Similarities and Differences between an LED Light Bar and LED Driving Light

If you frequently find yourself driving in rural areas after the sun has gone down, it would be wise to install an LED light bar or driving light in your 4WD. These lighting devices help supplement the light generated by your car's factory headlights to give you better road visibility. With a better view of the road ahead of you, you can easily avoid objects blocking your path.

Facts and Info about LED Light Bars and Driving Lights

If you want to enjoy better road visibility, you can choose between a light bar and a driving light. Can't choose between the two? Here are their similarities and differences to help you decide.

1. Light quality

Light bars are known for generating intense white light that pans out to the side more. It provides you with excellent road visibility so you can see signs and hazards even if they are a few distances away. Beam patterns offered by LED light bar in Australia usually come in three options: spot, flood, or a combination of both.

Driving lights, meanwhile, often come in pairs. They usually have a rectangular beam pattern, but can also generate spot or flood light. As compared to high beam headlights, the light produced by LED driving lights has a longer and wider reach. In most cases, they can also illuminate the side of the road, depending on where they are installed.

2. Light temperature

Both LED light bars and driving lights can produce light of varying temperatures or colour. But if you want to enjoy maximum reliability, opt for a light bar or driving light that produces white light (around 6,500K) because white lights are more powerful in the dark than other light colours.

3. Installation

As mentioned earlier, driving lights are always installed in pairs, while light bars can be installed in pairs or singularly depending on their size. Whether you opt for a driving light or a 4WD LED bar light, know that you must never install them at the back of your vehicle because it can endanger the lives of other drivers and it is against Australian Design Rules.

4. Energy efficiency

Another similarity LED light bars and driving lights share is they are both energy-efficient. Thanks to their LEDs, at least 95% of the power they consume is transformed into light and not wasted as heat, unlike other lighting devices. They also last longer than other auxiliary lighting equipment.

When to Use

Driving lights are a recommended option if you frequently drive on highways at high speeds. Light bars, on the other hand, are perfect for off road driving and for driving in rural areas with limited road visibility and illumination.

Please share this article with your friends so they'll know whether to get light bars 4x4 or a pair of driving lights.

How to Troubleshoot Power Issues with Your LED Light Bars

LED light bars make an excellent addition to your car's lighting system. As compared to halogen or even HID lamps, they are lighter, brighter, and more energy efficient. Because they consume less electricity, they emit less heat. They are tougher than any lighting equipment on the market today and they last longer, too. But just like any car accessory, light bars are not immune to technical problems. As such, to ensure continuous usage and optimum performance, you should learn how to troubleshoot simple problems.

Fixing LED Power Issues

If the light bar has become dimmer or refuses to generate light at all, there could be a problem with its connection to the power supply. Here are some troubleshooting tips to help you solve this issue.

1. Ensure that you have right input voltage

Prior to installation, ensure that your light bar has the right voltage requirement. As far as input voltage requirement goes, there are two types of LED light bars: those designed for cars with 12v power sources and those for 24v power sources. To prevent potential electrical problems, always make sure that the light bar you'll install is compatible with the kind of vehicle that you drive.

2. Check the specifications of your power supply

After identifying the input voltage and other power requirements of your LED light bar in Australia, you should also check the specs of your power supply. How much wattage can it produce? This will ensure that its input and output power matches your LED's installation requirements. This is important because if you use more wattage of your light bar than what the power supply is rated, the power supply could fail and the light bar might not work properly.

3. Ensure proper wiring

Poor connection is one the leading causes of LED problems. If the light from the light bar is flickering or it refuses to turn on, the first thing you should do is to check the wiring of your power supply. Ensure that the wires of the 4WD LED bar light are exposed and in contact with the ports of your car's power supply. If the wires are not properly exposed, use a wire stripper to strip the wire for better connection.

4. Check for burnt wires

If the light bar suddenly stops working, don't buy a replacement yet. What you should do is check the wiring if it is burnt. If there are burnt wires, the light bar probably has had an electrical short, which is commonly a result of two loose wires having contact with each other. To prevent this issue, always check your light bar for burnt or loose wiring.

Be sure to share this article with your friends so they'll know what to do in case they have problems with their LED light 4x4.

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.

4 Surprising Benefits of LED Light Bars in Australia

While you may think that your vehicle already has an excellent pair of factory headlights, it is still best to consider investing in LEDlight bars in Australia, especially if you use your vehicle to make a living or for sports. Thanks to their exceptional light output, LED light bars successfully supplement the light generated by your headlights to help you see better when driving at night. Here are the reasons why LEDs make an outstanding addition to your vehicle.

Why Install an LED Light Bar in Your Car

1. Visibility

The most practical reason why you should get an LED light bar is to improve your ability to see when driving at night and during bad weather conditions, especially if you're suffering from night blindness. Even if your vehicle has high quality headlamps, it will be still difficult for you to see well at night or in bad weather because these lights do not create enough light for people with this condition. Also, installing a light bar provides a better alternative to driving around with the high beams on all the time.

2. Utility

Picture this scenario: you're doing field work late into the night so you've decided to switch on your car's headlights to provide additional light. However, you've realised that the light is still not enough. What should you do? In this situation, having a LED bar light 4WD can help. It can be used as a spot light so you can enjoy ultra bright light either for doing field work or when helping another car change tyres in the dark. You can also install it in your boat to aid you in fishing.

3. Style

Any vehicle owner wants their ride to look good and stand out from the crowd. If you want to give your vehicle that extra swagger and improve its appearance, installing LED light bars can do exactly that. Aside from improve the overall lighting performance of your car, these auxiliary lighting devices also make your vehicle look more unique. It also allows you to effectively express your own style and individuality through your car.

4. Value

Sure, upgrading your car's lighting may initially cost you money, but it can also bring you monetary benefits later on. Adding LEDs to your car helps increase its value, which is quite useful if you have plans to sell or trade your car in the future.

Whether it's for practical or fun reasons, adding a cheap LED light bar to your car can really make a huge difference. So what are you waiting for? Check out these outstanding auxiliary lighting devices now.