LAZERLAMPS - high performance lighting
Since it was founded in 2010, British manufacturer Lazer Lamps Ltd has been at the forefront of LED technology, bringing world class technology to its customers, and in the process setting the standard in automotive auxiliary lighting solutions. Combining competition beating performance with automotive quality standards, Lazer products are now recognised as leaders in their field.
Proudly manufacturing products in the UK, Lazer has introduced market leading products driven by company Director Ben Russell-Smith, who has been working at the forefront of vehicle lighting design since 2002, managing exterior lighting projects at Nissan's European Technical Centre, and at Ford of Europe.
SUPERIOR DESIGN AND BUILD QUALITY
Our UK facility handles all aspects of design, engineering, and product assembly, including final leak and photometric testing in accordance with UNECE Conformity of Production requirements. Crucially, the surface mount of components onto the circuit boards, is carried out at a secondary site just 30 minutes away, allowing complete traceability and control of the end-to-end manufacturing process. With both facilities accredited to ISO9001 and centrally positioned within a hub of high technology businesses from Automotive all the way through to the Defence and Space industries, this helps ensure Lazer, and our supply chain, remain at the forefront of emerging technologies and production methods guaranteeing our products' performance, quality and reliability.
PRODUCTS YOU CAN TRUST
Race Tech Awards 2012
From the beginning the motorsport market has been quick to adopt Lazer products, with some of the biggest names in racing using the lights from an early stage. In the first year of production, the Lazer products had been nominated for three awards within the field of international motorsport, including ‘Most Innovative New Motorsport product 2012’.
Since then more and more teams and drivers, for whom there can be no compromise in performance or reliability, have made the transition to Lazer. The clearest example of this being our high profile partnerships with leaders in both WRC (M-Sport) and World Endurance (Toyota Motorsport) series. Success isn't just limited to the world of motorsport however, with Lazer lighting solutions prevalent amongst protagonists of gruelling off-road events such as the Dakar Rally or King of the Hammers, a testament to the build quality and robustness of every product that leaves our premises.
Success on the track has helped give the brand credibility, which has translated through to confidence for the road buyer who chooses to fit the same products to their vehicles. Recognising the suitability of our products within the 4x4, Pick-Up, and Commercial Vehicle sectors, we are now approved suppliers to OE manufacturers across each of these sectors. Still we will not rest on our laurels and development work continues on both new lighting products, as technology advances and innovation dictates. Innovation isn't just limited to our lighting solutions however, increasingly we focus on how our products integrate onto different vehicles, meaning Lazer becomes known as much for its mounting solutions as its superior lighting. With continued product development a priority, and an expanding worldwide distribution network, Lazer Lamps is very much a company with big plans for the future, so watch this space!
BUYER'S GUIDE - ECE REGULATIONS AND KEEPING IT LEGAL
When fitting extra lights to your vehicle, there are a couple of things that you need to know:
It’s easy to fit extra lights and be compliant with the regulations in every country in the world. Fitting extra lights can improve safety, enhancing night-time visibility for the driver.
It is the driver's responsibility to ensure that the vehicle complies with the regulations of that country.
PICKING THE RIGHT LIGHT
Other than perhaps as an isolator switch, most people who fit extra lights don’t want to install a separate switch on the dashboard, they just want the lights to come on with the existing vehicle main beam headlamps, and to turn off when the driver dips the lights. In most countries, this can be done where the supplementary lamps are “approved headlights”. If non-approved headlamps are used on the vehicle, then in most countries they should either be concealed when driving on a public road, or at least switched separately from the main headlights.
WHAT IS AN “APPROVED HEADLIGHT”
In all European countries, plus a number of other countries (Japan, Australia etc), it is a requirement that any additional lamps are “approved headlights”. Automotive headlamps are approved to UNECE regulation 112 or 113, which is a comprehensive test of the product, including such tests as lens scratch resistance, on/off switching, thermal endurance etc. If the lamp passes the tests, the lamp becomes certified and the manufacturer is permitted to add an E-mark to the lens of the product. The E-mark is a printed or moulded letter E encirculed and added to the product with a number to indicate where the approval tests were carried out. In the case of all current Lazer products, these have been approved in Spain, so they have an E9 symbol, where the 9 indicates the Spanish testing. This country code is only an indication of the test location; once approval is granted, the approval is valid in every country signed up to the E-mark system. With the UK departure from the EU, we already have it confirmed that the E9 approval of our lamps is unaffected by Brexit. Click here for a full list of the signatories to this system.
