Auxiliary light / Led bar selection guide

A very common question we get here at Valostore is: Which additional light is right for my car? Which additional light is the best? Which additional light should you choose? We wrote this article to answer these questions as best as possible.

Most of the lights we sell fit all cars, and with a few exceptions, the light is not limited to a specific car model. So a light that fits a Toyota can also be installed in a Mercedes, Ford or Peugeot. The most suitable additional light largely depends on personal preferences, but there are a few things to keep in mind so that the choice is right the first time. Let's go through them next.

=> SEE THE ENTIRE AUXILIARY LIGHT RANGE HERE <=

In brief

1. Consider the desired installation location: on the front, on the roof, inside the grille? Find out if the car has radios, cameras, etc. that limit the installation. Read more

2. Measure the appropriate size of the lamp based on the desired installation location. Choose whether you want one or more panels or round lights. Read more

3. Consider whether you want more long-range or wide-area lighting from the light? Read more

4. Consider how much you want to invest in the lamp. Read more

=> LIGHTING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DIFFERENT SITUATIONS <=

Why is it worth installing auxiliary lights?

Additional lights supplement the beam produced by the car's own lights, thus improving visibility when driving at night. Additional lights have been said to be cheap life insurance, as the significantly longer and wider illumination they provide allows obstacles and, for example, animals coming onto the road to be detected from further away, which increases reaction time and enables you to react to changing conditions. In addition, the lights often serve as a striking detail on the front of the car. Additional lights are therefore worth seeing as an investment in the appearance and safety of the car.

Where do you want to install the light?

Where do you want to install the additional light on the car? On the front, above or below the license plate? On the roof or perhaps embedded in the grille? First of all, you should think about where you want to place the light, then finding a suitable light will be much easier. The most common installation location is on the front of the car, on a bracket that comes behind the license plate, either above or below the plate. With such a bracket, installation is very simple and the end result is neat. If you want to invest a little in the installation and want the light to be invisible or inconspicuously part of the front of the car, you should either embed the light in the grille by cutting a suitable opening in the grille, or install it completely hidden behind the grille (note that some grilles may limit the light beam or power).

In passenger cars, when thinking purely about lighting, the best installation location is on the roof, from where the light can come from as high as possible. This way, the light is directed in the best possible way, and thanks to the height, it also illuminates behind snowbanks. The "downside" of roof mounting is that in rain, snow or fog, the light dazzles the driver more easily than lights coming from below. Therefore, roof mounting may not be the best option if only one additional light is installed in the car.

Size and quantity of light?

Once the installation location has been selected, you still need to find out what size panel or round lights will fit in the desired location. When recessed into the mask, the thinnest possible panel is usually sought, while the license plate holder can accommodate even large round additional lights, and a long panel is usually best for the roof. When installing with a license plate holder, the most common panel size is approx. 50-58 cm, which is slightly longer than the license plate, and for round lights, 7" (17-18 cm) for smaller cars and 9" (22-24 cm) for larger cars, vans, etc. The exact dimensions of all lights are stated on the product page in the Technical specifications section.

You also need to find out whether the car has, for example, adaptive cruise control radar or parking sensors that you do not want to cover with the light. If the car has, for example, a radar in the middle of the front, e.g. in the sign, it may be a good idea to choose two round lights or two smaller panel lights that come on both sides of the radar.

The number of lights certainly affects the light output, but also the light pattern: the light beam of several lights can be directed either to the same point, which maximizes the range, or alternatively "side by side", which expands the light beam. Especially when looking for maximum wide illumination, it is worth considering purchasing several lights instead of one, while a suitable single panel achieves very easy installation, a stylish result and an excellent light beam for general use.

Light pattern

Once a suitable installation location has been selected and the type of light you want to install (panel, several smaller panels, round lights or a combination of these) has been decided, you can consider the characteristics of the lights. Do you want the light to have maximum range or do you want the light to illuminate as widely as possible, which of course shortens the range, or is the best solution perhaps some combination of these?

Finally, the installation location somewhat determines the light pattern the additional light should have. When installed on the roof, a wide and high beam works well, creating comprehensive general lighting. If the installation is intended to be done below the license plate, it is worth choosing a light with the lowest possible pattern so that too much light does not come directly in front of the front of the car and dazzle the driver, especially when driving in snowy terrain.

We measure all the lights we sell in our own ValoLab so that we can also provide our customers with accurate information. The measured figures and light pattern are completely independent of the manufacturers' often exaggerated and theoretical power and range claims. We also photograph most of the lights to show what the pattern actually looks like on the road. For each light, you can find the measured power, range, color temperature and light pattern on the product page, and we also have a separate light pattern comparison tool if you want to compare different light patterns.

Price range

The most expensive light is not necessarily always the best, partly because it is very difficult to define what is the best light without knowing what you want from a light, but in general it can be said that the cheapest lights have had to compromise on something, and for example, performance or durability are nowhere near what was promised. The cheapest lights often also lack, for example, E-approval, which is required so that the light can be used in road traffic by law. We have decided to completely exclude too cheap lights from our selection, because they do not serve anyone, neither the customer nor the retailer.

So you can get a reasonably good lamp for a reasonable price, and even the cheapest additional lights in our selection increase the amount of light and visibility considerably, thus improving safety. Of course, the lighting properties, quality and versatility of the light usually improve and diversify as the price rises, and in addition, as the budget increases, the selection expands, allowing you to choose the lamp that is right for you.

Valostore's recommendations for different situations

Above the license plate, mountable with license plate holder

• A brilliant light beam for license plate mounting, really powerful: Purelux Panther S540
• A cheaper alternative, curved body: Purelux Black Boost C560 Gen2
• Round 7", wide beam: Purelux 7200
• Round 9", wide beam, powerful: Purelux Panther 9

Below the license plate, mountable with license plate holder

• Cut beam, powerful: Purelux Road Curve C530 Slim

Above the license plate, recessed into the grille

• Sleek, powerful, excellent combination light: Purelux Panther Aero S540
• If the sign is in the middle: 2 x Purelux Panther S300 Gen2
• Extremely wide beam, powerful: Lazer Linear 18 Elite

Below the license plate, recessed into the mask

• Purelux Road Curve C530 Slim

Roof mounting

• Maximum power: Purelux Panther S1050
• Slim, low body: Purelux Panther Aero S1050
• Curved: Purelux Black X-Slim C1010 Gen2
• Slim, powerful: Lazer Linear 42 Elite

Installation

Installing additional lights is easy. If you know how to use a drill and a multimeter, the job should be easy. So, normal installation is not a difficult task and anyone can do it if you just follow the instructions. You can find the installation instructions for additional lights here:

Installation guide for additional lights