LED work lights NightViu LED Lights

Table 1: Overview of results

*    The DLG test framework provides the following options in its evaluation schemes:    
■■■ or better = meets, exceeds or clearly exceeds the specified DLG standard
■■ = meets the legal requirements for marketability
■ = failed

**    Evaluation range: requirements fulfilled (✔) / requirements not fulfilled (X)

Description and technical data

The tested light is the “NightViu® LED Lights” work light.
 

Table 2: Technical data (manufacturer information)

1)    Source: external test reports by an accredited lab 

Luminous efficiency

The light distribution is measured at the lab and under field conditions. For this, the luminaire is installed at a height of 2.5 m from the ground and at a -15° angle. The table shows the luminous efficiency also of one H3 work light and one no-name LED work light for subjective reader assessment of the test products. The luminous efficiency is expressed in Lumen per Watt. 

Colour rendering

The colour rendering of the work lights is measured at the lab. Colour rendering is measured, because extensive comparative tests showed that a natural (daylight) colour rendering enhances operators” sense of safety during night work. When interpreting the CRI parameter, readers should bear in mind that the “100 %” reference value refers to a halogen light. The smaller the CRI, the greater is the colour rendering difference between the work light and the light spectrum of a halogen light. 

Another useful parameter for assessing natural light quality is the colour temperature. If the colour temperature is much lower or higher than 5000 K, the more unnatural is the light perceived. All requirements and assessments are set and made to UN-ECE R46 standards. The light emitted by the work light must be within the range that is specified by these standards. If the lab results are out of range, this will be presented in a field test and documented in the test report.

Reference lights

The work lights that come to the DLG test are tested in conjunction with a standard H3 work light and a popular no-name LED work light that was purchased online. The specifications of these compare with those of the tested lights.

Vibration and shock resistance

The ISO 16750-3 standard defines the mechanical stresses to which electrical and electronic equipment for on-road vehicles is exposed in various test cycles.  The minimum requirements on all system components with respect to vibration are tested in the test cycle “Passenger car, sprung masses (vehicle body)”. If in addition, the product also passes the “Utility vehicle, cab removed” test cycle, the score will be “good”.

The minimum requirements in terms of shock resistance are measured in the test cycle “Rigidly mounted body parts”. If in addition, the components also pass the test cycle “Parts in doors and flaps”, the score will be “good”.

The product must not show any mechanical damage in any of the above test cycles.

IP rating

The IP rating is assessed on the information provided by the manufacturer‘s test reports. The minimum IP rating for the test object and its connectors is IP67. This specifies a dust-tight casing (the first digit is 6) and protection against temporary immersion (the second digit is 7). The casing will score “good”, if the housing is protected against permanent submersion (IP68). The casing will score “very good”, if all its components withstand cleaning with a pressure washer (IP 69).

Electromagnetic compatibility

All lights must at least meet UN-ECE R10 standards. If the work lights meet EMC class 5 (Cisper 25) standards, the score will be “good”. Class 5 com­pliance is particularly useful for electric devices that are operated on modern machines, because in that case they will not cause interferences with the tractor‘s on-board electronics.

Handling and operation

The product’s reverse polarity protection is tested at the lab. To do this, the work light is plugged into reverse polarity at maximum input voltage. This test is carried out at 25 °C. The light must withstand the reverse polarity test undamaged. The surface temperature of the lamp is measured at the lab with the help of a thermal camera. Surface temperature is an important parameter for preventing contact burn injuries. This test is carried out at 25 °C. As a minimum requirement, the housing temperature must not exceed 70 °C as per DIN EN ISO 13732-1 standard. A temperature below 55 °C is to be rated as “good”, a temperature below 44 °C as “very good”.

All tests were carried out on the “NightViu LED Lights” work light 3,500 Lumen model.

Luminous efficiency and colour rendering

The luminous efficiency of the Spot (SP) and Flood (FL) models is very good, testing 100 lm/W and even 103 lm/W. The models Wide (WD) and Ultra Wide (UW) generate a good luminous efficiency 98 lm/W and 90 lm/W which clearly exceeds the luminous efficiency of the standard H3 work light and also the efficiency  of the no-name reference LED work light.

Table 3 lists luminous flux, wattage and luminous efficiency of the four test models as well as of regular H3 work lights and one no-name LED work light. 

Table 3: Luminous flux, wattage and luminous efficiency compared

The images in Figure 3 show the distribution of light in the Isolux tests – both by the tested lights on the one hand and the reference H3 and no-name LED work lights on the other. 

The colour temperatures and colour renderings of all test lights and reference lights are listed in Table 4.