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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.
Todd Razor is a technical writer for Performance Marketing, based
in Des Moines, Iowa.
The Illumination Engineering Society (IES) is the organization that sets the
standards for determining safe and proper levels of illumination. The IES
requires that a general construction site have at least 10 footcandles of
illumination, while 1 to 5 footcandles are sufficient for a parking area.
December 2011 | Utility Contractor 27