LED work light

[InThePines]

For a Kubota L Series (L3700SU)

I have seen many threads, some would be considered 'dated' due to price changes in this technology. So I wanted to see if anyone has used these particular lights, which I dont see much technical info on including the manufacturer. I see alot of info on GROTE, but these others that are cheaper, are they knockoffs?

Language makes it hard to tell if this is more like a flood or more like a spot. There are 2 styles. Since it gives a range of voltage, I wonder if that affects the lumens? The lumens seem very high for the price, if it is a flood.
Your opinion?

24-watt round LED light
24-Watt LED flood light

Thank you

 

[My Hoe]

Subscribed.

 

[InThePines]

Called TowMart. Said 24-Watt LED flood light was a best seller but also recommended the Dually LED spot/ flood which has a 3 yr warrantee, but I am going with the original and will let you know how it works out.

He said towmart has had no complaints, but I still can't get a lumens value at 12 volts from him, I don't know much about lights but seems if it has a voltage range, the higher voltage may allow brighter light. However I do understand a little about Amp / Volt relationship, so maybe it does not change output.

 

[kuboman]

I know they are a kit more money but worth every penny if light output is your goal I would suggest the HID light. I have a similar led and although it is not bad it is far from great for light output compared to the hid.

JMHO

 

[Arcnsparks]

Those LED lights will have a very noticeable blue color to them at 6500K. Blue hues aren't picked up as well by the eye and often are even noted as "fatiguing". An LED light closer to the white spectrum or 4-5000K of the same wattage will appear substantially brighter. As kuboman stated above, HID lights have far more useful output since they fall in the warmer bands of the spectrum. most high end OEM's use HID's around 4100K which is very near natural sunlight and so appear to produce an even brighter light in a more beneficial region for our eyes.
In contrast, halogens produce around 3500K and this is why they can look very yellow or "dingy" unless very high wattages are used.

HTH!

 

[My Hoe]

Those LED lights will have a very noticeable blue color to them at 6500K. Blue hues aren't picked up as well by the eye and often are even noted as "fatiguing". An LED light closer to the white spectrum or 4-5000K of the same wattage will appear substantially brighter. As kuboman stated above, HID lights have far more useful output since they fall in the warmer bands of the spectrum. most high end OEM's use HID's around 4100K which is very near natural sunlight and so appear to produce an even brighter light in a more beneficial region for our eyes.
In contrast, halogens produce around 3500K and this is why they can look very yellow or "dingy" unless very high wattages are used.

HTH!

Acrnsparks,

Thank you for your very concise, informative post! I'd **** glad I read it!

Can you comment on the (I suspect) greater current draw of HID's as compared to LED's or halogens?

And do these HID's have a separate BALLAST, like the ones I've seen on cars? Do you have a link to a typical HID setup you'd recommend for a CUT? I want to split wood at night, using the hoe's thumb to move the big ones, etc....

Also, I may be ordering a tractor, and wanted to get your thoughts on getting the upgraded (45amp?) alternator, as opposed to the std. one, which I can't remember, but might have been as low as 18 amp?

I wanted to get an INVERTER, and have portable 110v. power, as well as use lights for extended periods WITHOUT IDLING the tractor. That's why I was initially thinking I needed LED.s

Perhaps I need both? LOL

Thanks,

My Hoe

 

[InThePines]

Arcnsparks, thank you for the post. Very informative, I had no idea why those K ratings were frequently listed. Now I do... but I have already ordered the light and it arrives today. I know what you mean by those 'blue' looking lights, I dont like meeting cars at night that have those. I plan to do a simple install over the weekend using the worklight wires found under the fender. If it works out, I will try to post a night picture. I had planned to add a second light depending on the results. Now I will have better knowledge about that purchase.

 

[k0ua]

One other thing, I am just guessing here, but the lamp may have an electronic regulator built in to it. to accept so wide a range of voltages. So what I am saying is that no matter if it is hooked to 24 volts or 12 volts systems the light output will be the same. This would be easy to do, a simple LM723 and a pass transistor built in would work.

James K0UA

 

[red4now]

Tow truck company down the road (build tow trucks and sell parts) are using mainly LED lights for all the work lights and all the flasher type. One of the reasons is the amount of draw on the system. Very very little compared to other types ie: halogen etc. This way they can put twice as many lights on a truck and they still have lots of head room since they find owners always want to add even more later on. Sound familiar? These guys must have tractors at home.

 

[amigauser]

One issue with LED vs Halogen lights if you do snow removal with the tractor is the LED lights can ice up as they give off basically no heat. The halogens get hot and melt of the snow/ice. I am running halogen lights for that reason on my Kubota.

HID lights are nice but crazy $$$.

Just Google "HID Work Light" and check the prices.

 

[Arcnsparks]

Acrnsparks,

Thank you for your very concise, informative post! I'd **** glad I read it!

Can you comment on the (I suspect) greater current draw of HID's as compared to LED's or halogens?

And do these HID's have a separate BALLAST, like the ones I've seen on cars? Do you have a link to a typical HID setup you'd recommend for a CUT? I want to split wood at night, using the hoe's thumb to move the big ones, etc....

Also, I may be ordering a tractor, and wanted to get your thoughts on getting the upgraded (45amp?) alternator, as opposed to the std. one, which I can't remember, but might have been as low as 18 amp?

