Discreet 40" LED Lightbar on Factory Roof Rack

[linuxgod]

I spend this morning installing my BlueSea fuse block and the circuit breaker (made a little bracket out of aluminum), as well as running the needed wiring back to the constant 12V outlet I mounted in the back for my ARB refrigerator, and another line for these lights.

Nice. I finally ordered a Blue Sea fuse block and circuit breaker and all the associated wires and what not this week. My 8 year old is going to help me do the install this weekend (he's very excited to climb on the roof rack to mount it - even though I can install it by standing on the running boards I may have to let him have his fun). I like that aluminum bracket - very clean setup.

One note on the circuit breaker - the Blue Sea blocks are good for 100A. Your CB should be rated at ~20% over that (according to their PDF, 125A max - http://assets.bluesea.com/files/resources/instructions/Wiring-Diagram-5026_5031.pdf). A 100A CB is fine, but you shouldn't ever attach more than ~83A of load to it (maybe less depending on the battery wire gauge you used). I mention this because I saw someone else who had a 150A breaker in their rig in a different thread.

 

[ceb]

I'm having trouble grasping your arguments, is it that high powered aftermarket LED lights, regularly used in night time offload racing, are inherently flawed because they are aftermarket and not OEM?

One's night vision is shot with anything brighter than a filtered parking light turned on. Are you suggesting we drive without headlights?

Arguably production OEM headlights of any technology are much inferior. They are designed to (limited by) antiquated laws from the incandescent era. They just meet a minimal standard needed for driving at the posted speed limit on well maintained roads. They can't exceed that standard as the writers of the law envisioned no mechanism other than a fixed light output and hard cutoffs to deal with issues like blinding oncoming traffic or pedestrians.

Brighter and wider lights give you more choices. See the deer, avoid the deer, make the turn and set up for the next. Mentally, drive further ahead of your vehicle as you go faster. If your brain can't decide what you should be focusing on before you run in to it, the right answer is to slow down, not turn the lights down until you can't see it.

There are speciality lights for everything. Clearly (pun intended) LED's from quality manufacturers have come a long way but there is a huge difference between on-road and off-road use.

"Brighter and more lights" don't give you more choices unless they are properly designed and carefully aimed.

The brain focuses on what is bright. If the bright thing is 15ft in front of your car (or that tree to the side of your car, or the street sign or that glare around the street sign, then that is what your brain will focus on.

This light (as installed and aimed) makes it suitable for use when stopped or very slow speeds. The mere fact that people are joking about using it in traffic validates why the law requires auxiliary lighting to be removed or covered when on the road.

 

[Markuson]

This light (as installed and aimed) makes it suitable for use when stopped or very slow speeds.

Ceb,

Since you seem intent on telling everyone they are somehow screwing up...

...Gotta call crap here.

Where are you getting these opinions about high-intensity LEDs being only for low-speed (and now you say for when stopped)??
Earlier, you're informing him that he shouldn't "delude himself" into thinking they help performance...

Have you used high-intensity LEDs off-road before?
-From the way you talk, it would seem you have not.
If you HAVE...then it seems you weren't paying much attention.

His light projection pattern clearly illuminates the road in the distance, which is what you want at speed.

The only thing I'd suggest is that it might be worth some floods up front so that you still illuminate the area when the vehicle is temporarily pointed upward coming out of dips in the dirt so that it still projects a bit lower when the roof lights are pointed upward. But to say these won't help at speed is just silly.

 

[rhllc]

"Brighter and more lights" don't give you more choices unless they are properly designed and carefully aimed.

The brain focuses on what is bright. If the bright thing is 15ft in front of your car (or that tree to the side of your car, or the street sign or that glare around the street sign, then that is what your brain will focus on.

I do have a problem where I flutter against my propane lantern when out camping. I often get burned. I never realized that the same issue could result in serious problems driving with auxiliary lights on.

Now I'm not sure if I should remove my my bumper mounted 30" Vision X and A-pillar mounted Rigid Dually D2s for safety? (On my RAM and Jeep respectively, thank god my LC is still stock!) Maybe I could wire them in so they only light up with the transmission in park? Could you help me come up with a wiring diagram that would work?

On a more serious note, please, go troll some other forum. Now to track down the ignore feature....

 

[ceb]

Ceb,

Since you seem intent on telling everyone they are somehow screwing up...

...Gotta call crap here.

Where are you getting these opinions about high-intensity LEDs being only for low-speed (and now you say for when stopped)??
Earlier, you're informing him that he shouldn't "delude himself" into thinking they help performance...

