The impact of ambient temperature on LED signaling

Wetgeving, keuzehulp en technische uitleg - alles wat je moet weten over professionele voertuigsignalisatie.

Ambient temperature can reduce the lifespan of LED vehicle lighting by up to 66%. While an LED lasts an average of 150,000 hours (L70) at 25°C, this drops to just 50,000 hours under extreme heat (85°C). Effective thermal management through Electronic Thermal Management (ETM) and high-quality housings is therefore essential for fleet operational reliability.


Thermal degradation in vehicles

LEDs generate internal heat. When this heat is not efficiently dissipated due to high ambient temperatures or direct sunlight, the degradation of the LED chip accelerates. This results in an exponentially faster decline in light intensity, directly compromising vehicle safety.


Quantitative data: Lumen Maintenance and Lifespan (L70)

The L70 threshold marks the critical point where a lamp has lost 30% of its original light output and is considered unsafe for signaling.

Operating hours

25°C (Standard)

55°C (warm)

85°C (Extreme)

0u

100%

100%

100%

20.000u

95%

92%

85%

50.000u

90%

85%

70% (L70)

100.000u

80%

70% (L70)

50%

150.000u

70% (L70)

55%

35%

Key figure: In practice, a work light ages up to 3x faster under extreme heat compared to an optimally cooled installation.

Technical solutions for thermal control

To maximize service life, AEB applies advanced technologies in its signaling solutions:

  • High-quality Housings: Use of aluminum cooling fins for efficient heat dissipation to the outside air.
  • Electronic Thermal Management (ETM): Integrated sensors that dynamically adjust the power supply to the LEDs during overheating to prevent damage without completely switching off the lighting.