Tag: UTV Lights

An LED comparison: John Deere vs UTV!

For most people, straying from the original manufacturer when purchasing new LED lights can be daunting. There is a lot of choice in the industry and choosing the right lights really matters.

There are premium branded lights, spare part supplier lights and cheap and cheerful lights. There is a lot to consider when upgrading your machine’s LEDs so you might ask yourself why choose UTV Products?

UTV Products have confidence in the unparalleled performance of their lights, so they have started the UTV Try-Outs (a light comparison series) to gain your confidence too. This month, they tested John Deere’s LED work light with our UTV359 LED work light. You won’t believe the results.

The Work Light Comparison

The UTV Team wanted to compare the John Deere work light and the UTV359 work light. The Lux reader was set up on a stand 10 metres away from the John Deere light. First up was the John Deere light, and it was impressive! It was bright and lit up the space, but what did the Lux readings say? 30.7 Lux was recorded at 10 metres.

Next was the moment of truth for the UTV359 light. When not powered up it looked very similar in appearance to the John Deere light (after all, we are OEM manufacturers). However, it was when the power was switched on that UTV359 really sparked a noticeable difference! Lux reading taken: an impressive 70.5 lux at 10 metres.

To investigate this further, the UTV Team took Lux readings at 25 metres too. The John Deere light read 4.5 lux and the UTV359 light read 12.2 lux. That is over two times greater illuminance for the UTV359 compared to the John Deere light at 10 metres, and almost three times greater illuminance at 25 metres.

So, there you have it, the UTV359 is a winner when it comes to spread of light and how far the light travels. If you’re looking for a light that can evenly light up your work area with no bright spots or bleached out white areas, then look no further than UTV Products.

Is brightness everything?

But is brightness everything? We know that our customers love a powerful LED light, however we also know that our customers like to maintain their machine’s OEM appearance. That is why UTV Products manufacture their lights to mimic the factory-fitted finish but to have a much greater output. As mentioned earlier, the UTV359 looked rather similar in appearance to that of the John Deere work light when the power was off. This means that when fitted to your machine, the light aesthetic doesn’t look out of place.

What is Lux?

What even is Lux, you ask? Jack from UTV Products helps us break it down:

“The best measure of a light’s performance is by comparing the lux readings. Lux is the SI unit of illuminance and is equal to one lumen per square metre. In simple terms, it is the brightness of the light measured at a defined point in the distance.”

Explore our wide range of lights available through the link.

Or contact us.

Want to see our amazing lights in action? Then check out our social media platforms here.

Our Agricultural Engineers we supply to are a vital part of spreading the UTV LED revolution. They offer a vast amount of knowledge of our lights as well as giving you that ‘in person’ help through the sales and installation process. Read on to find out more ways using Agri-engineers are beneficial to you.

Knowledge and expertise

Agri-engineers have extensive knowledge about UTV LED lights and can provide valuable insights into different LED light options. They understand the specific lighting needs and challenges in the agricultural sector, allowing them to guide customers effectively in choosing the right lighting solutions.

Support

Agri-engineers offer personalised, in-person assistance throughout the sales and installation process. They can provide on-site evaluations, recommend suitable UTV Products and ensure proper installation, resulting in optimal performance and customer satisfaction. They also provide ongoing support and assistance long after the sale and give you the reassurance you might need.

Local

They are local to you making it more convenient for you. This also means should you need further support in the future then there is no time wasted in arranging work being done far away from your location. Often a lot of agricultural engineers will also travel to you meaning things like time saved, fitment, aftercare, troubleshooting will be more convenient.

Fitment

Agri-engineers are experienced in the installation and diagnostics of UTV LED lights. They have the expertise to properly fit and integrate the lights into machinery, ensuring optimal functionality and performance.

Partners in innovation

We work closely with the Agri-engineers we supply to meaning they are at the forefront of ensuring we can develop and design the most innovative LED lights that will really enhance our customers working environment. Most recently we have seen first-hand the extremely valuable information they have been able to offer when testing new products. This feedback has enabled us to provide the best quality LEDs that can really deliver on performance.