Have you used high-intensity LEDs off-road before?
-From the way you talk, it would seem you have not.
If you HAVE...then it seems you weren't paying much attention.

His light projection pattern clearly illuminates the road in the distance, which is what you want at speed.

The only thing I'd suggest is that it might be worth some floods up front so that you still illuminate the area when the vehicle is temporarily pointed upward coming out of dips in the dirt so that it still projects a bit lower when the roof lights are pointed upward. But to say these won't help at speed is just silly.

The type of lighting is immaterial - what is important is what is illuminated.

Take a quick look at the picture and look away? What did you see? A big bright tree on your left, two hotspots in front of the car, the van/pickup/whatever beyond the intersection on the left, the street sign and the glare around it. Oh, and you saw the camper/RV on the side.

Aside from the glare of the pickup/van, what do you see in the distance that will help you with higher speed driving? I contend that your eyes are actually drawn closer to the front of the car with only spots of glare in the distance - all things that wouldn't help with anything but slow speed driving.

And yes, I've driven with proper lighting that "lights up the night". I love the LEDs I have on my Montague but I realize how important beam pattern and aim is.

At road speeds, seeing that deer where the tree is won't help much. I understand how light and the brain interacts and we can't "force" ourselves to see past the bright bits in front of the car. At low speeds (i.e. off-road), you want to be able to see every nook and cranny directly in front of you car but at road speeds you want to look well beyond that - and higher light intensity isn't always the answer.

One problem is that we perceive brighter to be better when looking at it statically, but our reactions slow and we lose the ability to judge speed and direction when the eye is overwhelmed by light.

I realize that it is an unpopular opinion and it is a great install and has some uses - but like you said - it has no purpose on-road.

 

[Markuson]

The type of lighting is immaterial - what is important is what is illuminated.

Take a quick look at the picture and look away? What did you see? A big bright tree on your left, two hotspots in front of the car, the van/pickup/whatever beyond the intersection on the left, the street sign and the glare around it. Oh, and you saw the camper/RV on the side.

Aside from the glare of the pickup/van, what do you see in the distance that will help you with higher speed driving? I contend that your eyes are actually drawn closer to the front of the car with only spots of glare in the distance - all things that wouldn't help with anything but slow speed driving.

And yes, I've driven with proper lighting that "lights up the night". I love the LEDs I have on my Montague but I realize how important beam pattern and aim is.

At road speeds, seeing that deer where the tree is won't help much. I understand how light and the brain interacts and we can't "force" ourselves to see past the bright bits in front of the car. At low speeds (i.e. off-road), you want to be able to see every nook and cranny directly in front of you car but at road speeds you want to look well beyond that - and higher light intensity isn't always the answer.

One problem is that we perceive brighter to be better when looking at it statically, but our reactions slow and we lose the ability to judge speed and direction when the eye is overwhelmed by light.

I realize that it is an unpopular opinion and it is a great install and has some uses - but like you said - it has no purpose on-road.

Beam pattern matters. Yes indeed.

So does the pattern in your methods of opinion delivery.

If we were all point-and-shoot cameras rather than human beings, perhaps our eyes could ONLY focus on bright objects to the exclusion of all else. But we're not.

At this point, the "beam pattern" projected from your keyboard is blindingly obnoxious.

Over and Out.

 

[Billfish]

Easy lads. I don't think Ceb is trolling or being unnecessarily nasty. I think there is some merit in Ceb's view.

M2cw: I have a set of 185w leds up front on the bullbar. They do offer great illumination in close and reasonable mid range illumination to perhaps 250 - 300m but I do think for speed travel I might be better served with a set of long range spots pushing the focus out to 600+m. LED tech is advancing rapidly and some manufacturers do claim impressive long range specs but I think perhaps the perfect balance right now might be a set of conventional pencil spots up front (in either HID or the latest halogen tech) combined with an LED bar up top like that shown. 'Light bar on' for off road travel and 'spots on' for speed. Seeing that deer coming at you from the side doesn't help much when you are travelling at 75 mph. Thats what you bar is for.

 

[Markuson]

Easy lads. I don't think Ceb is trolling or being unnecessarily nasty. I think there is some merit in Ceb's view.

M2cw: I have a set of 185w leds up front on the bullbar. They do offer great illumination in close and reasonable mid range illumination to perhaps 250 - 300m but I do think for speed travel I might be better served with a set of long range spots pushing the focus out to 600+m. LED tech is advancing rapidly and some manufacturers do claim impressive long range specs but I think perhaps the perfect balance right now might be a set of conventional pencil spots up front (in either HID or the latest halogen tech) combined with an LED bar up top like that shown. 'Light bar on' for off road travel and 'spots on' for speed. Seeing that deer coming at you from the side doesn't help much when you are travelling at 75 mph. Thats what you bar is for.

