10 Questions You Should to Know about LED Road Lights

If you’re looking to turn a car or SUV into an emergency vehicle, LED light bars are likely to be on your shortlist of possible additions. They are known for their affordability and easy installation properties. Moreover, they provide the type of light needed to alert other drivers and provide greater visibility for you.

Nonetheless, it never hurts to make sure your asking the right questions before you buy. Here are 10 questions that should enable you to do just that. You can also take a look at our LED light bar buying guide for more information.

Will A Light Bar Improve My Vehicle?

First and foremost, you need to know that the LED light bar is up to the task of what you intend it to do. LED bulbs are commonplace, especially for those driving vehicles with specific activities in mind. Whether it’s rescue work, patrols, or construction sites doesn’t matter. Making the switch to LED will make a noticeable difference.

There are many options on the market. However, LED bars are versatile, practical, and highly effective. Those features make them a winning solution for all emergency and utility needs.

Are They Legal For Just About Anybody?

Before adding light bars to your car or SUV, you need to know that you are within the law. Light bars themselves are fine, although there are limits on sizes that can vary between territories and vehicle sizes. While some sellers may include items that aren’t legal, our products are perfect for your vehicle and emergency needs.

In truth, laws on usage are stricter when dealing with sirens rather than lights. As long as you are responsible, there’s very little to worry about. Whether you need a tow light bar, or an interior light bar,  including police visor lights, keep reading to learn about each type.

Which Type Of Light Bar Is Right?

Confirming that a light bar is a good addition is one thing. However, the most important step is to find the right one. There are many options out there, which is why you must research the options. Mini light bars, led visor light bar, off road light bars, and full size are just four categories to consider. Each has its pros and cons for various uses and situations.

Our guide to the various options will help you find the best police LED light bars or solutions for other situations. With that support, finding the right option should be an easy task.

What Type Of Light Patterns Are Available?

Whichever type of police or emergency vehicle lighting is selected, you should also know that there are various options out there. Various light bars can provide different light colors. These can range from the basic white light solution to multicolors or red, blues, and greens. Moreover, some can offer traffic redirection functions too. This can prepare your car or SUV for even more situations.

The best thing you can do is sit down and consider the functions that you’ll require from the light bar. This should provide the direction needed to make the best decision for your needs.

What Are The Differences Between Spot And Flood Beams?

LED lights can emit various types of light. The most common are spotlights and flood beams. Spots essentially produce a cone of light with a narrow spread, which is ideal for generating better lighting conditions. Flood beams produce a 90-degree spread, making them ideal for working sites and similar situations.

Many modern LED light bars offer a combination of both, but it’s always an aspect that deserves careful consideration. Keep in mind that spot and flood beams are generally found on off road LED lights or work and scene lights and are not used on flashing police light bars.

Lumens V Watts – Which Should I Prioritize?

Watts have been the primary way of analyzing a light’s brightness for many generations. With LEDs, though, it’s often better to look at the lumens. This relates to the output, and gives you a far better reflection. A 60w incandescent light might only produce the same output as a 15w LED. This can make things a little complicated, but our friendly experts can support you.

In truth, most LED light bulbs produce a suitable level of light output. Still, a little understanding of watts and lumens will help point you towards a better final decision.

Is It A Financially Viable Purchase?

For most vehicle owners, the answer will be yes. Whether you’re buying the LED light bar for emergency matters or other activities that require a strobe light bar for truck, this addition can make a serious impact. Meanwhile, most new buyers are pleasantly surprised by the price of most light bar solutions. Whether it’s a single item or a package, the array of options suit most budgets.

Furthermore, LEDs use far less energy than outdated facilities while the bulbs last a lot longer too. Those savings will pay for the purchase in the long run.

Will One Light Suffice?

Everyone has unique preferences in various aspects of driving. This is no different when kitting out your vehicle for those emergency activities. Again, finding a setup that suits you should be the priority. For some, one LED light bar will do. For others, though, installing multiple products is the best option.

This can also include sirens and related products. Take these features into account before making a purchase, and you’ll be far more likely to reach a suitable outcome.

How Much Maintenance Is Involved?

