Propickup Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/93583
get the LED out Throw away those antiquated warning lights and step up to the world of high-tech; new LED systems improve safety and effi ciency while lowering operating costs That's why those who need warning lights and auxiliary lighting on pickups and equipment are turning their attention to LEDs. Utilizing LEDs (light-emitting diodes) as T a commercial aftermarket light has been around for decades. LED lights, all made overseas, are com- posed of separate LEDs each protected with a lens that's part of the unit. From there it's a wide-open off ering of new lighting products for just about every need anyone in the heavy PROPICKUP DIGITAL hey are more compact, brighter, longer lasting, water- and vibration-proof and effi cient than any other lighting source. construction industry could ever want or need. Where the diff erences arise between brands such as J.W. Speaker, Rigid Industries, VisionX, Whelen and the dozens of other light manufacturers is the size of the LEDs used in their products, how the LEDs are housed, the design of the focusing lenses and refl ectors, the power supply, the quality of the mounts and wiring, and how the arrays are setup. In the last couple years new strides in emitter and lens design, LED coatings, more effi cient manufacturing processes, and wider applications for LED lights have greatly By G.R. Whale increased the demand while driving the price down to an attractive level for many working pros in the heavy construction/contracting trades. From an effi ciency standpoint alone, to- day's newest crop of LEDs can't be beat. Many LED manufacturers claim 50,000 hours of bulb life as opposed to the 1,000 to 1,500 hours of a halogen bulb or 2,000 for comparable HID lights. (This bulb life is estimated on the point at which users will notice a diff erence.) HID and halogen lights are also susceptible to vibrations, so when used in off -pavement environments their life is cut even shorter