Which driving lights should I buy for my dad? Off road use. Lightforce, Hella, etc?

Thanks for all of the prompt feedback and suggestions guys!

I'm getting the feeling that the XGTs might be a bit large.. I might get a few measurements of the bull bar and test this out if I'm strongly swayed this way.

Thanks for confirming my water suspicions BMKal.

I like your suggestion of the Genesis, cal415, I've found a set for $999 on ebay. I'm also looking into the IPF 900XS, Brenno, and I've started to look into the light bars which could be a good option. BMKal, do you think that a light bar mounted on the roof rack might cause a bit of an annoying shadow in front of the car? Especially if there are no decent driving lights mounted on the front.

All that said, I'd never heard of the fyrlyt, bee utey and tombie. They sound too good to be true. Has anyone had any bad experiences with the FYRLYT or seen anything they would be wary about? They appear to be good for water, spot and wide beam, cheaper than HID with higher light output. They've now moved to the top of my list!

After a lot of research I just bought a set of FYRLYT's at the 4x4 show in Melbourne for $595 with wiring kit . The person I got them from had them on his own car. Free plug ( Prestige offroad) He did say that he was about to swap his FYRLYT's for These 18 LED Round Driving Light
At the show they were ~$600 each Or here GREAT WHITE 18 LED ROUND DRIVING LIGHTS BRAND NEW BRIGHTER THAN HID LIGHTS | eBay
Better that FYRLYT's & HID. About 800m range ( FYRLYT 750m ) and a broader white light. Salesman speak.
If I'm not happy with the FYRLYT's then that is what I'd be looking at. Money permitting. ???
Altho a good roof mounted LED bar like these.MONSTER
Would work well too but not for on road use ???

Gary

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 33chinacars

After a lot of research I just bought a set of FYRLYT's at the 4x4 show in Melbourne for $595 with wiring kit . The person I got them from had them on his own car. Free plug ( Prestige offroad) He did say that he was about to swap his FYRLYT's for These 18 LED Round Driving Light
At the show they were ~$600 each Or here GREAT WHITE 18 LED ROUND DRIVING LIGHTS BRAND NEW BRIGHTER THAN HID LIGHTS | eBay
Better that FYRLYT's & HID. About 800m range ( FYRLYT 750m ) and a broader white light. Salesman speak.
If I'm not happy with the FYRLYT's then that is what I'd be looking at. Money permitting. ???
Altho a good roof mounted LED bar like these.MONSTER
Would work well too but not for on road use ???

Gary

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thanks, 33chinacars

am I correct in assuming that the great white driving light would be great as a spot but not adjustable to a spread? but might be a broader that the fyrlyt in spot mode?

Everything i have heard about the greatwhites is they have a very wide beam like a spread but great range like a spot, they are not adjustable i dont think. But i am still told the HID is better over longer distances but who needs to see more then 1km ahead!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by landygrl

thanks, 33chinacars

am I correct in assuming that the great white driving light would be great as a spot but not adjustable to a spread? but might be a broader that the fyrlyt in spot mode?

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Yes & posibly wider than FYRLYT's in spread beam

Gary

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 33chinacars

After a lot of research I just bought a set of FYRLYT's at the 4x4 show in Melbourne for $595 with wiring kit . The person I got them from had them on his own car. Free plug ( Prestige offroad) He did say that he was about to swap his FYRLYT's for These 18 LED Round Driving Light
At the show they were ~$600 each Or here GREAT WHITE 18 LED ROUND DRIVING LIGHTS BRAND NEW BRIGHTER THAN HID LIGHTS | eBay
Better that FYRLYT's & HID. About 800m range ( FYRLYT 750m ) and a broader white light. Salesman speak.
If I'm not happy with the FYRLYT's then that is what I'd be looking at. Money permitting. ???
Altho a good roof mounted LED bar like these.MONSTER
Would work well too but not for on road use ???

Gary

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Gary

Interesting post... :D

Fyrlyts dont quote an official distance - but in testing it is lighting posts over 1000m

LEDs are rated very ambiguously in ALL literature. Whilst the emitter may (in factory testing) produce a certain output in a test sphere the reality is that it is much lower in practice, and really doesn't pertain to practical use. Nearly all LED lightbars are advertised as (Raw) Lumen output which is simply the number of emitters x by rated output [Example: 8 LEDs @ 100 Lumen per Watt = 800 Lumen].