Very little. The majority of LED emergency light bars are easy to install and even easier to take care of. Our range includes robust housing and durable wiring to ensure that you get years of uninterrupted quality. Meanwhile, the fact that the bulbs can last for 100,000 hours should prevent the need to change them anywhere near as often as old bulbs.

Better still, they are built to be easily transported between vehicles too. So, if you ever upgrade to a newer motor, you can take the light bar with you.

Would A Dash And Deck Light Be Better?

In addition to the external light bars, many road users like the idea of dash and deck lights. These can be fitted to the front, rear or side windows with the use of suction cups. These are arguably even easier to use, making the transfer from personal use to emergency a very simple task. It largely comes down to preference, but we stock this type of light bar too.

By now, you should have a rough idea of what you’re looking for. If you’re still stuck, however, our experts are happy to support you with that purchase. Your car will be ready for those extra tasks in no time.

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1. How do LED lights work?

LED (light-emitting diode) light sources work differently to traditional lighting sources, such as incandescent. Incandescent bulbs work with a burning filament at the centre of the bulb that eventually burns out. LEDs derive their light energy from electrons that move within a semiconductor material. When a voltage is applied to the leads these electrons are stimulated to create light-based energy. LEDs aren't just used for lighting either, and can be found across a wide range of electricals. For example, you can now get LED TVs that produce a better picture quality and allow for slimmer designs.

2. Are LED lights safe?

As with any electrical fitting, you need to take obvious precautions during the installation process. If you're re-wiring directly to the mains, then we always advise that you contact a qualified electrician. And, as with any source of light, it's advised you don't stare directly at them, otherwise you'll run the risk of causing damage to your eyes. However, when installed, LEDs are actually safer than older light sources such as incandescent and halogen. This is because they are fitted with heat sinks that dissipate heat away – so you're less likely to burn your fingers upon contact, unlike with traditional lighting sources that are dangerous to touch.

3. Are LED lights dimmable?

Yes they are – but you have to make sure you purchase a

4. Are LED lights cheaper to run?

Yes, LED lights are significantly cheaper to run because they consume less energy. While they'll cost you more up-front, you'll recoup that initial investment in a matter of months, then continue to save every month after.

5. How do LED lights save you money?

There are two key ways in which LED lights save you literally hundreds – if not thousands – during their lifetime. • Cost to run. LEDs use up to 90% less energy than incandescent and halogen light bulbs, which are the most commonly-used light bulbs around. This means that when you make a switch from an older light source to LED, you'll quickly start seeing your energy bills plummet. In fact, you'll make back your initial outlay in a matter of months and continue saving thereafter. It literally pays to switch to LED! • Lifespan. Incandescent and halogen light bulbs are made to last just 2,000 hours. LEDs, in comparison, are made to last up to 25,000 hours. Based on average use, that’s a whopping 15 years of service. So not only will you see those energy bills dwindle, you'll save money on replacements too.

6. What causes LED lights to flicker?

As with any light source, LEDs can flicker – particularly if they haven't been installed properly in the first place. One of the main reasons behind LEDs flickering is the power supply they're receiving. While older light sources require an AC power supply, LED bulbs require a DC power supply. That's why it's so important to have an LED driver that converts your power supply from AC to DC. This will ensure there's a constant supply of power to your LEDs to combat any flickering. Most LED bulbs have the driver built into them, but certain types of LED lighting require a

7. How do LED lights help the environment?

LED's consume very little energy, particularly when compared to halogen and incandescent equivalents. You can replace a 100W incandescent bulb with a 10W LED and still enjoy the same level of light output, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Plus, LEDs don’t contain toxic chemicals such as mercury, unlike fluorescent lights that contaminate the environment when disposed of. Finally, LEDs last up to 20-times longer than any other traditional form of lighting, reducing the number of replacements you need and further lowering your impact on the environment.

8. Do LED lights get hot?

You can expect a little bit of warmth radiating from your LED lamp – but a lot less than halogen and incandescent equivalents. This is because LEDs use 90-95% of their energy supply to produce light, while the other 5-10% of energy used produces heat – the opposite being true for older bulbs, which is why you have to careful when changing them.

9. Are LED lights good for growing plants?

They are indeed. You can now get LED hydroponic lamps that help stimulate plant growth by providing the optimum amount of light wavelength and intensity required for different growth phases, but without the inefficiency that comes with CFL and incandescent grow lamps.

