- Test version
- Current chart version 2.1 values are used for headline comparisons; original publication used version 1.0 values, which are preserved as historical context
Current headline facts use the BulbFacts version 2.1 chart record where available; the original version 1.0 findings are labeled separately. See how we test for current procedures and use the current LED chart for current comparisons.