Cheap ebay style LED durability

[Todd G]

Yes, I know, you get what you pay for, but this is done on a very limited budget.
This is the light being discussed.
http://thumbs2.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/m-jPtn6rtV63dSYWfaHS0tw.jpg

Image tags removed see Rule #3 Do not Hot Link images. Please host on an image site, Imageshack or similar and repost – Thanks Norm

I will be mounting 4 of these on the front bumper of the truck, it's a large Ranch-Hand bumper so there is plenty of mounting space for them. 2 will be pointed straight ahead, 2 on the corners. (All lights will be the 12v/20w version)
I have a couple of these lights in the 120V version that I used for utility and shed lighting, and am pretty impressed with the throw they have/for the price, but I am concerned about the flat/fairly thin glass used, at least in this application where they could potentially be hit by rocks/branches/etc.
I'm also concerned about weather making it's way into the housing since this will be used a bit out of it's normal range of use. The ones I have currently generate a fair amount of heat, but not enough on the heat sink to burn you by any means(I could throw the infrared thermometer on it, but never thought about it).
I'm thinking an L-shaped lexan piece over each may not be a bad idea , ugly, but functional. I'm sure sure however how quickly it would yellow from the elements, or if the light itself would possibly damage it. I'm leery of enclosing the whole thing, both as a heat issue, as well as a cost, and size issue. These will fit nicely under the "bush guard" portion of the bumper, but will not leave much room, the main reason why we're going with the 20w version vs the 30W.
I have also purchased 4 others for mounting in a similar manner on the rear as a rear/scene light, in place of the current temporary mount, but the mounting location will not present the same issues.
Any other possible issues that anyone can think of by using an LED vs a standard off the shelf incandescent utility light? Will also be mounting a couple of these on an enclosed trailer in the future, but that will be a different discussion in the future.

Any ideas and tips to make this a fairly painless install would be much appreciated. I don't have any idea what problems leds may have long term. This isn't an often used vehicle thankfully, but when it's used, we need all the lights we can get due to being out in the boonies, budget being key at this point, unless somebody rich wishes to adopt me!

 

[Derek G]

Ranch hand makes light tabs specifically for their bumpers. They bolt into the steel mesh so it gives you a bunch of options for where to mount them. Have you tried looking on their website or contacting them?

 

[Todd G]

In this case there is no steel mesh to mount to, the bumper has been modified with the mesh removed, but I have welded some additional brackets in order to mount the lights. The majority of this truck is out of the standard realm of install, so of course nothing is simple.
I still haven't done much with the lights this week for the bumper, the majority of the last couple weeks has been spent installing a 280 amp alternator and all the associated fun that comes with that. After a lot of playing around, I was able to modify the factory high beam housing and drop a 35w HID bulb in, as well as make it so the high/low function at same time, so it's starting to look a little more like a 4 wheeled disco ball, but still quite a few more lights to go. The remainder of the work will start this week, so if anyone has any more ideas, come with them quick before I break out the heavy tools:D.
I'm thinking I may just make a mesh screen for each of the lights, starting to look like an easier option at this point, and I will just seal the daylights of the housings.

 

[Optical Inferno]

I've experimented with this exact housing in an automotive environment. Didn't work out so well. The brackets are super thin cheap aluminum and will snap after a little while, the screws to "aim" will strip when you try and tighten them due to constantly adjusting the light because they don't hold it in position, and the housing got eaten away after chipping the powdercoat.

In short, ok for fixed lighting in a 120VAC environment not for an automotive purpose. Your best bet is a a set of Ridgid lights.

 

[Todd G]

I've experimented with this exact housing in an automotive environment. Didn't work out so well. The brackets are super thin cheap aluminum and will snap after a little while, the screws to "aim" will strip when you try and tighten them due to constantly adjusting the light because they don't hold it in position, and the housing got eaten away after chipping the powdercoat.

In short, ok for fixed lighting in a 120VAC environment not for an automotive purpose. Your best bet is a a set of Ridgid lights.

I wish Ridgid lights were in the budget, they're not, not even close. Thankfully this is not going to be a daily driver by any means, so that is a plus. I have already started with making my own brackets for the lights, now I'm starting to think a "tip-over" style mount may be a better idea, although it would be a pain to walk around flipping up/down 8-10 lights every time I want the light. The better part of me is thinking I will just tape off the lens, and spray the whole housing in bedliner to make sure it stays in one piece. I have plenty of that laying around, so no extra cost there.

 

[Optical Inferno]

That will reduce the heatsinking ability of the housing. And with the electronics inside the back portion, they will heat up pretty quick and die over time.

 

[Todd G]

That was a concern, I'm trying to see now what it will take to kill one due to heat. I tried bedliner on one of the ones I have here., so far we're at 20hrs constant on, showing only a couple degrees difference between the one beside it which is fresh out of the box. We might as well go for it and see. We're talking a minimal number of hours per month these will be on anyway, the majority of the time they will be parked, or daytime driving, so no use for the lights. I was contemplating making an"eyelid" for the lights, to keep the light directing straight forward, or down as much as possible, but that's a headache I really don't wish to deal with for these lights, and I'm not really concerned with losing too much light up into the trees.