Metra Electronics Introduces New RGB/RGBW Lights, Controllers, Mobile App at CES

Metra Electronics introduced new RGB and RGBW LED lights, controllers with programmable triggers and a new mobile app for their 12 volt brands.

RGBW lights feature the full spectrum of RGB LEDs plus an option for true white LED light color.

The new mobile app will work with Heise LED Lighting Systems, Metra PowerSports and Metra Marine RGB and RGBW lighting products, allowing multiple devices to be grouped together and synced to the same lighting patterns, colors and more. Additionally, Heise is releasing an RGB and an RGBW control box with several new rock light options and connection accessories.

Metra PowerSports will also unveil a new RGBW dome light, RGB and RGBW rock lights, a new control box and lighting connection accessories at CES 2020.

RGB/RGBW Mobile App

The new RGBW mobile app is customizable for each brand, allowing the user to select from three different backgrounds to reflect Heise, Metra PowerSports or Metra Marine’s brand style. The app has a selectable color wheel with 16 million different RGB color options and a true white light color option, available with RGBW products. The app automatically updates via Bluetooth and detects if a product connected to the control box is RGB or RGBW, allowing groups of both products to be used and controlled within the same mobile app.

Users can also select from built-in pre-programmed lighting transitions for rainbow, fire and water, with additional transitions that include blinking, fading or pulsing between a combination of any two colors. For accurate color matching to completely customize the LED lights, a camera color capture feature is also available in the app. The new mobile app uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) for wireless control that streams in the background, uses significantly less power and does not impact the user’s ability to stream music via Bluetooth from the same mobile device. Metra’s new app will be available in the Google Play and Apple store soon.

New Control Boxes

Both Heise and Metra PowerSports are launching new IPX4 rated control boxes for RGB and RGBW LED lights with conformal coated circuit boards. The new control boxes can group multiple devices and handle up to ten amps of current, which allows for more lighting products than what most competing standard control boxes can handle. The mobile app also allows for multiple control boxes to be grouped together and installed within the same system. Unique to both Heise and Metra PowerSports control boxes is the ability for installers to put a positive voltage trigger to lights to offer four programmable triggers for any color. For example, yellow for a turn signal, red for the brake light, white for the reverse light and an additional option for the fourth trigger. This feature is exclusive to Metra and allows for even more customization of the RGB and RGBW lighting products.

RGB-CB1 – Heise Control Box for RGB Lights with 4 Triggers
RGBW-CB1 – Heise Control Box for RGBW Lights with 4 Triggers
RGB-CB3 – Heise Control Box for 702RGB Headlights and Fog Lights with 4 Triggers
RGB-CB2 – Metra PowerSports RGB Control Box with 4 Triggers
RGBW-CB2 – Metra PowerSports RGBW Control Box with 4 Triggers
Control boxes are required for operation of RGB or RGBW lighting products.

New RGB and RGBW Lights

Heise and Metra PowerSports are both introducing rugged, off-road RGB and RGBW rock lights rated IP68 to accent vehicle wheel wells, footwells and more. Heise pod lights are available individually or as 4-pod kits in 9-watt RGB CREE LED or 24-watt RGBW 3030 LED options. Metra PowerSports rock lights feature three pods per strip with five LEDs per pod, available as individual strips or 4-pod strip kits. Metra PowerSports is also introducing a new RGBW dome light with 10-foot wire and female micro 5-DIN connector. Control boxes are sold separately and required for operation.

Heise Rock Lights:

RGB1-4KT – Heise 4-Pod RGB Rock Light Kit with CREE LEDs
HE-TL1RGB – Heise Single RGB Rock Light with CREE LEDs
RGBW1-4KT – Heise 4-Pod RGBW Rock Light Kit with 3030 LEDs
RGBW1-S1 – Heise Single RGBW Rock Light with 3030 LEDs

Metra PowerSports Rock Lights:

RGB2-4KT – Metra PowerSports 4-Pod RGB Rock Light Kit
RGB2-S1 – Metra PowerSports Single RGB Rock Light
RGBW2-4KT – Metra PowerSports 4-Pod RGBW Rock Light Kit
RGBW2-S1 – Metra PowerSports Single RGBW Rock Light
RGBW2-DL – Metra PowerSports RGBW Dome Light

Lighting Connection Accessories

To complete the lighting installation, Metra is introducing new “Y” adapters, pigtail adapters and extension accessories from both Heise and Metra PowerSports to work with the new lights and control boxes.

These new products will be shipping soon and can be seen on display at CES from Jan. 7-10, 2020, at booth 5211 in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Additional specifications and part numbers are available in the 2020 New Product Guide and MetraOnline.com, which will be released on Jan. 7, 2020.

Link: Metra Electronics