10. Are LED lights bad for your eyes?

As with any source of light, we strongly advise that you don’t stare directly at LED lights as they could subsequently cause eye damage. Apart from that, no, they’re not bad for your eyes! If you're ready to make the switch you can find all of our

LED lights have been around for a while but are still relatively new to a lot of people. To help you get started, we've answered ten of the most common questions about LED lighting.LED (light-emitting diode) light sources work differently to traditional lighting sources, such as incandescent. Incandescent bulbs work with a burning filament at the centre of the bulb that eventually burns out. LEDs derive their light energy from electrons that move within a semiconductor material. When a voltage is applied to the leads these electrons are stimulated to create light-based energy. LEDs aren't just used for lighting either, and can be found across a wide range of electricals. For example, you can now get LED TVs that produce a better picture quality and allow for slimmer designs.As with any electrical fitting, you need to take obvious precautions during the installation process. If you're re-wiring directly to the mains, then we always advise that you contact a qualified electrician. And, as with any source of light, it's advised you don't stare directly at them, otherwise you'll run the risk of causing damage to your eyes. However, when installed, LEDs are actually safer than older light sources such as incandescent and halogen. This is because they are fitted with heat sinks that dissipate heat away – so you're less likely to burn your fingers upon contact, unlike with traditional lighting sources that are dangerous to touch.Yes they are – but you have to make sure you purchase a dimmable LED bulb . You can't just dim a standard LED bulb. You also need to make sure you have a compatible dimmer switch. If you're upgrading from incandescent or halogen to LED, it's more than likely you're currently using a leading-edge dimmer, and these aren't compatible with LED. We advise upgrading to a specialised LED dimmer , such as an LED-ready trailing-edge dimmer, that'll deliver the best performance while prolonging the lifespan of the bulb itself.Yes, LED lights are significantly cheaper to run because they consume less energy. While they'll cost you more up-front, you'll recoup that initial investment in a matter of months, then continue to save every month after.There are two key ways in which LED lights save you literally hundreds – if not thousands – during their lifetime. • Cost to run. LEDs use up to 90% less energy than incandescent and halogen light bulbs, which are the most commonly-used light bulbs around. This means that when you make a switch from an older light source to LED, you'll quickly start seeing your energy bills plummet. In fact, you'll make back your initial outlay in a matter of months and continue saving thereafter. It literally pays to switch to LED! • Lifespan. Incandescent and halogen light bulbs are made to last just 2,000 hours. LEDs, in comparison, are made to last up to 25,000 hours. Based on average use, that’s a whopping 15 years of service. So not only will you see those energy bills dwindle, you'll save money on replacements too.As with any light source, LEDs can flicker – particularly if they haven't been installed properly in the first place. One of the main reasons behind LEDs flickering is the power supply they're receiving. While older light sources require an AC power supply, LED bulbs require a DC power supply. That's why it's so important to have an LED driver that converts your power supply from AC to DC. This will ensure there's a constant supply of power to your LEDs to combat any flickering. Most LED bulbs have the driver built into them, but certain types of LED lighting require a separate driver to power them. Simply check before you buy.LED's consume very little energy, particularly when compared to halogen and incandescent equivalents. You can replace a 100W incandescent bulb with a 10W LED and still enjoy the same level of light output, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Plus, LEDs don’t contain toxic chemicals such as mercury, unlike fluorescent lights that contaminate the environment when disposed of. Finally, LEDs last up to 20-times longer than any other traditional form of lighting, reducing the number of replacements you need and further lowering your impact on the environment.You can expect a little bit of warmth radiating from your LED lamp – but a lot less than halogen and incandescent equivalents. This is because LEDs use 90-95% of their energy supply to produce light, while the other 5-10% of energy used produces heat – the opposite being true for older bulbs, which is why you have to careful when changing them.They are indeed. You can now get LED hydroponic lamps that help stimulate plant growth by providing the optimum amount of light wavelength and intensity required for different growth phases, but without the inefficiency that comes with CFL and incandescent grow lamps.As with any source of light, we strongly advise that you don’t stare directly at LED lights as they could subsequently cause eye damage. Apart from that, no, they’re not bad for your eyes! If you're ready to make the switch you can find all of our LED lights here