In general, campsite lighting can be a bit of a pain, sure, you can use a ‘work light’, if you enjoy burnt retinas and lots of shadow. Or you could use an LED lantern, or even a trusty head torch. Don’t get me wrong, all of these lighting options have their place, but I wanted something more. Something permanent, but at the same time something that could be moved around if needed. If that makes sense – probably not … let me explain.
- At least three strips about 50cm long;
- Magnetic mounting;
- White and orange light (I hate mozzies);
- Durable; and
- Dimmable – why not?
HARD KORR CAMPING LIGHT KIT
Tested
WORDS AND IMAGES TOBEY BOSTOCK
There are plenty of different ways to light up a campsite, from head torches to lanterns and more but we wanted something that would work on a truck and around camp. Enter the Hard Korr camping light kit.
REVIEW Hard Korr camping light kit
ABOVE 48cm strip lights are a good size for canopy gull-wings
My plan was to install strip lighting in the gull wings of my canopy to be used as campsite lighting and to help me see what I’m doing around the truck.
I searched around for a bit, there are plenty of strip-light LED kits on eBay, and I’d seen Hard Korr lighting kits on the shelf at my local automotive parts outlet, but these strips were too long and only offered white lighting. I was struggling to tick all of the boxes, because I especially wanted orange light; after using orange on a camper a little while ago, that was a non-negotiable as mozzies seem to be less attracted to orange than white light.
While the Hard Korr kit I’d seen didn’t work for me, I was impressed with the quality, so I jumped on the Hard Korr website and lo-and-behold, there was a newly released kit. It literally ticked every box. And then there’s the host of optional extras offered that I hadn’t considered, like wireless on-off. I opted for the four-bar kit which retails at $229.
The four-bar kit offers:
4x 48cm orange/white light bars;
2x Orange/white dimmer switches;
8x Removable light bar pole clips;
2x Dimmer pole clips;
1x 5m lead with cigarette/merit plug;
1x 2.5m extension cable;
1x 5m orange/white extension cable;
2x 3m orange/white extension cable; and
1x Two-way splitter cable.
“I especially wanted orange light; after using orange on a camper a little while ago, that was a non-negotiable as mozzies seem to be less attracted to orange than white light.”
Let there be light…
I mounted the two dimmers with two separate strip lights under the canopy gull wings using the magnetic mounts. The rubber-sealed screw connections are all waterproof, while the colour-coded ends make picking the right cable a cinch. The dimmers, as with the strip lights, are also magnetic, making the mounting options almost infinite. The magnetic mounting on the lights is strong enough to hold them in place across corrugations when I’m out in the bush.
The remaining lights can be daisy-chained off the installed lights, the heavy-duty extension cables go a long way (the four-bar kit offers one five-metre long extension cord and two three-metre long extension cords). This means you can move your lighting around the campsite or even attach them to a mate’s vehicle. Just make sure they don’t drive off with them attached.
The light output from the LEDs is excellent and the diffusers that aren’t common on strip lights do an excellent job of spreading the light and prevent them from blinding you if you happen to look at them directly. The dimmers are a simple rotary dial with a small LED power indicator, press the dial in, the light switches colour to orange.
Lots of light from the LEDs
Good connectors means reliable lighting
The dimmer switch tucked away
Orange really sets the mood, and keeps away the mozzies
HARD KORR 4 BAR ORANGE/WHITE LED CAMPING LIGHT KIT SPECIFICATIONS
LED type: Genuine OSRAM SMD5050
LED coating: Ultra-clear UV-resistant epoxy resin
Current draw: 12V/2.4A per hour
Output: 2360 lumens (white), 1400 lumens (orange)
Ingress Protection: IP68 (excl. dimmers)
Beam Angle: 180 degrees
LED Lifespan: 50,000 hours
Warranty: 5 years
Kit Price: 2 Bar $139, 4 Bar $229, 6 Bar $279
More info: korrlighting.com.au
WHAT WOULD I CHANGE?
Well, I’d exchange an extension lead for another cigarette plug; one for each of the dimmers. Also, a ‘mechanical’ on/off switch would give me more confidence in leaving these permanently powered. But other than that, the quality of the components is hard to fault.
WANT YOUR OWN HARD KORR LIGHTING – LED CAMPING LIGHT KIT?
