DRIVING LIGHT WARS - High Performance · PDF fileLIGHT DRIVING WARS “The truth is NOW right here...” 19 of the world’s best including Hella, IPF, Cibie, KC & Narva go head to

LIGHTDRIVING

WARS“The truth is NOW right here...”

19 of the world’s best including Hella, IPF, Cibie, KC & Narva gohead to head with LIGHTFORCE in the ultimate shootout...

The article is reproduced here without any content alteration by kind courtesy of 4WD Monthly magazine.

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HALOGEN SHOOTOUT

HID SHOOTOUT

84 AUSTRALIAN 4WD MONTHLY

If you do even a little extra-urban night driving, chancesare you’ve found your fourby’s factory headlights to beinadequate for the task. Back in issue 55, we showed you

some ways to improve the performance of your standardlights, but if you really want to see where you’re going,there’s no better way to do it than by fitting a couple ofauxiliary driving lights.

There’s a couple of reasons why they’ll make driving inthe dark a safer, more comfortable experience. Factoryheadlights normally have 55W or 60W bulbs, while mostdriving lights have between 100W and 130W, producingmuch more light. Also, factory driving lights are built to fitin with the style and aerodynamic profile of the vehicle,meaning they’re usually fairly small in reflector area.Auxiliary lights, however, normally have a much largerreflector area, meaning more illumination.

We figured it was high time we tested a sample of what’son the market, to see what performs where and for howmuch. In this first part of our test, we chose 20 pairs oflights ranging between $89 and $551 in price. All the lightstested this month feature halogen or halogen-basedtechnology. A high-intensity discharge xenon (HID) lightcomparison will appear in next month’s issue.

WHAT WE DID

The first step was to collect an assortment of lights to test.We contacted distributors and asked them to supply no morethan two pairs of lights (to keep the test manageable) perbrand, ideally with one light in each pair being a ‘spot’(narrow beam) and the other a ‘spread’ or ‘driving’ beam(broad beam).

We focussed on larger-model lights to suit 4WDs, andconsequently, many manufacturers provided us with a pairof round and a pair of rectangular lights. Most are fittedwith 100W bulbs; however, some have 130W bulbs and onehas 65W (wattage is listed in the specification box for eachlight). All the lights featured are 12V, though somemanufacturers offer 24V bulbs if required.

Next, we needed a testing location. We chose a publicairstrip with a broad, brown gravel surface on a constantincline. The actual course is about 300m in length, from wherethe lighting rig was set up, to the large tree in the distance.

Distances were determined by way of a Garmin eTrexhandheld GPS. Having settled on a location, we played thewaiting game, biding our time in anticipation of a moonlessnight – that way ambient light levels would be consistent forall lights. The team soon tired of the waiting game andinstead opted for Hungry Hungry Hippos.

As with our previous comparison, we enlisted the help ofseveral inflatable kangaroos. I wanted blow-up dinosaurs,but Patski put the kybosh on that idea. They were set up onthe sides of the course at 10m, 25m, 50m, and 100m in frontof the testing rig.

With the exception of the 10m measurement, points weremarked in the middle of the course (ie, directly ahead of thelights) at those exact distances, so that each light would bemeasured from exactly the same points. For the lateral(10m) measurement, two points were marked out 4m to eachside of the rig. Readings were taken at each point, and anaverage of the two is what you see here.

For accuracy, the positions of the camera tripod andlighting rig were also marked.

HOW WE DID IT

With almost military precision, our fearless five workedthrough till 4:30am, mounting, checking, photographing,measuring and dismantling each set of lights.

The procedure began with bolting the lights to the rig andwiring them to the battery. This caused a few headachesbecause most had their own sort of connectors and didn’tmarry straight up to the quick connectors fitted to the rig.

In the case of a spot/spread combination, the spread beamlight was fitted on the left-hand (passenger’s) side with thespot on the right-hand (driver’s) side. Editor Pat thenstepped in to aim each light, for the sake of consistency. Atthis point, we checked the battery (which was on a constantcharge from the inverter) with a multimeter to ensurevoltage didn’t drop below 12V, which could affect thebrightness of the light being tested.

When the team was satisfied they were correctly fittedand aimed, Michael Ellem photographed each pair of lightsat identical exposure settings, and with all other lightsources switched off. So what you see in the photographswas the only source of lighting present, besides starlight(and the planet Mars if you want to get really pedantic).

