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VANME & Strands LED Lighting Division

Light that makes the difference between stopping and standing still

In delivery traffic between Hamburg and Bremen, the standard lighting of a Mercedes Sprinter or VW Crafter is perfectly adequate. In a motorhome that is driven for a season over Norwegian forest roads, through the Moroccan Atlas or over the Brenner Pass at night, it reaches its limits. The main headlights of these vehicles are designed at the factory for inner-city distribution operation – not for tracks without street lighting, not for wet gravel climbs in fog and certainly not for the timely detection of game coming out of the forest onto the road.

For precisely these application profiles, we at VANME work together with Strands Lighting Division, the Swedish manufacturer that has been exclusively developing LED lighting for vehicles since the company was founded in 2002. Strands LED products are now an integral part of professional camper van conversions in Europe. There are no halogen bulbs, no xenon kits, no incandescent lamps in the range – every light in the range is a Strands LED solution.

Who is behind Strands Lighting Division

Strands Lighting Division was founded in Sweden in 2002 and since then has focused exclusively on vehicle lighting with LED technology. Headquartered in Sweden, production is spread across locations in Europe and Asia, according to the manufacturer. In recent years, the company has developed into the fastest growing European brand in the truck, off-road and camper lighting segment – not least because all Strands LED products are supplied with a three-year functional guarantee, which is rare on the market in this form.

Unlike many competitors, who have built their range around incandescent lamps, halogen replacement bulbs and universal accessories, the Strands range is consistently focused on a single light source. This focus is reflected in detailed solutions that have become typical of the brand: integrated relays in the lightbars, DT connectors from the factory, identically designed brackets across the entire product range and an accessory system of cable kits, switches and control units that remains compatible from one model to the next.

The dual role of the products is characteristic: A Strands LED headlamp bears a clearly identifiable optical signature – recognizable by the switchable white/yellow position lights of the Siberia and Firefly series – and at the same time is technically tuned to meet ECE approvals such as R148, R149 or R112. In practice, these two requirements are often mutually exclusive, because road-approved light distribution without spill light usually goes hand in hand with a sober appearance. With Strands LED solutions, they are the design goal.

Products from the 4×4 camper category

For our Hamburg manufactory, we primarily rely on the selection from the 4×4 camper category in the Strands LED catalog. This selection bundles those lights that the manufacturer has approved specifically for motorhomes, off-road vehicles and pickups – i.e. for vehicles whose requirements differ significantly from those of pure commercial vehicles.

The range there is divided into four functional areas: Driving lamps and lightbars for front mounting, work and scene lights for the parking space or tailgate, reversing and rear lights as a replacement or supplement to the standard system, as well as position lights and marker lights. In each of these areas, there is a tested solution in the range that is approved for the standard on-board voltages of 12 or 24 volts in panel van conversions.

Strands LED Bar – Siberia, Firefly and the special role of the narrow design

The brand’s best-known product is the Strands LED bar. The Siberia XP series, supplied in lengths of 12, 22, 32, 42 and 50 inches, covers the classic requirement for a spotlight on the front mask of a Sprinter or Crafter. The LEDs are from OSRAM, built-in relays make installation easier and a dual mode allows switching between road-approved E-mode output and approved XP output for off-road use.

Where there is little installation space on the vehicle – for example behind the radiator grille of a Sprinter 907 or under the bumper of a VW Crafter with front protection bar – the Firefly series comes into its own. At just 70 mm deep and 38.5 mm high, the Firefly LED Bar 10″ is the thinnest Strands LED Bar in the range to date. Despite its slim design, the 10-inch model achieves 5,010 measured lumens and a light range of 363 meters (measured at 1 lux); the 20-inch version achieves 10,670 lumens and 496 meters. The position lights integrated into the lens body are the visual distinguishing feature of the series and identify the product as Strands even at dusk.

For vehicles with roof rails or bars, the Firefly Professional 9″ is also relevant, which is one of the most powerful Strands LED headlights in the range with 12,076 lumens and a light range of over 500 meters.

Nuuk series: Strands LED for tight installation situations

A second product family that regularly appears in the 4×4 camper category is the Nuuk series. It was developed for installation positions where classic lightbars or spotlights do not fit: bumper trim, A-pillar holder, tailgate or the step of a heavy truck.

The Nuuk D-Line QB Driving Light 3″ is a Strands LED headlamp that is just 97 mm high and, with 2,710 lumens and a lighting range of 240 meters, offers sufficient reserves for driving on pistes and forest tracks. The larger sister model Nuuk D-Line QB Qube 39W covers the same range of applications for quad bikes, ATVs and small off-roaders. The Nuuk D-Line MC version with 2,540 lumens and a range of 276 meters is E-certified in accordance with R148 and R149 and is therefore also approved for use in Germany.

