Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/873209
44 | Overdrive | September 2017 LIGHT MAINTENANCE It also helps to remove any wire probes or picks used by technicians to penetrate the wire to measure voltage or continuity, Van Riper says. "The use of these wire probes causes permanent damage to the stranded wire, and the corrosion will wick up through the harness, causing the movement of corrosion through the electrical system," he says. "The use of dielectric grease with a corrosion inhibitor is a great rec- ommendation we make to help improve the resistance of your wiring system." LEDs vs. incandescents LEDs cost more than incandescent lamps but offer significant advantages: They are more durable, usually have a wider voltage operating range and produce the same light output in low-voltage or volt- age-drop situations, Vincent says. "When voltage drop occurs with incandescent lamps, they get dim, and you could be cited for insufficient light- ing," she says. If roadside service is nec- essary, the failure of a $5 lamp can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars in ser- vice fees, lost productivity, fines for vio- lations and significant points against the CSA scores of the driver and the fleet. Marker lights demonstrate the extend- ed life value offered by LEDs, Van Riper says. "A red incandescent marker lamp has a rated life of 5,000 hours, while a red LED marker lamp has a rated life of 100,000 hours. Couple the life benefit of LED technology with the resistance to mechanical damage, shock and vibra- tion, and you have a product that can potentially last the life of the vehicle." Truck makers now order more than nine LEDs for every one incandescent lamp, says Marcus Hester, Optronics' vice president of sales and marketing. Hester says modern LEDs use only 10 to 30 percent of the amps needed to light an incandescent lamp, freeing that power for other components. Switching to LEDs Converting a truck or trailer from incandescent to LED lighting can be as simple as unplugging the old light and plugging in the new one, but not in every case. "Tractors are a little more specific as to what they can replace as opposed to the variety available for trailers, and it's straightforward," Vincent says. "In recent years, tractors have started using the same taillight as the trailers, 4-inch round, which makes it more universal. In some cases, for trailers, changing over from an incandescent lamp to an LED may require an adapter. Mounting applications may need to be taken into consideration as well." Incandescent systems often come with PL-3 connectors that are less reliable than the weathertight connectors found on most LED lamps, Johnson says. While Optronics recommends the use of weathertight connectors where possible to assure optimal service life, trucks with existing incandescent lamps using PL-3 connectors can be upgraded easily to Optronics' LED lamps, he says. Van Riper says to avoid using bulbs labeled "offroad use only" because they can damage a headlamp beyond repair. He also notes that replacement kits designed for converting halogen lamps to LED or high-intensity discharge are illegal. "Use of illegal HID or LED kits in your headlamps will cause glare levels too high for oncoming drivers," he says. "All replaceable bulb headlamps and bulbs should be marked with the DOT symbol, and if they are not marked, we advise that you do not use them. For vehicles equipped with halogen head- lamps, we recommend that you stick with halogen replacement bulbs called out by the manufacturer." Other lighting violations Reflectors and conspicuity tape are critical items that often are overlooked. Johnson calls them "the last bastion of safety and visibility in a situation when the lighting and power are out on a vehicle." The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requires most trailers to be equipped on the sides and rear with a means of making them more visible. The NHTSA rule allows trailer manufacturers to install either red and white retroreflective sheeting or reflex reflectors. Drivers can receive violations for hav- ing defective reflectors and conspicuity tape and should make sure reflectors are free of cracks and dirt, Johnson says. "Over time, conspicuity tape can also degrade to the point that it is no longer sufficiently reflective, thus making an unlit truck a sitting duck for a collision," he says. Tractors have started using the same taillights as trailers, 4-inch round, which makes them more universal and interchangeable.