REFERENCE MARK
Every approved headlight is given a “reference mark” relating to the maximum peak intensity of light coming from the unit, at a distance of 25 metres. Some countries require that the maximum reference mark allowed for road use is 100. So, if the vehicles normal headlights have a reference of 20 each, then the driver should only fit an additional 4 lights, which might each have a reference mark of 15. The Lazer products spread or focus the light differently, but the relatively low peak intensity figure of many of our lights, is made possible by the huge amount of light generated by these products being spread over a wide area, in a homogenous and smooth light pattern, or via a bigger differential on Triple-R products between the dual output functions that allow these products to achieve the certification.
LOCATION
Positioning the lights up high can be a real benefit in terms of reducing the amount of shadow cast by bumps in the ground, due to the driver’s eye line being below that of the beam of light. In Europe, it’s required to mount the lights no higher than 4 metres. Where a lamp with integrated Position Light function are being used (apporved to UNECE regualtion 7), there are more specific mounting requirements. Please consult our Fitting Instructions sheet for permissable locations of the lamps. There may also be regional requirements for deactivating the standard vehicle position lights where supplementary position lights are used.
COUNTRY SPECIFIC VARIATIONS
38 countries across the world are signed up to the UNECE regulations, but enforcement of the regulations does vary from one country to the next. Most countries require auxiliary lights to be mounted in pairs, but some countries including the UK, Norway, and Sweden, do allow for fitting a single (or odd number) of lamps. So too the severity with which the reference mark is enforced, or the need to always have a seperate isolator swtich in Australasia, or the requirement in Switzerland to cover the lights when not is use; there are regional variations which people should be aware of, particualrly if fo instance you're planning a road-trip across Europe. If you're not sure, or sometimes even if you think you are, we always recommend speaking to an expert who knows and understand the rules in each country. Our Dealer Locator is a good place to start to find people who know about the regulations in your area.
SUMMARY
Buying an “approved headlight” gives piece of mind that the product has been engineered correctly and it can withstand a severe and harsh test program. It gives the driver the added benefit that he/she can also wire the units directly to the main beam headlights without the need for adding a separate switch on the dash, which often increases installation time and decreases ease of use.
BUYERS GUIDE - BEAM PATTERN
LED technology is moving fast, not only becoming more efficient, but more reliable as well. As a market leader and innovator, we’re constantly looking to upgrade products and launch new ones, optimising lighting performance for different applications depending on: the intensity of light, visibility at the sides of the road, and up/down spread. Considering our different products, and new and upgraded products available since this Autumn (including our Linear and Triple-R Elite-3 ranges), here we look at the differences in beam patterns and when and where some products might perform better than others.
TRIPLE-R
Example: TRIPLE-R 1000
Peak: 368k cd
Horiz: 11 deg spread
Vertical: 14 deg spread
(2% of peak)
The Triple-R Standard range delivers excellent long-range visibility in a spot beam pattern, with a comfortable left/right spread of light in the mid-long range. What you don’t get is much light close to the vehicle at the sides of the road. The Standard range has also been designed to give more vertical spread relative to the equivalent Elite or Linear products, not so much to cause any big issues when mounting lights at licence plate height, but it is true that proportionately more light will hit the road relatively close to the vehicle. For that reason, the Triple-R Standard is especially well suited to higher mounting positions, e.g. roof bars, upper grille installs.