With Ellem satisfied, two staff then began the lonelywalk up the course, stopping at all the points marked to

Ben bathes in a warm 100W glow as he and Tim setup the next pair of lights on the rack. Editor Pat

(far right) exercises his prerogative by standing roundand letting someone else do the fiddly work. Ad-man

Mark Muras wonders how he got roped into this caper

AUSTRALIAN 4WD MONTHLY 85

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record the light output. This was done with a NATA-calibrated Topcon IM-2D light meter that reads in ‘lux’.Lux is a measure of light hitting a target (in this case, thesensor of the light meter). To put it in perspective, onelux is about the amount of light you get from a full moonon a clear night.

The light meter was attached to a monopod with thesensor a metre above the ground. The monopod was placedon marked points so that measurements were taken fromexactly the same points.

Once all the data had been recorded for each pair of lights,they were dismantled, and the process started over again.

A note on the scores: You can clearly see that most of thenumbers were recorded directly in the centre of the lightbeam. As a consequence, lights with tighter, more focussedbeams (such as where both were spots) will recordcomparatively higher scores than ones with more spread outbeams (those with one or two spot lenses). Accordingly, youshould treat the scores as general comparative guide, not thebe all and end all in this test.

Also, remember that driving lights are normally assistedby your vehicle’s ordinary headlights, so take intoconsideration what sort of beam they produce whencomparing the lights tested here.

The super-secret testing location used consisted of a stretch of dirt with grass and trees on either side. The range had a constant uphill slope. The kangaroos markpoints 10m, 25m, 50m and 100m in front of the camera. The reflector in the distance marks 200m, while the tree in the extreme distance is about 300m away.Measurements were taken 1m off the ground in the centre of the light beam, except for the lateral measurement, which was taken 4m to the left andto the right of the lights, at the 10m mark with an average of the two readings recorded.

THE SHOOTING RANGE

We used a Powercel gel cell 12V battery to power the lights.A multimeter was used to check the voltage was always above 12V

A NATA-calibratedTopcon light meter

recorded readings in lux

10m

25m50m

100m200m300m


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AUTOTECNICA MONZASPECSSize 160mm diameter x 65mm deepLens 2x drivingBulb 100W halogenMaterial plastic housing, glass lensRRP $89.98/pair

READINGSLateral 13.425m 51.050m 15.4100m 4.0200m 0.9250m 0.4

Found in K-Mart, this was the cheapest light in the comparison butnot as bad as we’d expected. The dual spread beam set-up gavegood close-range peripheral vision but was hopeless for range.Still, you get what you pay for.

CIBIE OSCAR SCSPECSSize 180mm diameter x 122mm deepLens 2x drivingBulb 100W halogenMaterial metal housing, glass lensRRP $430/pair


Spectacular lateral performance from these dedicated spread beamsbut at the expense of distance illumination. Not cheap, but if you’relooking specifically at spread beams, these are the best we tested.

CIBIE TURINI APOLLOSPECSSize 225mm diameter x 145mm deepLens 1x driving, 1x spotBulb 100W halogenMaterial ABS plastic body, glass lensRRP $450/pair


Very disappointing, really. The Turinis were thumped by the smaller,cheaper Oscar SC in both width and range. Hard to recommendbased on these results.

HELLA RALLYE FF 1000SPECSSize 175mm diameter x 109mm deepLens 1x driving, 1x spotBulb 100W H1 halogenMaterial plastic housing, glass lensRRP $150/each


Very good all-round performer, combining a broad, usable beam withgood long-range punch. Plastic housing makes it feel flimsycompared with metal-bodied Hella lights. Produces good, quality light.

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HELLA HYDROLUXSPECSSize 185mm diameter x 145mm deepLens 1x driving, 1x spotBulb 100W halogenMaterial cast alloy housing, magnesium reflector, glass lensRRP $385/each

READINGSSEE HELLA RALLYE FF 1000

The HydroLUX is designed for extreme conditions, featuring a multi-chamber isobaric construction (equalising pressure within the lightwith the outside pressure) with Gore-Tex membrane. With its castalloy housing, it’s built like the proverbial brick outhouse. Hella claimsthe light can operate while submerged 1m. Due to time constraints,we weren’t able to test the HydroLUX, but given its identical reflectorand bulb, performance is comparable with the Rallye FF 1000.

