Q: What is the difference between the hybrid spot and flood beam patterns?
A: The flood configuration can be visually identified by it's higher trough, compared to the spot. Our flood optic illumates at a wider beam angle, but does not go as far. The spot configuration can be visually identified by it's lower trough, compared to the flood. Our spot optic illumates at a greater distance, but does not reach as wide of an area. Both of these lights are great for their individual purposes, and if desired, they can work together for a perfect combination of distance and spread.
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Q: Can i run my Nicoko light with a 14 volt AC signal?
A: No. The Nicoko lights were designed for DC voltage. Lights operated at 14 volt AC may not be damaged, but could flicker or appear dim.
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Q: Can i run my Nicoko light in an AC wall outlet?
A: No! Nicoko lights are designed for DC voltage. Connection to an AC wall outlet will very likely permanently damage the light.
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Q: I connected my light to my car and it doesn't work. Now what?
A: Several items could be preventing the lights from properly working. The below items can help in troubleshooting. Try connecting the wires of the lights directly to a fully charged car battery. If the light works then there is a problem between the battery connection and the light. Potential problems include a faulty switch, faulty relay, insufficient thickness wire, and improper grounding.
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Q: When i connect my light directly to my battery, it is at full brightness. But when i use a long cable to install it, the light is dim. What is wrong?
A: You need to make sure you are using an appropriately sized gauge wire for your installation. This is especially important if using a long wire from the battery to the light installation. If the wire gauge is too small, there will be a significant voltage drop across the wire, preventing the light from powering up fully.
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Q: Lumens VS watts, which is more important?
A: Lumens refers to the amount of light that a light bar can produce. It is the standard unit for measuring light intensity and is the best way to determine how bright an LED is. Watts on the other hand, is a measure of how much electric power is needed to run the light. While higher wattage sometimes means higher luminosity, this is not always the case, as more efficient LEDs are able to produce an equal amount of light while using less power. In this regard, the lumens of a light bar is the more important measurement to pay attention to.
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Q: What is amp draw?
A: Amp draw refers to the amount of electrical current a light needs to stay running. The higher the amp draw of a light, the quicker it will drain your battery. So long as your vehicle is running, this is not usually a concern. However, if you run your light without your motor on then you will want to be careful not to completely drain your vehicle’s battery.
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Q: What is meant by \"beam pattern\"?
A: The term beam pattern refers to the angle at which the bulbs in an LED light bar cast their light. Spot beams are much narrower in angle and throw a beam a much further distance, while flood beams provide more light on the sides but are less penetrating. Which one you want is dependent upon your intended purpose. Generally, spot beams are better for on-road driving while flood beams are better for off-road. Alternatively, you could choose to go with a light bar that is equipped with a combination of spot and flood LEDs. This is a highly popular choice.
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Q: What is the difference between straight light bar and curved light bar?
A: The light beam of straight light bar focus on front of the distance, the light in the middle of the luminant space is tight and focused. The light beam of curved light bar is broad and brighter. It covers larger area than the straight light bar while the straight light bar illuminates brighter in the distance. There is no saying that which one is better, it is up to your need.
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Q: What is a relay switch and why do i need one?
A: A relay is an electrical switch that lets a low current circuit control a high current circuit such as a large LED light bar. If your light has a very large amp draw at all, you will want to install a relay switch to keep from overheating an ordinary switch, burning up the wires, and thus reducing the amount of electricity getting to your light. If you are using a light pod that does not have a very large amp draw, you may not need a relay switch, but if you are using a larger LED light bar, they are a must have.
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Q: About the wiring harness
A: A wire harness is a common addition to most LED light rigs. It provides a simple, self contained, solution to wiring up your lights. All vehicles are different. They have different electrical configurations that make a single integration into those systems impossible. By bypassing the wiring of your vehicle and creating direct connections, you will no longer be relying on complicated electrical systems that are difficult to debug.
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Q: What is the difference between spot, flood, and combo?
A: These terms mean the type of light beam. For a spot beam, the light is tight and focused. For flood beam, the light is broad and covers a large area but does not project as far. The combo light is a mixture of both spot and flood light. If you are using the light in a low speed application, our Flood lights will work best to light up the majority of the area around you. If you are moving fast and need a lot of advanced warning of upcoming conditions, the Spot will give you that greater distance. If you want to make sure you have both types available at all times, the Combo is your best bet.
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