There are many things to think about when choosing LED lighting for your tractor, agricultural equipment or industrial vehicles. You may not have considered color to be one of them. But it’s true, there are specific times when you’ll want white lights or amber lights. You might think that amber lights are just to serve as warning lights. That is an important function of amber lights, but there are other reasons why sometimes amber is better.
When to choose white LED lights
1) Seeing farther and wider is the goal: On clear nights, white lights illuminate deeper into the darkness, revealing hazards like ruts in the ground, exposed rocks, branches and other objects. White lights are the standard that work for most situations.
2) Anticipating hazards: Bright white lights produce the most illumination to clearly define colors, forms and movement. By seeing farther ahead, you can see hazards before they become a problem. Hazards include everything from stationary objects blocking the path to moving hazards like animals that may dart out into the pathway.
3) Clear night conditions: When the night is clear and visibility is good other than for darkness, white lights are the superior choice.
When to choose amber LED lights
1) Warning or slow-moving vehicles: Amber is a common signal for a warning light. It’s perfect if you’re out in the field and need to alert others of a problem, and it’s a good choice when you take slow-moving farm machinery or construction equipment on the highway.
2) Dusty environments: If the wind or other vehicles are kicking up a lot of dust, amber lights can actually give better visibility than white. White light bounces off the dust particles and makes visibility more difficult.
3) Fog and mist: If the atmosphere is foggy or misty, white light causes glare that often becomes blinding. In this case, amber lights will provide better visibility, letting you see farther.
How to best equip farm and industrial vehicles with LED lighting
White light, of course, is the standard choice for any vehicle lighting system. It’s the general-purpose color that you need the most. The best approach is to add amber lights as an additional option. That way you are best prepared to work in any condition from clear nights to foggy and dusty environments. Better preparation leads to enhanced productivity and increased safety in farm fields and on construction sites.
