One of the most important reasons for switching over to LED for truck lighting practically goes without saying. You need to be able to see at night! If you can’t see what’s in front of your vehicle, you will be in a world of hurt when someone runs across the road or stops short in front of you.
Why Switch to LED?
As just suggested, the path in front of your vehicle must be illuminated. Not only that, but when the LED lights on traveling trucks/trailers are more visible to others on the road, a safer environment exists overall. So, it’s not just to help you see, it’s to help others see you.
For years, semi-trucks have relied on halogen bulbs. But thanks to the brightness they provide and their longevity, the industry is relying more and more on state-of-the-art LED lights. The trucking industry realizes that one of their major priorities is safety and that LEDs provide more safety on the road. Should your fleet switchover to LEDs? The following should help you make that decision.
The Acronym LED
What LED actually stands for is “light-emitting diode”. A diode is illuminated by a microchip as an electric current passes through it. The light that is created is bright. LEDs do not give off the heat that other bulbs give off, however, because it is absorbed into a heatsink.
And while other lights burn out, in the traditional sense at least, LEDs do not. Over time, they will dim, rather than just stop producing light. Once their output has diminished by approximately 30%they are considered “burned out”.
LED Lights Have Numerous Benefits
Though relatively new, LEDs have made a huge impact on the trucking and transportation industry. Here are the three main reasons that they have become so popular:
- Increased visibility – Compared to competitors, whiter light is provided by LEDs. Xenon and halogen headlights just can’t shine as brightly. And the coolest color temperature is provided by LEDs.
- Long life – Compared to a halogen bulb, you can enjoy 50 times the lifespan with an LED. Just in the first 160 hours of operation, luminosity with halogens can be reduced by 20%. When you think about how long you spend driving down the road, that’s not much time at all. With LEDs, you will only lose about 7% of luminosity in the first 20,000 hours.
- Directional power – Only the area directly below or above halogen bulbs is illuminated when they are on. Directional lighting is offered by LED bulbs. This is a huge benefit because you can see not just what is directly in the line of the lights, but what is around them as well. This figures greatly into the increased safety and visibility that we referred to earlier.
Any Drawbacks?
As with anything, there are both cons and pros. Rest assured, the pros outweigh the cons when it comes to today’s LED bulbs. Because they don’t get hot, like conventional bulbs, they won’t melt the snow off of themselves. So, you must keep them free of ice and snow. A kit should be used to change out LEDs and, if you don’t know what you’re doing, you should rely on a professional. They also cost a little bit more – but it is so very worth it thanks to the considerable benefits previously listed.
Mickey Genuine Parts carries individual lights and lighting kits for your trailer lighting needs. Install them yourself or rely on one of our skilled technicians. You can schedule service at any one of our certified service centers throughout the United States. If you have any questions about lighting or what part you should order, feel free to contact Mickey and speak to one of our knowledgeable customer service representatives.