LED Light Bar: Important Terminologies Explained

These days, it is quite common to see an LED light bar sitting on top of 4X4s, off-road vehicles, boats, and farming/construction equipment. After all, this piece of lighting device is more versatile and powerful than ordinary halogen lamps. Its energy efficiency is also a huge come-on for many buyers and users. Although they may be a bit more expensive than ordinary lighting devices, LED light bars are still a huge hit for many vehicle and farming/construction equipment owners because of the advantages they bring.

Meanwhile, if you're switching to LEDs after using ordinary lighting devices for so long, you might be unfamiliar with certain terminologies that you haven't come across to before. To help ease your confusion, this article will provide you with some simple explanations so you can better understand how LED lamps work and to ensure that you'll get a light bar that meets your expectations.

LED. LED stands for light emitting diode, a semiconductor light source. LEDs produce the "electroluminescence effect," which occurs when electrons recombine with holes within an LED lighting device and release photons. Today, the use of LEDs is not limited to the manufacturing of an LED light bar. They are also used in a wide variety of applications, including aviation and automotive lighting, advertising, and general lighting.

Lumen. When you purchase LED light bars, one of the things you'll notice in their product description is the term "lumen" (lm). For those who didn't know, lumen is basically the measure of the total "amount" of light emitted by a light source. To put it simply, it tells you how bright an LED light is. So if you're choosing between two light bars with lumens of 10,000 and 15,000, respectively, the latter is obviously brighter than the former.

Flood and spot illumination. Buyers who purchase an LED light bar usually come across the terms "flood" and "spot." In a nutshell, these terminologies are the style of illumination an LED light is capable of producing. When light bars feature spot illumination, they can produce further-reaching light. On the other hand, when the product description tells you that the CREE LED light bar offers flood style illumination, the device is more capable of lighting up a wider area.

Operating voltage. Operating voltage is the amount of electricity you need to power up the LED light bar. So if a unit that has lower operating voltage, it means that the lighting device uses up less energy when it is switched on. Identifying the operating voltage of an LED is something you should do as it gives you an idea on how energy-efficient a particular LED lighting device is.

How to Keep LED Light Bars Cool and Make Them Last Longer

If you have been using LED light bars for quite some time, then perhaps you have already realised how versatile and energy-efficient these lighting devices are. After all, as compared to traditional lamps, LED lamps produce brighter light but consume less power. They also last longer and are more reliable and dependable.

But just like your run of the mill lighting devices, CREE LED lights can diminish over time. One of the main reasons for this is that LEDs can suffer from overheating. Take note that unlike a halogen lamp or an ordinary lighting device for that matter, a CREE LED light bar has electronic components, thus, making it similar to a computer. As you may know, if your computer overheats, the processor will slow down and be more prone to errors. If left unchecked, it will fry itself eventually. LED lights are basically the same.

This simply means that if your LED light bars get too hot, they can start having problems, which can either frustrate you or cost you money in the long run. The intensity and the quality of the light the LED produces will be reduced if you fail to address the problem immediately.  As such, it makes perfect sense to take good care of your LEDs to ensure that they won't overheat easily and will remain useful for more years to come.

So how do you cool things down and ensure that the CREE LED lights will continue producing bright light? Your first line of defence against overheating is the lighting device's housing or casing. LEDs disperse excess heat from their base and into their casing so it's best to use a casing that is a good heat conductor. Aluminium is a good choice because it is a great conductor of heat and can eliminate excess temperature more efficiently. If you're going to purchase a new LED worklight bar, make sure you choose one that has aluminium housing.

Experts also recommend installing housing with ribs on the outside. According to them, the ribs help disperse heat into the atmosphere and help the LED light bars stay cool despite hours of use. It is also a great idea to take advantage of light bars that have double insulated silicon rubberised wire, which allows the lighting device to endure very low and high temperatures.

And finally, to prevent your LED light bars from overheating, you should clean them regularly, especially if you use them frequently. Dust, dirt, and other debris can affect the LED's capability to disperse heat. Cleaning and properly maintaining them keep the LEDs cool and make them last a long time.