Another LED or Halogen light question

[psdx]

B2920 adding 1 good flood light on rear for blowing snow in the dark with 3 pt blower. I have had a 55w halogen light on current New Holland TZ25DA worked OK and could take off and put on B2920 but heard about the LED floods. Are they brighter and if so what wattage should I go with one larger LED or two smaller LED on each side of ROPS? B2920 will have standard alternator.

The biggest factor is whether or not your alternator (or dynamo) has sufficient spare capacity to add the load from additional halogen lights. If the answer is no, but you still want halogen then your first step is to install an alternator with sufficient capacity. And if the answer is no, and you you still want more light without the expense of a new alternator, then LEDs are your best option.

The 55w halogen will draw about 4.5 amps each (watts/volts=amps). If I added three of those to my tractor my battery would soon be totally discharged when using the lights. As far as number of LEDs if you go that route, the best way to determine that is to look at the lumen output of the halogen light that suits you and use that as a guide to select your LED lights. In the interest of full disclosure, you should know that there doesn't appear to be a standard for the LED light manufacturers to measure /rate lumens. It's more accurate if all readings are taken the same exact distance from the emitter, but without standards you might assume that some manufacturers measure the light output right up against the emitter. The point here is that most likely there will be a slight difference in the lumen output of a halogen and LED that are both rated for the same output. It will be slight and may not be noticeable. On the other side of the ledger I find that the whiter light (as compared to the warmer, more yellow light from a halogen) "seems" brighter to my eyes. While it may not be best for matching paint colors I think it works very well for a utility light application.

As a point of reference, I have LED lots rated at 1100 lumens that draw 1.1 amps each. A 55 watt halogen is about 1600 lumens.

 

[TimP]

I have a B2150 with the oem Dynamo, which is onyl about 12.5 AMPS output.

I want to put the Daully D2's on it.

Each D2 draws about 2 AMPs, so a set will draw 4 AMPS.

Can I get away wiht the oem Dynamo and with the Dually D2's AND the headlights running ?

I'd REALLY like to put 4 of them on the tractor, but I think it may be too much for the Dynamo.

What do you think ?

It's going to run me $890 if I have to upgrade the Dyanmo to a 40 AMP.

Tim

 

[psdx]

..depends on how many watts your headlights are. And also, do you have tail lights that come on with the headlights? If so - how many watts for them? As an option, if the wattage for the tail lights is significant, you could buy LED replacements for those bulbs. The bottom line is that you need to add up the total watts, divide by 12 to get the current (amps) and compare it to the 12.5 you quoted.

 

[rjwerth]

Oh boy. Lots going on here.

First concerning lumens: one fixture referred to "raw" lumens. This means the manufacturer of the fixture took the spec from the LEDs they are using and multiplied that by the number of LEDs in their fixture to give you that spec. They never actually calculated the actual lumen output of their fixture. Bad form and potentially quite inacurrate.

Concerning LED "burnouts.": I'll bet the LEDs work just fine. It is the power supply and/or the circuit board that typically goes south on cheap fixtures. If their heat management really stinks than certainly the LEDs will fail as well. The moral of the story is, as always, you get what you pay for. I don't know how often you guys have to change you halogen lamps, but I'm guessing with the amount of vibration they recieve from a tractor or worse, a snowblower that they go out often. A good LED fixture will last as long as you tractor with 0 lamp replacements.

LED brands: Cree is making the greatest LEDs out right now and their R&D isn't holding back. However, they do not typically have control over what people put their product in so someone can advertise that they use Cree lamps...but still use a crap design and trash the LEDs.

 

[TimP]

..depends on how many watts your headlights are. And also, do you have tail lights that come on with the headlights? If so - how many watts for them? As an option, if the wattage for the tail lights is significant, you could buy LED replacements for those bulbs. The bottom line is that you need to add up the total watts, divide by 12 to get the current (amps) and compare it to the 12.5 you quoted.

I have to do some investigating to try to get the watt rating of my headlights.

They are low/High beam types. And I DO have a single small tailight. Don't know the wattage of that either.

Looks like I've got more snooping to do to get those wattages.

How about any current needed to keep the tractor running and battery charging ?

I have a B2150 and even have the Shop manual, but it doesn't give any specifications on the light wattages, actual Dynamo Amp output etc.....

Thanks.

 

[TimP]

LED brands: Cree is making the greatest LEDs out right now and their R&D isn't holding back. However, they do not typically have control over what people put their product in so someone can advertise that they use Cree lamps...but still use a crap design and trash the LEDs.

The Rigid Industries Dually D2's use the CREE LED lamps.

And It seems with the Rigid LED lights, you do get what you pay for... because you pay a lot.

But if I'm going to get LED's... I have made up my mind it will be the Rigid Dually D2's.

 

[TimP]

I saw a Post on the forum which wasn't too old where someione had some really, really nice looking U-Brackets on his Roll Bar to which he mounted his lights.

I have searched and cannot find the one I read.

Anyone have a better memory than I do and can recall seeing some nice mounting U-style mounting bolts?

 

[grsthegreat]

Ive had halogen lights on my old JD870 for over 10 years and never replaced a lamp. Used them only in the winter for snow removal though.

 

[crazyal]

Have you looked on ebay for a replacement larger alternator?

 

[Birdman1970]

I saw a Post on the forum which wasn't too old where someione had some really, really nice looking U-Brackets on his Roll Bar to which he mounted his lights.

I have searched and cannot find the one I read.

Anyone have a better memory than I do and can recall seeing some nice mounting U-style mounting bolts?

I believe the mounting bracket you are thinking of is the trailer stake pockets the gentleman used in the following post from Tractor Supply Company:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/155443-my-b2920-light-project.html