NightRider LEDs
Many choices are available including powerful compact lighting (seen here) when darkness prevails.
Words by Steve Fennell
Asking an automotive lighting expert that you want LEDs for your off-road vehicle is as vague as asking a dealership that you want to buy a truck. The options are aplenty, the designs diverse and there are many different applications. You can get pretty much anything you need – and the same concept goes for the LED lighting you want to rig it with.
“There are many variables when choosing LED lighting for off roading,” says Wes Westgarde president of NightRider LEDs. “At one time there were just a few manufacturers serving the consumer 4x4 market. Now, there are several options with differences in quality and styles to choose.”
Not everyone has a Masters degree to fully understand draws, amps, or beam patterns. You don’t need one. Yet, as there are many systems and some criteria to understand, here are a few of them to effectively choose the right LED system for your rig.
NightRider LEDs
Combining different configurations is common among enthusiasts and oh-so effective.
Why Choose LEDs?
Incandescent lighting still has a place in many off road applications. However, with several times the illumination and less draw from an alternator while achieving optimal efficiency, LED is pretty much king.
Lifespan is another amazing benefit. They can last up 50,000 hours (depending on use), which means they last approximately 50 times more than typical incandescent, and 20-25 times longer than a typical halogen. Plus, they start to dim near the end of its lifespan, allowing for fair warning of replacement – avoiding a sudden loss of light while on a dark trail.
With its efficiency, comes convenience. Many lighting systems – including those from NightRider LEDs – are simple drop-in replacements. Further, total install is simply “plug- and-play” into an existing system – no fuss, no muss.
Efficient and Affordable
Like many electronic systems, the costs of LEDs have come down considerably in recent years. Westgarde explains that at one time a high quality light bar of LEDs would cost upwards of $1,000. Nowadays, the same unit retails from $300 to $400, while still providing exceptional quality and reliability. Factor in the lifespan, and then do the math. The savings are apparent in the long run.
Understanding Beam Pattern and Reflectors
If you want to trick your rig out with LEDs, these two terms are common. So, understanding them is vital to getting the illumination you want. Essentially, the beam pattern is the angle of illumination, and there are various beam patterns available.
Do you find yourself frequently traveling dark, narrow roads? It’s recommended to use a combo flood/spot beam since it will flood the ditches or road shoulders and expose wildlife, thus making your ride much safer. As a spot offers a narrow, light angle from just 5 to 25 degrees, a flood beam covers an area from 30 to 180 degrees if wider illumination is commonly needed. There’s also what is called a combo beam that consists of both flood/spot capabilities, making it another great choice.
Controlling all of this light is a reflector lens that collects the light produced by the LED, and focuses it to cover a desired area. Of course, various reflectors are available to achieve different beam patterns. For instance, according to Westgarde, a highly polished, shiny reflector that’s quite narrow will reflect the light off the LED down a road at a five- or ten-degree angle, while a reflector that’s less smooth (or has an “orange peel” effect) is used for a flood and delivers a wider coverage. Remember, the better the reflector, the more effective the light will be for your off road application.
Light Bars
If there’s any testament to the popularity of light bars it’s the assortment of designs, light configurations and mounting options available. Popular in many areas of the automotive market, it’s a dominant seller among off roaders. They are available in single, double, even triple configurations and can fit up to 20 or more LEDs in a flood/spot mix, depending on your needs.
Westgarde explains that as double-row light bars are a big seller, single row units are also popular, especially among the Ford F-series crowd. Given the grille on the F-Series models has a middle slot of just 4 cm (1.5 in), a bar fits nicely in this space, resulting in “a nice, clean stock look.”
For more brightness – and bling – consider roof-mounted light bars. Some popular sizes include 30-, 40-, or 50–inch units. So, if it’s more light you want, the longer the bar you get. Some rigs even tout 10, 15, or 20 lights with a flood/spot mix for ultimate in lighting – they not only deliver that added illumination you want, they look super cool and robust.
Curved Light Bars
Designed to offer much wider coverage, again with the flood/spot mix, Westgarde says choosing a curved light bar design is ideal if you live in Canadian regions where dark, narrow, winding roads prevail. As the name implies, these are built with a curvature design that directs light down the road with more efficiently, while offering a wider area of coverage. They are not only a good choice, but provide a great element of safety.
Compact Lights
Another big seller for NightRider LEDs is its series of compact lights or cube lighting. They can be used for a variety of applications, and are especially useful for camping where darkness reigns supreme. Don’t let the size fool you, though. They may be just 7 cm (3 in) but are available from 12W to 18W. A series of compact, six-inch light bars are also available from 18W to 30W in spot, flood, and combo configurations. Or, perhaps consider its Sideshooter lights. They measure just 12 cm (5 in) and project light forward as well as the sides for added illumination – definitely worth checking out.
NightRider LEDs
The three common beam patterns. (top to bottom) See the difference in the angle of illumination between combo, flood and spot?
Lumens and the Measurement of Light
A Lumen is used to measure the total output of visible light by an LED chip. So, the more lumens you see on the specs, the more the total amount light there is. However, it’s important to remember that there are two forms of lumens, Raw and Effective. The difference? While raw calculates the theoretical amount of lumens emitted by a light, effective lumens measure the actual amount of lumens that are emitted.
IP Ratings
IP or Ingress Protection ratings define the sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures against dirt, sand moisture and other debris. So, as it’s a given that off roading involves running through waterbeds, creeks, mud, thick bush, and dry, dusty terrain, IP ratings for are important to understand. Here are a series of the most common IP ratings: IP40: Safe from small objects and wire more than 1.0mm; IP65: 100 percent dust-tight and protected from lower pressure water jets (from any direction); IP67 100 percent dust-tight and 100 percent waterproof when submersed up to 1 m (3 ft); IP68: 100 percent dust tight and 100 percent waterproof up to 1 m (3 ft) when submersed for a prolonged period; IP69K: 100 percent dust tight and can withstand high pressure of 1,200 PSI of high temperature water jets.
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NightRider LEDs
Many light bars are available for your needs. Here, two light bars are mounted to NightRider LEDs’ Heavy Duty Pipe Mount.
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NightRider LEDs
Many light bars are available for your needs. Here, two light bars are mounted to NightRider LEDs’ Heavy Duty Pipe Mount.
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NightRider LEDs
Why not add some bling to your back up lights?