A mini-rant on auxiliary vehicular lighting...

"JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t" (jawzx2) 07/22/2014 at 21:59 • Filed to: None

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Why can I walk into the camping isle at Walmart and be faced by an embarrassment of Cheap, well finished, machined-aluminum bodied, waterproof, high-powered LED flashlights including monsters like this this 10 watt, variable power, focusible, 1020 lumen (thats a whole lot, if you didn't know...) rechargeable beast for $35...

But when I go to the automotive lighting isle and look for auxiliary lighting products I'm faced with $30 pieces of plastic crap and $45 clones of ancient Hella 6" reflector designs with 55 watt halogen bulbs...

and then, when I go to the Off-road and Motorcycle accessories websites the only LED stuff is either huge, and designed for mounting on a jeep roll bar, and/or costs at least $200/pr and/or has shitty, low lumen output...

*sigh* I just

want a cheap, compact set of low-wattage-draw LED driving lights that don't suck that I can mount on the bike without ruining the looks of the bike.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 07/22/2014 at 22:05

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Build your own!

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 07/22/2014 at 22:14

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Sadly, I do not have easy access to a multi-axis CNC machine with which to make a nice aluminium case, and CREE 10-watt LED emitters are about $15/each in lots of less than 100... also, making a good reflector and lens without the appropriate equipment is tricky, at best... the idea of modifying a pair of those flashlights has crossed my mind...

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 07/22/2014 at 22:17

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Bend sheet metal. I have a CNC certificate if you find me access, I'll design and make you what ever the fuck you want.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 07/22/2014 at 22:18

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What about Bicycle stuff?

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 07/22/2014 at 22:30

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Two flashlights, 4 D-cells, Duct tape.

lonestranger > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 07/22/2014 at 22:30

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Hand-held flashlights don't have to go through a barrage of testing & certification by various jurisdictions from around the world.

#thanksObama

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 07/22/2014 at 22:32

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Honestly, I pulled apart my Subaru foglights and gutted the inside so they would accept more popular size replacement bulbs. This lighting stuff is not rocket science and not expensive. If you fuck it up the first time, you're out $60 bucks. Try something else.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 07/22/2014 at 22:38

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Still expensive... most all of them include battery packs that I don't need, having a ready supply of 12-volts... but getting closer...

Levitas > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 07/22/2014 at 23:10

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Interestingly enough I've been working on designing a set of LED rally lights for my MINI. Granted, I have access to a full CNC shop and already have the know-how to lathe out reflector housings in my sleep, so it's a little easier. I actually found a site that sells narrow angle reflectors for Luminus' SST LEDs, and theyre like $6 a piece. So, theoretically (still working on the drivers and wiring, etc) about $300 would net me close to 10k lumens total, with a throw around 1000 yards.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Levitas 07/22/2014 at 23:24

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Oh, I can design LED drivers in my sleep (been a solid-state laser nerd for years...) the rest of it's the tricky bit, however 10K lumens for $300 sounds super-tasty... I'd be happy with a well-aimed 3K, or so...

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > lonestranger 07/23/2014 at 16:07

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Auxiliary lighting doesn't actually fall under FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards). The only requirement per FMVSS is that auxiliary lighting such as fog lamps does not replace required lighting. That is, fog lamps are not a legally acceptable substitute for low beam headlights.

TL;DR - Auxiliary lighting doesn't actually go through testing & certification, at least in the U.S. and presumably Canada which pretty much follows U.S. FMVSS. I can't speak to the lighting regulations in Europe though.