A Guide to Choosing the Best LED Light Kit Setup
For anyone looking for a quality LED light setup for their vehicle, no matter the setting, there are a massive range of options out there. These vary in terms of everything from cost and style to overall effectiveness and more, and knowing how to narrow down your search and find the ideal items for your kit will help ensure you’re covered completely.
At LED Equipped, we’re here to offer the very best selection of LED lights and related products, from our LED light bars and flood lights to many others that are perfect for off-roading and commercial uses. We also assist clients with piecing together the perfect kit for their needs, whether this is an individual task or something that’s done as part of your duties within a given entity. What are some of the key variables we recommend looking at when choosing your kit? Here are several to keep a close eye on.
Defining Your Vehicle
Naturally, one of the first and most important steps here involves familiarizing yourself with the vehicle in question and your light options for it. The best motorcycle LED kit will naturally vary pretty heavily from the best LED trailer or truck light kit, so it’s important to make sure that you’re looking at the right options for your own vehicle.
As you’re evaluating any new vehicle here, there are a few key factors to keep in mind. It’s important to know the make, model and year of your vehicle as well as its current lighting system configuration. This includes everything from bullet lights to fog lamps or any other additional items that might be relevant here.
In addition, you should also be aware of any necessary mounting hardware or special wiring configurations that your kit may require. This is especially true if you’re considering modifications to get the most out of your lighting setup.
Comparing LEDs and HIDs
Some of our readers might be wondering about the differences between LEDs and HIDs (high-intensity discharge lamps). While there are some similarities here, it’s important to understand that LED lights have a few distinct advantages over their HID counterparts.
For starters, LED lights use significantly less energy than HIDs do. This makes them ideal for anyone looking to upgrade from traditional halogen or incandescent lighting. More importantly, LED lights are much longer-lasting than HIDs, often offering 50,000+ hours of use compared to just 5,000 or so with an HID setup. Finally, the overall styling of a good LED light setup is often superior to that of any HID system.
Don’t be sucked in by the slight initial brightness advantage that some HID lights provide. For starters, there are actually cases where this intense brightness is too much for a given scenario, and in any case it won’t last as long anyway.
Are There Any Safety or Organizational Requirements?
In many settings, there are specific requirements that must be met when it comes to LED light kits. This is especially true for commercial vehicles, where safety and/or organizational regulations can quickly come into play.
For instance, many states regulate the kinds of lighting or reflectors that a given vehicle must have in order to legally operate on public roads. Make sure you’re aware of any relevant laws and regulations so that you can make sure your kit is compliant with the law.
Similarly, many companies or organizations have their own specific rules related to lighting systems on certain vehicles. It’s important to take these into account when shopping for a new LED light setup, as failure to abide by such requirements could put you at risk of fines or other penalties.
Past Experiences With LED Lights
For many clients, one great way to narrow down their options is by examining past experiences with LED lights. If you have any friends or family members who own similar vehicles, it’s a great idea to ask them about the specific light kits they use as well as how satisfied they are with them overall.
The same goes for reviews and customer testimonials from existing clients – make sure you take the time to read through them and get an understanding of how others have fared with a particular light setup. This can help you find the right kit for your own needs and make sure it fits within your budget as well.
For instance, let’s say you have a friend or family member who has used a particular LED light kit for their own vehicle and had great success with it. This can be a great starting point in your search and help save you both time and money as you try to find the perfect fit for your own situation.
Assess the Quality of LED Parts
Now, while we’ve gone over LED’s advantages over other common light types, the fact remains that not all LED lights are created equal. There are some manufacturers who use inferior materials and components in their LED lights, and these can have a significant impact on the quality of the finished product.
To limit your risk of purchasing subpar products, make sure to evaluate the quality of each item before committing to it. Check for things like robust housings, solid connectors or wiring, and accurate labeling (if applicable). In most cases, you can tell a quality LED light setup simply by looking at it.
Importance of Reviews and Reputation
In an industry like this where there are hundreds of different manufacturers, it’s important to do your due diligence and check out the reviews and reputation of each one before making any purchases. Take the time to read customer testimonials or reviews from other buyers, as well as industry publications.
On top of that, you should also make sure to research the company’s warranty policy and any other after-sales services they offer. Good customer service and a strong warranty can go a long way toward ensuring your satisfaction with the overall purchase.
Finally, be aware of any hidden costs associated with buying LED lights – some manufacturers may charge extra for things like installation or replacement parts, which can add up over time. Knowing all the details of your purchase in advance will help ensure you get the best possible deal on your LED light setup.
Ease of Installation
Another key factor to consider when shopping for LED lights is the ease of installation. Some kits are more complex than others and require special tools or expertise in order to fit them properly. If you don’t feel comfortable with tackling such a project yourself, it’s important to look for an experienced provider who can help you out.
On the other hand, some LED light kits are incredibly easy to install and require little more than a few basic tools. Knowing the level of difficulty associated with each setup will help you choose the best option for your own situation.
Choosing Ideal Installation Timing and Setting
As you’re preparing to install your LED lights, it’s also important to keep in mind the ideal timing and setting for the job. Generally speaking, installing LED lights during daylight hours is preferable since you’ll be able to see what you’re working on more clearly than at night.
Additionally, make sure that you have plenty of room to work in and that you’re in a secure, well-ventilated area. This will go a long way toward ensuring your safety and the quality of the finished product.
With so many options available on the market today when it comes to LED light setups for vehicles, understanding which ones are most suitable for your situation can be confusing. However, by taking into account factors like the quality of parts, reviews and reputation, ease of installation, and ideal timing and setting for installation, you’ll be able to make a more informed decision regarding which LED light setup is right for you.
For more here, or to learn about any of our LED light options, speak to our dedicated team at LED Equipped today.