Night ops?

[frashdog]

Today we ran out of daylight, hitched up the chipper with head lamps. Customer added a few more trees at the end and we could not prevail. Not bad, there is only less then an hour of raking and the job is a few minutes from the shop. Head lamps just don't cut it.

Saw a logger the other day with the tow behind self contained light system, makes sense this time of the year. I have seen that logging/ mining operations up north run around the clock through the dark.

With all the advances in led and battery tech I've been considering setting up for night operations. Utility companies work in the darkness, during storms. I figure just being able to extend my hours during the winter would be well worth the investment. Superbrightleds.com seems to be the place for every type of led you could imagine.

Here's the crazy idea. Instead of running two crews with two sets of equipment. Run one set of equipment with two crews when applicable. Yea not going to work in neighbor hoods with families a sleep, but we have plenty of off season camp work and commercial work. Some of the commercial work is even annoying due to the fact we have to work on weekends to do it. In manufacturing you run round the clock on a line before starting another duplicate line. You would also be prepared for night/ storm emergencies.

Imagine glowing or led throw balls and ropes? Def have to hi viz decal all the tools!

Anyone set up to work at night?

 

[Merle Nelson]

Not me. Just saw the truck parts store had some really brite LED lights for Semi Trucks as back up lights. They are supposed to draw very little current. I got a couple to mount as chipper back up lights.

They are bright enough to cover areas around the truch well.

 

[frashdog]

Not me. Just saw the truck parts store had some really brite LED lights for Semi Trucks as back up lights. They are supposed to draw very little current. I got a couple to mount as chipper back up lights.

They are bright enough to cover areas around the truch well.

Yea LEDs are the future. They are way brighter and use way less power, the prices are starting to come down to a reasonable level. A buddy just converted his shop over to LEDs from 1000watt high pressure sodium, you can not even look at these new LEDs. It's all about the lumens versus the wattage when comparing to old school lights like hid and fluorescent.

 

[Merle Nelson]

Yeah, looked at the demos inside in daytime light - saw dark spots for moments after. Whole side of shop lit up very bright even though it was light to begin with. $50 per unit.

 

[familytreeman]

in a tcia mag awhile back there is an article about a project that was night only! i believe it was the lincoln memorial, or another public site where day work was out of the question

if you can light it up enough, it is a safe working condition. just recognize those guys had fresh reinforcements doing shifts! if you are pulling a double , make sure you are not too fatigued or you will create additional hazards

i carry headlamps, and spotlights for the emergency or when you need that extra few minutes or an hr or so of light

or if you have a 'roadside repair' and you just need to see what you're fixing! keep the lighting within noise ordinance and you are being respectful in my opinion

 

[Reilman]

Petzl makes really good headlamps. I have the tikka rxp with adaptive lighting and that thing works really well. I've only used it a couple times at work and the only problems with the adaptive setting is when you look towards bright lights or exhale (in the cold) it dims, making it hard to see something right in front of you. That can be turned off and it has a great flood light.

 

[medi]

I prefer headlamps from zebralight :http://www.zebralight.com/
A good source for information and reviews can you find here: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/forum.php


Gesendet von meinem iPad mit Tapatalk

 

[frashdog]

Petzl makes really good headlamps. I have the tikka rxp with adaptive lighting and that thing works really well. I've only used it a couple times at work and the only problems with the adaptive setting is when you look towards bright lights or exhale (in the cold) it dims, making it hard to see something right in front of you. That can be turned off and it has a great flood light.

Right on... We have two of the standard tikka'a in the glove box all the time.

 

[frashdog]

in a tcia mag awhile back there is an article about a project that was night only! i believe it was the lincoln memorial, or another public site where day work was out of the question

if you can light it up enough, it is a safe working condition. just recognize those guys had fresh reinforcements doing shifts! if you are pulling a double , make sure you are not too fatigued or you will create additional hazards

right on, in the beginning it took a few years of full time to tree work to condition physically for long days, but now I wish I could work 12 hours a day, say 4 days a week?

 

[John_KAYS]

Here fLashdog, here is the answer.


I swear I read your name as flashdog...that's my dyslexia coming through.


But on a serious note,
We repurposed a construction vehicle that had two big flood lights up near the strobes...sweet for lighting things up, but you really want the truck running...or else.

 

[familytreeman]

how many lumen is the flashdog light? that sucker looks pretty heavy duty

lampe de poche

 

[climbhightree]

If I wanted to truly do night work, I would get aerial lights like on fire trucks... $$$. I carry a couple of magnetic 12v flood lights, and headlamps, incase we get caught cleaning up in the dark. I also put a flood light on the mini (it ridiculous they dont come with work lights). I'll load wood or grind stumps in the dark, and about once a year storm work, but I try to avoid it.

There is a guy in my area that works in the dark a lot 9-11 pm or later in the summer, residential. I can't imagine how he gets away with it.

 

[John_KAYS]

"how many lumen is the flashdog light? that sucker looks pretty heavy duty

lampe de poche"

IDK it was the first thing that came up on images that worked well. Apparently if you look up "dog flashlight" you get weird things...

There is a guy in my area that works in the dark a lot 9-11 pm or later in the summer, residential. I can't imagine how he gets away with it.

That's what I would be worried about too. I don't like running chainsaws or chippers or anything when pushing into the evening. With storms, people put up with a lot! But when people are starting to settle in at the end of the day I would feel paranoid even if they didn't really mind the noise or commotion...who knows.

 

[Reilman]

Here fLashdog, here is the answer.
View attachment 29579


But on a serious note,
We repurposed a construction vehicle that had two big flood lights up near the strobes...sweet for lighting things up, but you really want the truck running...or else.

With just one station of lights how do you light up the chipper area and the climber without blinding the climber towards the direction of the chipper. Wouldn't you want two stations?

 

[John_KAYS]

With just one station of lights how do you light up the chipper area and the climber without blinding the climber towards the direction of the chipper. Wouldn't you want two stations?

We use them just for cleaning up if we are running late. We try not to use them and we try not to climb in the dark.

You are right though, they aren't ever going to be a full set up for proper lighting!

 

[climbhightree]

 

[RoyalTree]

We have done a few really busy shopping centers at night. They usually have pretty good lighting. A headlight for each guy is used on those days and big spotlight flashlight to help light up a thing or two up top when needed. The biggest thing is being able to work in an area where you are not bothering neighbors at night. We recently ran an 10pm to 6 am shift at a super super busy shopping center.

We have finished up a couple of residential jobs in the dark but it is something we try not to do.

 

[frashdog]

Here fLashdog, here is the answer.
View attachment 29579

I swear I read your name as flashdog...that's my dyslexia coming through.


But on a serious note,
We repurposed a construction vehicle that had two big flood lights up near the strobes...sweet for lighting things up, but you really want the truck running...or else.

That made me laugh! Thanks.

 

[frashdog]

Yea working late in neighborhoods in the summer is a concern for me. Stays light past 8:30pm during peak. One of my kids is in bed round 6:30. We had some one come onto our site and start yelling at us round 9 one night in a rich second home neighborhood in Lake Placid. Was funny cause we were almost done, the dude was drunk, as soon as we shut down the chipper and my buddy who's a built 6'4" 240 walked up to him to see what was a matter, he changed his tune 180 and said "no problem, I understand you guys are just trying to make a buck, my bad." Next thing he's offering us drinks and wants some estimates.

 

[climbhightree]

I had to get a stump out today, after dark. 25 degrees out with a feel like of 12...but it is done.