LED Driving Lights
The emergence of LED driving lights has changed the way we see and drive. They allow drivers to see further ahead, which enables them to react quicker to a potential threat.
But not all LEDs are created equal, and it’s important to know a few things before buying a set. First of all, we recommend finding out the colour temperature of your LED light.
Brightness
A quality LED driving light should provide a high level of brightness that will enable you to see what’s ahead on the road. This will allow you to avoid dangerous situations and make sure that you don’t get caught out by any vehicles or obstacles along the way.
The amount of bright light a driving light provides will vary depending on its design and the materials used. A good light will produce 5,000 lumens or more, which is enough to illuminate your surroundings and make it easier to spot potential hazards on the road.
It is also important that the brightness of a driving light doesn’t degrade as you move forward and backward in your vehicle, which can cause eyestrain. This is why it is important to choose a light that operates at a colour temperature of 5000 to 6500 kelvin, which will maximize visibility and reduce eye fatigue.
Another factor to consider is lux, which is a measure of the amount of brightness that a light produces, measured at a specific distance. This can be a useful tool when shopping for a new set of lights, as it gives you a clear idea of how visible the light will be at a certain distance.
Generally speaking, higher lux levels indicate better performance, so it is worth comparing the brightness of different brands and models before you make your purchase. This will ensure that you get the most out of your investment.
One brand that you should look out for is Lightforce Australia, which has an extensive range of LED driving lights designed and developed in-house. The company’s range includes the Ultima 215 LED – a Led Driving Light 165W unit that boasts 8,500 effective lumens and an IP67 rating for protection against water and dust.
Mark Gamtcheff, from Lightforce Australia, explained that the use of reflectors has improved with LED technology, and there’s now a wide range of LED construction types available to suit different tasks. “As well as increased output, the thermal efficiency of modern driving lights has also reduced heat, so we’ve been able to design them to be slimmer and lighter,” he added.
Durability
A good quality LED driving light should be able to stand up to the stresses and strains of constant vibration and hard use. This means it should be constructed from a sturdy, robust material such as high-quality steel.
Another important factor to look for is the quality of the mounting bracket. Typically, cheap lights will use very thin brackets that are made from low-grade steel. This is not only dangerous but can also cause premature failure.
The quality of the reflector is also a critical factor in the performance of a driving light. A high-quality light will have a better reflector design that can utilise the raw light output of an LED more efficiently, thus producing a wider, brighter beam.
Moreover, the reflector should be designed to be strong enough to support the weight of the light itself and prevent any damage to the fixture. Moreover, it should be able to withstand extreme temperatures and moisture.
When looking for a LED driving light, it is best to choose one that is made from durable materials such as aluminum or stainless steel. Unlike plastic, these materials are resistant to scratching and corrosion. They are also easier to clean and maintain.
It is also vital to choose a light that is backed by a warranty. This way, if you encounter problems in the future, the manufacturer will be there to offer help and solutions.
Finally, you should consider the cost of a light before making your decision. While the costs of LEDs have softened in recent years, it is still important to pay a little more for a good quality product.
A good quality LED driving light should be a well-constructed product that will provide excellent value for money over the long term. It should have a solid heat sink and fins to dissipate the heat that is generated by the light during operation.
Despite these benefits, it is still important to remember that an LED does not last forever, and will begin to lose its brightness after a few hundred hours of use. This is why it is crucial to always check a light’s lifespan before purchase.
Safety
A quality LED driving light improves the safety of drivers on the road by increasing their visibility and reducing eye fatigue. It also allows them to see obstacles, pedestrians, and cyclists who are on the road, making it easier for them to avoid accidents.
Another benefit of these lights is their ability to illuminate a wider area than traditional headlamps, giving the Led Driving Light driver a clearer picture of the road ahead. This increases the chances of avoiding accidents and saving lives.
This is particularly true in areas that are covered with snow or ice. When you’re driving in the winter, it’s important to ensure that all of your exterior lighting is on and that the lenses are free of snow or ice.
Fortunately, some manufacturers have designed these LEDs with little metal hoods that funnel airflow over the lenses, allowing them to melt ice and snow. This has the added advantage of allowing the LEDs to stay cool enough to operate during freezing rain or other winter weather conditions, preventing them from becoming damaged by moisture.
One of the most common forms of LED lighting used in cars is a daytime running light (DRL). These are small, low-powered lights that are powered by the car’s headlights and run all the time.
They are meant to supplement other safety measures, such as maintaining a safe following distance and driving within speed limits. They have been proven to reduce multiple-vehicle daytime crashes and fatalities, but they can’t be relied upon 100 percent of the time.
Many vehicles now come with a system that raises the brightness of the high-beam light as a driver speeds up on the highway. This feature makes it easier for the driver to see a greater range of objects on the road, including pedestrians and cyclists, and to signal them earlier than with traditional headlamps.
It also lets the driver see the road ahead of him more clearly, and it prevents glare from the sun. This can be especially beneficial for drivers who have trouble seeing in the mornings.
Another benefit of these lights is their ability to use an alternative light-distribution pattern, enabling them to adapt to a variety of driving situations. This gives the driver more flexibility when maneuvering his vehicle, particularly in rural areas.
Ease of Installation
The best LED driving lights are easy to install and come with all the necessary mounting hardware. Some also offer an anti-flicker module that can be installed in most vehicles’ CAN bus circuitry.
They are also small enough not to affect fuel economy, and are powerful enough to keep you safe on the road at night. They’re also highly waterproof, and their efficient circuit design ensures good lifespan.
Unlike halogen, HID, and Xenon bulbs, which produce heat from their lenses, LEDs don’t. However, they do emit infrared radiation that can cause them to become warm, which is why they are typically housed in cast aluminum heat sinks.
Most manufacturers of LED driving lights purchase their bulb or LEDs from a handful of suppliers, then assemble them into their own products using reflectors, lenses, circuit boards, and mounts. These LEDs are then often advertised with performance figures, such as 1,000 lumens per light.
This figure can seem low when you consider that many LEDs are rated at a minimum of 500 lumens. But these figures are only estimates, as they don’t take into account the amount of power the LEDs consume.
In addition, LEDs have a lower power density than traditional HID bulbs. This means that they require less power to illuminate the same amount of space, so it’s more efficient and cost-effective to use them.
You can find a wide range of LED driving lights at your local auto parts store. They come in different shapes, sizes, and colors, and many of them are also programmable.
Some also come with adjustable stainless steel mounting brackets for ease of installation. You can install them on your vehicle’s front bumper, roof, or windshield.
If you’re not comfortable installing a LED driving light yourself, you can hire a professional. They’ll charge a few hundred dollars for the job, but they’ll save you from having to deal with the stress of wiring your own lights.
In general, most people prefer to install their own LED lights because it’s a simple project that requires little effort and time. Depending on your experience, you might be able to handle the whole process yourself.