HELLA RALLYE FF 4000SPECSSize 222mm diameter x 130mm deepLens 1x driving, 1x spotBulb 100W halogenMaterial zinc alloy housing, glass lensRRP $260/each


The numbers really don’t do justice to the Rallye FF 4000. A superball-rounder, the spot/spread combo gave a broad, very usable beamwith excellent distance illumination. With its heavy-duty zinc alloyconstruction and sturdy mounting system, we highly recommend it.

IPF 900 DSCSSPECSSize 200mm diameter x 120mm deepLens 1x driving, 1x spotBulb 130W H3 halogenMaterial steel body, steel reflector, hardened glass lensRRP $338/pair


A much better performer than its rectangular stablemates, andcheaper to boot, but still a bit average overall.

IPF 800 DSCSSPECSSize 214 x 124 x 112mm [WxHxD]Lens 1x driving, 1x spotBulb 130W H3 halogenMaterial steel body, steel reflector, hardened glass lensRRP $352/pair


Very mediocre performance from the 800s, which failed to producemuch of a lateral spread or pierce the darkness up the road –surprising, given their large size and 130W bulbs.

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KC HILITES 69 SERIES LONG RANGE

SPECSSize 219 x 149 x 121mm [WxHxD]Lens 1x driving, 1x spotBulb 100W H3 halogenMaterial steel housing, glass lensRRP $175/each


A good performer all round. Decent lateral spread combined withabove-average distance performance makes the 69 Series aneffective light for most applications.

IPF 740 DDCS SUPER RALLY HIR

SPECSSize 200mm diameter x 120mm deep (round)Lens 1x driving, 1x spotBulb 65W 12V halogen infra-redMaterial Steel body, steel reflector, hardened glass lensRRP $551/pair


A great light, with the second highest average score. Excellentillumination at close range with very good performance over longerdistances, all from half the wattage of the other IPF lights. We reckonif you’re going to buy an IPF light, they’re worth the extra dollars.

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LIGHTFORCE 170 STRIKERSPECSSize 168mm diameter x 151mm deepLens 2x spot (as tested)Bulb 100W Xenophot halogenMaterial polycarbonate body, Lexcen lensRRP $359/pair


The 170s were tested with two clear (spot) covers fitted, but with theleft-hand-side light focussed to give a spread beam. TypicalLIGHTFORCE performance with unmatched long-distance illuminationin the medium-sized class, but only average lateral performance. Glarefrom the covers is a negative, depending on where they’re mounted.

KC HILITES DAYLIGHTERSPECSSize 156mm diameter x 127mm deepLens 1x driving, 1x spotBulb 130W halogenMaterial steel housing, glass lensRRP $175/each


So retro it almost hurts! Sadly, the Daylighter’s performance seemsto hark back a few decades to match its styling. With averagelateral illumination and a distinct lack of punch over a longdistance, it finished near the bottom of the field.


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LIGHTFORCE 240 XGTSPECSSize 247mm diameter x 170mm deepLens 2x spot (as tested)Bulb 100W Xenophot halogenMaterial polycarbonate body, Lexcen lensRRP $247.50/each


For straight-line illumination, nothing came close to LIGHTFORCE’s new 240Xenon Grande Turismo – the XGT produced a concentrated beam that nearlyscorched the grass. It has the added flexibility of optional spread, combinationand coloured covers, so you can tailor the light spread to your needs.

NANE 7100 SERIESSPECSSize 225mm diameter x 140mm deepLens 1x driving, 1x spotBulb 100W halogenMaterial steel body, glass lensRRP $199/pair


A better-than-average light. Good spread, particularly in the middledistance, and good long-distance illumination. Well priced at only$199 a pair.

NANE 7700 SERIESSPECSSize 215 x 145 x 160mm [WxHxD]Lens 1x driving, 1x spotBulb 100W halogenMaterial steel body, glass lensRRP $230/pair


Disappointing when compared with the 7100 Series. The beam wasnarrower and produced significantly less lux on all but the lateralmeasurement. At least pricing is still pretty sharp.

