LED bar

[COMETKID]

Anyone have any experience with buying and installing LED BARS? I was interested in a single bar for my 2004 ford ranger. What's the installation like? What's the best brand? Should I do it myself or bring it to a shop! Thanks

 

[4x4junkie]

Installation isn't unlike with other types of lights... Mount the unit in a place of your choosing, then run a set of wires to it for power (due to the lower current draw of LEDs vs say, halogen incandescent lights, you may be able to forgo using a relay, though I would still suggest one if your total wattage is greater than 50 or so).

As for which LED light brand is best, I guess it's all relative... None are what I would call good. Baja Designs seems to be the best-constructed, however I've yet to come across any who's light output is worth a crap. All of the LED light manufacturers seem bent on using LEDs in the 5000-6000°K CCT range (gives the light a cold bluish tint). This increases glare and reduces the light's throw into the distance (not to mention makes colors look washed out).

In other words, if you want the best throw, quality halogen or HID lamps (4500°K or less) are best. Hella has some great lights of both types, such as their 4000-series lights.

 

[COMETKID]

Hey just want to say thanks for taking the time to respond man! I appreciate it!
I think I am going to take a look at the hella 4000 series . I'm looking for more distance with the light bar rather then that glow and glare you talk about with the LED's. If I have any more questions I will message you. Thanks

 

[swynx]

i have a 40 inch led light bar that i got from ebay, i had another 1 from amazon, they all seem to be about the same. any who, that bluish tint he describes is odd. on a rainy road it makes the road appear to have ice on it.

i do notice that they dont go out as far as say hid's do, but there far enough, and with a mix of spot/flood you get great coverage. my buddy runs 2 hid's for distance. however the price of 2 decent hid's is the cost of 1 40 inch led light bar on ebay. and you wont get the coverage.

the led light bar i have is so bright that i cant tell if my bright lights are on or off when the bar is on. they are pretty damn bright.

rigid is supposed to have the best led light bars, but i have a lot of friends with ebay/amazon light bars and no one has ever had a problem, there water proof, have nice big heat sinks, scratch proof lens, easy to wire up ( pos/neg wires) sturdy aluminum frame/structure. i wouldnt hesitate to buy another led light bar. you can get them in spot, flood, and spot/flood combo.

also you have to wait for hid's to heat up before there in full affect, led's are instant and less power draw, so if your using your hid's while winching you might experience problems.

 

[4x4junkie]

led's are instant

So are Halogen lights such as the above Hella. And you get a much nicer bright natural-color beam that very easily pierces deep into the darkness better than any 6000°K LED could ever hope to, regardless of the reflector optics it has. Downside is about a 2-3× greater current draw per lumen (almost universally requiring the relay I mentioned above), though the light it puts out is also about that amount more useable to the human eye too. For now I'll gladly take the greater current draw for the better quality light output as my alternator seems able to handle it.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Not a bar but you might look into ag applications for a LED light that isn't blue. New equipment comes from the factory with them and just about every aftermarket company makes them now too.

I have yet to have anybody complain about a blue tint. As soon as I get the duckets my tractor is getting them.

 

[truckfan]

Rigid is the answer if you are looking for a good brand but quite expensive.

 

[94xlt4.0]

I wouldnt bother spending the money on rigids. for the price of a pair of 4" rigids you can buy an ebay or amazon 40" bar. the leds are the same and the case is the same other than having the logo etched into it. I have 2 4" ebay lights and payed less than rigid charges for an install kit. they do have a blue hue to them but not any different than a 5-6000k hid.

 

[swynx]

I wouldnt bother spending the money on rigids. for the price of a pair of 4" rigids you can buy an ebay or amazon 40" bar. the leds are the same and the case is the same other than having the logo etched into it. I have 2 4" ebay lights and payed less than rigid charges for an install kit. they do have a blue hue to them but not any different than a 5-6000k hid.

this is the reason i went with an ebay light bar. i was driving around the other night and did realize that the 40 inch led bar i have only reaches out about as far as my brights do. so if you want distance id get hid's but to fill in the hot spots id get a led light bar.