Truck-Lite 7" LED HEADLIGHT

[Alaric Darconville]

Tim,

We're moving on from that, really.

I know you're a long-time lurker/first time poster, but I don't want you to feel unwelcome or to have our responses to your first few posts sour your experience here.

 

[Emanuel]

WooooW

Next time I will wear a bullet proof vest before posting something.
Maybe I won't post anything at all if this is the result.

I think that I explained myself, if something was missinterpreted I am sorry again, but....
you are climing way too high on the barricades to defend the company you represent.

It looks like you take the opportunity created by the negative trend towards Truck Lite in this thread and make of it a marketing campaign. You kept quiet while the discussion was about your competitor as it served you well, but the moment JWS was mentioned as a Truck Lite competitor one time in one sentece you jumped out from the bushes and started to shoot in all directions.

All I was trying to say, if you will read the post is that most of the few approved headlights are still not perfect.

I don't know if anybody is aware of this, but the optical issues are practically solved, specially with new LED technologies available in the last year or so.
But all of the few headlamps approved (at least in Europe) are not yet perfect.
It appears as the biggest issue this technology still has is the heat dissipation, and for this reason most headlamps can't pass the tests. The 2 or 3 types approved use active cooling, fans, which in a practical day by day use can't last for long time, not in engine's surrounding or road environment.

According to what you claim, you are holding in your hands the holy grail of the automotive LED light industry and maybe you are not aware of that.

So you tell us about testing done by Osh Kosh and Navistar during the last year, nice, very nice indeed - while you play testing Truck Lite sold over 250K headlights this is what you should be concerned of. AMG is using them as standard, so is BAE. Where have you sold except for testing and shows? I am attending most miltary shows, I haven't seen JWS booth anywhere, no lamps installed in any vehicle except for one Navistar truck, no rewiews of your lamps anywhere - so what is the problem?

If you bothered to follow the discusion, as incoherent as it was or not, it was about regulations and other issues related specifically to headlights - I see no reason for your attack, unless what you mean to say is "hey, guys, whoever owns a tank we have better lights for it".

This is to mobilecenter who bothered to register to CPF just to make things clear about the superiority of his product... sorry, the product he represents.

Now, I need to make an explanation about several things I posted:
I never make a comment or express an opinion if I am unable to stand behind it.
Regarding my comments on the existing headlamps from Lexus and Audi/VW, who said that are experts in this field, working at one of the world's most respectable car testing facilities.

So Scheinwerfermann, you can believe it or not, unfortunately I can't comment on this further as I am signed on an NDA.
Let's not forget that I work in a company that develops military products, some opinions are based on practical experience, but except for "touching" subjects from time to time I can't develop the issues for obvious reasons - for example what problems active fan cooling presents in a military vehicle. Believe me I have a lot of experience with this, enough to say that a headlight with active cooling in a miltary environment is far from being the perfect solution.

Mobilecentre, I'm sure by now you've noticed the difference -- in this thread and others -- between those on this board who know what they're talking about and those who don't.

If you are talking about me, than thanks, but I will not get dragged to long explanations as I don't need to prove myself or publish my CV and let everybody decide if I do know what I am talking about or not. If this is the way you see things, then I don't understand why you spend your time answering me.

 

[mobilecentre]

Emanuel you need to step back and look at what you are saying, as the expert in this field since 1997 and the holy grail of military vehicle designers with your various NDA's I would of imagined you would have actually looked at all the LED headlamp products on the market where as in your comments your experience seems to be limited to Trucklite and I am yet to understand if you have actually even used them? In the aftermarket there are a number of LED headlights. Some with ECE some without. I have not said anything negative about Trucklite, although I am not so sure you can say the same. I have made no claims about the Speaker product only presented information to correct what you had posted. If you wish to show me the relevant fact such as the VCA stating there is no ECE approval then please go ahead. I am very pleased that Trucklite has sold 250K of headlights – good for them. I am sure AMG & BAE are very happy with them. On that basis I find it strange that a person of your standing and long term experience within this field and your close connections to all these people that Trucklite have not made you want you want?

I only told you about the testing because you asked so I am now confused as to why you asked when you jump out from the bushes and shoot in all directions?

It is lucky then that Speaker do not have active cooling in the headlights. I am sure they will be glad to hear that they made the right choice.

As for the superiority of the product, they are your words and thanks for your positive comments and compliments.

I also find it interesting that you come here as an expert yet you use information passed to you by one of the world's car testing labs. I would have thought it better with your experience and depth of knowledge to post based upon your own findings only and not that of second hand hearsay. Of course if you want to reference the individual and the opinion officially from the car testing lab directed at GM, VW, Mercedes & Lexus then that would be most helpful to your argument.

You came on this forum and asked questions but I am not so sure you actually want the answers.

 

[mobilecentre]

Tim,

We're moving on from that, really.

I know you're a long-time lurker/first time poster, but I don't want you to feel unwelcome or to have our responses to your first few posts sour your experience here.

I do not feel unwelcome, and I am familiar with this forum and the variety of questions asked. I believed it would be nice to contribute and that information would be welcome. I also understand that I am an unknown and some may think I am here for commercial reasons. If anything I do is aginst the rules I am sure it will be made clear:welcome:

 

[Emanuel]

You came on this forum and asked questions but I am not so sure you actually want the answers.

OK, look, I really don't want to keep this discussion going as I see no point.
I find a lot of usefull information in CPF, I never claimed to be an expert in anything but even if I was, I think that smart people are those who listen and learn, exactly the opposite to others that think they know everything.

So I do hear what experts are saying, as I think that no matter how many LED products I made there is no equivalent to researchers involved for several years in this specific subject and I believe they know much more than me.