TRIPLE-R ELITE
Example: TRIPLE-R 1000 ELITE-3
Peak: 456k cd
Horiz: 21 deg spread
Vertical: 9 deg spread
(2% of peak)
The launch of our 3rd generation of Triple-R Elite was much anticipated, with good reason, and the light performance is such that we confidently label these products our ultimate road-legal driving lights. Higher output/intensity LEDs compared to the equivalent Standard products, coupled with a modified reflector system, give even more distance illumination, with improved visibility at the sides of the road – the 2% of peak line at 21 degrees spread versus 11 degrees on the equivalent standard product. Improved illumination at the sides of the road are in part made possible by a reduced up/down spread of light, which means that the Triple-R Elite can be confidently mounted even low down close to the ground, without worrying about a bright spot on the road directly in front of the vehicle. The Triple-R Elite (Gen3) utilise much of the same internal electronics and optical systems as our Carbon Series lights, so represent an excellent choice for the Motorsport sector.
ST EVOLUTION
Example: ST8 EVO
Peak: 154k cd
Horiz: 28 deg spread
Vertical: 24 deg spread
(2% of peak)
Ask anyone who has driven with the ST/T Evolution lights and they’ll tell you the ‘drive’ beam pattern, which delivers a symmetrical beam pattern left/right and up/down, coupled with an intensity of light far above any standard vehicle high beams, is exceptionally comfortable for everyday road use. An excellent spread of light across the short and mid-range also works wonders for any 4x4 and off-road excursion. Having improved all-round visibility does mean you forfeit some distance illumination compared to the Triple-R lights, so consider the type of roads or terrain you’ll be driving as to whether more distance or better spread is preferable. Inevitably a taller vertical spread of light associated with the ST/T Evo lights means they are better suited to slightly higher mounting positions, and consider if glare could be an issues if roof-mounted above the bonnet of a car.
LINEAR STANDARD
Example: LINEAR-12
Peak: 122k cd
Horiz: 34 deg spread
Vertical: 11 deg spread
(2% of peak)
The Linear range was designed and engineered, in part, around feedback from ‘road’ customers that were looking for a reduced up/down spread of light and more visibility at the sides of the road compared to our Triple-R Standard and ST Evolution lights. With the Linear Standard, you have a cost-effective range of high performance driving lamps that deliver superior levels of illumination compared to standard high beams, with better distance and left/right visibility, albeit still half the total light output which you could expect form the equivalent Linear Elite, Triple-R or ST product. The up/down spread is also tighter than even the Linear Elite or Triple-R Elite, providing proportionately less light on the road directly in front of the vehicle even when mounted very low down, e.g. lower grille apertures.
LINEAR ELITE
Example: LINEAR-12 ELITE
Peak: 158k cd
Horiz: 42 deg spread
Vertical: 15 deg spread
(2% of peak)
If space is tight or you want a low-profile slimline solution, with lighting performance akin to the larger ST or Triple-R products, then the Linear Elite is for you. For a product its size the lighting performance is exceptional, and similar to the Triple-R Elite in respect of the light distribution; increased intensity of light to deliver more long-range visibility, and providing very good levels of light at the side of the road in the mid-range. The Linear Elite, like the Linear Standard, is equally well suited to both high or low mounting positions but consider that because of the Elite delivers double the light output, inevitably proportionately more light will hit the road close to the vehicle when mounted very low to the ground.
ACHIEVING THE PERFECT ROOF-MOUNT INSTALLATION
Following the launch of our Linear-36, 42, and 48, alongside our range of Universal Roof Mounting kits, now is a good time to breakdown your potential roof light installation and provide a concise guide to choosing the right light, and right mounting solution for you and your vehicle. We appreciate a roof light is a reasonable investment, so it is important you feel confident in how the end solution will look and function. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of how to decide which Lazer roof light will best suit your needs, as well as where, and how, to position your light for the perfect install.
Available Space
You’ll be able to immediately narrow down your choice of lamps by the size of your roof and space available in which to mount the light. If you’re mounting off a roof-rack or similar then this allows a high degree of flexibility in mounting lights of different lengths, typically just using a pair of our stainless steel Side Brackets. If not, consider the distance between your roof rails, or roof ditch channels, then check the dimensions below (full dimensional diagrams available on the relevant product pages), and don’t be put off if the light is up to 65mm short either end as the anti-theft fastener / spacer kits included with our brackets will allow you to make up the gap either side.