NARVA ULTIMA 175SPECSSize 180mm diameter x 90mm deepLens 1x driving, 1x spotBulb 100W halogen H3 Material ABS impact-resistant plastic, glass lensRRP $178/pair


Good performer, especially for a smaller light. Fiddly mountingsystem and glare from clear covers detracted from result. Very goodvalue for money.


NARVA TARGA 240SPECSSize 245 x 130 x 90mm [WxHxD]Lens 1x driving, 1x spotBulb 100W halogen H3Material ABS impact-resistant plastic, glass lensRRP $148.50/each


Good spread and lots of illumination directly in front of the ‘vehicle’,but fell away over longer distances. Quite a lot of glare from clearplastic covers.

NITESTALKER 170 SERIESSPECSSize 170mm diameter x 108mm deepLens 1x driving, 1x spotBulb 100W halogenMaterial metal housing, glass lensRRP $139/pair


A real giant-killer. Despite its smaller size and bargain-basementprice, the 170 Series out-scored all but three of the lights tested.Quite a concentrated beam with especially good long-rangeperformance. Rated best value for money.

NITESTALKER 215 SERIESSPECSSize 215 x 145 x 170mm [WxHxD]Lens 1x driving, 1x spotBulb 100W halogenMaterial metal housing, glass lensRRP $210/pair


A very good light, even if it is overshadowed (pun intended) by the170 Series. Better illumination than the 170 at very close range,although the beam narrowed over the longer distance.

NIGHT VISIONSPECSSize 180mm diameterLens 2x spotBulb 100W halogenMaterial steel body, rubber mountingRRP $149/pair


Not as bad as we’d expected from a ‘no-name’ brand we picked upin Super Cheap Auto. It scored okay in the lower half of the field,but keep in mind that this was with two spot lenses, which resultedin quite a narrow beam. We’d be sceptical about its durability,mainly because of its flimsy rubber mounting system.


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BEST HALOGEN LIGHT – LIGHTFORCE 240 XGT

THE RESULTS

The Xenon Grande Turismo is a cannon among pistols when it comes to halogen driving lights. It simply madeeverything else in the test look dim by comparison.

As with all the LIGHTFORCE range, it has the added flexibility of swappable covers, offering spread andcombination beams, as well as coloured filters.

The other major feature of the XGT is its Gore-Tex membrane (see inset), which allows air in and out to equalise pressureinside the light, while preventing water and dust ingress, making the light waterproof to a claimed 1m depth. Thepolycarbonate housing and Lexcen lens mean it’s both light and very strong, too.

A terrific example of Australian design and manufacturing ingenuity.


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RUNNER-UP – HELLA RALLYE FF 4000

In many ways, the Rallye 4000 isthe conceptual opposite to theLIGHTFORCE XGT.Constructed from zinc alloy, itfeels heavy and very strong.Glass lenses give a fixedspot/spread combination. Inoperation, it offers a wonderfullybroad, deep, high-quality beamwith no dim spots or ‘holes’,rather than going for maximumrange honours as the XGT does.

It really reflects its forest-racing heritage, where beingable to see everything clearly ina wide field of vision is crucialto not becoming one with thescenery. Its more compactdimensions means it can bemounted in places where theXGT simply won’t fit.

In this case, it is the qualityof light produced, rather thanoutright quantity, that earns itthe runner-up spot.

BEST BUDGET CHOICE –NITESTALKER 170 SERIES

This one was a real surprise. The Nitestalker was thesecond cheapest light tested, and fell in the medium-sized class with lights like the Narva Ultima 175, HellaRallye FF 1000 and LIGHTFORCE 170, but managedto out-score everything besides the IPF 740 and thetwo LIGHTFORCE lights. The beam was on thenarrow side, but was still broad enough to be usable.

For a $139, you can’t go wrong!

NOTABLE MENTION – CIBIE OSCAR SC

The Oscar SC gets a mention for offering such a broad, evenbeam that lit up objects that were as good as invisible toevery other light tested. It averaged 46.2 lux on the lateralmeasurement, while the next closest light only managed13.4 and the majority scored between 2.8 and 4 lux.

What was more impressive was how they out-scoredthe larger, spot/spread Turini Apollo even at 250maway. If you find yourself driving tight winding roads,or where animals venture into your path, the Oscar SCwill give you more immediate warning than a narrower-beamed light, while still giving you a reasonablepreview of what lies 30 seconds in your future.