Find out where your local Agri-engineer is today by calling our offices:

+44 (0)1270 895344

+353 (0) 15543922

Explore our wide range of lights available through the link.

Or contact us.

Want to see our amazing lights in action? Then check out our social media platforms here.

June 2023

All LED lights that UTV Products are fitted to are machines that work in harsh and challenging environments. From tractors, diggers and sprayers to lorries and 4x4s, dirt and dust can inevitably build up on some parts of the light. This is due to where the light is mounted coupled with the type of work and harsh environments they are continually exposed to.

Working in these settings’ dirt will obviously attach itself to the light. A build-up of this can affect the lights so it is always worth giving them a clean regularly. We know that many customers can be short on time but a clean from time to time can ensure you get the most out of your lights.

We recommend the parts of the light that need a little more of your attention are the lens and in between the cooling fins. This is to avoid a build-up and ensure that the light can work to its full potential.

In particular, LEDs that are fitted to sprayers can be exposed to harsh chemicals. Our UTV339 LED is designed to work in these challenging conditions. This light is chemical-resistant to pendimethalin meaning this is designed to work with highly corrosive pre-emergence sprays which usually attack the polycarbonate glass lens on a standard light. The UV coating on the paint adds even more chemical resistance too.

Of course, these LEDs are robust lights so they are always going to be reliable through any conditions but a clean from time to time can only enhance your LED lights more. Look out for our posts over the summer months on social media where we will be doing our own tests to see if we can really push these lights to the limits.

Explore our wide range of lights available through the link.

Or contact us.

Want to see our amazing lights in action? Then check out our social media platforms here.

May 2023

There are many things to consider when kitting out your workhorse machine with new LED lights. Looking for information? Then read on to guide you through things to consider when making this valuable investment.

1. Measurement of light output

First things first, if you have done a little research already when comparing the best LED lights then you may have come across ‘Lumens’. This is the measurement used when measuring the light output. But be careful. Many LED lighting companies will lure you with high Lumen measurements which isn’t exactly wrong but isn’t right either. This is because there are 3 types of Lumen measurements: theoretical, cold and effective (actual). While they are all good to know it is only really the actual measurement that is of any use. The actual measurement will always be lower than theoretical which can never be achieved.

2. Colour Temperature

Another factor to consider is colour temperature. But why is this important? All of our LEDs are manufactured between 6000K and 6500K meaning they closely mimic natural daylight with their clear crystal white light. The benefit of this? Less eye fatigue means you can continue with those night-time jobs with ease.

3. Radio interference

We understand there are many factors why customers might be driven to buy cheaper LED lights. However, many of these lights can have an impact on various things. Specifically, many LEDs from manufacturers can interfere with your radio but with all of our LED lights from UTV Products there is no radio interference. So, no irritating crackles when your radio, CB radio and even your GPS are on meaning you can carry on with your night-time work with no interruptions.

4. Price

Price, of course, will play a massive part in helping you decide which LED lights are for you. Premium LEDs can come at a premium price but there can be a reason for this. Cheap LED lights use cheap components which will affect the quality and longevity of lamp life. At the time you may feel that buying a cheaper LED is the better option, and we understand there are budget constraints, but you will not get the full benefit of a premium LED upgrade.

However, cheap can mean reduced quality but also expensive doesn’t always guarantee excellence either. That is why at UTV Products we take time to price our lights giving you the highest quality lights at the best possible price. For more information then read our previous blog post ‘Are all LED lights the same?’

5. Beam Pattern

Buying any LED lights would surely give you the same beam pattern? Unfortunately not. With some LEDs, particularly cheaper ones, there can be dark spots and some lights that give glare which defeats the object of what the lights should be helping you with. At UTV Products we are here to help match you with the LEDs that will suit your work as well as your machine. Additionally, we are always heavily investing in R&D to make them perfect.

6. Position and direction of light

Position and direction can help ensure you are getting the most out of your LED overhaul. Speaking with our experts can offer ideas on where best to position your light so that you have comfortable lighting that allows you to work long into the night.

