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| bpman Member Since: 21 May 2008 Location: Oslo Posts: 8069  
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hi James
I have a Rigid Industries e-Series 40" light bar, it has a 10" Flood + 20" spot + 10" flood, about 16,000 lumens. The best way of describing the light is it's like driving in the day time with a black sky. The floods on the side light up the edges of the road and the spots are good for about 1500metres. (I'll bring it to the exmoor day so you can have a look.) Specification here http://www.rigidindustries.com/40-E-Series...ies-40.htm Low current draw compared to halogens and built to military standards and worked well in the arctic. I bought mine from ZenOverland.com in Wells, Somerset and got a really good price. There are chinese copies that are ok, Jason was importing some they were bright enough, these can be found on ebay. Devon are selling UK made bars with DRLs built in, ask TJ what he thinks about them ... he has recent experience of them 
Forum member "SteveS" has a thread with a link to a youtube demo of the exact same light bar on here Last edited by bpman on 22nd Oct 2013 10:05am. Edited 1 time in total |
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22nd Oct 2013 6:21am |
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| landy andy Member Since: 15 Feb 2009 Location: Ware, Herts Posts: 5687 
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The problem I found with extra lighting was that when you went back to dipped headlights, it was such a drastic change that I found it difficult to adjust. When I lost my large spots I found night driving better, and have now gone back the other way with new truck as came with extra lights, but will take them off it soon.
Andy |
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22nd Oct 2013 7:19am |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8580 
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James, one thing you will not get is a consensus of opinion about what way to go about extra lights.
By DRDs do you mean DRLs? Since you refer to green lanes and DRL for nights drawing in then the first thing you need these lights to be are road legal, which means type approved or E marked. Many of the LED lights on offer are NOT E marked and so can not be road legal! Then there is the question of budget, as one could literally spend up to thousand of £s on light upgrades! First thing to consider is both bulb AND wiring upgrade to normal headlights as there can be a voltage drop to headlights and hence reduced light output. On headlights there is a range of LED headlights available, check that they are E mark and are RHD with a good IP rating. Just be aware that there are some available on certain websites selling into the UK that are not E marked and are for LHD vehicles, except they do not say they are not road legal in the UK! LED light bars tend to give a whiter light then halogen filament bulbs. Some are E marked (road legal) and come with DRLs Consider say the Lazer Lamps RS4 or RS8. These have DRLs built in. If bumper mounted they can also be angled slightly outwards for even better light spread. So check if lights are (a) road legal/E marked, (b) IP rating, minimum IP67 best is probably IP6K9K, (c) light output preferably as a measured light output. Note raw lumens is a calculation of the maximum possible theoretical output. This is the figure normally quoted as it is the high headline figure. Actual light output can be as much as 40-50% lower, dependent on quality of LED used and the manufacturer. Brendan |
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22nd Oct 2013 9:49am |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 8020  
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DRD's as in Drive Round Days.
Thank you for the advice, will look through the options. E marking is a good points, thank you Brendan Cheers James 110 2012 XS Utility 130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper 90 2010 Hardtop 90 M57 1988 Hardtop |
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22nd Oct 2013 7:59pm |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8580
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Ooooops, sorry James
My mistake! Brendan |
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22nd Oct 2013 9:18pm |
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| BigWheels Member Since: 21 Mar 2010 Location: Somerset Posts: 1405 
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I upgraded to Wipac crystals with H4 bulbs, cheap & a great deal brighter on dipped beam than the OEs. http://www.paddockspares.com/pm678-wipac-c...ralia.html
Added 2 x 55w driving lamps but have since upgraded those to 2x LightForce 170s 100w (with crystal blue combi filters). Got the LF from Brendan @ 4x4Overlander. So far lots better. Better peripheral vision from the filters saves wildlife at night, & nocturnal pets. 
(My 1000th post!  ) Land Rover Defenders. 67 years heritage, minimal appearance changes, still going strong all over the world. Not a fashion vehicle, but fashionable to own. Made for the needy, not the greedy. Ta ta Defender |
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22nd Oct 2013 9:53pm |
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| SteveG Member Since: 29 Nov 2011 Location: Norfolk Posts: 659 
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Just an FYI. James, only mandatory lights for your vehicle need to be emarked. Any additional lighting added to your vehicle does not need to be. So Russian tank HID auxiliary lights are ok  |
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23rd Oct 2013 9:36am |
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| bpman Member Since: 21 May 2008 Location: Oslo Posts: 8069
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so where do you stand if you have e-Marked wipacs crystals with 100w bulbs? (and a melting switch)
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23rd Oct 2013 10:35am |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20331
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Illegal wattage, as far as I am aware the chances are the wattage will be printed on the bulb holder so Come MOT time..... Saying that it's probably not always the case and depends on the MOT tester.
If someone went into you though running them and they say they cannot see then you'd be in some hot water for sure. 100w is extremely bright for general use. Much better IMO to use spots when required. âï¸âï¸God Bless the USA 🇬🇧🇺🇸 âï¸âï¸ |
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23rd Oct 2013 11:29am |
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| bpman Member Since: 21 May 2008 Location: Oslo Posts: 8069
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thanks Steve, so what about wipac crystals with 55/60s and spots with 100w lamps ? ... i guess the headlights are ok and the spot lights are illegal ? ... is this an MOT failure or an insurance "get out"?
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23rd Oct 2013 12:08pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20331
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The set up you mention is legal providing it's wired through the main beam. You could add a switch too if you want on / off independence. It wouldn't be legal on a switch along though. My set up is 55w head lights with 100w spots triggered by main beam stalk with no other switch. âï¸âï¸God Bless the USA 🇬🇧🇺🇸 âï¸âï¸
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23rd Oct 2013 12:14pm |
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| PanasonicPaul Member Since: 23 Oct 2013 Location: England Posts: 2 |
For the cheaper lights (though most on sale in the UK are infact imported already) I have dealt with these in the past without problems. I found them originally via Ebay and asked them to email me a price list
Of course you do run the risk of import tax from China depending on value and quantity ordered. P |
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23rd Oct 2013 12:21pm |
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| bpman Member Since: 21 May 2008 Location: Oslo Posts: 8069
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so 100w lamps on spots, with an isolation switch is ok, do the 100w housing(s) need to be e-marked ?
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23rd Oct 2013 1:05pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20331
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That I am not exactly sure on, mainly due to being auxiliary lights. Afaik the bulbs are in mine. Roo's and or Lightforce are all fine and legal. LED might be different but again I cannot comment, Brendan is your man for these sort of questions especially LED's. Either way my Roos have been on for three and a half years and 3 MOT's all with straight passes without issues or any comment on them.
You cannot however iirc have roof lights wired this way they need to be on a switch. Hope this helps, it's as accurate as to the best of my knowledge.  âï¸âï¸God Bless the USA 🇬🇧🇺🇸 âï¸âï¸ |
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23rd Oct 2013 1:56pm |
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