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A big thankyou goes out to staffers Tim Scott, Mark Muras, Pat Callinanand uber-snapper Michael Ellem for standing out in the freezing cold allnight to conduct the test. Their efforts ensured testing progressed assmoothly and accurately as possible.Also to Slav Stefanuik and Scott from 4WD Warehouse at Kings Park, forsupplying the stand the lights were all mounted to, as well as fashioninga connector to hook our Honda generator up to the battery used.

THANK YOU

Next month, we let the big bangers out to play, as five sets of super-bright xenon HID lights scorch the earth. Plus, we dunk two ‘waterproof’lights and show you how to stop lowlifes from pinching your lights inour theft-prevention story.

THANK YOU

1. LIGHTFORCE 240 XGT ..............................................................149.42. IPF 740 DDCS HIR ......................................................................75.03. LIGHTFORCE 170 Striker ............................................................69.34. Nitestalker 170 Series................................................................66.85. Hella Rallye FF 4000 ..................................................................66.66. Nitestalker 215 Series................................................................57.37. Hella Rallye FF 1000 ..................................................................56.9=8. KC HiLiTES 69 Series...............................................................47.5=8. Narva Ultima 175.....................................................................47.510. Nane 7100 Series ....................................................................40.511. IPF 900 DSCS...........................................................................36.012. Narva Targa..............................................................................34.613. Nightvision 180 ........................................................................34.314. Cibie Oscar SC .........................................................................33.015. Nane 7700 Series ....................................................................26.116. IPF 800 DSCS...........................................................................25.117. KC HiLiTES Daylighter ..............................................................23.018. Cibie Turini Apollo.....................................................................19.919. Autotecnica Monza ...................................................................14.2

AVERAGE LIGHT READINGS (LUX)

No actual kangaroos were interferedwith in the course of this test

CONCLUSION

Every one of the lights tested will significantly improve yournight-time visibility and, accordingly, safety. No light wasperfect, and it was obvious that performance in a particularaspect (for example, long distance) is usually at the expenseof another aspect.

Whereas some of our previous tests (such as our recentsnatch strap test) have been rated on a pass/fail basis, herewe have tried to make an objective evaluation of how eachlight performs in comparison to the others tested.

What light you choose to buy is a subjective judgment basedon factors such as your budget, the type of beam you need,size and weight considerations, and personal preference. Lookat the results in that context – don’t think of it as ‘what is thebest light?’, but rather ‘what is the best light for me?’.


WORDS BY BEN WICKHAM PHOTOGRAPHY BY OFFROAD IMAGES, STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHY BY KARL DIETRICH

BURNINGUP THEROAD

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Last month, we tested halogen drivinglights. This month, high-intensity xenonlights promise to turn night into day


HELLA PREDATOR XGDSPECSSize 222mm diameter x 148mm deepLens 1x driving, 1x spotBulb 35W xenon HIDMaterial Zinc housing, glass lensBallast ExternalRRP $1500 each


Wow! One of the first HID auxiliary lights on the market, thePredator is still one of the best. Based on the Rallye 4000, itproduced an incredibly strong, broad, usable beam with readingsonly slightly lower than the LIGHTFORCE. They’ve come down inprice of late, but still cost an eye-watering $1500 each!

KC HILITES DAYLIGHTER HIDSPECSSize 156mm diameter x 127mm deepLens 1x driving, 1x spotBulb 35W xenon HIDMaterial Steel housing, glass lensBallast ExternalRRP $915 each


A fairly narrow beam and lower readings place the KC below theRallye 1000. The compact size may suit smaller 4WDs better. Abonus is that, unlike most HIDs, the ballast can be mounted as farfrom the light as required, which makes life harder for thieves.

HELLA RALLYE FF 1000 HIDSPECSSize 176mm diameter x 124mm deepLens 1x driving, 1x spotBulb 35W xenon HIDMaterial Zinc alloy housing, glass lensBallast ExternalRRP $965 each


With the best lateral reading in the game and a good overall spreadof light, the Rallye 1000 has plenty to offer. It’s excellent in the short-to-medium range, but lacks the range of the bigger lights. At a grandcheaper per pair, it compares favourably against the Predator.

