Light tower (equipment)

A light tower is a piece of mobile equipment which has one or more high-intensity electric lamps and a mast. Almost always, the lights are attached to the mast, which is attached to a trailer, with a generator set to power the lamps. Normally the lamps are metal halide bulbs and the generator is powered by a diesel engine.^[1] However, battery-powered,^[2] solar-powered and hydrogen-powered sets are available;^[3][4] light towers with electrodeless lamps^[5] or LED ^[6] lighting are also sold.^[7] Modular kits sold by Multiquip,^[8] Winco and Kubota permit separation of the generator set, trailer, lights and mast from each other. Another variation is an inflatable mast.^[9][10] Particularly when an inflatable mast is used, the lights may be placed close to the ground, with a reflector attached to the mast.^[11] When soft lighting is wanted, an inflatable "balloon" diffuser may be used.^[12] An inflatable mast may serve as a diffuser.^[13]

Light towers are used for construction. Some purveyors promote their use for other activities where strong, temporary, outdoor illumination may be wanted, such as mining,^[14] motion picture production, demolition,^[15] emergency services, oil refining, sport or agricultural sectors.^{[16][17][18] [19]}

Image gallery

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  construction of military base

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  light tower (far left) at open-pit coal mine

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  repairs to building

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  construction of highway tunnel

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  light towers (upper left) used in construction of bridge

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  construction of military base

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  military training for construction

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  construction of wind turbine

Applications

The varied applications of light towers in remote and rugged locations under unfavorable environment and harsh weather conditions have increased the significance of light towers tenfold. Portability and user-friendliness has added more benefits to this lighting equipment, which is used for a wide range of applications and services like construction and repair of rail and motor roads, lighting solutions for airports, stadium, hotels, resorts, properties, construction sites, search and rescue operations, exhibitions and oil drilling refineries.

Apart from these, light towers are also highly useful in applications like construction of military base, highway tunnels, bridges and wind turbines. The efficiency of light towers is measured by certain parameters, which clients should be aware of before buying or renting out a light tower.

Most importantly, the high-intensity bulbs should be capable of lighting a vast area without creating any shadow and the generator set should be built in order to provide uninterrupted power supply with sufficient fuel back-up. The pole of the unit should be sturdily built with flexible fixtures and the trailer must be strong, robust and durable enough to hold the entire unit.

Benefits of Portable Light Towers in Industrial Applications

Varied industrial sectors often involve in demanding and challenging night time operations in order to complete their projects on or before the scheduled time. Most of the time, workers are required to work under low lit outdoor environments and also poorly lit indoor environments, making their work more tedious, tricky and troublesome. However, the introduction of light towers has revolutionized the way workers perform their tasks at nights and under low-lit conditions.

The Portable Light Towers have already been used in rescue operations.^[20]

Some of the significant benefits of installing light towers include:

• You can easily transport and install the light towers in any rugged and hard-to-reach terrain as they are designed for easy portability.
• Your vast work site can be provided with bright and uninterrupted illumination than conventional light sources.
• They are robustly constructed with minimal maintenance for use in harsh and unfavorable industrial environments.
• Your workplace can be easily monitored due to the high intensity light provided by the light towers; hence vandalism, illegal encroachment and criminal acts etc. can be prohibited to a large extent.
• Your workers’ safety and well being can be ensured.

See also

• Moonlight tower

External links

• Equipment World article on light towers
• Video on light towers

References