When purchasing an LED bar light, a few factors should be considered. Among these are the type of LED, TIR lens, Polycarbonate, and Hard mounts. A minor understanding of LED wiring could also increase the overall utility of the light bar you’ve purchased. However, such DIY efforts may void your warranty and may not meet safety standards for domestic and commercial use. Therefore, it is best to use a professional to make sure your LED bar light is safe and functional.
SMD LED
If you’re in the market for a new bar light, consider an SMD LED bar light. These lights have the added benefit of being highly reliable. They’re soldered on a strip or tape, which means that they won’t break easily. They can also last up to 100,000 hours and don’t get too hot or too cold. They can be classified according to their size, too. The smallest SMD is just 5.0mm square, while the largest is about 2mm square. Despite being relatively new in the market, SMD LEDs have already carved out a niche in the lighting industry.
SMD LEDs also have several advantages over COB LEDs. They can emit a wider light beam than their COB counterparts, and have a higher lumen value. Additionally, SMD LEDs don’t require a huge heat sink. That means that they can be less expensive than COB LEDs.
COB LED lights are higher-end LED lights, and they have a more architectural look. COB lights are better for long-term use, while SMD lights are better for short-term use. COB and SMD LEDs are made with conductive glue. They are then enclosed in an epoxy resin package. Both types of LEDs produce high-quality light, but each has its own advantages.
SMD LEDs come in a variety of sizes, with 5050 chips offering up to 3 times the brightness of a 3528 strip. The downside is that these chips are larger than 3528 strips and can only fit on a PCB. This limits their brightness, but they are also known for being bright. They produce about 50 to 100 lumens per watt.
Polycarbonate
If you’re looking to protect your LED bar lights from dust and dirt, the polycarbonate cover from Vision X is the way to go. Available in amber or black, this cover snaps on easily to keep the lights protected and looking like new. It comes with a one-year warranty for your peace of mind.
Developed to comply with FMVSS/CMVSS 108 standards, the 17-inch Polycarbonate LED bar light features nine LEDs in three markers for a wide range of visibility. These LEDs are available with either a blunt cut lead or a ring terminal. The light weighs less than a pound and is available in three different configurations.
LED chips used in the bars are of the highest quality. Some companies, such as Vision X, use five-watt chips that produce a very high light output. However, other companies, including Chinese manufacturers, are not able to produce LED light bars using these chip sizes because of their heat-generating capability. As a result, Vision X is the only manufacturer using 5 watt LED chips in its light bars.
The versatility of LED light bars makes them very useful in a variety of settings. They are useful for off-roading, hunting, and outdoor work, as well as for driving on poorly lit roads. In addition to their practical use, LED light bars can help reduce the chances of accidents. If you’re looking for a high-powered light bar, consider getting one with an opaque cover to prevent other drivers from blinding you.
TIR lens
LED bar lights with TIR lens offer better performance, less glare, and higher light intensity than generic LED lights. They use the Total Internal Reflector (TIR) lens, which is similar to the technology used in flashlights. In a TIR lens, the LED unit sits at one end of a conical reflector. The conical reflector collects scattered light and focuses it forward for a narrow, round output. Most emergency lights using TIR optics have vertical ridges across the optics to distribute light more evenly. However, TIR optics are not as effective at focusing light on off-angle areas as those without TIR lenses.
TIR optics are usually injection-molded polymers. They contain a refractive lens that reflects light from LEDs. These lenses can be wide or narrow, and can provide good efficiencies. TIR optics also allow for customization of the beam size. A TIR lens can be shaped like a cone or a square, or can have a round, square, or oval shape.
TIR lenses can be used for rear-facing and forward-facing lights. In the case of police cruisers, for example, using a TIR lens helps vehicles to be visible from afar. This is helpful in preventing rear-end collisions. However, a TIR lens requires more energy than a linear optic, so linear lights are better for reducing energy consumption.
The TIR lens can also be a good choice in off-road lighting. The TIR lens improves efficiency by reducing glare. In a rally car, the TIR lens is extremely helpful for reducing wind noise. The Diode Dynamics Stage Series 42″ LED light bar is also incredibly compact. It is made from a high-quality material, has a TIR lens, and is designed to provide maximum light efficiency.
Hard mounts
Hard mounts for LED bar lights are available in many different styles, and are available for use on a variety of different applications. One type is CNC machined aluminum, which features a reinforced Composite Matrix cradle, which pivots to allow for 15 degrees of lateral adjustment. These mounts are designed to fit both straight and curved bars, and feature a large thumb screw for secure installation and easy removal. They are accompanied by rubber shims for added grip on undersized bars.
PicoBuck driver
The PicoBuck driver is a constant current LED driver that decreases its input current as the supply voltage increases. Its overall efficiency is about 95%, depending on the supply voltage. It also uses a PWM signal to control brightness. This signal can be generated from any microcontroller.
This LED driver is easy to use and economical. It can blend up to three different LEDs, each channel driving 330mA. It is possible to adjust the power consumption to the minimum by changing the PWM signal or using an analog voltage. The current consumption can also be increased by a solderable jumper on the PicoBuck driver version 12. It is also possible to use the full 36V rating of the AL8860 part.
To use a PicoBuck driver for LED bar lights, you need to know the operating current of your LEDs. Higher drive currents produce more light, but they draw more power. The recommended driving current for an LED is listed in the LED specs. You should also know what kind of lighting application you plan to use the light for. If you need to dim the LED, you should choose a driver that supports dimming.
Generally, a three-phase, four-wire system is used for outdoor engineering. If you connect your driver to a two-phase line, make sure that the input voltage of your LEDs does not exceed 220Vac. If the power input exceeds this limit, the LED driver will not operate.
The PicoBuck driver for LED bar light can be used in applications that require a dimmable light source. In these situations, you need a driver that offers smooth dimming. The best driver for dimming an LED bar light is one that uses the output PWM method. This feature allows you to dim the light without changing the current amplitude.