Distance lighting is also so you see the moose already standing in the road while you still have time to slow down. Totally agree on the bull bar. No light stops the buck that suddenly jumps out from behind a bush.

As for some merit... Sure. But "Some merit" ...could be delivered without poison. Several Have already sought a block feature...

 

[Billfish]

Hmmm, I guess I missed that poison - or it was edited out.?? read the whole thread again. still a bit mystified. I read it as him stating his own opinion not attacking anybody else's. Might have been a little more useful in a LED vs HID debate rather than hijacking an bloke's install thread of course but I doubt that was ever his intention.

Anyway: totally sick install. WildO is really bringing some fresh ideas to the forum with his re-skinned Methods and now this bar. I think he really should take one for the team and publish a dimensioned template of his bracket so we can all make a few.

 

[ceb]

Hmmm, I guess I missed that poison - or it was edited out.?? read the whole thread again. still a bit mystified. I read it as him stating his own opinion not attacking anybody else's. Might have been a little more useful in a LED vs HID debate rather than hijacking an bloke's install thread of course but I doubt that was ever his intention.

Anyway: totally sick install. WildO is really bringing some fresh ideas to the forum with his re-skinned Methods and now this bar. I think he really should take one for the team and publish a dimensioned template of his bracket so we can all make a few.

Nothing was edited out. Some folks just have the "brighter is always better" mindset and don't understand how the brain processes light.

This is a great install and that light bar has many applications - but it isn't for highway driving. There are specialty lights for long range illumination but this LED bar scatters light too close to the vehicle.

While it is simple to say that we are humans and not point and shoot cameras, there is no denying that the eye is drawn to the brightest spot. By the time we fight that impulse, regain a bit of night vision and react, we've far outdriven these lights.

I'm a bit saddened that some here are finding my posts abrasive. That certainly isn't my intention but lighting is one of the least understood - and one of the most crucial - safety features on any vehicle.

With that I'm out of this thread.

 

[Markuson]

Nothing was edited out. Some folks just have the "brighter is always better" mindset and don't understand how the brain processes light.

This is a great install and that light bar has many applications - but it isn't for highway driving. There are specialty lights for long range illumination but this LED bar scatters light too close to the vehicle.

While it is simple to say that we are humans and not point and shoot cameras, there is no denying that the eye is drawn to the brightest spot. By the time we fight that impulse, regain a bit of night vision and react, we've far outdriven these lights.

I'm a bit saddened that some here are finding my posts abrasive. That certainly isn't my intention but lighting is one of the least understood - and one of the most crucial - safety features on any vehicle.

With that I'm out of this thread.

Meh... It's an accumulation from this and other threads.

To the OP. You've done a very nice job. I'm sure your light bar EVEN when your vehicle is not in Park...and even when driving at speed...despite someone's pronouncements to the contrary.

 

[NetJunky]

planning to make the brackets? I might be interested in a set.

 

[WildYoats]

planning to make the brackets? I might be interested in a set.

Haven't had a change to get the laser cutter yet (huge yard project going on), but I should be able to Friday and see what he says about having a couple extra sets made.

 

[r3run33]

hey I'm up for a set of brackets also I have paypal so I can send you money that way or how you decide just let me know

 

[ihatemud]

One set for me too please.

Wild classy ride you got there bud.

 

[teleskier]

Need a set of brackets here too - same pattern on a gx470. I only know this because left a christmas tree on the roof in my 6'9" garage.

 

[Celt Horseman]

Hell I'll take a set.

 

[WildYoats]

planning to make the brackets? I might be interested in a set.

hey I'm up for a set of brackets also I have paypal so I can send you money that way or how you decide just let me know

One set for me too please.

Wild classy ride you got there bud.

Need a set of brackets here too - same pattern on a gx470. I only know this because left a christmas tree on the roof in my 6'9" garage.

Hell I'll take a set.

Hi guys, I finally heard from my laser cutting guy today. He will be able to cut a set in stainless 308 steel for $15. I had him make a dozen. Should taken him a week or two. I will let you guys know when I have em.

Thanks,
Johnny

 

[NetJunky]

Sounds good to me. I don't might doing this before I run a Prinsu rack.

 

[ryanCA]

Beautiful job.

Also nice to see another LX/LC owner with the requisite 911 in the garage