LED driving lights have changed the 4WD spotlight scene forever. Gone are the power-hungry halogen and sometimes problematic HID spotlights of days gone by. LED driving lights have exploded onto the 4WD scene because they’re extremely bright, use comparatively little power and – when you buy the right ones – are tough enough to withstand constant off-road use too. However like with any product, there are good examples out there along with ones that aren’t so good. Don’t get burned when you buy a set of LED driving lights! Here’s five traps we see every day that you need to be aware of before you buy a set of LED driving lights.

1.SOME CLAIMS ARE JUST NONSENSE

We’ve seen some online sellers claim that their lights are rated at 90,000watts or more! Let’s put that in perspective for a moment. At 14v (roughly what your alternator produces), that means the lights would be drawing more than 6400amps. To actually carry that sort of load over a length of just one metre, assuming your 150A alternator could actually produce more than 426 times what it can actually deliver, you’d need cable more than 900mm in diameter. Sounds more likely that some online sellers just have no clue what they’re talking about. There’s a big difference between ‘theoretical’ figures and real ones.

2.CLAIMS AREN’T REAL UNLESS THEY CAN BE BACKED UP

Some online sellers will actually make claims as to the performance of their lights that sound a bit more reasonable. However, not everyone will be able to back those claims up with real proof. The best sellers of lights provide actual NATA lab test reports that show real lux and lumen ratings. Anyone can make a claim, but unless there’s some sort of documentation to back it up, then words are just words. 4WD Supacentre’s LED driving lights have been tested in a NATA-approved lab so we can back up what we say. See the official certificate here:
https://www.4wdsupacentre.com.au/illuminator-9-round-led-driving-lights-pair.html

3.IP RATINGS MATTER

When you bolt a set of driving lights to the front of your vehicle, you’re subjecting them to all sorts of weather and environmental conditions. IP or Ingress Protection is a way of rating any sort of electrical components against how well it stands up to foreign material like dust and dirt, as well as water. IP68 is the ultimate in IP ratings, and shows that the equipment is rated for complete protection against dust without any ingress, as well as being suited to immersion in water beyond 1m in depth.

4.STRONG MOUNTS MAKE OR BREAK LIGHTS

It’s easy to get caught up in how bright a set of lights are, but that’s of no consequence if the mounts rattle themselves to pieces or they snap the first time you strike an animal or a tree. Good quality LED lights have solid alloy mounts that are braced. They’ll also have easy adjustments that let you aim the light properly, and that lock firmly in place once aimed.
See us torture-test our lights to prove just how tough they are: https://bit.ly/2m7qilv

5.LACK OF AFTERSALES SUPPORT

Okay, so you’ve bought a set of cheap LED spotties online, but there’s a problem. Maybe one or two LEDs won’t light up, or they’ve rattled to bits in the first month. You go to contact the seller but realise there’s no phone number or address, and the only way to speak to them is via email. Some online sellers offer nothing but an email form as a way of contacting them. In our opinion it’s much easier if there’s a phone number you can just call, or a physical store you can visit. When you buy LED driving lights from 4WD Supacentre, your purchased is backed by our legendary 30-day money back guarantee and the support of our 35-strong customer service team. You can call us, or visit any of our stores around the country to check out our products in person before you buy.