LED strip and driving lights
Submitted: Monday, Sep 01, 2014 at 14:54
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Hairy (NT)
Gday,
My new toy should arrive any day now (Suzuki Sierra) which I plan to set up for beach fishing.
The first thing I need to do is set up some lights.
At the moment I am using a strip light about 300mm long I bought from Jaycar which works fine and costs around $20, but I've noticed they are selling them on ebay in all sorts of configurations for a couple of dollars and heaps longer. The trouble is I don't understand all the terminology. like 5050, smd, 3528 etc etc..........
Does anyone know of a good cheap strip light or can simply explain what it all means so I can work out what I need?
Also has anyone recently found any really
bright and CHEAP
driving lights?
I realise in a lot of cases you get what you pay for but while I have 2 Harley Davidsons in the shed, a boat, and 2 4wds the Mrs is a bit reluctant about be pouring money into another toy.....so yes CHEAP it must be.
Cheers
Reply By: olcoolone - Monday, Sep 01, 2014 at 18:08
Monday, Sep 01, 2014 at 18:08
In any White LED lights the difference in price is reflected by two of the most important parts..... The LED itself and the LED driver, pay more and you get better.
The biggest killer of LED's is heat and a good quality drive and heat sink adds to their reliability.
BTW all white LEDs are graded similar to diamonds on colour and light output.... It's a bit like
John West and his tuna, the cheaper tuna get sold on to low end companies or cat food.
AnswerID:
538475
Reply By: gbc - Tuesday, Sep 02, 2014 at 06:03
Tuesday, Sep 02, 2014 at 06:03
Rigging up at night, we've found that less is more in the light department. Something like a
Stanley fat max head torch which has a removable light refractor gives a more gentle light so that everything else doesnt reflect back at you.
Similar with
driving lights. Depending on the amount of surf and mist,
driving lights and even high beam can be completely useless on a beach at night. A decent set of yellow fog lenses will be much more beneficial. The brightness of led/hid coming back at you in surf mist leaves you blinded. Of course on those few clear nights you can light up the planet. Maybe think about a handheld spottie for when you are looking about? They are very useful when looking for gutters and beach exits - much easier than turning the car around all the time. And for a small amount of money you can really light up the blokes that think they should be leaving their spotties on when driving towards you.
AnswerID:
538490
Follow Up By: CSeaJay - Tuesday, Sep 02, 2014 at 14:55
Tuesday, Sep 02, 2014 at 14:55
gbc
Interesting viewpoint, but I believe quite the opposite.
Good light at night is a must, the better the safer.
I agree that when there is a mist it is not effective, but that does not mean you shouldn't have decent light the 95% of the time there is no mist.
CJ
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Follow Up By: gbc - Tuesday, Sep 02, 2014 at 16:19
Tuesday, Sep 02, 2014 at 16:19
Looks like we drive on different beaches then. Good luck with that. Teewah where I spend my time has mist any time there is swell and an onshore (se is prevailing) breeze which in my estimation would be 95% of the time which would make you nearly 100% wrong? Like I said the first time, if there isn't any mist, fill your boots with lights - you must have missed it?
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