light bar for my jeep idea

[LED4LYF]

I am wanting to build a custom lightbar for my jeep, and need some input.

I am going to use four MAG D heads, 1 for each LED light. I would like to keep this simple yet would like a strong output. Just have a few questions.

1. Are MAG D heads Water Proof enough to be outside if it was raining?

2. Is there enought room in a MAG D head for a good heatsink, for a high power LED option?

3. What would be a good combo of LED/Driver or LED direct drive off of car battery?

Any input is appreciated, thanks

 

[mrartillery]

Neat idea, but if it were me I would use KC Daylighters as this is what I use on my 4x4 rig, tons of throw!

 

[LED4LYF]

Yeah I have thought of using KC, but I just wanted to do something totally custum and different.

I would like to get at least 1000 lumens out of each MAG D head. Would be nice if it could be direct drive then I would not have to buy drivers.

 

[mrartillery]

I would say it is very possible to make a setup like you're wanting, only question I have is, are you wanting lights for flood or throw? This all depends on the conditions and terrain you plan on driving in, I myself prefer the deep smooth reflector of the Daylighter which have very good throw and seem to cut through rain, snow and fog very well.

 

[LED4LYF]

I want it to throw nice but nit like an aspheric lens I still want some side spill.

 

[spencer]

There is no way you should run an LED off an automotive system without some kind of driver. It is potentially doable if you have 4 LEDs in series.

 

[rob3rto]

Have you seen these Xmitter light bars?

Pretty fierce amount of light, some put HIDs to shame.

http://www.visionxusa.com/LED/c1/index.htmlhttp://www.visionxusa.com/LED/c1/index.html

 

[kingofwylietx]

I'm not big on the VisionX, but if you want something different, Whelen has this:
http://www.whelen.com/_AUTOMOTIVE/details_prod.php?head_id=12&cat_id=74&prod_id=442

I'd love to put a couple of those duals on my truck.

 

[rayman]

Using Maglite heads as a host is a really nice idea. I made a bike light out of one. Definitly has enough heatsinking potential for a P7 or SST-50 but not for a SST-90 at 9A.

rayman

 

[Diesel_Bomber]

1. Yes
2. No
3. No clue

For cheap offroad lights, cheap halogen light set, sturdy and weatherproof + cheap HID kit = huge lumens for little $$$. I must stress, OFFROAD USE ONLY.

 

[mrartillery]

Diesel has probably just hit on your best option, HID would probably suit you the best if you're wanting good throw. Just make sure you get the right color temp though or you'll be blinded in the rain. :ohgeez:

 

[Diesel_Bomber]

Not necessarily throw w/ the HID "solution." Not necessarily anything, just a whole hell of a lot of lumens in a vaguely forward direction. I would use 4300k HIDs for the most lumens, but ANY bright light from a lightbar above your head and behind you will blind you in any kind of precipitation, as well as brightly illuminate the hood of the vehicle. In either case, your distance vision will be destroyed entirely. I would _never_ mount a driving light anywhere but on the front of my vehicle.

 

[Hamilton Felix]

On the roof, far enough back that the roof blocks downward light will work. (Remember those roof lights with "shades" on the bottoms that Cepek used to sell?) But any high mounted light will blind you any time the air is not perfectly clear. Roof lights ONLY work if it stays clear. Not worth it for me, here in the Pacific NorthWET...

 

[bshanahan14rulz]

maglite heads + metal reflector + high power halogen burners


+1 offroad only.

 

[Diesel_Bomber]

Obviously, if you go w/ the Maglight heads and halogen or HID, you'll need to ditch the plastic reflectors or they won't be reflectors for long. A glass window will be necessary too.