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GET ENLIGHTENED ARB adds a new range to the Intensity family

Driving lights are amongst the most popular accessories to be added to 4WDs and over the years, ARB says its customers have expressed an interest in seeing more variety in ARB-branded driving lights. ARB has now expanded its lighting range with the new Intensity Solis product. Not just a remarkable performer, ARB says the Intensity Solis represents a value proposition that is worth considering for anyone looking to add some additional driving lights to their vehicle. It has been seven years since ARB launched Intensity, its first branded driving light. The company says Intensity was a revolutionary offering of its era, as the first round 4WD LED driving light amongst all the square LEDs of the time. The Intensity Solis range is available in dedicated spot and dedicated flood variations that connect to a centralised dimming controller in the wiring loom.

Same, Same, but Different!

At a quick glance, there are some strong similarities between ARB’s traditional and proven round ARB Intensity V2s and the ARB Intensity Solis. However, look a little closer and you will spot some considerable differences. While ARB Intensity driving lights are known for their red rings, change is as good as a holiday and keeping with ARB’s objective of offering more variety, its Intensity Solis range now features interchangeable red and black cast aluminium side bezels. Not only does this mean that you can choose to run a red highlight or keep your lights in all black, but the cast aluminium bezels also offer great UV resistance.

Squatting Strength

One of the first and most notable new design features is the squat shape. The Solis takes on a largely traditional round frame but with a flat base that creates the squat appearance. 4WD driving lights were originally designed for mounting on tabs but bull bar design has changed, and lights are now more regularly mounted on flat top pans. The squat shape of the new light better suits pan mounting and helps with lowering the centre of gravity of the lights, which makes them more stable with less oscillation and vibrating. This means less stress on light and bull bar mounting components (including tabs where applicable). The Solis light is mounted in an all-black, vertical-pivoting adjustable, cast aluminium cradle.

Profiled for Placement

Looking at the side profile, ARB engineers have managed to shape the heat sink casting with a narrower section at the top of the light and a wider section towards the base. The result is a large light that fits a wide variety of applications with more room to fit in front of big tubes, like what ARB uses on its Summit Sahara bull bars.

One-Piece Reflector Set

Another opportunity of variation was to diversify from the traditional uniform grid layout of LEDs and reflectors. Newer technologies and manufacturing efficiencies allowed the engineers to design a one-piece reflector with 36 unique and independently tuned reflector cups. While tuning 36 unique reflector cups takes a considerable amount of time, ARB says the control it gained on the light output pattern was invaluable. The one-piece and non-uniform design also opened up the opportunity to make the most efficient use of the unique squat/round shape and maximise the number of LEDs.

Did you say more LEDs?

That’s right, says ARB, which explains that even though the light has less height due to its squat design and a marginally narrower lens, the custom-shaped one-piece reflector means it was able to get 36 powerful LEDs in each light.

And while it is true that more LEDs means more light potential, an LED is only as good as its surrounding reflector, coupled with the light’s heat sink casting to ensure optimal performance. Each Intensity Solis light (spot and flood) houses a whopping 36 LEDs in total for a total 165watt output. There is a combination of 4-watt and 10-watt LEDs that make up the full set with varying narrow and wider beam angles to optimise performance.

How far will they go?

It has become the universal measurement of driving lights: how many metres down the road you can record one lux. While ARB wants to stress there is much more to an effective and quality driving light than its lux measurement, it says owners of a pair of Intensity Solis spot lights will be able to boast one lux at 1,462 metres.

Engineered for the real world

The ultimate goal when designing a driving light is to get two light patterns, one spot and one flood, that offer light where you actually need it. To be most effective, a driving light needs to light the areas of the road and surrounds that match the terrain and driving style. Your driving lights need to be effective either as a matching pair (of spots or floods) or as a combination (one spot and one flood). Creating a light pattern that shines the furthest does not always mean the light is useable, let alone optimal. Driving lights need to have good central light and should not have harsh edges but rather a good feathering of light that bleeds off. Additionally, the light should not be too white as it can cause additional eye strain for the driver. Nor should the light throw too much intensity onto the foreground directly in front of the vehicle. ARB says its Intensity lights (V2 and Solis) are tuned to provide the optimum offering to suit the above criteria.

Dial it down

If you have ever owned a set of Intensity driving lights, ARB says you will already know they are bloody bright. A nice addition to the Intensity Solis is the introduction of a dimming function. The in-cab dimmer has five preset output settings that allow you to alter the intensity of your lights. Dimming the output can also assist roads and tracks where you would like a less intense light to complement the high beams with a broader and longer beam without the intense brightness these Intensity Solis lights produce at full power.

Not all change

While the Intensity Solis is a ground-up new lighting design, ARB says they still feature its renowned durability with virtually impenetrable polycarbonate lenses and lens covers. The Solis range is also supported by a three-year warranty and a nationwide network of over 180 ARB stores and stockists.

Price It Up

ARB says its Intensity Solis driving lights are not only a great performer but also great value. Each light is just $349 ($698 a pair), and the wiring loom is $89. Which should see change from $1,000 with fitting included.

For more information, visit www.arb.com.au

Words and images courtesy of ARB