Scene Lighting – What’s Right for Your Department?

By Peter Lauffenburger, Global Product Line Manager for Akron Brass

LED seems to be the latest buzz word when it comes to emergency scene lighting. There are some really good reasons to look at LEDs, but good old fashioned halogen technology may be all your department needs.  Halogen scene lights are usually chosen because they are “good enough”, not because of their performance advantages.  At the end of the day, you need to do what is right for your department.  So how do you know what is right for your department?

There are a number of options to consider before making your decision.  Consider the following:

  • Color of light
  • Amount of light required
  • Typical area being illuminated
  • Tolerance for maintenance
  • Available power source
  • Available funds

LED vs Halogen

/></p> <ul> </ul> <h2>Light Color</h2> <p>Let’s take a closer look at each of these.  First let’s look at the <strong>color of the light</strong>.  There is quite a difference in light output between LED and halogen lights.  LED lights typically have a much whiter light, whereas halogen lights have an output that is yellower in color.  The color of the light is referred to as color temperature and measurement in units of kelvin.  LED lights are typically anywhere from 4000 to 5500 Kelvin.  The higher the number, the whiter or bluer the light appears.  Halogen lights are typically around 3000 Kelvin and thus appear yellow in color.  As a reference point, average daylight at noon is around 5000 Kelvin, so LEDs provide a light that is closer to average daylight than halogen lighting.  This is a factor to consider when choosing your light.</p> <h2>Amount of Light</h2> <p>The second, and perhaps more important is the <strong>amount of light</strong> that is required.  LEDs typically provide much more light for a given amount of power.  Take a look at a typical 500 watt halogen light.  These lights are rated for 10,500 lumens of light output.  A typical LED light is between 150 and 220 watts and provides 15,000 to 20,000 lumens of light.  If 500 watts of power are available on your vehicle for scene lighting, two LED scene lights can be used and will provide a total of 40,000 lumens.  This is almost 4 times the light output of the single 500 watt halogen light.  The amount of light output is an important factor in your decision.  If you have an application that you do not need to light up a large area, halogen lighting may be adequate for your needs. </p> <p><img src=

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