As to enterprises or individuals purchasing a large quantity of led trailer lights, the losses can be extremely heavy if they accidentally buy inferior products. So, how can we determine the quality of trailer lights? In fact, there is a set of testing methods and standards available.
The R6 regulation is formulated by the Economic Commission for Europe. It is one of the globally recognized standards for vehicle lighting equipment. The R6 regulation elaborately stipulates the requirements for trailer lights in terms of brightness, color, installation position, etc., and sets corresponding testing conditions and procedures. To be precise, regarding brake lights and turn signals, the R6 regulation requires that they must reach the specified minimum brightness values within a specific distance.
Part 108 of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) in the United States specifically puts forward strict technical specifications for vehicle lighting systems. It covers the functional indicators of trailer lights. And it also includes physical performance tests. These standards aim to ensure that trailer lights can operate stably for a long time in various complex environments, providing reliable safety guarantees for drivers and other road users.
Since trailers often travel on bumpy roads, the lamps are easily damaged by continuous vibrations. Therefore, the vibration test is a crucial part of evaluating the durability of trailer lights. During the test, the samples are fixed on a vibration table that simulates the actual usage environment and run for several hours or even several days under different frequencies and amplitudes. By checking the lamps show signs of looseness, detachment, or functional failure, etc., we can judge their structural strength and stability.
In addition to the vibrations during daily driving, trailer light may also encounter sudden mechanical impacts, such as collisions or accidental drops. So, the impact test is used to check the lights' capability of withstanding instantaneous high-energy impacts. In this test, the samples will be dropped freely from a certain height onto a hard surface. After repeating this process several times, the lamps are inspected for any damage. High-quality trailer lights should have sufficient impact resistance to ensure normal operation even in extreme situations.
Considering that trailer lights are installed at a relatively low position and are likely to come into contact with water vapor and dust, waterproof and dustproof performance tests are essential. According to the IP protection rating standards, such as IP67, the testers will completely immerse the lamps in water for a certain period of time or expose them to an environment filled with fine particles. After the test, there should be no obvious water ingress or dust accumulation inside the qualified products, which proves that they have good sealing performance and weather resistance.
Trailer lights need to maintain stable performance under different climatic conditions. So, the temperature cycling test is used to simulate the impact of extreme temperature changes on the lamps. The samples will be repeatedly switched between high temperatures and low temperatures, experiencing dozens or even hundreds of thermal expansion and contraction processes. Through monitoring the working status of the lamps, we can evaluate their temperature resistance and long-term reliability.
In coastal areas or saline-alkali regions, the salt in the air can cause serious corrosion to metal components. The salt spray corrosion test imitates this harsh environment by placing the samples in a closed space filled with a sodium chloride solution spray for several consecutive hours. After the test, carefully check whether there are any problems such as rust and discoloration on the lamp housing, connectors, and other parts to measure their corrosion resistance.
Generally, in life, when starting the engine or using other electrical equipment, and the voltage will experience short-term fluctuations. The voltage fluctuation test can verify whether the lamps can operate normally in such situations. In this test, voltages higher or lower than the rated value will be applied to the samples. And thereafter observe whether their brightness, flashing frequency, and other characteristics are affected after a certain period of time. High-quality trailer lights should be able to emit light stably within a wide voltage range.
Along with the increasing complexity of modern vehicle electronic systems, the electromagnetic compatibility has become an important consideration. The EMC test works for checking whether trailer light will interfere with other in-vehicle electronic devices. In addition to this, it also examines their own ability to resist external electromagnetic interference. By testing the working status of the lamps in an electromagnetic field environment within a specific frequency range, we can ensure that they will not affect the normal operation of devices such as radios and navigators, and will not malfunction due to external interference.
Finally, when purchasing trailer lights, it is essential to buy from professional manufacturers. The trailer lights produced by professional manufacturers usually undergo multiple durability tests and come with professional certificates. It is hoped that this article can help you purchase high-quality trailer lights and avoid losses.
