CK5
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Lets talk LED lighting...
- Thread starter Avery4jc
- Start date
don't get me wrong... that is EXACTLY what I'm looking for in the cargo light... swivel and all.. it's going on the backside of my b-hoop in the middle..
but at that kinda coin, it gets bumped to #67 on the list... cheaper alternative will have to do until it's # comes up..
but at that kinda coin, it gets bumped to #67 on the list... cheaper alternative will have to do until it's # comes up..
Why not use HID? It's much more cost effective and you can probably get more light from the same area. Efficiency and lamp life are better than incandescent. I just know that I would feel like a tool in 2 years when a similar LED bar costs $75.
That's where I'm at. I'm weighing the options between LED and HID. I know guys run those Kragen HID's that are about $100 with good results and you can still sleep at night if you smash one up....
I'm just seeing if anyone has experience with these LED light bars so I can compare it to a reasonably priced HID.
I've done some research on the RI light bars.
Dual beam, insane flood and throw, excelent draw and life expectancy etc etc.
The bottom line is everyone that has bit the bullet says it will be the LAST light you ever have to buy, period.
I may eat my words here but this tech/quality won't be $75 for at least 5 or 6 more years, I'm not sure the demand is there. It's not a high def TV. In 5 or 6 years you can go through a lot of lights, even HID if you really will use them.
They are what I will be using on my truck when that becomes a priority. Post them up when you get them installed.
Dual beam, insane flood and throw, excelent draw and life expectancy etc etc.
The bottom line is everyone that has bit the bullet says it will be the LAST light you ever have to buy, period.
I may eat my words here but this tech/quality won't be $75 for at least 5 or 6 more years, I'm not sure the demand is there. It's not a high def TV. In 5 or 6 years you can go through a lot of lights, even HID if you really will use them.
They are what I will be using on my truck when that becomes a priority. Post them up when you get them installed.
Man, you folks are so behind the times.....
I put a red LED in the dash of my old Jeep for a high beam indicator in 1971!!
I kept getting dust inside the old round speedometer housing, and the lens for the high beam was cloudy to boot.
There was an unused hole in the dash, and I was studying these new things called Light Emitting Diodes in school.
They claimed about 110 year expected life.
So, I ordered one for about $2.00 and fabbed up a mount.
It still works.
I have not put any on my truck yet, but I am heavily into them in flashlights.
I have a LumaPower model Lumahunter MRV digital flashlight, that is mostly covered up by my hand when I hold it.
I can shine it across my field, and, using binoculars to see him, see a coon in a tree 400 yards away.
Uses a single LED.
And, that is not my brightest one.
I have one the size of my thumb, that I carry in my pocket, that will outshine a 6 cell Maglight.
Cree is producing some LEDs that crank out more light than you can imagine.
If you want to see what is available now, go here: http://www.batteryjunction.com/
Check out Lumapower and Fenix in the "shop flashlights by brand" link.
The others are overpriced junk for the most part.
Even the Surefires. Those two companies are eating their lunch right now. They are frantically playing catchup.
All the good lights use the 123 Lithium batteries.
DO NOT buy these at your local store!
They can go for as much as $5.00 a piece.
I buy the Panasonics from this company, 90 or so at a time. Much better price.
If you want to save money and in many cases get even more light, look into the 18650 rechargeable Li-Ions that replace 2 123s.
I put a red LED in the dash of my old Jeep for a high beam indicator in 1971!!
I kept getting dust inside the old round speedometer housing, and the lens for the high beam was cloudy to boot.
There was an unused hole in the dash, and I was studying these new things called Light Emitting Diodes in school.
They claimed about 110 year expected life.
So, I ordered one for about $2.00 and fabbed up a mount.
It still works.
I have not put any on my truck yet, but I am heavily into them in flashlights.
I have a LumaPower model Lumahunter MRV digital flashlight, that is mostly covered up by my hand when I hold it.
I can shine it across my field, and, using binoculars to see him, see a coon in a tree 400 yards away.
Uses a single LED.
And, that is not my brightest one.
I have one the size of my thumb, that I carry in my pocket, that will outshine a 6 cell Maglight.
Cree is producing some LEDs that crank out more light than you can imagine.
If you want to see what is available now, go here: http://www.batteryjunction.com/
Check out Lumapower and Fenix in the "shop flashlights by brand" link.
The others are overpriced junk for the most part.
Even the Surefires. Those two companies are eating their lunch right now. They are frantically playing catchup.
All the good lights use the 123 Lithium batteries.
DO NOT buy these at your local store!
They can go for as much as $5.00 a piece.
I buy the Panasonics from this company, 90 or so at a time. Much better price.
If you want to save money and in many cases get even more light, look into the 18650 rechargeable Li-Ions that replace 2 123s.
shovelbill80
1/2 ton status
thanks for that info Fordum.....
Sure, off-road LED light bars may not be in high demand, but LED lighting in general is being implemented in tons of applications. The underlying technology advances all the same. It was probably foolish to put a number on it, but my point was made, anyway.
I understand and agree that there is a great demand for LED technology right now (ironically even in HDTV’s). And that for the most part the tech is linear.
I wasn’t picking out what you said to make a point about the $75, I knew what you were getting at and I do agree for the most part.
