3 watt LED vs 15 watt LED in light bars

Has anyone done a comparison on these 2 types of LED bars? There seems to be heaps around with 2 rows of 3 watt and new ones with a single row of 15 watts.
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Reply By: Member -GraySand - Wednesday, Apr 20, 2016 at 22:10

Wednesday, Apr 20, 2016 at 22:10
Hi Drew
Have a look here.

http://www.unsealed4x4.com.au/issue019/#23


It may be of assistance
Regard's
Graham
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Reply By: Allan B (Member, SunCoast) - Wednesday, Apr 20, 2016 at 23:21

Wednesday, Apr 20, 2016 at 23:21
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Well Drew, given the same length of housing and LED spacing, a "single row of 15 Watts" is 250% more powerful than "2 rows of 3 Watts"......... in wattage, anyway.
It really is a matter of comparing the specified lumen output of the lightbars.
Cheers
Allan

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Follow Up By: HKB Electronics - Thursday, Apr 21, 2016 at 10:16

Thursday, Apr 21, 2016 at 10:16
As above you need to look at the actual power output of the LEDS, just about all sellers will be quoting the "theorectical" output power, not the actual output power.

For example a bar might be advertised as 120W and has 40, 3W, LED's.

The actaul specs show the bar draws 7.5A@9V or 67.5W this is well short of the 120W theoretical output power.

Generally most manufacures will derate the LED power output to maximise LED life, but some using poorer quailty LED's are well underated.

Some sellers will show the input current, if it works out to be around the same level as the advertised power output, ie 120W bar shows 12A@10V then they have probably just used the theoretical power again to calculate the current drawn.

Ask the seller to provide an independent test certificate showing the actaul output power and lumens etc, a reputable manufacture should be able to supply these.

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Follow Up By: Robin Miller - Thursday, Apr 21, 2016 at 14:50

Thursday, Apr 21, 2016 at 14:50
Love the suggestion HKB , but not so sure we'd end up with a genuine test certificate.

All else being equal its better to go with 3w than 15w over the long term.

Heat is the killer of leds and some go downhill very fast.

Its easier to get rid of heat from 5 3w sources than a single 15w source .
Robin Miller

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