Linear-36 (982mm/39”); Linear-42 (1132mm/45”); Linear-48 (1282mm/50”)
Triple-R 16 (765mm/30”); Triple-R 24 (1125mm/44”); Triple-R 28 (1305mm/51”)
T-16 Evolution (684mm/27”); T-24 Evolution (1004mm/40”); T-28 Evolution (1164mm/46”)
Lighting Options
So which Lazer roof light is best for you considering lighting performance, and the features and benefits of each product type? Below is a short summary of how our lights differ and what you can expect from each.
Linear:
Slim, sleek and aerodynamic, our Linear range provides for an understated stylish installation with a lighting performance that belies its diminutive proportions. Light distribution is tailored to everyday road use, with a lower up/down spread of light and proportionately more left/right spread, still with an intensity of light that leaves little to the imagination. With both Linear-36 and Linear-42 having the added advantage of being ECE approved for on road use (at the upper end of the allowable road-legal limit), these lights can be wired directly into your vehicles high beam circuit without the need for a standalone switch. Very little glare on the bonnet coupled with exceptional low wind noise performance add to the Linear’s roof mounting appeal.
Triple-R:
If ultimate long-distance visibility is what you seek, with lighting performance borne out of the highest levels of professional motorsport, then the Triple-R range from Lazer is exactly what your vehicle needs. The Triple-R range is specifically tuned for a spot beam pattern whilst still achieving a good spread of light in the mid-long range, it is well suited on them long dark roads where anything can jump out on you and you need to be ahead of the game. The high-end design and styling of the Triple-R products ensures these are products to turn heads day and night, albeit the bigger proportions of the lights compared to Linear or T-Evolution, make this a solution for people who want their roof light to be noticed!
T Evolution:
With a fantastic all-round spread of light, the T Evolution range is a great choice, in particular for off-road use, where distance illumination isn’t necessarily as important as having exceptional short and mid-range visibility up/down, left/right. Updated, contemporary styling for the T Evolution range since 2018, with a seamless polycarbonate lens design, means these lights look great on your vehicle, but consider carefully the placement of the light on the roof – the higher vertical angle of the light distribution means glare from the bonnet, or light lost on the roof of your vehicle, can be something to consider carefully first.
Roof Brackets
You’ve selected your light, so now it’s time to select the right mounting solution. Aside from bespoke mounts for vehicles including the Ford Ranger and Land Rover Defender, our universal-fit Mounting Kits are split into 2 categories – brackets for use with roof rails, and brackets for vehicles without roof rails. For each bracket type there are versions of different heights, which will be dictated by:
- the position of the brackets/lamp on the roof
- the shape (curvature) of the roof
- the lamp selected.
On this last point, consider the distance from the centre of the threaded lamp mounting hole to the bottom of the lamp – Linear (18mm); Triple-R (38mm); T Evolution (33mm). It is best practice to mount the light close to the roof to prevent wind noise, the bigger the gap between the roof and the light the more susceptible to wind noise your lightbar will be, but it is also important not to mount the light too close to the roof as all vehicles will have a certain flex in the roof while on the move.
Within the range of roof brackets (for vehicles without roof rails) is included a bracket with a forward reach of 70mm. When mounting a light near the front of the roof, it can be advantageous for the light to have a forward mounting position from both an aesthetic perspective, but also to avoid an antenna for example.
For vehicles without roof rails there is the possibility that the vehicle has a roof ditch, these are usually covered by a moulding that is easy to remove and are commonly used to hide the welding seam and bolt holes for optional roof box rails, they provide a good base on where to mount your brackets on the roof and also where to drill the hole for cable entry.
The process for mounting brackets to the vehicle is relatively straight forward, all our kits are supplied with comprehensive installation instructions, but the job needs to completed with care and attention. Within the Mounting Kits we supply, are all the parts required to complete a smart, secure, and sealed installation, but if you’re not confident then contact us or find a local fitting centre to complete the install for you.