How to choose the right off road light for my car
If you want to outfit your car with off road lighting, then you should know that there are many different choices depending mainly on your style and budget.While most people add aftermarket lighting to improve visibility in situations with poor visibility such as bad weather or darkness, adding off light to your car can also transform its look as well.With the many options to choose from off road lighting bulb, this post will be an ultimate guide to make sure that you get the best lights for your car?
Choosing the right off road light
Which off-road light is right for your car?
Photo on mytrickrc.com
Off-road lights are popular in today market-they are used by many motorists for aesthetic purposes and safe driving.It is thus obvious that the market is saturated with so many options of best off road lights.Making the right decision is therefore not easy, especially if you are shopping for the first time or you have been disappointed previously.Worry no more, the guide below will provide you with insights on how to choose and what to pick.
Why do you need off-road lights?
Not many people see off-road lights as a priority based on the fact that they can be expensive, however, they have many benefits, and you will soon realize they are worth the investment. Below are some perks that will convince you to shop an off-road light.
- Improve security– Off-road lights improve visibility especially if you are driving at night. This ensures your vision is clear thus preventing accidents.
- Provides emergency lighting– Imagine you are in the middle of a remote place, or a place you cannot easily get help and your car brakes fail. You are about to get stranded. But if you have off-road lights, you can use them to see clearly and work the problem out.
- Improved Aesthetic Appeal– Off road lights are a great way to improve the appearance of your car. The bulbs come in different sizes, designs, and shapes and can be installed in different parts of the car.
Where should you place your off-road lights?
Off-road lights can be placed in different parts of a car, it is, therefore, necessary for you to decide where you would want to position the lights.
The following are the places you can install off-road lights
Front bumper
installing your off-road lights at the front bumper will complement the function of your car’s headlights. This is the best installation for beginners as the wiring process is easy. However, the output of the off-road light may not be so evident as the bulb will be at the same level as your headlight.
Above the windshield
This is the most popular with motorists as it does not only improve the car physical appearance but also produces an optimal output of the off-road light. However, the installation process could be tedious and difficult.
Lower windshield
This is a favorable position for smaller bars and pods. It does not work well for bigger lights and installing in this location does not require the use of additional mounts.
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Off road light types
When shopping for an off-road light take in mind that not all bulbs light the same. Different bulbs have different sets. The following are some of the options that you have;
Halogen off-road lights
They are the best option for those who do not road often or are on a small budget. It is mostly used for its low cost. However, on the downside halogen bulbs do not emit as much light as LED or HIG, so they do not give optimal visibility. Also, they have a lifespan which is only about 1,000 hours on average. KC HiLite has many halogen off-road light options that will suit you well if you choose this option.
LED off road lights
They are the newest bulb in the market and the most popular. These lights are more durable and last longer than any other off-road lights. Moreover, they are stylish, as they come in different colors and shapes. They are also popular for their long life and energy efficiency-they can last for more than 50,000 hours without consuming too much of your car battery. On the downside LED off-road lights can be expensive compared to other bulbs. If you opt for LED it is important you have the lights installed by a professional, improper installation can cause the systems to burn out prematurely.
HID off-road lights
If you are looking for brightness, then this is the bulb for you. They are twice as shiny as LED lights. They are highly recommended for night travelers and those who travel at high speed. They have a lifespan of more than 2,000 hours. On the other hand, they get dirty easily and can produce a glare and affect clarity vision.
Where to mount off-road lights
Remember that the type of light you are adding to your car will determine the ideal mounting position for your new off-road lights. The following are important to note.
- Flood and fog lights are mounted low on the front bumper to help you view the area immediately in front of you.
- On the other hand, light bars are mounted on your roof, bumper or grill as they shine light far out in front and also outward on edges.
- For driving lights, they are installed on your grill so as to supplement your headlights.
- Spotlights which are not useful when driving at high speed are often mounted on top of a vehicle as they shine a lot further ahead.
Durability
It is important to choose an off-road light with a great if not perfect waterproof rating. It should also be dust-proof. For the mounting brackets look for the ones which are corrosion and rust resistant, among other external factors that can affect its overall quality.
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What is the difference between a floodlight and a spotlight?
Spotlight vs. Flood off-road Lights
Differentiating between spotlight and floodlight is important for properly lighting any application.To be able to understand the difference it is crucial for you to know the beam pattern. Beam pattern is the measurement of angles that formed between a cone of light is the brightest point and the points on both sides of the center where the light intensity is 50 percent as bright.
A larger beam angle gives a wider spread of light across an area, and the opposite is true-a small beam angle gives a narrow spread of light. Small beams are known as spot beams and larger beams-above 90 degrees-area considered flood beams.Bulbs are not always considered as spot or flood specifically but their beam patterns make them referred to as such. Bulbs can look similar to one another but function as spotlight or floodlight. Some light bars can emit combination beams of floodlight and spotlight.
Flood Light has significantly large fixtures compared to spotlight.If you are off-roading and you require to see far down the path ahead of you, a spotlight will project a long, narrow beam of illumination while a floodlight will project a wider area at a closer distance.
