With so many Ford driving lights available today, settling for the right product isn’t easy. We’re bombarded with tons of choices, and navigating through them can be difficult, especially for first-time buyers.

The right driving lights, however, can play a huge role in your safety, especially when driving in less-than-ideal conditions, such as the Australian off-roads. Considering the following features and qualities can help ensure you make the right choice.

LEDs

When on the hunt for quality Ford driving lights on the market, you’ll find quite a few types of bulbs. But LEDs are arguably the best choice.

LED driving lights for Ford combine high performance and compact size to make them better than the other options. They use less energy and generate less heat. Moreover, they’re more resistant to the impact of shock and vibration.

LEDs are small semiconductors that emit light when current passes through them. They turn on and off in an instant, something that Xenon lights can’t do. And last but not least, they last a very long time, up to 150 times more than conventional lights. Of course, their lifespan depends on the diode’s quality, but you can expect to get at least 50.000 working hours out of them.

On the downside, once a diode dies, you can’t simply replace it. Instead, you’ll have to substitute the entire assembly, which can be quite costly.

Lumens, Raw vs Effective

The lumens are the measuring unit of LEDs. They represent the volume emitted from the lights.

Lumens are classified as either effective or raw. The raw lumen is the number that you get from multiplying the output of each diode by the number of diodes in the LED array. For instance, if there are 10 diodes with 500 lumens each, the raw amount will be 5000 lumens. However, this number doesn’t take into account the thermal losses, absorption, lens’ reflection and the quality of the assembled unit. The losses are generally about 10% to 25%.

The effective lumens are the real lighting output, and that is calculated through high-tech photometry. This is a more realistic representation of the lights’ brightness. Most manufacturers specify the raw lumens when advertising their driving lights. Some of them do it as malicious marketing, others simply don’t have the means to measure the effective lumens.

Lux

Lux represents the lumens measured per square metre at a specific point from the lighting source. One lux equals one lumen per square metre, which is generally enough to read a book from close range without feeling uncomfortable. The light’s intensity diminishes when you move away from the light source.

Colour Temperature

The colour temperature is a qualitative measure indicated on the Colour Rendering Index and is used to check the lighting source’s ability in revealing the colour of objects compared to the natural source of lighting. In Australia, the colour temperature is expressed in degrees.

Warmer colours show a lower degree value, whereas cooler colours show a higher degree. Warmer colours range between 1500-4000K, whereas cooler colours range between 6000-10000K. The temperature range between 4000-6000K is considered close to natural light.

The recommended colour temperature for LED driving lights is as close to daylight as feasible. White light is the most comfortable for our eyes and provides correct colour representation, realistic illumination, and contrast.

IP Rating

Since LEDs are electronic devices, it’s important they’re kept safe from contaminants that can harm them. There’s a good chance that salt spray or water get into them, which is why quality driving lights are sealed and come with an IP rating of at least IP 67. This means they’re sealed on both the interior and exterior to ensure they’re safe and clean.

Power Consumption

LED driving lights are more efficient than other types by as much as 90%! This is due to their usage, optical quality and electronic and thermal management. Lights with a similar wattage output don’t have a similar light output.

LEDs are becoming brighter while their power consumption becomes lesser. This is calculated using a lumen per watt measure. Unlike traditional bulbs, LEDs don’t require to be cooled down as frequently, as they generate far less heat.

Materials

Some LEDs are manufactured using low-grade materials, whereas others are made using UV-resistant, materials that prevent rust and damage from impacts. Depending on where you intend to use the lights, for the most part, your ideal choice of material will vary. You don’t have to buy the most expensive driving lights, but as the saying goes – you get what you pay for. Paying extra can go a long way in ensuring you have reliable lights no matter where you go.

Cost

Last but not least, you have to consider the cost. Set a budget for yourself and look for lights that fit your budget. The price of LED driving lights is impacted by all of the aforementioned factors. Quality LED driving lights will cost more, but you’ll typically get at least a few years’ worth of service out of them. LEDs driving require little to no maintenance, outside of the occasional wash, so there aren’t any ongoing costs associated with them.