Technicians cannot work efficiently if they are unable to see what they are working on. So shop lighting – in various forms – is extremely important to keep service bays effective.
“If you can’t see it, you’re going to trip it over,” says John Schira of Maxxeon (www.maxxeon.com) – a company that designs and builds cordless lighting tools. “If technicians are under a vehicle and they’re using some sort of portable lighting and they can’t quite see what they’re looking at, they can’t do the inspection right.”
However, there is more to proper shop lighting than hanging fluorescent lamps or grabbing a flashlight off the workbench.
TYPES OF LIGHTING
“Technicians not only work in multiple areas on the vehicle – under the hood, under the car on a lift, etc. – they also work in unique environments,” explains Mike Monteleone, senior product manager for Milwaukee Tool (www.milwaukeetool.com) – a manufacturer of heavy duty tools and accessories. “Because of this, they need several different types of lights.”
Don Burgstead, marketing director at ATD Tools (www.atdtools.com) – a provider of professional automotive tools, says that the variety of lighting should include handheld lights for vehicle inspections, underhood lights to illuminate the entire engine compartment for extended periods of time and flashlights or pocket lights for convenience.
Eric Pike, director for automotive products at Streamlight (www.streamlight.com), a manufacturer of various lighting tools, adds that headlamps can aid a technician’s work as well. Whether for maintaining or repairing vehicles, "today’s comfortable, lightweight headlamps give automotive pros the hands-free lighting they need, when they need it,” he says.
Maxxeon’s Schira says proper lighting throughout the shop is critical for technician safety as well. But he emphasizes the importance of quality portable lighting to increase productivity.
“Floodlight-style lighting in a worklight or a portable light is one of the most critical things,” he says, noting 60- to 180-degree beam angles are ideal. “You can imagine if a technician has an old-style flashlight and is holding it a couple feet away, the beam diameter might be 4” to 6” wide. It’s not the tool for the job.”
BETTER TECHNOLOGY, BETTER PRODUCTIVITY
Many of today’s lighting options perform at a higher quality thanks to advancements in battery and light technology. Arguably the biggest advancement is the use of light emitting diodes (LEDs).
“High quality LEDs are rated at 50,000 to 100,000 hours of use. That’s six to 12 years,” says ATD’s Burgstead, noting LEDs are durable, generate less heat and can be more resistant to dust and water. “In addition, LEDs have significantly lower power consumption, which saves on electricity.”
Better features in handheld, headlamp and lantern lighting products can help enhance shop efficiencies, according to Streamlight’s Pike.
“Recent advances in lighting technology are offering a wide range of new lighting tools and features for improving productivity, reducing costs and keeping workers safer on the job,” he says. “Shop owners should definitely stay abreast of these developments and update their existing equipment to enable workers to perform more effectively.”
The use of LEDs in overhead lighting can benefit a shop, too.
“State-of-the-art LEDs are producing pretty close to 10-times the efficiency of incandescent lights,” Maxxeon’s Schira says. “People should start thinking about this because, in the next year or two, it should be well worth their while to start converting if they have any incandescents – for sure – and even fluorescents as well.”
Battery technologies, like the use Li-ion power sources have progressed along with the development of LEDs.
“This, coupled with advancements in electronics, has led to more efficiency, more run-time, more light output and even more durability,” Milwaukee’s Monteleone says. “All of these improvements, ultimately, lead to greater productivity.”
SPECS TO CONSIDER
When outfitting an operation with new lighting products, shop owners need to consider what a lighting source will be used for specifically.
“Deciding what model to focus on should be based on the application,” Milwaukee’s Monteleone explains. “Do you need to light up a big area or simply diagnose a problem quickly under the hood?”
He also says to consider how the product will be used. “Does it need to stand, hang from the hood, go in a technician’s pocket, etc.?”
What’s more, Monteleone says users may find value in having portable lights that operate on one battery system to consolidate the amount of batteries and chargers in the shop. “For this reason, users should ask what lighting options are available through a single manufacturer on a one-battery system.”
Streamlight’s Pike adds that USB-rechargeable flashlights are widely available and give professionals the ability to charge “on the go.”
“USB rechargeable lights save time and avoid the worry of not having batteries on hand when they are needed most,” he says. “They offer a quick, easy and convenient way to recharge. Workers can simply connect to a USB port or use an AC wall adapter.”
When making a lighting purchase, Pike recommends that shop owners should inquire about warranty support, cost of operation and breadth of the product line.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Furthermore, make sure a light is designed for the professional market, says ATD’s Burgstead. This can be done by checking to see if a product is approved by one of OSHA’s Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) program.
Also, he says “look for lights that have features and benefits that are required. Will the light be durable enough to withstand technicians’ everyday use, so their productivity is not impacted?”
Streamlight’s Pike adds, “Can all of the lighting needs be met from one supplier, in order to make it easier on the technician?”
Due to their lightweight, compact designs and power efficiencies, LEDs are the best option for portable lighting, according to Maxxeon’s Schira. But there are still several factors to think about before making a purchase.
When looking for portable lighting, consider how far away from the light source technicians are working, he says. Plus, the wider the beam (flood-style beam), the better.
In addition to beam angle, shop owners should consider candela (the brightest spot on a focused beam), lumens and beam pattern, noting if there are any dark spots or other imperfections.
