Industrial Vehicles: A Guide on Choosing the Best LED Work Light

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the US Census Bureau, 16.4% of shift workers worked a non-daytime schedule. When they work indoors during those hours, their biggest threat is lack of sleep. Outdoor industrial work offers more risks to their livelihood. 

Work light installations reduce the risk of an accident by illuminating an area. However, these lights tend to run hot, burn through your generator's fuel, and fail without notice. Your best option is to invest in LED lighting solutions. 

Here's your guide on how to find the best LED work light for your industrial vehicle. 

How to Know When You Need a Vehicle Lighting System Upgrade

It's important to know why you might need to make the switch to LED lighting as opposed to traditional options. There's a very good chance LED will serve you much better for your nighttime operations. 

Do you suffer poor visibility at night? Your current system may struggle to illuminate work areas, which leads to reduced visibility. Frequent bulb replacements will also increase downtime and maintenance costs. 

Harsher work environments may damage standard halogen and HID lights. They have to survive factors like extreme temperatures, vibrations, and moisture. 

If your workplace considers these qualities important, then you'll want to invest in LED lights that last longer. 

Key Factors When Choosing a New LED Work Light

Buying LED lights is much the same as getting any other piece of work equipment. You look into what you need for the specific conditions you're working in. 

Do you need equipment that can handle rainy weather? Is excess light a problem because of where you're working? Do you have the additional equipment to install external work lights? 

Brightness and Luminous Output

The brightness of LED work lights is measured in lumens. Higher lumen ratings ensure better visibility, which is useful in dark areas away from city street lights. Lights with at least 5,000 lumens are ideal for operations in extremely dark environments. 

The only problem with heavy-duty LED lights is that they may illuminate too much in certain areas. You want to illuminate as much of your worksite as possible without lighting up spaces outside of your designated work area. It's also important not to point these lights directly into the eyes of other workers. 

Durability and Build Quality

Industrial vehicles are exposed to rough conditions. You'll need lighting solutions with durable housing and impact-resistant lenses. Normal bulbs have a tendency to break when shaken, which is common when working on uneven terrain. 

Look for heavy-duty LED lights with aluminum or polycarbonate casings to withstand vibrations, moisture, and debris. Alternatively, you could buy an extra housing unit for your LED lights if they don't come with water protection. 

Energy Efficiency and Power Consumption

Energy efficiency is one of the main reasons why people use LED lighting. Quality LED light bulbs last longer than traditional bulbs and use less energy. Residential LEDs use at least 75% less energy, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. 

This lower energy usage doesn't matter too much if you're using standing lights hooked up to the grid. However, conserving your energy matters if you have these lights attached to vehicles or if you're using a generator. 

Beam Pattern and Coverage

In an industrial site, you'll need the right beam pattern for each application. Flood beams provide wide-area illumination, which makes them great for general work areas. Spot beams focus on specific zones, improving visibility for precision tasks. 

Some installations may benefit from a combination of both. You could always mount multiple different lights onto your vehicle and switch them based on your current needs. 

Weather and Environmental Resistance

Industrial vehicles often operate in extreme weather conditions. LED work lights with an IP67 or IP68 rating offer protection against dust and water. These lights ensure consistent performance in different environments. 

Easy Installation and Compatibility 

Quick and easy work light installations minimize downtime when you need to swap out certain lights. Many LED lights for vehicles come with universal mounting brackets and plug-and-play connectors.

They're simple to set up into your existing vehicle lighting system. You can also find guides online for different models, such as LED light bars. 

 

Benefits of Industrial Vehicle Lighting

Industrial vehicle lighting brings a few benefits to your worksite as an alternative to only standing lights. They enhance safety and better work efficiency. You'll also be happy to help your crew save money and use an eco-friendly solution. 

Enhanced Safety

The first main benefit of LED lighting is better worksite safety. Improved visibility reduces the risk of accidents, ensuring a safer work environment. There's also less risk of a lightbulb blowing out on you and compromising you. 

Better Work Efficiency

If your work lights function properly, you can perform your tasks without worry. Bright and focused lighting enables employees to work with greater accuracy and speed. You won't have to wait for rain to pass if your lights are waterproof, nor will you have to put them away during a heat wave. 

Cost Savings

Lower energy consumption and longer lifespan reduce maintenance and replacement costs. You'll also find that the higher durability of LED lights means they won't break down during turbulent weather conditions. 

Eco-Friendly Solution

One of the best reasons to use LED lights is because they're an eco-friendly solution for your worksite. 

Since LED uses less energy and generates less heat, they have a smaller carbon footprint than traditional lights. Their longer lifespan also means they won't end up in the trash as often. 

Enhance Employee Productivity and Safety

An LED work light can take a lot of forms, such as your industrial vehicle-mounted option or a free-standing one. What matters is that you pick the right light to illuminate your worksite and survive whatever weather conditions your area has to offer. 

If you need new LED lighting for your job, look no further than Tiger Lights. We specialize in LED lights for agricultural and industrial equipment, and our lights are made to last over 50,000 hours. Check out our stock online and reach out with any questions. 

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