Flexible LED Strip Light (47″)

Frequently Asked Questions About LIGHTFORCE Driving Lights

Q: What do you mean by rating your light output by LUX?

A: Wattage alone can be very misleading. Light output is obviously a combination of the bulb, the reflector and lens, it is far more than just wattage or over hyped candlepower. This is one reason why at Lightforce we choose to rate our light output at a 1 LUX reading for a given distance to demonstrate real maximum distance potential. LUX you ask? Well, 1 LUX is considered enough light to read a newspaper. We like LUX as it gives a real-world relatable performance benchmark.

Q: Tell me about this modular filter system. They look like they are just a plastic cover? Surely they will just shatter or crack with a severe impact.

A: As standard most current Lightforce driving lights are supplied with a clear spot clip-on filter. Most Lightforce driving lights are designed to be run at all times with a filter in place. The available filters allow you to change the beam pattern without purchasing another light – they are also replaceable in the rare event that a filter is worn out or is damaged. We use polycarbonate as used in fighter aircraft canopies, security screens, and other critical applications.

Q: Every driving light I have ever seen gets water inside it. What about Lightforce?

A: Every Lightforce light is fitted with a MIL-SPEC Gore-tex® breather (IP57/67/68/IP69K) to minimize ingress of either moisture or other potential contaminant. The majority of lights in the market place have no effective system to deal with water submersion, humidity or dust. This allows many Lightforce products to be rated up to IP69K, able to withstand direct water jets for sustained periods of time.

Q: Are Lightforce lights suitable for ATVs, motorbikes, snowmobiles etc?

A: Absolutely! The lightweight and durability factor makes them the logical choice! In extreme conditions we have no equal. Plus all the modular filter versatility to give you maximum visibility. LED lights also do not put extreme demands on your stator or alternator, allowing you to run more lighting on smaller vehicles.

Q: Why is a Lightforce Halogen Bulb so bright compared to other brands?

A: Our 12V halogen type bulbs incorporate Xenon gas enabling them to burn between 10-20% brighter and whiter than conventional halogen bulbs. At 12V they are rated at 2000 hours run time. Ask any other manufacturer what they rate at? Worldwide, professionals who drive at night in the trucking industry tell us the huge benefit they have made changing to Lightforce in running costs alone.

Q: Can I install and wire the lights myself?

A: We can supply an optional Lightforce wiring harness that will ensure maximum performance and long term reliability. Anyone with basic mechanical knowledge can carry out an installation although a professional often has the many extra tools and knowledge of individual vehicles to ensure the job is done right.

Q: Are Lightforce lights legal on my vehicle?

A: We advise you to check with your local authorities, particularly for on-road use. Black, opaque covers are available which may satisfy some jurisdictions for highway use.

Q: What makes the LEDs that Lightforce uses superior to the competitors’ LEDs?

All LED chips are not made equal: within any production run there will be a number of variants in performance and colour rendering. Each batch undergoes a process called binning that grades the chips from highest to lowest output. Lightforce uses the highest grade chipsets only, we also use a warmer colour temperature of 5000K for better clarity.

Q: What is LUX and why do I sometimes see things measured at 1 LUX while other times at .25 of a LUX or similar?

A: To measure true performance Lightforce use the industry standard measurement of 1 LUX

1 LUX is the minimum amount of illumination that is usable, (enough light to read a newspaper)

NOTE: A number of reputable companies are now using 0.25 LUX – this gives the customer the perception that the light travels a greater distance

Q: Why do some manufacturers talk about ‘raw lumens’, whilst others use ‘effective lumens’ to promote their products?

A: Raw Lumens is an ineffective and misleading way of measuring light as it is calculated in a laboratory environment to determine a single LED’s peak output for a very short duration. In real terms, its performance cannot be replicated in the field due to a number of factors largely the ability to manage the extreme heat that is generated by a large number of LED’s in addition to the current draw and optical loss which can decrease light output by as much as 75%.

In addition, Raw Lumens can be calculated in a number of ways:

the absolute peak performance of a LED chip irrespective of longevity and heat operating at 100%
the manufacturers “recommended” peak power that allows for longevity and thermal management, this in general means, operating the chip at 70-80% its capacity, Lightforce quotes this figure – NOT the absolute peak performance!
Driving an LED over its recommended power rating will greatly reduce the life span of the light and cause additional heat issues. That’s why some competitors in the LED field will only quote Raw Lumens and shy away from quoting effective Lumens; Lightforce quote both

Q: So why don’t all manufacturers advertise effective lumens?

A: The short answer: To give the perception that their products have a greater output, basically to deceive the consumer into thinking a larger number means greater light output. Calculating effective Lumens requires expensive and complex photometry equipment however is the ONLY way to provide true light output in Lumens and most importantly LUX.

Raw Lumens is the measurement of the light source (single LED only) then times the number of LEDs.
Effective Lumens is the measurement of the light output (combined LEDs and factors in associated losses)
LUX is the measurement of the effective light that illuminates a surface at a given distance this is the most important of all.
All Lightforce Photometric Data has been independently supplied, by a NATA accredited laboratory.