To ensure your safety when driving after the sun goes down, investing in a good LED light bar is a must. The extra illumination this lighting device will provide gives you better road visibility. But to make sure that you'll enjoy the full benefits LEDs can provide, you have to make sure that you are investing your money in the right product. Here are key technical terminologies to help you find the light bar that meets your specific needs and requirements.
Beam
Beam basically stands for the shape or type of illumination the light bar can provide. Most light bars these days have spot beam, flood beam, or a combination of both. Light bars with spot beam can reach farther distances because its light is more concentrated and narrower. Flood beam is the best if you need to illuminate a larger amount of space. But if you want the best of both worlds, then you should get a light bar that offers a combination of both.
IP
IP basically stands for Ingress Protection, which is a rating system developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission. The IP code is used to categorise different degrees of protection against intrusion or immersion an object is capable of. The light bar's ability to guard against water and dust intrusion is written as "IP," followed by two numerical digits. For example, when you shop for LED light bars, you'll see their waterproof and dustproof rating expressed as "IP68."
Colour Temperature
As the name implies, colour temperature indicates the colour produced by the light bars when they are in use. It is expressed in Kelvin (K). Typical colour temperatures generated by most LEDs are white (4300K), light blue (6000K), deep blue (8000K), bright violet (10000K), and bright purple (12000K).
Operating Voltage
Operating voltage is the amount of electricity you need to power up the lighting device. It also indicates what type of power source the LED light bar in Australia is compatible with. For instance, if the lighting device has an operating voltage of 10-36 volts, it basically means that it can be fitted to a vehicle that utilises either a 12v or 24v power source/battery.
Current Draw
Current or amp draw measures the amount of electricity that the light bar consumes when it is in operation. For example, the lighting device appears to working, but it quickly overheats or you're hearing a weird noise. Checking the current draw with the use of a multimetre will help you determine if there is a problem.
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate is a type of plastic used for a wide range of applications including the manufacturing of bulletproof windows and CDs. It is more versatile and tougher than your average plastic. For example, a LED bar light 4WD with polycarbonate lens is nearly unbreakable.