Propickup Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/150744
number of crystals used, the makeup of the crystals, the design of the epoxy surrounding the crystal and the lens used to direct the light. LEDs are also a lot more reliable than traditional automotive lighting options. According to the folks at Vision-X, expected life cycle of an LED automotive light is about 50,000 hours versus the approximately 400 hours of other comparable lights. This means, effectively, in most cases a LED automotive light is a lifetime purchase. For commercial use, this is a double bonus since the LED also uses only about 85-percent of the energy required to operate quartz halogen or HID systems, saving wear and tear on batteries and alternators. LIGHTS: FOG LENS DESIGN Really good lights of any type have to have lenses designed to focus the light into a flood, spot or, in this case, fog-pattern beam. A properly designed fog-light delivers a wide and relatively short (not more than 150 feet or so) beam pattern that is aimed low to increase road visibility near the vehicle during slow speed inclement weather driving. It should also have a lens design that cuts off light above the vertical mid-way point so there's no light reflecting back into the driver's eyes. This effect, called backscatter, is caused when up-angled light beams reflect off the moisture droplets in the fog (or from the snow, misty rain or dust), which is why a vehicle's high beams are totally useless under such conditions. The low-angled fog light beams avoid this problem by aiming light downwards and improving near-vehicle visibility, but with enough light output to light the road 100 to 150 feet ahead. BEST COLOR A well-designed lens makes the difference between a fog light that actually does the job and an ornamental fog light that just looks cool. Lens color adds to that performance difference. White (clear) is the more common lens, although amber and yellow lenses work better in rain, snow and fog. Stay away from blue spectrum lights (color temps above 6,500 degrees Kelvin), found in many HID lamps offerings, as the eye doesn't respond as well, especially at a distance. As for power, a higher watt output produces a brighter, more penetrating beam. Runof-the-mill bargain fog lights are typically rated 35 watts, while the better, higher-performance models can come with 100-watt output, or the equivalent in LED. When you drive your pickup for business and spend a lot of time on the road in bad weather conditions, look for fog lights with an output of 55 watts or higher. MOUNTING/ AIMING Fog lights work best mounted in, on or below the bumper (10 to 24 inches above the road surface) or anywhere below the center of the headlights, where their beam can cut just under that of the low-beam headlights. The lights should be positioned closer together than the headlights (approximately 20 to 26 inches between PRODUCT SHOWCASE VisionX Optimus The Optimus Series LED Driving Lights, from feature proprietary IRIS Reflector Technology, that produces 60-degrees of usable light from a single 3.5-inch, 10-watt LED. Standard waterproof and diecast aluminum housing has a black powder-coat finish. White, grey, and chrome finishes are available. www.visionxusa.com; (800) 994-4460 Warn 350F Warn's 3.5-inch diameter W350F fog lights fit perfectly in bumpers. The 55W, H3 halogen bulb and 66-degree barshaped light beam deliver great low-visibility performance. Hardened clear glass lenses. Impact-resistant polymer housings with O-rings keep bulbs dry. A wireless control switch is included, so there is no need to run wiring through the firewall. www.warn.com; (800) 543-9276 Lightforce 170 Striker The midsize Lightforce 170 Striker packages the same features as the small 140, but in a larger assembly and with a brighter, 12V 100W 2,000-hour bulb making it perfect for use as either a fog or a driving light, depending upon filter. Kit comes with wiring harness, relay and fuse for easy installation. www.lightforce.com; (877) 510-9204 Pro Comp USA The 4-by-6-inch amber fog light kit from Pro Comp offers quality performance at a bargain price. Each kit includes two lights with amber lenses and a complete wiring and switch kit. Optional protective covers are available. The 55-watt lights are packaged in a rugged, black ABS housing featuring multi-position mounting and positioning ability. www.procompusa.com; (800) 776-0767 72 PROPICKUP Big Book 2013 ProPickup_2013BB_Lights Fog.indd 72 8/6/13 10:16 AM