By Tom Feldhusen, Senior Sales Manager, Phoenix Lighting
In an industry that continues to stress the importance of efficiency, LED lighting is opening up a whole new world of options. Companies are able to utilize their resources like never before while gaining productivity and cost benefits from technology.
LEDs offer numerous benefits to the operation needs of the surface mining industry. They are more durable than traditional lighting. This continues to be proven by fixtures installed in the field, especially on more demanding equipment. They also dramatically decrease energy expenses and virtually eliminate maintenance. Positive operator feedback regarding LED light quality continues to pour in throughout the industry. At the same time, remote cameras thrive under the vibrant white light.
The qualities of LED are especially ideal for mobile equipment and the sporadic lighting needs associated with it. Traditional technology is either susceptible to vibration and/or requires up to 20 minutes of warmup time following a restrike. This is lost productivity and a source of frustration for many mine operators. LED technology, however, is instant-on and requires no warm-up time for the lights to reach full intensity. Lights can also be turned on and off as frequently as necessary without any effect on the life of the LEDs. In addition to optimizing productivity, this reduces light pollution and further increases energy savings. Usage of LED technology can be combined with controls to illuminate lights only when needed.
As the industry moves to acceptance of LED lighting, it is time to begin maximizing the possible gains. Within the capabilities of LED technology, there are countless advantages that remain untapped.