Are bigger lights better?

[xcmountain80]

As I drove from S. FL to Birmingham, AL two weeks ago I left at 3am and only was able to use my LF 240's 3 times for 10 minutes maximum each time. I like the 4Runner reflectors on the stock headlamps with the IPF super fatty bulbs. A little more distance is all I really need and when doing night runs the LF 240's almost always must be shut off unless I'm the TL. I've eyed the super pimp LED light bars and dollar for dollar you get what you pay for but I might be just as happy with something else, perhaps another type of LF.

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[xcmountain80]

I see

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[computeruser]

It all depends, doesn't it? I got more real world use out of my Hella 500 series driving lights than I've gotten out of my Hella FF1000 lamps, or the IPF lamps that are still in their original box in the garage. Ultimately, you have to ask: what's the point of having auxiliary lighting that you can't use where you normally drive?

In hindsight, I got the most real use out of my axillary lights when it was just my Hella E-code headlights and a set of fog lamps. I miss the fog lamps. They were far more useful here (rain+snow) than the driving lamps, and you could leave them on without blinding all and sundry...

 

[92 red cummins]

A bigger light should have a bigger pattern at the same distance as a smaller one. Ex. A 4 inch diameter light could only have a 1 foot bright spot at 100 feet but a 8 inch light could have a 2 foot spot. (that is how I under stand it)

 

[xcmountain80]

A bigger light should have a bigger pattern at the same distance as a smaller one. Ex. A 4 inch diameter light could only have a 1 foot bright spot at 100 feet but a 8 inch light could have a 2 foot spot. (that is how I under stand it)

The LF don't really work that way, the bigger they are the further they travel with increased luminosity. I do miss my fog lights to and wish there was a way to incorporate them into my ARB I know wild west or west coast fab something like that has a template to cut non fog light ARB's and add the fog/ turn signal piece.

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[apsilon]

I've been wondering the same thing of late. I wanted the new Lightforce Genesis but they're taking forever to come to market so fitted a set of Lightforce 140s as I had them sitting around. Added some wide beam covers to them and that got me thinking.

What good is it seeing what's on the road a mile away? I want to see the roo that's 100m away off the side of the road that'll probably jump in front of me as I pass. The 140s do that OK so do I really need the bigger lights?

Don't really have an answer yet but it did get me thinking that sometimes we get too caught up in "bigger is better" and "look how far these go" rather than matching them to our actual usage.

 

[matt s]

What good is it seeing what's on the road a mile away? I want to see the roo that's 100m away off the side of the road that'll probably jump in front of me as I pass. The 140s do that OK so do I really need the bigger lights?

Most of the guys I know that have added lights have told me the wished they had gone with floods instead of spots. For the reasons you mentioned.

 

[Stan the Man]

I'm running a set of KC 6" slimlites with the driving beam pattern and I love their throw. Its wide enough to light up the sides of the road and just far enough for me to slam on the brakes if a deer wanders out into the road.

My problem, like the OP, is that I can't use them on the trail unless I'm the leader, and thats not very often. I can't really use them on the road either because they are too bright and mounted too high for daily use. I do use them on open/foggy highways and dark/windy mountain roads when possible.

You gotta know where to draw the line. The added cost and performance is not always necessary, especially if you only get to use them once a year.

 

[RobA]

This is a classic case of size is not everything. Type of light is more important. We use the Hella Predator HID having changed from the Hella 4000 series. Same size light but the improvement in moving from a standard halogen globe to HID is spectacular and certainly, in our view, worth the expense. Not sure what the market is in the USA but HID is certainly the best option but don't bother going with a spread and spot combination just go with spreads as the 900m the spreads provide is plenty. You will never out drive the light.

About the only negative with HID is that when you switch them off it goes terribly dark unless you have HID low beams. Also not great in fog

Regards

RobA

 

[FJLED]

I would say no bigger does not equate to better. Take the visionx xmitter led bar. It blows away the HID's that I have. 32" Xmitter on the roof rack

When the xmitter is on you literally can not even tell you have any of the other lights on 7" HID's or PIAA520i

Don't have any pictures of the beam from my rig, but here's anothers from FJCF

Stock High beams

22" Xmitter (aimed straight)

2 - 6" round Solo Solstice (LED's aimed straight)

Xmitter and Solo Solstice (Aimed high to show reach)

 

[apsilon]

Hadn't seen those xmitter bars before. Look interesting, I'll have to keep them in mind.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Generally speaking, a larger reflector will be more "efficient" than a smaller reflector. This is because as the reflector gets larger, the relative size of the bulb filament gets smaller. As the reflector gets larger, the fillament gets closer to a single point source, so calculations made on the size of the reflector become more accurate. Therefore more of the light from the filament can be directed where the designers intended.

As for the type of beam you choose, it really depends on what you're doing. Many truck guys buy really expensive spot beam rally lights, I think in a misguided attempt to "buy the best". As has been touched on here, we just don't need that type of lighting on our trucks. On a tough trail, tractor lights would be more useful.

If you're out running high speeds in the desert, sure, spot lights might be helpful. But for trail work, you need close-in light.

I've got Hella 1000FF driving lamps triggered off my high beams, and use them all the time since I live in a rural area. I put 500FF's on the roof. They're driving beam, but have a more broad pattern than more high performance lamps.

 

[xcmountain80]

I Have seen the x-vision lights and am very impressed with their performance. If I were to sell my LF's I could nearly afford a 18" bar though 22" would fit the ARB better.

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