When it comes to providing lighting solutions in the most remote areas, light towers are the best equipment for the job.
Light towers are used by different industries that need a temporary illumination unit for outdoor applications. Industries such as events, mining, and construction benefit greatly from light towers. But a common decision each company makes when purchasing one is if they should buy LED vs halide light towers.
There are two options to choose from when purchasing a light tower: Metal Halide or LED. Both can provide extreme illumination to work sites but they each have their advantages and disadvantages. Read more below about what sets these two apart from each other.
What is a Metal Halide Light?
Metal halides are produced when halogens and metal combine. These types of light are produced when light passes an electrical current through metal halide gas and mercury vapor.
The introduction of metal halide lamps to the market has provided businesses with an efficient way to illuminate work sites, without sacrificing brightness.
What is the Advantage of Metal Halide Lights?
Compared to incandescent bulbs, metal halides are much more energy efficient. Metal halides use the same amount of energy as incandescent bulbs but produce more illumination. These lights can also last up to 20,000 hours of usage before they need replacing.
Additionally, industries that need natural sunlight for their lighting such as events, sports, and art, will opt for metal halides because the light’s color temperature is usually at 5500K.
It’s also good to know that metal halide light tower units are cheaper in comparison to their LED counterpart.
What is the Disadvantage of Metal Halide Lights?
One of the disadvantages of metal halide lights is that they need time to light up to their full illumination capacity. This means that companies utilizing this type of lamp must calculate when they’ll need to use the lamp beforehand to ensure that it turns on at the right moment. So, for emergencies, it may not be the best option.
Over time, the light of metal halides can also diminish. When the quality of light decreases, the color temperature of the light tower can also change. This may lead to companies replacing the bulbs much earlier than expected.
Another disadvantage of metal halide lights is that they can release heat. This can end up damaging nearby items that are heat sensitive.
What is an LED Light?
LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. These types of light are usually made of silicon or selenium to effectively conduct electricity and produce light.
What is the Advantage of LED Lights?
Currently, LEDs have one of the longest light lifespans on the market. LED lights are estimated to work up to 100,000 hours. Making it one of the most reliable light solutions available to purchase.
It’s also known for its high energy efficiency. It yields brighter results than incandescent lights with much less energy – it can even outshine metal halide lights.
Another advantage of LEDs against halide is that they do not have warm-up times. Your team can simply switch on LED light towers at their full brightness without needing to prepare them.
What is the Disadvantage of LED Lights?
One disadvantage of LED light towers is the high cost of the units. Meaning, you may need to shell out more money to acquire this unit in comparison to its metal halide counterpart.
The Bottom Line: Metal Halide Versus LED
When it comes to halide lights vs LEDs, it’s clear that each has its advantages and disadvantages. Both offer two different methods to produce light and create high-quality results. Depending on your budget and project requirements, you can find a light tower for sale that can help you accomplish the job.
We suggest that you take into account your illumination needs, long-term goals, and budget before you decide on which light tower to purchase. Our suggestion? Consult your dealer before you buy. Tell them what your business goals and needs are so they can help you choose the right unit.
If you still don’t have a dealer, why not reach out to us at CMI Equipment? We’ve helped hundreds of our clients procure the right equipment for their business with ease.
Contact us today and we’ll help you get started.
