Variables to Consider When Choosing LED Light Bars

Choosing the proper lights for a vehicle is a very important decision, particularly for first emergency responders like police and fire departments. Light bars serve several vital purposes, from managing traffic and alerting other drivers to maintaining safety across any sort of situation.

At LED Equipped, we’re proud to serve as your top resource for all your emergency vehicle light needs, including several selections within the light bar realm: Visor light bars, dual-colored light bars, and even light bars designed specifically for tow trucks, snow plows and other larger vehicles. We’ve assisted a wide variety of responders with their LED light bar needs, and we’ll not only point you in the right direction, but also help you with each and every specific area of need you may be considering. Here are the most important broad factors to consider when purchasing any form of LED light bar for your vehicle.

Quality and Durability

First and foremost, you want to be 100% sure that the light bars you’re purchasing are of a high quality level. Lights should be rugged and durable, constructed with high-grade metals and tested to withstand the most extreme weather conditions.

Look carefully at all product specifications, assessing each aspect of durability including hinges, brackets, latches and more. Your lights need to be powerful enough to survive impacts and harsh weather conditions, able to endure anything thrown at them while protecting the vital components within — and able to capture the attention of other drivers in any area where they’re being used.

One particular factor to consider here will be the reputation of the light provider. There are a number of great companies in this industry, and based on their past reviews and ratings you’ll be able to quickly assess which ones have the most trustworthy product lines.

Pay attention to each detail, and you’ll upgrade your chances for success.

Number Of LEDS Per Bar

Another factor to consider is how many LED lights will be contained within each individual bar. The numbers and placement are truly important, as you’ll be able to control which types of lighting patterns are used most often — such as the regular flasher style or perhaps even a red/blue police-style combination for added impact.

The key here is thinking about what your vehicle will need most often, then choosing the light bars accordingly. A tow truck might be better off with a single 4 or 5 LED light bar versus putting two 12 LED’s in the same place, for example.

Be sure to read all product specifications carefully before making your final decision.

Lighting Features, Patterns and Strobes

From steady to rotating and every style in between, there are a wide variety of lighting patterns available for your LED light bars. These will indicate which lights you’ll activate most often, so it’s important that you not only assess the quality (and number) of each one, but also consider exactly what your vehicle needs will be.

Which lights you choose is all up to the type of response your department or company provides — and the specific events where they’ll be used. For example, if a large part of your department’s job is directing traffic during parades or other special events, an alternating light bar (such as the rotating style) would be a good way to manage that responsibility. If you’re mostly responding to vehicle accidents and other on-road safety concerns, you might want to consider steady lights (and perhaps even a clear visor light bar).

Keep in mind that you’ll be able to change out any and all of these lighting styles, so it’s important not to get too hung up on the “perfect” type of LED lights. Instead, pay attention to which style best fits your needs, even if you need to rotate through certain styles depending on daily responsibilities.

Warranty Factors

Warranty is also an important part of this decision, helping you to get the most out of each and every light bar. Be sure that the lights you choose offer an extended warranty (and a great reputation), as well as replacement parts in case something breaks or needs replaced.

Let’s face it: When you’re responding to emergencies, time is absolutely critical. Sometimes seconds can be the difference between life and death, so having LED light bars with the best quality components as well as extended warranties makes sure they’ll last longer and work more efficiently when you need them most.

Not only do you need a strong warranty to begin with, you want to be sure the company in question honors its warranties regularly. Some companies try to get out of warranty claims simply because they can — so it’s important that you choose a light bar provider who honors the warranties and provides replacements when necessary. Our warranty policy is clear and straightforward for all products, ensuring that you get the best warranty available.

Customization Capability

Emergency LED lights are not a one-size-fits-all product, and many responders are looking for customized features and add-ons to increase the efficiency and overall performance of their light bars. For example, if you want an option that focuses more on a red/blue police style lighting pattern (and not so much in the direction of clear sweeping lights), you’ll want to choose something that can be customized in such a way.

There are numerous possible customizations here, and this is an area that highlights the importance of working with quality LED light professionals for all your needs. Especially for those newer to the LED light world, our team of LED experts will work with you to find the right type of light bar for your needs, and even help customize it according to your preferences. We’ve been part of the design process for dozens of customized light bars, offering the highest level of expertise and support to better match your unique specifications.

It’s important to remember that each type of lighting feature, pattern or add-on adds a little bit more to the overall cost. Our team will be happy to explain exactly how this works, as all our prices are fully transparent at all times.

Reputation and Reviews of the LED Installer

We noted this area above, but it’s so important that it deserves its own section. Installation quality can vary significantly within the emergency LED light world, and the last thing any first responder wants is to be dealing with faulty light equipment during an emergency — and this is why it’s so important to work exclusively with high-quality professionals.

And like many other service fields, there are simple ways to determine the reputation of an LED installer you’re considering. For instance, look at professional reviews of the company and try to determine what previous customers are saying about their LED light bars, as well as specific installation services.

Another important part of this process is checking out customer photos and videos that show off all the different types of emergency lights they offer. You’ll be able to see not only what kind of light bars work best for your purposes, but what the installation process looks like too.

You should also inquire about specific pricing structures, including warranty and any possible rebates. These are also important points to consider, as they can dramatically affect the total cost of your emergency LED lights .

Our company has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and we’ve been a member for more than 10 years. This is just one example of our long-standing reputation within the industry and shows exactly why it’s important to work with a trusted company like ours. We have years of experience and thousands of clients that we work with regularly, and we’ll meet every single need you may have for your LED light bars and other products.

For more on this or any of our emergency LED lights, speak to the staff at LED Equipped today.