HELLA – The Ultimate In Lighting Solutions

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01 May 2019

Category: OnRouteMag, On Route News

New LED beacon and Krone hybrid trailer lamp

HELLA, the lighting and electronics expert, has launched a beacon, which is the first of its kind and combines design and state-of-the-art LED technology to allows manufacturers in the construction and mining industry to give their vehicles a unique appearance.

The black, futuristic-looking beacon fits perfectly into the existing vehicle silhouette thanks to its design and compact dimensions of around 60 mm in height. In comparison, HELLA’s previously lowest beacon, the K-LED 2.0, has a height of 90mm and some halogen beacons are up to 194 mm tall.

HELLA has not only minimised the size of the beacon, but also changed the lighting concept, which once again proves the company’s technological leadership, as the beacon no longer needs a dome. Instead, the light is visible through a circumferential, ring-shaped light band.

Despite the minimal light emission area and the compact size, the beacon achieves the best light values and an ideal warning effect that meet the legal requirements of the European ECE-R 65 directive for beacons.

The LED double flash function of the warning light emits a direct and remotely visible 360° signal, which is an additional advantage to other road users who have an earlier alert, both on the construction site and the road, as well as significantly increasing occupational safety.

The beacon is maintenance-free and due to its low total current consumption and high-quality, long-life LEDs, it is suitable for continuous use. In addition, the vehicle battery is conserved.

The beacon complies with IP (International Protection) classes 67 and 9K. This means it is resistant to dust and water, and the electronics are protected to a water depth of up to one metre, when submerged for a short time. In addition, the warning light is resistant to stronger stresses such as shocks and blows or temperature fluctuations, road salt and moisture. This is ensured by the polycarbonate light band, the powder-coated aluminium housing and the absence of moving parts. Therefore, the beacon can also be used in adverse conditions. Finally, it also meets the prescribed values for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and so does not interfere with any other radio signals.

HELLA was the first supplier to launch a beacon on the market in 1955 and the first LED beacon followed in 2006. In addition to halogen lamps, the company currently has 14 LED beacons in its product range and introduced the K-LED Blizzard in 2017.

HELLA, has also introduced a multi-function replacement combination unit, complete with the crown logo, as well as the white licence plate lamp, for Krone trailer applications.

Available as a hybrid or full LED rear combination, the lamp encompasses tail and stop light, direction indicator, rear fog lamp, plus reversing light and reflex reflector, with or without a clearance light. It also includes direction indicator failure control.

In contrast to the full LED version, in hybrid form, the direction indicator, rear fog and reversing lamps are conventional bulbs, with the remaining functions LED.

The benefits of modern LED lighting technology include extremely low energy consumption, so the combination of efficient LEDs and precision optics enables HELLA rear combination lamps to meet the legally required level of light distribution with 67% less energy consumption than that of bulb-based lamps.

In addition, they require no maintenance and provide an extremely long service life due to their excellent thermal management, which has been achieved by optimally matching the internal components temperature-wise and rules out the possibility of overloading the LEDs at extremely high ambient temperatures. Built for durability over the life of the vehicle, these quality LED combination units are an impressive, economical and environmentally-friendly ‘fit-and-forget’ solution.

The direction indicator function is monitored by the electronics and produces a current pulse for the indicator input, which is generated at a defined point in time. For every flashing impulse, the upstream flasher unit in the vehicle electrical system requests this impulse after 100 milliseconds (ms) – for at least 20 ms.

If any components or LEDs for the indicator function are defective, this is detected by the electronics and the pulse fails to function. This complies with the legally prescribed direction indicator failure detection (in accordance with the ECE regulation) and ensures the driver is always informed of indicator failure.

For more information about the new LED beacon or Krone rear combination lamps or any of the OE quality products available from HELLA, please call customer services on: 01295 662400 or email [email protected].