Work machine lighting guide

When talking about lighting for various machines and heavy equipment, the most common type of lighting is work lights, which illuminate the immediate/working area of ​​the machine, but the same category also includes, for example, additional lights intended for longer distances, especially for road traffic and work at higher speeds, as well as various warning lights, which ensure the visibility and noticeability of the machine. When choosing lights, it is important to consider which area needs improvement (or are we talking about improving the overall lighting) so that the lights can be selected correctly for each task. A work light with a wide beam does not work when light is needed far ahead, e.g. when plowing roads, and an efficient, long-range additional light does not illuminate the side of the vehicle in the best possible way in tight spaces.

Since work machines and heavy equipment are often used at night, e.g. early in the morning or late at night, sufficient lighting is important for both the driver's comfort, alertness and work efficiency and for general safety, as sufficient lighting helps to detect hazards. Appropriate lighting can help improve visibility and reduce the risk of accidents or injuries.

The most important things to consider in lighting

• A sufficient number of lights, too much is okay, but too dim lighting irritates and strains the eyes
• Light placement: easier to direct from above, but from below there is no glare, e.g. in snowfall
• Illumination of the work area widely and evenly
• Optimal color tone, so-called neutral, 5000K
• Wide-beam lights for nearby areas, narrow beam for further distances
• Don't forget about attention and warning lighting!

Work lights

Our range includes work lights for every need and sometimes the number of options can even be confusing. When considering and choosing the so-called work lighting for a machine, you should take into account the type of work and the conditions in which the lights will be used. The more demanding the work tasks the machine will be working in, the more light is needed. In addition, the speed and the extent of the working area increase the need for light: in a mini excavator, lighting is usually needed up to a maximum distance of 10 meters, while in tractors the need varies greatly and often the situation requires visibility of up to hundreds of meters.

The width and uniformity of the light beam, the color tone of the light and the sufficient amount of light all affect how pleasant it is to work in the glow of work lights. A widely and evenly illuminated work area with an optimal color tone of about 5000K and a sufficient amount of light ensures that the work pace does not slow down and the eyes do not get tired, even in rainy autumn weather. In addition, most of our work lights are available with both wide and narrow beams. Wide-beam lights are well suited for lighting areas near the machine and ensure glare-free lighting. Narrow-beam lights, on the other hand, provide lighting range for situations and machines where range is needed.

In addition to power and beam, when choosing a light, it is worth considering the requirements set by the installation location. The size of the light can limit its installation location in some cases, but above all, it is worth considering what kind of stress the lights will be subjected to. If the lights are mounted low and are constantly at the mercy of dirt, flying stones and scratching branches, Purelux's HD series is the right choice, thanks to its extremely strong frame and IP69K protection rating. The HD series has been developed for mines and other demanding work applications. The series comes in several different sizes and powers, and the Square HD 60W and Square HD 90W have been very popular, especially for lighting construction machinery.

The number and power of lights are determined by the type of machine lighting being built and the types of work tasks it will perform. It is advisable to place enough lights in the main work area, e.g. in front of the excavator, so that the entire work area is illuminated at a sufficient level. Suitable lighting is achieved with, for example, 4-8 pieces of 60-120W lights and in addition, it is advisable to install 1-3 lights on the boom to illuminate the bucket and behind the bucket. In addition, it is advisable to place 1-2 lights on each side to avoid dark corners. Of course, more lights can be installed, because in practice there can never be too much light, especially in autumn when the wet, dark ground "absorbs" the light effectively.

When considering rear-facing lights, you can consider whether the lights are only needed to be used to reverse or whether you will also be using the lights behind the machine, e.g. a seed drill or a rear spreader. Even a single lower-power light is sufficient for reversing and as a warning light, but if you are also working at the back (e.g. tractors), it is worth sizing the number of lights so that your eyes do not get tired even during a long period of work. When considering the number, a few slightly lower-power lights are usually a better solution than one extremely efficient one, because when using several lights, the lights can be directed more precisely in the desired direction, thus expanding the lighting area.

Auxiliary lights

In addition to work lights, many machines, especially heavy transport vehicles, also need to improve their headlights. Work lights can nicely illuminate nearby areas and, for example, the sides and rear of the trailer, but when you need a long range and a beam optimized for traffic in the front, the so-called additional high beam is usually a more sensible choice. Additional lights are available in both the currently very popular panel models and round versions. Depending on the installation location, it is worth considering both the physical size and frame (panel or round) of the light and the beam: if you want to install the light low, the beam should preferably be on the low side so that the light does not fall too much on the road in front of the vehicle. Similarly, when installed on the roof, a higher beam can be directed better, allowing the entire road to be illuminated.