On the work light side, the Nuuk E-Line Work Light 80W is the counterpart: 8,200 measured lumens, a range of 111 meters, IP68/IP69K protection and an installation space of 514 × 28.2 × 30 mm make this Strands LED work light the first choice when the lighting needs to be accommodated at the rear of the body without being bulky.

FOR9T series: consistent design line across all lighting functions

The FOR9T series is the latest premium line among the Strands LED products and differs from Siberia, Firefly and Nuuk in its consistent design code: dark lenses, a honeycomb grid in the reflector and position lights with a 3D effect that only become visible when activated. This allows a uniform look to be created on the vehicle across all lighting functions – driving lights, work lights, rear lights and position lights from a single line.

Three Strands LED components from the range are particularly interesting for camper bodies: the FOR9T Dragon Drive 9″ as a spotlight with 9,300 lumens, 586 meters of light range and IP67 protection; the compact FOR9T Light Pod 4″ with 2.600 measured lumens and 164 meters range, which thanks to its dimensions of 108 × 70 × 65 mm also fits into tight installation positions; and the FOR9T no-glare work lights in 31 or 78 watts, whose special lens scatters the glare in the lower beam area upwards in a targeted manner, thus reducing eye fatigue when working on the site. In addition, FOR9T Scale position lights (ECE R148, white/yellow/red, operating voltage 10-40 V DC) and the Orbi tail light block are available, so that a complete light signature for the camper can be derived from a single Strands LED family – from the front mask to the tailgate.

Rear and reverse gear

In addition, we use rear and reversing lights from the range – in the camper sector especially the Siberia Mo Multiple Options. It combines reversing light, brake light, blinker and red tail light in an E-approved housing and can be integrated into an existing recess with a frame and rubber seal or mounted using an angle bracket. This is particularly practical if there is a step module or a spare wheel holder on the tailgate and standard lights simply do not fit there.

How VANME installs Strands LED products

In our Hamburg workshop, lighting planning is part of the early concept phase of every camper project. Before a vehicle is put on the lift, we determine which Strands LED components are to be installed, where they are to be located, how they are to be wired and which TÜV registration is required for them.

In a typical Sprinter conversion, this means in practice: a Strands LED bar (usually Siberia XP 32″ SR or Firefly 20″) as a driving light on the roof rack or behind the front mask, two Nuuk D-Line QB as additional runway lights on the bull bar, a Firefly Scene Light 30W above the sliding door for safe exiting in the dark, and a Nuuk E-Line at the rear as a work light. All Strands LED components are connected with vehicle-specific cable kits – DT connectors are standard, which simplifies subsequent maintenance or additions.

Electrical integration takes place via the vehicle electrical system with its own fuse and relay; in vehicles with CAN bus control, the control is solved in such a way that no error messages appear in the instrument cluster. On request, the Strands LED headlights can also be operated via separate switches or a remote control.

Strands LED Germany – Approval, guarantee, availability

For our customers in Germany, the issue of road approval is central: Anyone who mounts a lightbar on the roof of their Sprinter must have it registered. Strands LED products from the 4×4 camper category are supplied with ECE approval marks (R148/R149 for spotlights, R112 for the Identity series, R65 for the Firefly One with flashing function).

The three-year functional guarantee on all products covers manufacturing and material defects and is handled by the European distribution network. As Strands LED supplies Germany via a dense dealer network, spare parts and follow-up orders are usually available within a few working days.

Would you like Strands LED components for your VANME camper – whether new or retrofitted? Then get in touch with us. We will advise you on which configuration suits your vehicle and travel profile.
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Frequently asked questions

What is Strands Lighting Division?

Strands Lighting Division is a Swedish manufacturer of vehicle lighting founded in 2002 that exclusively develops LED products. The range includes lightbars, spotlights, work and scene lights, reversing and rear lights as well as position lights – all designed for 12 and 24-volt vehicle electrical systems.

Which Strands LED products does VANME install?

VANME primarily uses components from the 4×4 camper category – including the Siberia XP lightbars, the Firefly series and the Nuuk D-Line. Which Strands LED variant is used in the vehicle depends on the application profile, the installation space and the desired look.

Are Strands LED headlights road-legal in Germany?

Yes, as long as they have an ECE approval mark. The majority of Strands LED products in the 4×4 camper category are approved to R148, R149 or R112 and can be registered with the TÜV. VANME supplies the necessary data sheets.

How long is the guarantee on Strands LED products?

Strands grants a three-year functional guarantee on all LED products from the date of purchase. It covers manufacturing and material defects and is handled by the manufacturer’s European sales department.

Can I have Strands LED components retrofitted?

Yes, VANME can provide advice on selection, ordering, installation, electrical integration and – on request – TÜV approval. We can also retrofit Strands LED solutions to vehicles that were not originally fitted by us.

Where are Strands manufactured?

Strands Lighting Division is headquartered in Sweden. According to the manufacturer, production of the individual product ranges is spread across locations in Europe and Asia, depending on the respective product category.