Then There Was Light

Securing reliable light sources to illuminate nighttime construction projects is imperative for utility contractors whose work requires them to see in the dark. Light towers allow contractors to continue working around the clock, and potentially cut in half the number of days or weeks it would typically take to successfully complete any given project, while providing well-lit areas that promote safe and productive work environments. The proper deployment of light towers in the field, whether it consists of a bridge, a trench, a sidewalk or a street, can also help contractors meet strict deadlines set by those who employ them.

Going Up?

Though light towers are designed to illuminate large areas, says Robert Walsh, product manager of portable energy at Chicago Pneumatic Construction Equipment, many contractors don’t take full advantage of those capabilities. Instead, they place work crews in an atmosphere that resembles a poorly lit living room rather than an overcast day.

“Many times you will find that operators don’t fully extend the light tower mast,” Walsh says. “It is a level of comfort issue. They put the light tower close to what they are working on, because they think that may be better for them. But you get more coverage the higher up it goes.”

Ideally, contractors should space out light towers about every 100 ft on a jobsite, which helps to increase safety and boost productivity by minimizing blind spots. Having the correct number of fully extended and appropriately spaced light towers on jobsites also leads to greater efficiency as workers don’t have to pause and reposition the machines.

“With a light tower, you are still going to have some pretty good shadows on a jobsite,” Walsh says. “From a safety standpoint, you will want to make sure you have not just one tower, but a series of light towers around workers in order to minimize those shadows and provide 360 degrees of illumination on whatever application they are working on.”

Stabilization legs also help operators get the most maneuverability out of light towers because the added support allows masts to be extended horizontally to shine light on the underside of bridges, for example.

Power Hours

Fuel efficiencies and run times are also important features for utility contractors who depend on light towers when working on tight deadlines, especially given that the machines must be allowed to cool before they may be refueled safely. Walsh, who says paying attention to fuel capacities when choosing a light tower can help contractors save minutes, even hours, as they don’t have to stop as often to refuel, also noted that a full 30-gal tank of fuel should power about 60 to 70 hours of operation time between refills.

Output power is another common area that contractors tend to gloss over when picking out a light tower. A standard 60-Hz light tower with a 20-amp duplex outlet, for instance, can be used to conveniently power small power tools. Yet Walsh says Chicago Pneumatic offers power sockets as an option on its 120-V light towers because some contractors prefer to avoid the headaches associated with overusing the outlets. “Operators will sometimes run each of those outlets to a drop cord and plug six things into it, including additional drop cords,” Walsh says. “They end up blowing a fuse or blowing a circuit. Some customers prefer light towers without sockets in order to minimize that risk.”

Got a Light?

When water mains burst, gas lines leak or electrical power goes out, utility contractors typically don’t have the luxury of waiting until the sun rises to address those issues along public right-of-ways. In addition to procuring reliable machines to power through non-daylight hours, it is important for contractors to know where to find light towers on short notice from sources such as local rental stores or equipment dealers.

“Their immediate concern is how quickly they can get one,” says Walsh, adding that contractors are not typically given a month’s advance warning when they need a light tower to successfully complete time-sensitive projects. Faced with closing bridges, roads or highways for extended periods of time, and potentially disrupting pedestrian and vehicular traffic patterns along major thoroughfares, governments and municipalities have been known to offer financial incentives, such as bonuses, to contractors who can restore utilities ahead of schedule.

“These types of projects are typically done at night, and light towers allow crews to work straight through the night,” Walsh says. He says that other than having a handle on where to obtain light towers in a timely manner, it is important for operators to understand how to utilize the machines to their fullest potential.

Right Lights

Equipment failure is a dim prospect for utility contractors who rely on dependable sources of light to brighten roads, highways, bridges, trenches and other jobsites. Contractors looking for the most reliable sources of electric-powered illumination must also think about how quickly and easily it may be to pick up replacement parts in the event of a malfunction. In addition to avoiding knock-off brand engines and alternators, for which parts may be more difficult to acquire on the fly, contractors should consider how the potential inability to obtain parts in a hurry could affect the cost to rent or own light towers.

“Generic engines and alternators may present an attractive option to contractors trying to save money on the front end,” Walsh says. “But if those less well-known machines falter, leaving work crews in the dark until repairs can be made, then the overall cost of ownership tends to increase dramatically.”

In addition to performing regularly scheduled oil and filter changes, which helps to increase the lifespan of light tower engines, would-be owners should think about buying light towers that feature wide service doors and electrical cubicles, both of which allow for easy maintenance.

“Those tasks shouldn’t be overlooked,” Walsh says of preventive maintenance. He says the majority of rental companies tend to deal with both the preventive maintenance and mechanical issues on the equipment they offer. Suppliers usually take care of the rest, he says. “Regardless of which brand of light tower that contractors choose, taking the time to consider the overall performance, portability and functionality of light sources will pay off at the end of the day,” Walsh says.

Brandon Jaynes is a technical writer for Performance Marketing, based in Des Moines, Iowa.