Optronics Combines ID Light Bar with Utility Light

A new combination LED lamp from Optronics enables a vehicle’s light bar to serve double duty as a utility and scene light, whether it’s mounted high or low on a truck or trailer.

Optronics International, which makes vehicle harnesses, electronic control systems and LED lighting for the transportation industry, introduced the new MCL80RCB LED Combination ID Light Bar and Utility Light for trucking applications.

With a mounting position high on the back of a vehicle, the lamp is able to illuminate a wide area below and behind it with white LED light. Mounted on trailers where the ID bar is close to the ground, the lamp provides greater visibility and safety with a tighter and more intense beam pattern.

The company said it has found that when drivers are working in, on or around the rear end of a vehicle in low-light conditions, separate utility or work lamps are needed to light the work area. Extra lights require mounting, routing holes, wiring and careful lamp placement so they won't interfere with vehicle operation, doors and personnel.

Using the ID light already required for vehicles measuring 80 inches or more in width as a platform, the MCL80RCB LED Combination ID Light Bar & Utility Light incorporates two seven-diode white LED utility lights. The thin, streamlined body of the lamp measures just 15.5 inches in length, 1.313 inches in width and 0.75 inches in thickness, including its attached, closed-cell foam gasket.

The surface-mount, hardwired lamp is easy to install, according to the company, and its integrated utility lights can be operated with a standard switch. The lamp requires just two fasteners for mounting and one wiring hole with a 0.59-inch diameter.

This lamp can be used anywhere an ID bar is mounted and because that’s usually up high, a customer can use it to light cargo, liftgates and the ground below. The company believes it’s a perfect match for vehicles involved in last-mile delivery, particularly during winter months. It’s also expected to be a great fit for enclosed trailers and a variety of truck van bodies.

The lamp’s lens and housings are made of tough polycarbonate material that is sonically welded. The lamp employs a solid-state, surface-mount device (SMD) design that protects its electronics against moisture, shock and vibration. The light is expected to be in stock and available for shipping in the first quarter of 2021.