LED light bars are relatively complex devices, leaving room for plenty of technical questions about how they operate. In order to clear up a few of these inquiries, here are the answers to some of the most popular LED light bar questions:
Lumens VS Watts, Which one is More Important?
Lumens and Watts are both units of measurement that you hear thrown around a lot in conversations about LED light bar. But what do these units mean, and which one is the most important to pay attention to? Let’s start with lumens—the lumen is the SI unit for the intensity of light, and is used to gauge the brightness of a light bar. While this unit is a little hard to imagine (for instance, if someone says that a light bar is three feet long, you can have a pretty good idea about its size, but if they tell you it’s 3,000 lumens bright, you still may or may not have any idea about how much illumination it can actually provide) knowing how many lumens a light bar is can still give you a base idea of how bright it is and is especially effective for comparing it against other light bars. Watts, on the other hand, is a measure of how much electric power is required to keep the light running. The more watts a light requires, the less energy efficient it is and the quicker it will run your battery down. However, lights that require more watts to run are generally brighter. With all of this said, lumens is probably the more important measurement to pay attention to. If you can find a light that provides the maximum amount of lumens while running of the minimum amount of watts, then you’ve found a great LED light bar.
What is Amp Draw?
Amp draw is a measurement of how much electricity a light draws from your battery in order to stay on. This measurement becomes especially important when your vehicle isn’t running, as the battery is not able to charge itself and will continually discharge. If, however, you are putting multiple light bars on your vehicle or large amounts extra electrical components, you run the risk of having more amp drawn than your alternator can keep up with. Most of the time this will not be a problem, but the amp draw of an LED light bar is still an important consideration to keep in mind.
What Does IP67 Mean?
IP67 is the most common security rating given to LED light bars, and is a measurement of how much protection they offer their internal components against both solid particles and water. A rating of IP67 means that the light bar is fully protected against infiltration against solid particles such as sand, dust, and mud, and is also able to remain functioning after having been submerged in a meter of water for up to thirty minutes. In short, an IP67 rating means that your light will be able to handle most any amount of water or solid particles you would ever reasonably want to put it up against.
What is Meant by “Beam Pattern”?
Beam pattern is a reference to how wide or how far a light bar illuminates. LED light bars come in three different beam patterns—spot, flood, and combination. Spot beams are more narrow (8̊ to 10̊ ) and are used primarily for on-road driving to provide more long distance lighting. Flood beams offer much wider illumination (usually a 90̊ spread) and are used for lighting up a worksite or for off-road driving. Lastly, combination beam patterns offer a combo of both types of bulbs. These lights are the most versatile, and are generally recommended for most applications.
Can I Run My LED Light Bar off of a Wall Outlet?
No. LED light bars are made to be run off of a DC (direct current) signal. Wall outlets produce a pulsing signal known as AC (alternating current). Trying to run a DC device off of an AC current can permanently damage the light.
My Light has Stopped Working. Should I Try Disassembling it?
If your LED light bar ever stops working, be sure to contact the manufacturer and send it back for repairs. Disassembling the light yourself can void the warranty and damage seals, leaving the light susceptible to moisture. Should you have more questions that needs answering, please don't hesitate to email us at info@extremelights.co.za. We will send you the answer and post it on our webpage.
Source: www.lightbarland.com
Lumens and Watts are both units of measurement that you hear thrown around a lot in conversations about LED light bar. But what do these units mean, and which one is the most important to pay attention to? Let’s start with lumens—the lumen is the SI unit for the intensity of light, and is used to gauge the brightness of a light bar. While this unit is a little hard to imagine (for instance, if someone says that a light bar is three feet long, you can have a pretty good idea about its size, but if they tell you it’s 3,000 lumens bright, you still may or may not have any idea about how much illumination it can actually provide) knowing how many lumens a light bar is can still give you a base idea of how bright it is and is especially effective for comparing it against other light bars. Watts, on the other hand, is a measure of how much electric power is required to keep the light running. The more watts a light requires, the less energy efficient it is and the quicker it will run your battery down. However, lights that require more watts to run are generally brighter. With all of this said, lumens is probably the more important measurement to pay attention to. If you can find a light that provides the maximum amount of lumens while running of the minimum amount of watts, then you’ve found a great LED light bar.
Amp draw is a measurement of how much electricity a light draws from your battery in order to stay on. This measurement becomes especially important when your vehicle isn’t running, as the battery is not able to charge itself and will continually discharge. If, however, you are putting multiple light bars on your vehicle or large amounts extra electrical components, you run the risk of having more amp drawn than your alternator can keep up with. Most of the time this will not be a problem, but the amp draw of an LED light bar is still an important consideration to keep in mind.
IP67 is the most common security rating given to LED light bars, and is a measurement of how much protection they offer their internal components against both solid particles and water. A rating of IP67 means that the light bar is fully protected against infiltration against solid particles such as sand, dust, and mud, and is also able to remain functioning after having been submerged in a meter of water for up to thirty minutes. In short, an IP67 rating means that your light will be able to handle most any amount of water or solid particles you would ever reasonably want to put it up against.
Beam pattern is a reference to how wide or how far a light bar illuminates. LED light bars come in three different beam patterns—spot, flood, and combination. Spot beams are more narrow (8̊ to 10̊ ) and are used primarily for on-road driving to provide more long distance lighting. Flood beams offer much wider illumination (usually a 90̊ spread) and are used for lighting up a worksite or for off-road driving. Lastly, combination beam patterns offer a combo of both types of bulbs. These lights are the most versatile, and are generally recommended for most applications.
No. LED light bars are made to be run off of a DC (direct current) signal. Wall outlets produce a pulsing signal known as AC (alternating current). Trying to run a DC device off of an AC current can permanently damage the light.