7. Durability

Likely that you have bought a machine to cope with the most challenging environments, then why not ensure that your LED lights can withstand tough conditions too? Yes, the cost in the initial outlay may be more but investing at the beginning can save you money in the future. We spend time and effort to ensure our lights are built to last.

8. Fitment

A big decider for lots of people is how easy new LEDs are to install on their machines. We know there are time limits and many people who don’t want to spend money and time researching all the components needed to upgrade. At UTV Products we have a wide range of plug-and-play so there’s no messing, no modification, no problem. We have spent time and effort to ensure connectors are sorted for you. We also pride ourselves that we are always at the end of the phone should you need any extra help when fitting your LED lights. Yes, we sell premium products but we provide long-lasting support too.

Explore our wide range of lights available through the link.

Or contact us.

Want to see our amazing lights in action? Then check out our social media platforms here.

April 2023

LED lightbars versus LED work lights? Which one do you go for? Is there a comparison? Read on to find out.

Lightbars

Go the distance

Sometimes a little guidance might be required to understand the lighting needs of your work. Often people think they want a lightbar for work that needs a lot of light when in fact a work light would be better suited. If you are looking to gain distance when doing an LED upgrade then a lightbar is what you need. At UTV Products, we first find out the type of work you are doing so we can best advise the LED lighting solutions for you.

Measuring up

Of course, you might think the most obvious information you would check is the Lumen value of the LED lights. But, although this tells you how much the light pumps out, it won’t necessarily give you an idea of how far the light will reach. For this, you need to look out for the Lux measurement to give you an idea of how far the lightbar output would be.

Looks good

Any difference between a curved or straight design? Curved can blend in with your vehicle and give you a subtler upgrade to the appearance of your machine. A straight lightbar design can make a statement and help you stand out from a crowd.

At UTV Products we offer a range of LED lightbars with a castellated locking mechanism which means although it locks the light in place there is room for slight adjustment of the light. So, you can personalise your machine’s light as well as have the option to direct the light where you need it.

Work Lights

Focus your light

As mentioned earlier people often think it is a lightbar that they want to buy. After conservations with one of our LED lighting experts, they find sometimes work lights are their best option. We find out what machine the light would be fitted to and what the light will be mostly used for to tailor a light package to suit your needs.

Add the light where you need it

Because of the compact design of UTV Products work lights, you can fit them where you most need the light. The range of plug-and-play options gives you an easy upgrade to enhance where you need it with no fuss or tricky modifications.

Size and space

Sometimes it can depend on what space there is on the machine you are wanting to upgrade. Work lights offer you the chance to fit lights in smaller spaces and quite often our customers buy multiple to enhance their machine’s light output.

Simply put, if it was distance you needed then a lightbar option would be the best. If it’s a lot of light then a work light would hit the spec.

Explore our wide range of lights available through the link.

Or contact us.

Want to see our amazing lights in action? Then check out our social media platforms here.

One of our customers kindly emailed over a review of our New Holland Forage harvester LED lights…

“We have only installed half of the lights to see a comparison, which the results speak for themselves. A great light pattern along with excellent brightness and colour. Much kinder on the eye in my opinion. Below is the step by step experience I had with your product.

Delivery was quick and easy with the packaging was minimal but sufficient with each light unit coming in its own box.

The operation of changing over the light units were straight forward and relatively simple.

We had a set of safety steps as oppose to ladders to make the job safer.

Step 1: Removal of light surround. This is done by using a cross head screw driver. Once done the whole surround comes out with each light fitting held in to the surround with 3 bolts plus the cables with quick release plugs.

Step 2: Undo cable plugs. This is a bit of a three-handed job as you need to support the weight of the light surround as you take the cable plugs off to stop it falling to the ground once the last plug is undone.

Step 3: Take off the old light units by undoing 3 bolts on each unit. Tools needed are a cross head screw driver and a 8mm deep socket ratchet/spanner.