The difference between a spotlight and a floodlight
A spotlight projects a narrow beam of light which is more concentrated and easier to point and control. Usually, the spotlight beam of light is no wider than 45 degrees. While floodlight can have a beam of about 120 degrees. A floodlight can illuminate a larger amount of space with the same lumen output as a spotlight.
What kind of beam spread do I need for my lighting project?
A spotlight is more useful when highlighting a specific point while floodlight is great for illuminating larger areas which need wide coverage like driveways.
How can I know how wide my light bulb’s beam will be from a certain distance away?
Knowing the width of a light beam in degrees may not always be so helpful.It would be much better to know the beam width in feet. The simple formulae below will help you figure out. Multiply the angle of the beam with distance from the light bulb and a constant of 0.018. Your answer will be in feet units.
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What is a driving light?
Driving lights are a great way to upgrade your car as they brighten the way ahead. This upgrading to the high-beam headlights can be very effective especially if driving lights are high powered.Some cars come with driving lights while others are equipped as an aftermarket.Generally driving lights are common in high-performance models such as tractors, rescue vehicles and the list is not limited.Driving lights can function as an additional safety feature for a driver who has driving lights as they make driving at night or circumstances with low visibility easier.On the upside, some driving-lights can be extremely dazzling to a driver coming towards you, due to their very high power.The dazzling may not be safe for the other driver and could be annoying as the other driver has to slow down so as to drive safely past the glaring light.So be mindful of other drivers and make sure your lights are not so bright.
Fog Light vs driving lights vs long range lights what should I buy?
This is a very tricky decision to make, but the best way out of it is to buy what suits your driving pattern. The lights will also differ from where you drive and when. For example, if you do mostly highway driving, the kind of light you need will be different from someone who drives mostly on countryside roads. It is important to understand these different types of light, their design and what they are meant for.
- If you are a long distance highway driver you might need to use all the three types of light.
- Fog lights will be a great option if you require a wide beam to illuminate the road immediately ahead of you. They will come in handy if you drive in foggy, rainy areas or a place with snow where visibility is low and you are forced to drive at low speeds.
- Driving lights are great for those who drive at high speeds and on highways. These lights have high beams hence improving your visibility, giving you a fair warning of hazards, obstacles, and signs.
- If you engage off-road driving or areas with poor light, then long range lights are your option.
- It is advantageous for you to have fog lights even though you do not live in a place which experiences fog most of the time.
Photo on offroadindependence.com
Best off road lights
Best off road lights 2018
In this section, we will identify the five most popular off-road lights in 2018 as well as their features. We will also discuss their benefits as well as their downsides to help you narrow down the possibilities.
Nilight LED Light Bar
This is 20-inch off-road light can provide clear visibility even in conditions with extremely poor visibility.The best part is it is fitted with silicone gel and aluminum housing to improve heat management.Although, there have been reports that the lights can get hot sometimes. It is easy to install the bulb as it comes with an adjustable mounting bracket.The bracket can adjust up to 45 degrees and position the light where you think it will give you perfect results. Nilight also has high optimal protection making it have longer durability. It can also resist dust, corrosion, and rust.Advantages
- It has an adjustable mount bar
- It is an economic friendly
- Easy to mount
- Great light output for optimal illumination
- High durability
Upsides
- Could be prone to condensation
- Has the potential to easily get hot despite the silicone and aluminum housing
Auxbeam 1800LM LED light bar
Auxbeam 1800lm light bars are budget-friendly and have optimal brightness with durable construction. They are the most popular in the market and provide optimal illumination in poorly lit environments.Their lifespan is about 50, 000 hours.These lights draw low current from the car hence saving your battery.They are also waterproof, dust-proof and shockproof. Moreover, they can resist corrosion and rust.They have other functions besides off-road-home, both indoors and outdoors.Advantages
- Perfect waterproofing
- Long lasting brightness
- Budget-friendly
- Maximum durability
- Comes with a well designed and durable housing
Upsides
- Have no wiring harness
- Bolts provided may be inadequate
Cutequeen 1800 Lumens off-road light
It is a great option to the expensive off-road lights in the market. It comes with stainless steel bracket which you can easily mount in the desired position.They take long before they need to be replaced. However, they are not the best in terms of quality but are pocket-friendly.Advantages
- Great build quality
- Light output is relative to its price
- Installation can be accomplished in a snap
Upsides
- Not long lasting
- Light output is less than what is advertised.
Autosaver88 off-roading mounting headlight
These lights are popular for adding character to your vehicle. It is much costly compared to other lights in the market but it is worth the investment as it comes with two lights in one pack. It is also fitted with aluminum housing for faster cooling.Advantages
- Great for improving the appearance of your car
- Solid construction
- Easy to install
Upsides
- Expensive
- Does not have high resistance to water
Lightfox 2-piece off-road lights
If you are looking for a budget-friendly off-road light, this is an option for you.It has high thermal conductivity and comes with a two years warranty. It has good quality as it has great cooling performance and high thermal conductivity.Advantages
- Budget-friendly
- Can improve the appearance of your vehicle
- Light output is solid
Downsides
- Lacks installation instructions
- No waterproofing services