What Every Shoppers Should Know about Buying LED Light Bars

LED light bars make an excellent addition to campervans, trucks, and off road vehicles. They provide additional light, thus, making it much easier for you to navigate unforgiving terrain and roads with insufficient illumination. They can also come in handy when you need to work around the campsite after the sun goes down or if you require a reliable source of illumination during an emergency situation.

Key Facts and Info about LEDs You Should Know

Before you shop for an LED light bar, here are some common questions you should know the answer to so you can be sure that you'll purchase the right product.

1. Which is more important: lumens or watts?

Most of us are used to looking at watts when buying lighting equipment. But when it comes to shopping for an LED light bar in Australia, lumens is what you should be looking at. In a nutshell, lumen is the SI unit for intensity of light and it measures the brightness of a light bar. This will help you determine how bright a particular lighting device is compared to other lighting equipment.

2. What is amp draw?

Amp draw is basically the measurement of how much electricity the light bar draws from the battery when it is in use. When the vehicle is not running and the light bar is switched on, it will continue to discharge the battery. Amp draw is an important factor to consider, especially if you want to mount multiple light bars on your vehicle. If you have excessive amp draw, your car's alternator might not be able to handle the light bars.

3. How important is the IP rating?

The IP rating tells you how resistant your chosen 4WD LED bar light to dust and moisture intrusion is. A typical light bar has an IP67 waterproof and dustproof rating. This means that the unit is protected against solid particles and can be submerged in one metre of water for up to 30 minutes.

4. Should I use a relay with my LED light bar?

You should because the relay helps reduce the current load on the switch. It the current rating is more than the current draw of your light bar, it can be directly wired to the switch. To avoid a short circuit and other accidents, it would be wise to use a switch with an amp rating that is 50% higher than the light bar's amp rating.

Make sure to remember these key facts and information when shopping for a LED light 4x4. This way, you can get a light bar that will meet your needs and expectations.

LED Light Bars: Spot or Flood?

LED light bars are known for providing extra illumination to give you better road visibility when driving at night. Because your factory headlights can only do so much, it is very important that you have an auxiliary lighting device, especially when driving off road and at rural areas with limited road illumination so you can avoid eye fatigue and eye strain.

Spot vs Flood

When you purchase an LED light bar, there are two types of illumination you can choose from: spot or flood. Each has their own unique qualities designed to fulfil your specific needs. Let's take a look at how they differ from each other.

Spot beam

1. Narrow beam of light

The most notable feature of an LED light bar in Australia featuring a spot beam is its narrow beam of light, which is usually no wider than 45 degrees. Because of this, it is much easier to control. This makes the spot light more suitable for illuminating a specific object down the road or searching a particular space like a body of water, for example, when the light bar is mounted on a boat.

2. Farther distances

With a spot beam, your illumination can reach much farther distances. Depending on the quality and wattage of the light bar you have bought, its spot light can reach distances of at least one kilometre or even farther. This feature is a huge help when you're in an off road competition as it allows you to see as far ahead as possible and avoid obstacles in the road.

3. Equipped with special reflector

All spot lights, including those in LED light bars, are equipped with a special reflector called the mirrored parabolic reflector. This is to make the light more concentrated and focused. If there is no reflector, the light will spread in all directions from the main lamp, thus, making it hard to control.

Flood beam

1. Wide coverage

A 4WD LED bar light with a flood beam produces a cone of light with a width of up to 120 degrees. Because of its much wider light, it can provide you with a wider coverage and allows you to see what's on the side of your vehicle.

2. Intense light

The light produced by flood lights is similar to daylight. This allows you to see and retrieve objects easily even after the sun has gone down. This is why flood lights are very useful when going on a camping trip or if you need to work in and around your vehicle.

Don't want to choose between the two? You'll be happy to know that most light bars today feature a combination of spot and flood style of illumination so you can enjoy the benefit of having two separate lighting devices in just one LED light 4x4. Be sure to share this article so your friends will know, too.