technofile by Lindsay Porter in association with IRB Developments and MobileCentre
Led into the light
Lindsay shows you how you can be bright and highly visible to other road users in your Defender using ever-lasting (almost), low power, LED sidelights and daytime running lights LED lighting technology has transformed the scene and it won’t be long, I reckon, before all new vehicle lights are LED-only. They are capable of lasting the life of the vehicle without needing bulbs changing (though I wouldn’t bank on the cheap’n’nasty Chinese versions – I’ve had bad experiences there). High quality units are sealed against water ingress so you won’t suffer from corrosion inside the unit whether from going off-road or ordinary driving. Their light output is clearer, brighter and more ‘directional’ and focused than that from old-fashioned incandescent bulbs. So, in this article, we look at two possibilities: • Changing a Defender’s sidelights, indicators and stoplights to MobileCentre’s LED units. • Converting the Defender’s sidelights to the fabulous MobileCentre sidelight
complete with Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) built-in. So, why are some cars looking bright and highly visible during daylight hours while others are not? Well, all new cars sold within the EU from 2011-on must have Daytime Running Lamps (DRLs) fitted to them. (Trucks too, from 2012-on). They can also be retrofitted to existing vehicles. In the UK, drivers will be advised but not compelled to use them when fitted, though in some countries, they will be compulsory. Of course, DLRs should be mounted so that they don’t shine directly into the eyes of oncoming drivers, so be sure to angle them accordingly if you’re fitting them to your vehicle. Picture 1 Ian Baughan, the man behind IRB Developments and one of the finest Land Rover mechanic-engineers I’ve had
124 August 2010 LAND ROVER monthly
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