I wanted to get an INVERTER, and have portable 110v. power, as well as use lights for extended periods WITHOUT IDLING the tractor. That's why I was initially thinking I needed LED.s

Perhaps I need both? LOL

Thanks,

My Hoe

The HID's draw substantially more than LED's but are very comparable to Halogens. HID's do require a higher startup current due to the ballast but then drop down for continuous duty. A 55W halogen will draw around 4.5A and produces around 800 Lumens. A comparable HID will draw around 9 Amps to start and then drop to around 5.5A continous but produces a whopping 3000 Lumens.

Here's a couple Ebay kits that I thought looked promising but haven't used personally.
55W 4300K 12V 24V HID XENON WORK LIGHT KIT OFFROAD 4WD | eBay

This kit mimics the standard tractor lights and the color temperature can be chosen.PAIR NEW 6" XENON OFFROAD HID SPOT LIGHTS PICK UR COLOR | eBay

I would definitely go with the higher output charging system, especially with an inverter installed as well. If the battery box permits an upgrade to a deep cycle marine style or sealed Optima battery that will help tremendously.

 

[Arcnsparks]

One issue with LED vs Halogen lights if you do snow removal with the tractor is the LED lights can ice up as they give off basically no heat. The halogens get hot and melt of the snow/ice. I am running halogen lights for that reason on my Kubota.

HID lights are nice but crazy $$$.

Just Google "HID Work Light" and check the prices.

I think most of the time when guys think of LED lights they are thinking of very low wattage low output park lights, turn signals etc. So yes the heat generated by them is very small. However, If you have an LED light matched to the Luminosity output of an HID or designed specifically for headlight or off-road use, not only does the current draw of the light go up considerably but also the heat output. Here's an example of a high wattage LED light, note that the entire back is designed with heat sink fins. I have similar lights on a pontoon boat and they get VERY hot. 36W 7" LED Offroad Driving work Light 12V 24V flood 4X4 | eBay

Also the $$$ is very deep into the crazy realm on these guys as well

 

[InThePines]

The 24W flood arrived today. I hung it from the ROPS temporarily with a clamp and took the tractor for a spin. I had been frustrated with the FEL blocking my headlights. This new light was bright and provided a lot of fill in. I turned my headlights on, and then decided to just turn them off. It gave a nice wide view of my trail and the slight blue tint did not seem too harsh. Claims to be 24W = 2A current which seemed like alot of light for 2Amp. I dont have anything else to compare it to, but I think I am going to be satisfied. I plan to purchase another to face the rear at some point. For me, this is just a work light, it does not turn night time into day, but it widens my surroundings at night and removes the blindspot from in front of my FEL and can provide plenty of light to the 3 pt area. It also attracts lots of insects. I have an open station so there were plenty of insects on my neck and back as I drove. It also brought to my attention the exhaust, I had not been able to see exhaust and dust surrounding me like I was able to tonight.

 

[Arcnsparks]

The 24W flood arrived today. I hung it from the ROPS temporarily with a clamp and took the tractor for a spin. I had been frustrated with the FEL blocking my headlights. This new light was bright and provided a lot of fill in. I turned my headlights on, and then decided to just turn them off. It gave a nice wide view of my trail and the slight blue tint did not seem too harsh. Claims to be 24W = 2A current which seemed like alot of light for 2Amp. I dont have anything else to compare it to, but I think I am going to be satisfied. I plan to purchase another to face the rear at some point. For me, this is just a work light, it does not turn night time into day, but it widens my surroundings at night and removes the blindspot from in front of my FEL and can provide plenty of light to the 3 pt area. It also attracts lots of insects. I have an open station so there were plenty of insects on my neck and back as I drove. It also brought to my attention the exhaust, I had not been able to see exhaust and dust surrounding me like I was able to tonight.

Glad to hear its going to work for you! Its funny you mentioned the insects because I had the exact same result from a couple of similar lights I had mounted on the canopy of the pontoon and ended up switching them to HID's. they still attract bugs but it doesn't seem near as bad. My guess what that the blueish tint has the same effect as the blue light in bug zappers and draws more in due to the higher UV content or something?

 

[skspurling]

I am thinking that an H3 LED replacement bulb might be a good option for a work light. Only argument I could see aginst them was that they would be "floody", but isn't that what you want? It's a lot cheaper to get a pair of $10 replacement bulbs vs an $100 per lamp set of LED floods.

 

[beppington]

I'm watching this thread because I'd also like to add some extra front lights for when the FEL blocks the headlights, but I'm not sure what to get.

I can't tell what's junk & what's not. I'd also like to not spend a fortune. I can stand a slight blue-ness for these occasional-use lights.

Seems like eBay & 20 - 30 bucks should be able to get a decent pair of LED's, but which ones??

Any suggestions?

 

[InThePines]

Installed 1 24W Flood. Pictures just before daylight.
Attempt to load pics. No flash.
2 with new light only, 2 with headlight only.
All the light is from the tractor, 2.5 sec exposure, the light seen in horizon was providing no light on the ground.

 

[cschulz]

Here is a company I have used in the past. Good service, good products and prices.
DDM Tuning : RV / ATV / Marine
Watch the site as the prices change up and down weekly.

Chris

 

[SpringHollow]

My post shows a good comparison of halogen verses LED. I never use the halogen now which put out much less light but draw more power.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/power-trac/163266-led-lights.html

Ken

 

[taborekle]

I believe that the charging output of the 3700LSU is only 40 amps, so you might want to take that into consideration when choosing your lights.

Hope that helps,

Larry