My point was simply that the technology that is in this product is not the same you would find in a dime store flashlight, or even some high dollar LED flashlights.
These are very advanced and sophisticated units that are, at present, very costly to manufacture.
That is why 50" of LED's that throw thousands of lumens 1500' cost $1500. When you look at the tech of the product it starts to come into scope. I could build one of these bars myself, maybe even a better one, but not for the price RI is asking, not by a long shot.
I wasn’t picking out what you said to make a point about the $75, I knew what you were getting at and I do agree for the most part.
My point was simply that the technology that is in this product is not the same you would find in a dime store flashlight, or even some high dollar LED flashlights.
These are very advanced and sophisticated units that are, at present, very costly to manufacture.
That is why 50" of LED's that throw thousands of lumens 1500' cost $1500. When you look at the tech of the product it starts to come into scope. I could build one of these bars myself, maybe even a better one, but not for the price RI is asking, not by a long shot.
I've been e-mailing back and forth with one of RI's techs and he thinks I would be happiest with their 20" bar since it incorporates both spot lenses as well as flood lenses in the same light and it has a usable light range of almost 750' but at $700 they can keep it!
He did suggest that I could start with a 10" bar and down the road if I need more light I can always add another 10" bar. I'll have to do some thinking on this and see.
He did suggest that I could start with a 10" bar and down the road if I need more light I can always add another 10" bar. I'll have to do some thinking on this and see.
shovelbill80
1/2 ton status
i can't stop thinking of this though.....if a 10" puts out a great light by itself......what would stop a body from putting a spot in one signal hole in the '90 and a flood type in the other hole just aimed a bit toward center? i think that could keep the nose pretty clean. did any of those techs mention anything about heat output on them?
Metal Twister
1/2 ton status
I have a good buddy that is the light GURU... He is the designer for one of the leading LED light companys. I went by his place a few nights ago on an unrelated issue. In the corse of the conversation the light bars came up... A few minutes later and we were in the front yard with an arsonal of LED light configurations. HOLY SMOKES I had no idea that these things were soooo cool. The last ones I had any experience with was a few years back. Pete explained that the technolgy is growing so fast that they really have to work to stay ahead of the improvements. The Line that he had was the Ridgid. One little 4 buld Led he had was out shining my HID'S easily. Then he pulled out 4 row light about a foot long... Un believable!!! Its weird but the light is being thrown at a lot of angles so it almost wraps around the obsticals. Then he pulled out the big gun,,,about a 36 inch flame thrower, Oh My God! Id take one small bar over a whole roof top of HID's. They have Spots in the center and diffused on the outside edge. You can make any configuration you prefer. Mix or match to your need. Actually when compared to the high dollar HID's these things are very cost effective. One light will do the same as several of the HID's. I honestly dont think you could out run these lights, not off road anyway. Im going to buy a few from Pete and give them a try. Seeing is believing. I know this is an old thread but you guys need to check these things out... Specially for Crawling. 
Rant off. I will get with him and ask him to stop by and give you guy's some insite about the these things.
Rant off. I will get with him and ask him to stop by and give you guy's some insite about the these things.
shovelbill80
1/2 ton status
is there anywhere i can get to see light patterns? i put this idea on the backburner for now. now i gotta go look again 
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I have a good buddy that is the light GURU... He is the designer for one of the leading LED light companys. I went by his place a few nights ago on an unrelated issue. In the corse of the conversation the light bars came up... A few minutes later and we were in the front yard with an arsonal of LED light configurations. HOLY SMOKES I had no idea that these things were soooo cool. The last ones I had any experience with was a few years back. Pete explained that the technolgy is growing so fast that they really have to work to stay ahead of the improvements. The Line that he had was the Ridgid. One little 4 buld Led he had was out shining my HID'S easily. Then he pulled out 4 row light about a foot long... Un believable!!! Its weird but the light is being thrown at a lot of angles so it almost wraps around the obsticals. Then he pulled out the big gun,,,about a 36 inch flame thrower, Oh My God! Id take one small bar over a whole roof top of HID's. They have Spots in the center and diffused on the outside edge. You can make any configuration you prefer. Mix or match to your need. Actually when compared to the high dollar HID's these things are very cost effective. One light will do the same as several of the HID's. I honestly dont think you could out run these lights, not off road anyway. Im going to buy a few from Pete and give them a try. Seeing is believing. I know this is an old thread but you guys need to check these things out... Specially for Crawling.
I do believe it's the way of the "next" future.
I haven't forgot about this thread, it's on my list of truck stuff so when I'm ready to buy lights it's going to be an LED light bar.
well i bought a bunch of the 99cent LED strips off of ebay from hong kong... so i got a pile of them and used one for my licence plate light, 2 above each seat in my truck, one under the dash and one in the back. Check out the pics from my driod. Ill get better pics later on with a nice camera.
These are the lights i got... Its guage 22 or 24 so wicked small but they work well for interiors
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2-x-...r_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1e5c070f42
These are the lights i got... Its guage 22 or 24 so wicked small but they work well for interiors
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2-x-...r_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1e5c070f42
Looks cool, it's nice to have a "night light" inside your rig for setting stuff up in the dark.
ya i liked it for the tone of the lights over stock stuff. wish they were brighter could use em for rock lights