I wish you all the best in marketing your product, as I said a lot of times, I am the kind that appreciates a good product.

 

[mobilecentre]

OK, look, I really don't want to keep this discussion going as I see no point.
I find a lot of usefull information in CPF, I never claimed to be an expert in anything but even if I was, I think that smart people are those who listen and learn, exactly the opposite to others that think they know everything.

So I do hear what experts are saying, as I think that no matter how many LED products I made there is no equivalent to researchers involved for several years in this specific subject and I believe they know much more than me.

I wish you all the best in marketing your product, as I said a lot of times, I am the kind that appreciates a good product.

So what have you learnt - if you are unsure of something maybe you should ask first and post later?

I would be more than happy to help you with anything I am able to - I am not a lighting engineer and some of the things discussed in areas on this forum are beyond my comfort zone. If I do not know then I will say.

 

[DM51]

Emanuel, whether you realise it or not, your posts gave offense. Your English is just about adequate, but your choice of some of the expressions you used was poor. mobilecentre perceived your posts as an attack on his organisation, and he defended himself. I think maybe you now realise that.

I really don't want to keep this discussion going

I'm glad to hear that. Let's drop this argument NOW.

Move on, please...

 

[mobilecentre]

Agreed - I think we were talking about LED headlamps. Here is some shots of the Speaker mdoel 8700 beam pattern - probably not to everyones liking.

Low beam

High Beam

 

[mobilecentre]

I am sure you guys want some actual test data

Speaker model 8700 Low Beam

High Beam

 

[Random Guy]

I think this is one of the first times I have seen someone say "I'll show you the beam pattern," and then actually post test results, not just pictures.

 

[mobilecentre]

I think this is one of the first times I have seen someone say "I'll show you the beam pattern," and then actually post test results, not just pictures.

I am hoping that is a good thing after my "entrance" I also figured that night shots from inside the vehicle would not cut it either:naughty:

Tim

 

[mobilecentre]

As I know you guys like it from all angles....and you would not normally get to see this when looking at a vehicle. Different connector configurations are available but this is the one we carry so the only one we have shots of all round.

 

[tino_ale]

This beam pattern looks much more symetrical than what's generally seen on regular headlamps but besides that it looks pretty good to me.

Any better beamshot of the TrukLite available ? The one posted before wasn't as good

 

[-Virgil-]

For those whose heads don't work in Lux, the max figures in the bird's-eye views translate to 46,875 candela on high beam and 40,938 candela on low beam. The thing that's raising my eyebrow is the location of the Emax; it's a little tough to read the small print but it looks like the Emax is at 6.75; i.e., nearly 7 degrees to the right of the lamp axis. That is wayyyyyyyyy far over to the right; it means the hot spot will leave the driver's own lane just under 51 feet in front of the car (assuming for calculation that the headlamp is in the middle of an ordinary 12 ft wide U.S. interstate highway lane). I imagine the lamp was aimed correctly for the test, though I'd want to see a beam isoplot (on wall, not bird's eye) and a photometric data table -- it's possible the Emax at 6.75°R is only a few candela higher than a more or less equally high intensity located more centrally.

 

[mobilecentre]

For those whose heads don't work in Lux, the max figures in the bird's-eye views translate to 46,875 candela on high beam and 40,938 candela on low beam. The thing that's raising my eyebrow is the location of the Emax; it's a little tough to read the small print but it looks like the Emax is at 6.75; i.e., nearly 7 degrees to the right of the lamp axis. That is wayyyyyyyyy far over to the right; it means the hot spot will leave the driver's own lane just under 51 feet in front of the car (assuming for calculation that the headlamp is in the middle of an ordinary 12 ft wide U.S. interstate highway lane). I imagine the lamp was aimed correctly for the test, though I'd want to see a beam isoplot (on wall, not bird's eye) and a photometric data table -- it's possible the Emax at 6.75°R is only a few candela higher than a more or less equally high intensity located more centrally.

The Emax value is 6.75 and is a distance measurement in front of the headlight denoting 6.75m as you say the print is small.

Hope this helps to clear it up.

 

[-Virgil-]

The Emax value is 6.75 and is a distance measurement in front of the headlight denoting 6.75m

That doesn't actually clarify things; in fact it makes them less clear. Emax values are not normally stated in terms of distance, but rather in terms of degrees relative to the beam axis. The notation used is exactly as it appears in the beam diagram you've posted, but it does not refer to meters. Are you quite sure you correctly understood what Speaker told you on this point?

 

[BigMHoff]

Do they fit wranglers?

 

[mobilecentre]

That doesn't actually clarify things; in fact it makes them less clear. Emax values are not normally stated in terms of distance, but rather in terms of degrees relative to the beam axis. The notation used is exactly as it appears in the beam diagram you've posted, but it does not refer to meters. Are you quite sure you correctly understood what Speaker told you on this point?

As I understand it that is where the max reading is 6.75m in front of the headlamp - however I am not a lighting engineer and do not perfom the tests. So I will check and come back to you:thumbsup:

 

[-Virgil-]

As I understand it that is where the max reading is 6.75m in front of the headlamp

Er...no. That's not it. The headlamp is tested at a fixed distance from the photogoniometer sensors, and its output is measured in terms of lux or candela throughout a grid of points left, right, up, and down relative to the lamp's axis. The assertion "the max reading is 6.75m in front of the headlamp" doesn't mean anything.

 

[Alaric Darconville]

The assertion "the max reading is 6.75m in front of the headlamp" doesn't mean anything.

If it were true, it'd mean it was a badly focused light, that maximum convergence occured at 6.75m...