Lightforce is more than just another ‘plastic’ light. The company pioneered the use of high-tech composites in lighting equipment. Consider how materials have evolved in the automotive and aviation industry sector. Lighter and stronger than steel or old fashioned convention and new levels of performance previously not thought possible. Lightforce set a new benchmark in strength and durability that became legendary. Vulnerable glass and/or heavy metal is just illogical, especially in off-road motorsport! Ask any knowledgeable fabricator, if he/she can have an item of equal strength or even stronger for less weight, what would they choose? A resounding “yes please!”. Think of a Class 1, Trophy Truck or sand rail with typically 8-10 HID lights, the majority mounted on the roof. Why add unnecessary weight in such a handling dynamic sensitive area? This is where Lightforce is the answer, plus light output that is unsurpassed.
On the contrary, a heavy metal light is far more likely to vibrate, indeed metal lights are known to crack under harmonic fatigue in extreme situations. Vibration can also be a result of a poor mounting point or a vehicle that is prone to this dynamic. If the mounting point is vibrating, anything attached will as well! Your Lightforce light should be torqued to 50 ft/lbs – 68 nm at the mounting point and if everything is solid you should have no issues.
Lightforce uses UV-stabilized materials that are inert to weather or real operating conditions. Lightforce is known for its durability from below -30 degrees C to the scorching heat and dust of the Australian outback and other extreme desert conditions. A little-known fact is how extreme cold can cause conventional lights to crack, even the metal components. Alaska and Sweden are two markets where only the toughest products survive, and Lightforce has built a formidable reputation there.
Wattage alone can be very misleading. It’s all about how the power is being utilized by the bulb. The more efficient the bulb, the more light it produces. A huge disadvantage besides high amperage draw on your electrical system is the immense heat output of high-wattage bulbs. Stories abound of light housings either melting or burning or hot glass lenses cracking when suddenly subjected to water. Light output is obviously a combination of the bulb, the reflector and lens. It is far more than just wattage or overhyped candlepower! This is one reason why at Lightforce, they choose to rate the light output at a 1 LUX reading to demonstrate a real maximum distance potential. LUX you ask? Well, 1 LUX is considered enough light to read a newspaper. LUX gives a logical performance benchmark.
Most current Lightforce driving lights are supplied with a clear spot clip-on filter. And most Lightforce driving lights are designed to be run at all times with a filter in place. Lightforce uses the same polycarbonate as used in fighter aircraft canopies, security screens etc. Literally thousands of people worldwide stare in disbelief when the company displays this at trade shows. The filters install with no tools required, and in seconds you can change the beam pattern and/or color to suit your situation. Customers love this feature! Fog, rain, snow, desert silt or Australian bulldust, you have the ideal solution at hand!
Absolutely! A crucial part of the company’s success and product development has been its relationship with racers worldwide. The benefit to the consumer is a superior product that is the result of the product development and racer feedback. A true win-win scenario.
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. Why compromise?
From its 2001 Baja victory with Team Hummer, the 240 HID set a new benchmark in HID lighting with almost half the weight of its closest rival and greater light intensity by virtue of its larger parabolic reflector. It also incorporates the Gore-Tex® filter, so no problems with dust or water ingress. Lightforce internal ballast negates the hassle of external mounting. True plug ’n play convenience. Included are billet focal spacer rings to allow you to broaden or tighten the beam pattern. If you are seeking the ultimate in long-range performance and reliability for your vehicle, this is it.
The Finke Desert race, Baja 500 or 1000 or Dakar? Not all HID lights are equal. The Lightforce 240 HID is ‘King of the Hill’.
Absolutely! The lightweight and durability factor makes them the logical choice! In extreme conditions Lightforce has no equal. Plus, the modular filter versatility to give you maximum visibility.
Contrary to advertising hype, the trend towards even bluer almost purple color output beyond the 6000k+ range does not allow you to see further. In fact, the complete opposite is true! The ‘K’ (kelvin) rating is inversely proportional to the light output, therefore the lower the ‘K’ the brighter the light output. At Lightforce, they choose proven performance over bling with no exceptions. Don’t be misled!
Yes, there can be a variation between the color of HID lights because HID bulbs have manufacturing tolerances (permissible variations within a certain range). This is because HID bulbs are arc tubes containing gas and metal salts, not just a filament in a tube. In any pair of Lightforce HID lights you might get one that is at the cooler end of the range, and one at the warmer end. This may be apparent when both lights are shining on a wall, but when driving at night the variation would be unnoticeable.
Lightforce 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 in the trucking industry who drive at night tell that they have reduced running costs by changing to Lightforce.
Lightforce can supply an optional Lightforce wiring harness that will ensure maximum performance and long-term reliability. Anyone with basic mechanical knowledge can carry out installation although a professional often has many extra tools and knowledge of individual vehicles to ensure the job is done right.
ightforce advises 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.
All LED chips are not made equal within any production run. There will be a number of variants in performance and color rendering. Each batch undergoes a process called binning that grades the chips from the highest to the lowest output. Lightforce uses the highest grade chip sets only. It can also use a warmer color temperature of 5000K for better clarity.
To measure true performance Lightforce uses the industry standard measurement of 1 LUX
1 LUX is the minimum amount of illumination that is usable, (enough light to read a newspaper, not reflectors down the road!)
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, yet it is another ploy to trick the consumer.
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 manufacturer’s “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!
he 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, it 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) 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.
In Australia, vehicles must comply with the Australian Design Rules (ADR), which outline national standards for vehicle safety, anti-theft, and emissions. The ADRs are performance-based and cover issues such as occupant protection, structures, lighting, noise, engine exhaust emissions, braking and a range of miscellaneous items. Vehicles must comply with the ADRs in effect at the time they were constructed. ADR13/00 – Installation of Lighting and Light Signaling Australian Design Rule – prescribes requirements for the number and the mode of installation of lighting and light signaling devices on motor vehicles (other than L-group vehicles). While Lightforce products are not ADR-compliant, they fall under the accessories category. They are not originally built into the vehicle and and can be legally sold in Australia.