Flood vs Trapazoid Lights for ROPS

[tk1469]

I want to add an auxiliary (front facing) light to the ROPS on my L3800. What are your thoughts on whether I should buy a "flood" light vs one that has the "trapazoid" beam configuration ?

I'm looking at the 55w H3 Halogen ones from Peterson Manufacturing.

What do you guys use ?

 

[Bulldog]

I would say it all depends on the type of night work you plan to do. I have the factory head lights and cab light on my 9000 and since then have added 2 more sets going forward, 1 set to the side and another set to the rear. I put HID lights to the front, side and rear. I have amber floods mounted right under the top factory lights and a set of the HID lights mid cab. The HID lights have a spot beam and are good for distance. I have my fac. lights adjusted right in front of my tires. These 2 sets are great for bushhogging. Light rain or fog the amber set is nice. The side set for lighting up the cutter bar on my hay mower. The HID shine in the front on the mower and the fac. rear shine behind it. The rear facing HID give a good distance beam to the rear and help out alot trying to back up long distances with the BH. I like the HID very well. The white/blue looking beam is very clear at night. It doesn't seem to glare like standard halogen light do.

Just as a side note, I don't run all them at once. Each set has it's purpose depending on what I'm doing at that time.

I had Peterson trapazoid lights on my rops 9000 and liked them just fine. The only problem I had was if I had them on for a while and it started to rain the glass would crack on them. I guess cold rain on hot glass wasn't a good thing. I replaced 3 lights in 2 yrs.

 

[tk1469]

Bulldog - thanks for the words of wisdom. Now that I think of it - I've had experiences with the lenses cracking on prior halogen lights I've had. I now wonder if I should cover or shield them somehow - since they will be subject to snow (for sure) and quite possibly rain. I know that I want a "flood" light on the rear to light up the TPH area during those nights when I can't get enough seat time - even though the sun has gone down.

 

[Bulldog]

I had my lights mounted just under the top of my canapy and mine still cracked. I think it may just be the design of those particular lights. I guess if a person really wanted to do it a hood could be bent and cover the top of them. It might be the answer to there poor quality.

 

[KenB2920]

B2920 - Just finished installing my new lights. They are 55w driving lights. I installed two front and two rear facing lights. Seem to work well for the ten minutes I have used them.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

Check out AW Direct, they have a huge assortment of light from flood to trapazoid and HID. Plus all the water proof connectors and switches you need to make it happen.

www.awdirect.com

 

[Bulldog]

B2920 - Just finished installing my new lights. They are 55w driving lights. I installed two front and two rear facing lights. Seem to work well for the ten minutes I have used them.

The only bad thing I see is the bugs are going to cover you up with the lights being right beside you.

 

[KenB2920]

You are exactly right. After ten minutes the bugs were an issue. Not sure if you can tell in the photo but the lights actually have a "C" clamp holding them on until I get the right height. My problem is it won't be practical putting them on the foldable part of the rips. I have to keep them partially bent so the tractor fits in the garage. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

I actually believe the lights will mostly be used in fall and winter months when less bugs are around. However I am still accepting suggestions and advise.

 

[Bulldog]

Since you already have a grill guard in place you could look at using it. I didn't use the guard but mounted the lights under my factory head lights. It's hard to see them in this pic but you get the idea. I use these lights for work that's close in to the tractor like yard mowing and such as that. They don't have very good distance but up close they light the ground up well.

 

[Machold]

B2920, are you still running on the Dynamo or have you switched to an alternator? I think the dynamo has a 14 amp spec.

My guess is you won't have any problem if you're not running all that wattage for too long at a time. I have a couple of 50W lights, but hardly ever use them, unless it's a dark snowy blowy night and my 1/4 mile has to be cleared, or else.

 

[KenB2920]

Knowledge is power - thanks for spreading knowledge.

Well let's start by saying I have never even heard of a dynamo. I just assumed I had an alternator, WRONG!!! I have a dynamo. That being said, I was out cutting grass when I ran out of sun. I turned on the front facing lights (2 55 watt lights) for about 2 hours and they were flawless. Never had a loss of power to anything.

Now with that being said, I was also running the mid pto so the rpm's were up. If I was running the rpm's at say 1000 for two hours this may be another story. So I guess when I get to plowing snow this winter with a lower rpm that will be the test.

Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Everyday I learn how little I knew the day before.