UPDATE: Let's get a real shootout going. Any vendors that would like to participate that I have not contacted, please PM me and let me know what you can offer to test. Terms and conditions to be discussed.
UPDATE 2: Have contacted 406 YJ; Black Box Logistics; DOOKEY; jeepaddons-chris; Seward Offroad; JeepinOutfitters ; LifetimeLED ; Norm ; NFRs2000NYC ; Baja Designs ; Bulldog LED Lighting ; Sidetracked Offroad ; stephenwang ; kmd Garage; RigidIndustriesLED ; Motorsports2 ; taz223 (Exploration Outfitters) ; Daves Offroad Supply;
for support for LED light bar test. We'll see what comes back!
UPDATE 3: I have heard back positively from the companies in green, most willing to submit a 20" light bar to be tested. Orange has helped to find support.
UPDATE 4: Good comments and discussion in this thread. Let's talk actual tests to be performed, in this order:
1. Packaging, unboxing, first impressions. Plenty of pictures and video.
2. Light meter test: 9 test points, 5 tests, drop the high and low, average the 3. 45 total tests per light, keeping 27, for each bar. Units will be foot candela, similar to Headlight comparison done by usmcdoc14. Reflectors, black and white signs, etc., will be set up at each distance.
Pictures to accompany each of these tests from many angles.
These pictures could be taken with a Nikon D60 or a GoPro. If any amateur photographers have suggestions on camera settings or experience with capturing these kind of night images, they are welcome.
Lights will be mounted on a wooden structure, easily portable, roughly at bumper height for 20" bars and roof height for 50" bars.
3: Extended performance test. Leave lights on for a few days,
maybe a week, and see what happens. Check temperature of housings, lens, etc., look for non-functional LEDs, etc.
4. Oscillation test. Mount lights to an oscillating motor to simulate washboard roads and run it for a few hours and see what happens.
5. Durability tests. These will have to be approved by the vendors, as the vendors and I will have to come to terms. These tests can include underwater tests, frozen tests, park a Jeep on it tests, etc. I would like to test the lexan lenses vs. the tempered and toughened glass to see what withstands what.
6. Radio Interference. Self-explanatory, would test with walkie talkie, AM radio? Have to research this one.
After all this, do a final summary of the lights, comparing them to each other and, more importantly, claimed performance, and pick a winner.
Any suggestions for tests or alterations to these listed tests? Looking for input.
OP:
I put this together as a statistical shootout of LED light bars.
Vendors that can help to fill in blanks for their products will be appreciated.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ArmPC9VSpnokdHJUZ215QXQ0b1RCQ2xtU0JuTW5UUVE&usp=sharing
Hope you like it and it's helpful, I threw it together pretty quickly but I hope it sparks a real comparo.
I chose to compare the 20" and 50" bars from most new companies. These seem to be the popular sizes. If you are interested in a 30" bar from Brand X, you can infer data based on the 20 and the 50 or find good performance from those and shop that way.
Some other sizes are included as they had features that made them interesting.
This will be a work in progress.
UPDATE 2: Have contacted 406 YJ; Black Box Logistics; DOOKEY; jeepaddons-chris; Seward Offroad; JeepinOutfitters ; LifetimeLED ; Norm ; NFRs2000NYC ; Baja Designs ; Bulldog LED Lighting ; Sidetracked Offroad ; stephenwang ; kmd Garage; RigidIndustriesLED ; Motorsports2 ; taz223 (Exploration Outfitters) ; Daves Offroad Supply;
for support for LED light bar test. We'll see what comes back!
UPDATE 3: I have heard back positively from the companies in green, most willing to submit a 20" light bar to be tested. Orange has helped to find support.
UPDATE 4: Good comments and discussion in this thread. Let's talk actual tests to be performed, in this order:
1. Packaging, unboxing, first impressions. Plenty of pictures and video.
2. Light meter test: 9 test points, 5 tests, drop the high and low, average the 3. 45 total tests per light, keeping 27, for each bar. Units will be foot candela, similar to Headlight comparison done by usmcdoc14. Reflectors, black and white signs, etc., will be set up at each distance.
Pictures to accompany each of these tests from many angles.
These pictures could be taken with a Nikon D60 or a GoPro. If any amateur photographers have suggestions on camera settings or experience with capturing these kind of night images, they are welcome.
Lights will be mounted on a wooden structure, easily portable, roughly at bumper height for 20" bars and roof height for 50" bars.
3: Extended performance test. Leave lights on for a few days,
maybe a week, and see what happens. Check temperature of housings, lens, etc., look for non-functional LEDs, etc.
4. Oscillation test. Mount lights to an oscillating motor to simulate washboard roads and run it for a few hours and see what happens.
5. Durability tests. These will have to be approved by the vendors, as the vendors and I will have to come to terms. These tests can include underwater tests, frozen tests, park a Jeep on it tests, etc. I would like to test the lexan lenses vs. the tempered and toughened glass to see what withstands what.
6. Radio Interference. Self-explanatory, would test with walkie talkie, AM radio? Have to research this one.
After all this, do a final summary of the lights, comparing them to each other and, more importantly, claimed performance, and pick a winner.
Any suggestions for tests or alterations to these listed tests? Looking for input.
OP:
I put this together as a statistical shootout of LED light bars.
Vendors that can help to fill in blanks for their products will be appreciated.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ArmPC9VSpnokdHJUZ215QXQ0b1RCQ2xtU0JuTW5UUVE&usp=sharing
Hope you like it and it's helpful, I threw it together pretty quickly but I hope it sparks a real comparo.
I chose to compare the 20" and 50" bars from most new companies. These seem to be the popular sizes. If you are interested in a 30" bar from Brand X, you can infer data based on the 20 and the 50 or find good performance from those and shop that way.
Some other sizes are included as they had features that made them interesting.
This will be a work in progress.