Led bars have clearly become the most popular solution in various machines. This is partly due to the lowness of the frame, which means that, for example, The light mounted on the roof does not rise much above the roof line. Often, the panel-style light can also be made to fit nicely in terms of appearance with, for example, a warning light panel. The most popular models for roof installations in construction machinery and heavy equipment have been the super-efficient Panther series S1050 and the slightly curved Black Boost C1070, where the light beam works excellently when mounted on the roof. When mounted lower, the new Curve C790 works extremely well thanks to its low beam.

When it comes to round lights, the most popular have been the 9", i.e. approx. 220-230 mm diameter lights. Equipped with a heated lens and excellent power and light pattern, the Heat 9200 has earned its place in addition to heavy transport equipment in many construction machinery as an addition to work lights where a longer range of light is needed.

Warning lights

In addition to your own vision, an extremely important role in terms of safety in work machines is that the vehicle is also noticed, especially when working in traffic or residential areas. Work lights certainly attract attention, but as the law already requires, the work site must be warned and announced clearly enough. For this purpose, there is a truly comprehensive range of different warning lights and warning flashes on the market (and in Valostore's selection), from small flat flashes to huge roof-mounted warning light panels.

Even small flat flashes, such as those embedded in bumpers, structures or roofs, significantly improve the visibility of the vehicle or work machine. On the other hand, the higher the light can be placed, the better and farther it can be seen. Nowadays, panel-style warning lights mounted on the roof are increasingly used in machines and transport equipment, which provide warning lighting 360° around the machine. The length of the panel depends on the width of the roof, and it is advisable to measure it so that the panel is as close to the edges of the roof as possible. The closer the light can be brought to the edge, the closer the vehicle will be seen. Beacon panels are available in lengths of up to almost 1800 mm. Of course, the most suitable warning light depends entirely on the site and, to some extent, on the owner's opinion, and there is no single right solution for this either. The most important thing is that the machines have sufficient warning lighting so that they are definitely noticed.

Placement and control of lights

It is worth considering the placement of lights in relation to the machine frame carefully in order to get the best possible benefit from the lights you have invested in. Almost always, work machines should have lights in front, behind and to the sides, so that the machine can be seen in all directions and so that the machine can be observed from all directions. The higher the lights can be installed, the better they can illuminate the machine's surroundings and, for example, additional light can be directed from the roof better than from below. The lighting from the roof can also carry over, for example, road shoulders and also illuminate the shoulders and bottoms of ditches. However, in heavy snowfall or when plowing, when the snow is dusty, efficient roof lights can also dazzle the machine operator, so lamps placed low, close to the plow, work significantly better. On the other hand, in an excavator, it is important to also place lamps on the boom, so that, for example, when digging a deep hole, there is light at the bottom of the hole and behind the bucket.

Pros and cons of different placement locations

As you can see, the best possible lighting cannot be achieved with lights placed in just one place, but it would be a good idea to place the lights both on the roof and on the lower frame and, depending on the machine, also on the boom or bucket rail. In addition, it would be a good idea to connect the lights to different groups, e.g. according to the location, so that, for example, the roof lights can be turned off if desired. In addition to separate switches, the Purelux Multi-Switch Panel from our selection is ideal for controlling work lights and, for example, warning lights that will appear later. The same switch panel can control up to eight different light groups, meaning that even large complexes can be connected behind it.

Special lights

In addition to "traditional" work, additional and warning lights, more and more different special lights have also appeared on the market in recent years. In some lights, for example, work and warning lights can be combined in the same lamp, Purelux MF320. There are also combinations of auxiliary light and warning lights: Flash S560. This way, there is no need to purchase both lights separately for machines or lighter equipment, but one lamp can take care of both needs.

Heated lenses have already become common in the area of ​​additional lights, and the Heat 9200 and Panther Heat S540 models introduced by Purelux are pioneering the first additional lights on the market in which the heating can be switched on separately. This way, the lens can be melted from snow dust accumulated during plowing, for example, even before the light is needed. When needed, the light is completely melted and the light output can be used immediately. The same technology will probably and hopefully also be seen in the work light sector, where it will certainly be needed in winter: the side and reversing lights under the flatbed and the snow that accumulates in plow trucks and tractors can easily accumulate on the lights and, at worst, even prevent their use completely.

Equipment used in the transport of hazardous materials may also require separately approved lamps for this use. Valostore's range also covers these lamps: ADR lights. In addition, our range includes, for example, so-called plow lights, where the same light has (behind the heated lens) high and low beams and turn signals: Purelux Blizzard.