Step 4: Replace old light unit for the new LED units. This is simple and straight forward. The holes line up with ease and the existing bolts can be reused. One thing we noticed was the hole size for the bolts were correct on the LED unit but the layer of paint meant that the bolt had to be wound in. This obviously gave a very snug fit. One more point was that the bolts were plenty long enough but this is only due to the bracket situated closer to the light surround as you can see in the pictures. It does not effect anything it just means more winding.

Step 5: Repeat process for each unit.

Step 6: Putting the light surround with the LED units back onto the machine is a case of doing the revise of how it came off. Fit the two pin plugs back to the corresponding cable and firmly tighten the light surround back in place.

Step 7: Step back and see the results for yourself.”

Explore our wide range of lights available through the link.

Or contact us.

Want to see our amazing lights in action? Then check out our social media platforms here.

Why should I use LED lights on my tractors, sprayers harvesters or construction equipment?

This is a question our customers often ask. The answer is simple – that quality LED lights provide fantastic levels of illumination whilst emitting a light experience similar to daylight. And at the same time, only using half the battery power of traditional halogen lights.

When using LED lighting you will find superior visibility is one benefit. But having the ability to clearly see exactly what you are doing makes working conditions safer and all with far less eye strain or tiredness. Your long days planting or harvesting will become far more productive.

LED work lights draw almost half the current so make less demand on the machine alternator, switches and wiring circuit.

Manufacturers are starting to offer LED work lights as a factory fit option but this sometimes comes as a very expensive preference. So farmers are looking for alternative suppliers, which may be found in their local 4×4 dealers, agricultural dealers or possibly the internet.

However, the saying ‘you only get what you pay for’ is very true. Not all LED lights are the same and here are some tips to help you buy value for your money.

1. Most LED’s are produced in China and can be bought in a wide variety of qualities, performances, specification and price. Cheaply made lights are usually light in weight and will usually have poor beam control which produces a lot of bleached white light shining everywhere but none clearly

2. A well-designed light will generally be heavier in comparison due to the use of better components. They have an extended life expectancy due to the ability to maintain stable vibration and heat conditions for sensitive LED SMD, clarity of performance and clearer detail of what is ahead. So all of this comes from better components and design.

3. A well-designed light will include EMF protection, which is the prevention of electrical interference to radios/two-way radios. Ideally look for an EMC rating called CISPR25-CLASS4 or higher.

4. IP rating is a quality standard for how well protected the light is against dust or water getting inside. IP67 is fine but IP68 is perfect.

Jargon you should understand before purchasing LED lights:

Wattage: This is the size of the LED chip which produces the light and similar in purpose to a light bulb. Tractor work lights normally range from 27 through to 40 even 60 watts in size. At UTV Products the circuits are produced to maintain specific power consumption to ensure minimum disturbance of the original wiring.

Lumen: This is the measurement of light given out so at this stage lumens are the best indication of performance. Worth taking into account when making that important LED light purchase. However, there are two types of Lumen – ‘raw lumen’ and ‘effective lumen’. Raw is what the light should produce in theory but effective is what it produced in reality – and so the most important.

Lumen example: A normal 55-watt halogen work light emits 500-800 lumens. A 40-watt LED work light for a tractor or harvester emits around 3200-3600 lumens so about 5 times extra light and for half the power draw.

Lux: To complicate things even further Lux is a measurement of light at specific distance. Poor quality lights and lens with have high lumen output but fails to project suitable light at working distance. This is where valid lux readings can really differentiate the good and bad quality lights.

In addition to normal tractor white lights, there are some blue LED lights. These blue lights are proven to make spraying crops at night much easier by highlighting the spray pattern and show if any nozzles are blocked or performing badly. Another use for blue LED lights is for machinery working in poultry houses because the colour does not frighten and scatter poultry.

Following our 13 years’ experience specialising in LED lights for machinery, it is evident a small additional investment in quality well designed LED lights can bring a vast improvement and benefit to working in the dark. Whereas cheap poorly designed lights can bring absolute disappointment and frustration.

Explore our wide range of lights available through the link.

Or contact us.

Want to see our amazing lights in action? Then check out our social media platforms here.