Rugged LED lighting for trucks
For At C, we designed an LED light strip for trucks that survives it's harsh electrical system and meets its light output specification, verified with our own measurement equipment.
- Client
- At C
- Year
- 2025
- Services
- Electronics design
The challenge
At C, a company specialised in LED lighting, needed a light strip for trucks.
A truck is a tough place for electronics. The strip runs directly from the 24 V electrical system, which is far from a clean power supply. If the battery connection is lost while the alternator is charging, a load dump sends a voltage spike through the wiring that can destroy unprotected electronics, and engine starts add their own dips and spikes.
The strip also had to meet specifications for light output and colour temperature. On a truck, good lighting is a safety feature, not decoration.
What we did
We designed the LED strip and its protection circuit together. The protection on the board absorbs load dump and other spikes from the truck’s electrical system to comply with ISO 16750-2.
To meet the light output specification, we drew on our experience with LED lighting: choosing the right LEDs and drivers, and keeping them cool, so their brightness and colour stay stable over the life of the product.
We didn’t rely on datasheets alone. We measured the strip with our in-house light measurement device. It measures brightness, colour and colour temperature, so we could check every design choice against the specification.
Beyond the design
Because we can measure light in-house, we could also help AT-C evaluate different potting materials and how they affect the light output of the LEDs.
