Recently, I’ve been asked to help identify the best light tower for a specific job. I figured it would be good to give a quick run down of the types of light towers available and their best uses. I hope this helps point you in the right direction when picking out a light tower for your next job.
1. How much area will you need to light?
2. Where will you be using the light tower?
3. Do you have access to power?
I have separated the towers into 3 groups, small, medium, and large. They correspond to the lighting needed, the job size, and access to power.
Small Light Towers: Working in residential areas where excessive lighting can cause neighbors to get upset, the quartz light tower is your answer. Commonly called quartz lighting because of the type of material the bulb is made of, these light towers provide light to areas of 600 to 1,200 sq ft. Quartz flood lights have towers 6 to 8 ft in height with 2 to 4 adjustable lights and are very easy to use. They require little setup, are simple to maintain, cost effective, and only require a 120v power connection, making them perfect for indoor applications too. As well, they have specialized versions that can be used in paint booths or other fume related applications that could cause explosions. These are referred to as explosion-proof lighting.
Large Light Towers: For the serious job, you’ll need to invest in a diesel powered light
tower. The light towers are
commonly mounted to a trailer frame rated for highway driving and tow easily
behind your work truck. Powered by
liquid cooled diesel generators, these light towers are built to provide light
for roadwork, open mines, and oil/gas drilling fields. These workhorses provide 40 to 80 hrs
of lighting on one tank of diesel fuel and can light 5 to 70 acres, with the
use of a 28 to 60 ft telescoping tower.
Built to withstand wind of 65 mph and most weather mother nature will
throw its way it is worth the investment.
Whether your job site is your own home or the freeway corridor, selecting the right light tower for the job will keep you out of the dark.