Mobile Light Towers for Job Sites
Why Are Mobile Light Towers So Important for Business Sites?
What is a Mobile Light tower?
A light tower is a mobile device that contains one or more high-intensity lights and masts. It is almost always pole-tied, trailer-tied, and powered by a generator. Typically, the lamp is powered by a metal halide bulb or the much more efficient LED bulbs and a generator, a diesel engine, or systems that convert solar, wind energy into power. However, battery-powered, solar-powered, and hydrogen-powered devices can be used. Electrodeless lamp illuminated light towers are also sold.
The light tower usually doesn't come to mind until it's dark and needs to be opened. But like a flashlight on dark streets, the light tower is one of the most critical products on construction sites when the sun starts to set.
Light towers are essentially generators that can operate with diesel or renewable energy such as solar, wind energy combined with a lighting element. In most cases, the light tower has an auxiliary power supply in addition to the power supply for the running lights. This transforms most light towers into multifunctional devices, also allowing operators to use them as small generators.
Why is a Mobile Light tower so important?
Light towers on construction sites are not just a convenience. They can also be an important security measure. When acquiring a light tower, it's important to consider why you need one in your work area, how many you need, and where the towers should be placed for proper lighting. Learn more about mobile light towers for construction sites, including the types of towers available and how to choose the right one for your job site. Light towers make them an essential piece of equipment to have on construction sites. All work sites must have at least one light tower.
Above all, light towers make a construction site safer, providing light for working in the dark. Some construction companies may even use light towers during daylight hours to provide sufficient light for an enclosed work area. This way, you make sure your employees can easily see the equipment and tools they work with. This will reduce the risk of accidents or injuries on the job.
Plus, the light towers provide powerful lighting that lets you get things done after dark. This is a huge advantage for getting a job done quickly, because workers won't have to leave the job after the sun goes down. This allows the workday to be extended so employees can do more each day.
Consider the different times of summer darkness and winter intensification. While in most parts of the country stopping work at sunset can reduce your working hours by a few hours, in winter this time is much earlier. Use the light tower even at dawn, good lighting can help your workers to perform tasks accurately.
Finally, if there are no workers around, the light tower can protect the construction site overnight. Dark construction sites can soon become the target of theft, vandalism or other criminal activity. Site managers can help stop criminals by keeping good lighting on the site. Also, if the construction site is close to a public sidewalk or road, nighttime lighting can help people walk or drive around the site safely.
How to choose a suitable light tower?
When purchasing a light tower, you need to ask yourself a few questions.
Does workspace lighting require extra light and power?
Why rent two pieces of equipment when the combination of a light tower and mobile generator can provide a single solution for two critical jobsite needs? A mobile light tower provides up to 20 kW of energy to power tools, heaters or a construction site trailer while providing the necessary lighting. The two-in-one machine is particularly useful for construction sites with tight spaces and areas that require light without a reliable power source.
How long will you need light?
When choosing a light tower, fuel capacity is another important consideration if you prefer diesel powered ones. Large, efficient fuel tanks provide longer run times which means less downtime to refuel. Some light towers offer over 70 hours of runtime; this is a huge advantage when working in remote locations. Depending on site conditions, some mobile light towers can be manufactured with attractive features that can provide automatic lighting, allowing for optional remote locations or when varying amounts of lighting are required.
How much light is needed?
Knowing the level of lighting required for a construction site is not only a matter of safety, but also a matter of proper budgeting. Choosing the right light tower, or towers according to the situation, starts with choosing based on certain standards. Soli lighting can help you calculate the remaining factors that determine an application's lighting needs. These include the size of the space, whether the light should be constant and how bright the light should be.
So are there lighting restrictions for Mobile Light Towers?
Some applications may require non-glare lights for nighttime operation or may include restrictions on fluid retention or noise level. Knowing these requirements and available light tower features can assist in the selection process. Correct positioning of luminaires can significantly reduce the risk of glare hazards. Projectors at 9 meters should be placed at an angle of 30 degrees from the horizontal to provide optimum beam spread and reduced glare potential. Light towers with easily adjustable light fixtures with a locking pin system should be your choice. Each light fixture should rotate horizontally and vertically to provide ideal lighting. Another option is an externally powered balloon light that provides 2,000 W of glare-free illumination, requiring a 20 amp output.
Environmental safety regulations are another consideration when choosing a light tower. Some construction sites in both the United States and Canada have established containment regulations that may contain oil, coolant, and fuel. Choosing a portable light tower that offers containment as part of the machine frame makes it easier to comply with these regulations while eliminating the additional cost associated with a separate containment tray or spill pad.
Tips for Buying a Light Tower
Lamp options
Metal halide or LED lamps are two lamp options when it comes to Mobile Light Towers. Metal halide lamps are more affordable at first purchase, but LED light towers require less power and cost less over time. Light towers equipped with LED lamps are good for evenly illuminating large parts of work areas. It usually takes 3-5 minutes for metal halide lamps to reach full brightness. On the other hand, there is no need for such a period in LED.
LED lamps are more costly to purchase initially, but save over time due to lower operating costs. The lamps in LED lights are brighter and the elements last longer. LED light towers typically provide more focused, concentrated light that may be better for illuminating a specific area on a job site. LED lights can be turned on and off quickly with no time delay for full brightness.
Wide or narrow body equipment
Light towers have two options, narrow body or wide body. Both styles have their pros and cons. A wide body light tower is more stable and easier to tow due to its center of gravity whereas a narrow body light tower is more compact but moves more when towing for use on the job site.
Size of the light tower
When choosing an industrial light tower, there are two factors to consider when it comes to sizing - the size of the generator and the physical size of the unit itself. When it comes to generator size, consider whether auxiliary power is needed (sometimes called daisy chaining). Light towers come in a variety of sizes, with generators typically ranging from 8kW to 20kW. Make sure you choose the correct generator size to avoid wet stacking. When it comes to unit size, consider your business space - does the light tower need to be compact? Congested construction sites are not only uncomfortable but also more unsafe for workers.
Ease of installation
When it comes to smooth and continuous operations, both equipment transportation and installation can be a time-wasting procedure if not planned properly. Equipment not ready for use when needed can have a domino effect on operations and potentially cause downtime. Consider the length of your job and a plan for unloading equipment once it reaches the site. For example, for short-term jobs, vertical mast towers are often chosen because of their ease of installation compared to horizontal mast light towers.
Where is the light tower used?
Many types of worksites require light towers for practical and safety reasons. The following are some of the most common uses for light towers on construction sites:
- Mines
- Plumbing
- Housing construction
- Commercial construction
- Parking areas
- Industrial construction
- Highway constructions
How to deploy a Mobile Light Tower?
If you are not sure how many light towers you need, you can use the general rule below. You will need about 30 watts of power per square meter. For example, a light tower with four 1000-watt lamps can illuminate approximately 40 square feet of space.
Spacing the light towers will provide appropriate lighting with fewer towers. Also, setting the right angle for your light towers will ensure you get the best lighting on your job site. 9 meter floodlights are a popular choice in the construction industry. These lights should be placed at a 30 degree angle. This ensures the best beam spread and reduces the risk of glare, which can be dangerous when working with heavy tools and equipment.