LIGHTFORCE 240 HIDSPECSSize 247mm diameter x 170mm deepLens 2x spotBulb 35W xenon HIDMaterial Polycarbonate body, Lexcen lensBallast InternalRRP $1150 each


Built for maximum range, the 240 HID, scored the highest readingswith its razor-sharp beam. Alloy spacers (to vary the focal point) andoptional filters add flexibility. Internal ballast is convenient, but glarefrom the snap-on covers may be a problem, depending on wherethe light is mounted.


After bringing you our biggest driving light comparisonever last issue, featuring 20 pairs of halogen lights, wethought we’d let the ‘big bangers’ out to play: high-

intensity discharge xenon lights, or HIDs. HIDs are at the cutting edge of automotive lighting

technology, offering levels of brightness, efficiency anddurability that ordinary lights can’t hope to match. Whatmakes HIDs so different to regular halogen lights is the bulb.Halogen lights are based on Edison’s original electric lightbulb. A current is passed through a metal filament, makingthe filament heat up and radiate energy, which we see as light.

An HID is a fluorescent bulb and has no filament, making itless prone to breakage. A high voltage (about 25,000V) is passedbetween two electrodes, causing the gas inside the bulb to beginionising and radiating light. Once the gas is ionising, it onlyneeds a low current (about 35W) to continue producing light.

So what’s the catch? In a word – price.The bulbs, in particular, are very expensive (though the

price is gradually dropping as they become more common),and they require a ‘ballast’ module to crank out the hugevoltage required to kick these puppies into gear.

Besides the price, the HIDs’ main disadvantage is thatthey normally take a few seconds to ‘warm up’ to fullbrightness, so they’re not ideal for switching on and offregularly. (A further disadvantage is the magnetic attractionthey have on thieves and vandals.)

METHOD IN MADNESS

Our testing method was identical to that used for the halogenlights last month. For those of you who missed the fun, we used a300m-long gravel strip with inflatable kangaroos set up as distancemarkers at 10m, 25m, 50m and 100m. The reflector was at 200m,while the big tree in the middle of the beam was about 300m away.

The ‘lateral’ measurement was taken several metres to each sideof the beam and averaged out, while the other readings wererecorded in the middle of the beam. All readings are in lux, recordedwith a NATA-calibrated light meter positioned 1m off the ground.

RESULTS

BEST HID XENON LIGHTLIGHTFORCE 240 HID

LIGHTFORCE claims the 240 HID is the most powerfuldriving light on the market, and its light readings werenothing short of amazing. The 240 HID produced around 10times the figures most of the other halogen lights couldmanage. The beam was obviously configured towards ultra-long-range illumination, but it can be tuned by using two alloyspacers that fit between the bulb and the housing, and byLIGHTFORCE’s range of spread, combo and coloured filters.

The 240 HID takes home the trophy for its adjustability,price advantage over the Hella Predators, convenientinternal ballast and stunning outright performance.

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NARVA ULTIMA 175 HIDSPECSSize 175mm diameterLens 2x spreadBulb 35W 12V xenon HIDMaterial ABS impact-resistant plasticBallast ExternalRRP $980 each


Dual spread combo is outgunned in this company. It has a widerspread than the KC, but with halogen-like distance illumination. Aswith Ultima 175 halogen, glare from the clear covers is a problem,while the mounting system is just as fiddly.

1. LIGHTFORCE 240 HID ................................................................535.22. Hella Predator XGD ....................................................................479.83. Hella Rallye FF 1000 HID ...........................................................180.44. KC HiLiTES Daylighter HID .........................................................131.45. Narva Ultima 175 HID ..................................................................45.9

AVERAGE LIGHT READINGS (LUX)

Traditional lights create a great deal of heat build-up. So when they’redunked in cold water, they try to instantly equalise pressure, and thepartial vacuum inevitably sucks water into the light.HID lights, however, create very little heat, so they tend not to need‘breather’ kits or special Gore-Tex filters. Lights like LIGHTFORCE HIDare fully sealed too, so the chances of contamination are next to none.

WHY NO BREATHERS?

All HID lights have a ‘ballast’ module, which generates the voltage required to getthe xenon gas inside the bulb to start fluorescing

Documents

DRIVING LIGHT WARS - High Performance · PDF fileLIGHT DRIVING WARS “The truth is NOW right here...” 19 of the world’s best including Hella, IPF, Cibie, KC & Narva go head to