LED Snowplow Lights – Evaluation Report

Details

• Creators:
  Fogg, Daniel J ; Evans, Lane W ; Ehmann, Jay D
• Corporate Creators:
  New Hampshire Department of Transportation
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Evaluation and assessment
  • Headlamps
  • Light emitting diodes
  • Service life
  • Snowplows
  • Visibility
  • Winter maintenance
  • Maintenance equipment
• Publication/ Report Number:
  FHWA-NH-RD-26962X
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Edition:
  Final Report (2018-20)
• Corporate Publisher:
  New Hampshire. Dept. of Transportation ; New Hampshire Department of Transportation, Bureau of Highway Maintenance
• Abstract:
  The New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) snowplow fleet currently uses halogen lights mounted on the push frame for night time snowplowing operations. Due to the excessive vibration, frequent bulb replacement is necessary. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are less susceptible to vibrations and could reduce long term maintenance cost. Plow drivers have suggested that LED lighting improves their visibility while operating as well as reducing the fatigue experienced during extended hours of plowing. Mechanical Services does not have a firm policy on the use of LED headlamps and needs to determine if the fleet would experience benefits by using LED bulbs. This project compared the use of halogen bulbs to heated LED bulbs. The results indicated that converting the NHDOT snowplow fleet from halogen bulbs to LED bulbs to reduces maintenance requirements, increases service life, and improves operator visibility for safer snowplow operations.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  26962X, A004(843)
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/56798/dot_56798_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 899.73 KB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:8ee05cc450647356f6f30443045c913c861064169a1ae3f7c6b2bfdab563bae6