Why not bundle it with a subscription to Pat Callinan's 4X4 Adventures magazine
REVIEW Hard Korr camping light kit
Tested
HARD KORR CAMPING LIGHT KIT
There are plenty of different ways to light up a campsite, from head torches to lanterns and more but we wanted something that would work on a truck and around camp. Enter the Hard Korr camping light kit.
WORDS AND IMAGES TOBEY BOSTOCK
In general, campsite lighting can be a bit of a pain, sure, you can use a ‘work light’, if you enjoy burnt retinas and lots of shadow. Or you could use an LED lantern, or even a trusty head torch. Don’t get me wrong, all of these lighting options have their place, but I wanted something more. Something permanent, but at the same time something that could be moved around if needed. If that makes sense – probably not … let me explain.
- At least three strips about 50cm long;
- Magnetic mounting;
- White and orange light (I hate mozzies);
- Durable; and
- Dimmable – why not?
My plan was to install strip lighting in the gull wings of my canopy to be used as campsite lighting and to help me see what I’m doing around the truck.
I searched around for a bit, there are plenty of strip-light LED kits on eBay, and I’d seen Hard Korr lighting kits on the shelf at my local automotive parts outlet, but these strips were too long and only offered white lighting. I was struggling to tick all of the boxes, because I especially wanted orange light; after using orange on a camper a little while ago, that was a non-negotiable as mozzies seem to be less attracted to orange than white light.
While the Hard Korr kit I’d seen didn’t work for me, I was impressed with the quality, so I jumped on the Hard Korr website and lo-and-behold, there was a newly released kit. It literally ticked every box. And then there’s the host of optional extras offered that I hadn’t considered, like wireless on-off. I opted for the four-bar kit which retails at $229.
ABOVE 48cm strip lights are a good size for canopy gull-wings
The four-bar kit offers:
4x 48cm orange/white light bars;
2x Orange/white dimmer switches;
8x Removable light bar pole clips;
2x Dimmer pole clips;
1x 5m lead with cigarette/merit plug;
1x 2.5m extension cable;
1x 5m orange/white extension cable;
2x 3m orange/white extension cable; and
1x Two-way splitter cable.
“I especially wanted orange light; after using orange on a camper a little while ago, that was a non-negotiable as mozzies seem to be less attracted to orange than white light.”
Let there be light…
I mounted the two dimmers with two separate strip lights under the canopy gull wings using the magnetic mounts. The rubber-sealed screw connections are all waterproof, while the colour-coded ends make picking the right cable a cinch. The dimmers, as with the strip lights, are also magnetic, making the mounting options almost infinite. The magnetic mounting on the lights is strong enough to hold them in place across corrugations when I’m out in the bush.
The remaining lights can be daisy-chained off the installed lights, the heavy-duty extension cables go a long way (the four-bar kit offers one five-metre long extension cord and two three-metre long extension cords). This means you can move your lighting around the campsite or even attach them to a mate’s vehicle. Just make sure they don’t drive off with them attached.
The light output from the LEDs is excellent and the diffusers that aren’t common on strip lights do an excellent job of spreading the light and prevent them from blinding you if you happen to look at them directly. The dimmers are a simple rotary dial with a small LED power indicator, press the dial in, the light switches colour to orange.
Good connectors means reliable lighting
Lots of light from the LEDs
The dimmer switch tucked away
Orange really sets the mood, and keeps away the mozzies
WHAT WOULD I CHANGE?
Well, I’d exchange an extension lead for another cigarette plug; one for each of the dimmers. Also, a ‘mechanical’ on/off switch would give me more confidence in leaving these permanently powered. But other than that, the quality of the components is hard to fault.
HARD KORR 4 BAR ORANGE/WHITE LED CAMPING LIGHT KIT SPECIFICATIONS
LED type: Genuine OSRAM SMD5050
LED coating: Ultra-clear UV-resistant epoxy resin
Current draw: 12V/2.4A per hour
Output: 2360 lumens (white), 1400 lumens (orange)
Ingress Protection: IP68 (excl. dimmers)
Beam Angle: 180 degrees
LED Lifespan: 50,000 hours
Warranty: 5 years
Kit Price: 2 Bar $139, 4 Bar $229, 6 Bar $279
More info: korrlighting.com.au
WANT YOUR OWN HARD KORR LIGHTING – LED CAMPING LIGHT KIT?
Why not bundle it with a subscription to Pat Callinan's 4X4 Adventures magazine