The effective Lumen output needs to take into account the following:
Raw Lumen = 800
Less - Thermal, Optical and Assembly losses = ~40%
Effective Lumen = 480 Lumen


So what does it all mean? Well...

Lumen is a measure of light energy (Flux)….………… Lux is the measure of light per unit area, which is the same creature as Foot Cd (imperial version) …. 1 Lumen per m^2 is 1 lux…. so you need the projected area to determine the brightness… Brightness is achieved by having the lumens packed into a small area…

The best way to think of Lumens and Lux…. is think of it as pressure… That is the Lumen (Light Flux) is the pound and Lux is the pound per square inch… PSI….. The higher the light pressure…. the brighter the object…… so the data must show the area at distance and the total number of lumens falling on that area to determine how bright the light will be…. They don’t do this for good reason…… the laymen thinks lumens are brightness… not so…. if they are spread wide it will be low and the reverse if packed in tight (focussed).

In this case a bit of 'brochure sales' is taking place I think!

Although, the Great Whites would provide good light for flooding the nose of a vehicle offroad.... Just like a good lightbar at half the price would.

Now answer the following to yourself for longevity...

What happens if you scratch the lens?
What happens if you hit something?
Is it rebuildable?

Interestingly the comment on these pics below:
http://www.greatwhites.com.au/images...s/faq/faq1.jpg
Note: This is NOT a FYRLYT....

http://www.greatwhites.com.au/images...s/faq/faq3.jpg
The colour spectrum of LED is closer to that of sunlight which reduces eye strain
No need to replace globes

Looking at the pretty average Halogen and the 2 LED lights in the pics above.
- Which is producing more GLARE?
- Which is producing the 'Hot Spots' - which will draw your attention to these points at detriment of overall lighting?
- Which has "gaps" in its light 'flow'?

These are all serious points to consider, and why its not common to see a Long Haul Truck with LED lights.

LEDs have their place, and even the boys at Fyrlyt and I have discussed this in depth and agree, LED bar + 2 Fyrlyts (plug) is an unbeatable combo.

cheers

Landygrl or anyone interested in Fyrlyts.
I now sell the Fyrlyts at work and will do you and any AULRO member a super deal. I am in the western suburbs but can send them anywhere.
Feel free to call me on 03 9360 9922 and ask for Todd.
I seriously doubt anyone will find a better deal on these lights.

cheers
R2
Todd

Thanks for all of this information! :)

I'm definitely leaning toward the fyrlyts. The LEDs seem great although from what I've been reading I expect that the fyrlyts seem the best overall. I might suggest to dad that if he wants to buy another light in the future, that he add a LED bar to operate alongside the lights I purchase.

I am going to start researching prices so will definitely give you a call Todd.

I will purchase in the next few days.. so.. if anyone has another 2 cents to put in before then.. please do ;)

I just spoke with Paul Alisauskas over at FYRLYT, the MD and designer of the product. Great guy who dealt with my 20 minute grilling very well; he definitely deserves a beer now!

If anyone has any questions about FYRLYT I highly suggest that you call them for a chat :). I contacted them via their website and they got back to me within half an hour (may have even been faster than that, as it took me 30 minutes to check my email) and answered all of my questions on the light specifics, lumens, globe lifespan, seals, price and so on.

If your old man is getting on a bit & like me had been avoiding driving at night because the old eyes are not what they used to be a LED light bar might be an option that dosent break the bank.

Not to discount the previous suggestions at all, but I really suffer from eyestrain at night & since I got the LED light bar I actually look forward to night driving now (until I hit my next roo i suppose)

which reminds me, heres a video with the light bar on, the yellow light blur in the middle distance is my standard H4 high beam 'spread'

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fsctHN-4Rg&feature=plcp"]Kangaroo vs Landrover, Blackvue dashcam - YouTube[/ame]

The light is not over the top but just nice clear spread to the sides & about 100m in front, (Old farts like me cant see much detail past that in daylight so I dont see much point getting lights that go further at night)

I bought it from a random ebay seller & liked it so much that I sent him photos that he has used on his ebay listing. I have seen these exact light bars for more than double the price.

24"120W Alloy LED light bar 4X4 4WD Driving/offroad light Jeep Boat Truck 12V24V | eBay
theres another link to one of my youtube video in his ebay listing comparing low /high then LED light bar on a wet road in semi suburbia

Have also seen photos of a Truck parked on top of this light on another forum so they really are tough too.


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