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Archive for the ‘Barricade Lights’ Category
OTR = On The Road, because this past weekend I saw way too many solar barricade lights. Next to type 3 barricades, or mounted on to traffic barrels, they were everywhere.
Because I am in the traffic safety industry, I understand how much these items cost, and I am always shocked by the amount of money spent. The government must invest millions in some of these projects.
Solar Barricade Lights Online
Here are some tips when searching for solar barricade lights online. First, let me start by saying the websites at the top of the results in search engines are not always the cheapest. I would recommended at least going to the 2nd page (11 or more results) when looking for barricade lights.
Also, if you are searching for a specific type of barricade light, type that exact name into the engine. You may find that there are different results, which may be cheaper, when you get more specific.
Solar Barricade Lights – New Trend
A look at the stats on keyword usage on Google and other search engines and you will realize that solar is a hot new word. Now, there are not only solar barricade lights but there are also solar traffic lights, solar stop signs, solar arrow boards, etc. The list goes on and on.
With these solar products it is important to do research to find out how ‘green’ they actually are. Sometimes you will find that the processes that needs to take place to make these products is not as ‘green’ as the overall use of the entire original product.
Solar Barricade Lights – Why the Hoods?
I have had a lot of people ask me why there are hoods on some solar barricade lights and not on others. Well, it has to do with the type of solar barricade light. The type b barricade lights have hoods while the regular lights do not.
Why is this? This is because it allows a bigger solar panel to be mounted on top. It also does a better job of directing the light so that it is as bright as possible.
Colors of Solar Barricade Lights
Next time you are on the highway, check out the colors of the solar barricade lights you see. Chances are, 90% of the time they are going to be yellow/amber. This is because it is the most popular for roadways.
If you work at an airport and you see construction, chances are you will see that the solar barricade lights being used are all red. This is because it is an FAA spec for construction lights for airports to be red. Interesting what you can learn, huh?
Solar Barricade Lights – Environmentally Friendly?
Are solar barricade lights truly more environmentally friendly than battery powered barricade lights? Well, to be honest I do not know the answer, but by posting this I hope to stir some thought about this ‘green’ product as well as others. Though you may not need to change the batteries and worry about disposing them (as often) with solar barricade lights, they still may not be ‘green.’
In other words, do we know what these solar barricade lights are really made out of? Solar barricade lights still have batteries in them, so are they any more or less recyclable than the 6 Volt or D cell batteries we find in battery powered lights? This may be worth looking into if you want a ‘truly’ green product.
What Are They? Solar Barricade Lights?
Solar barricade lights are what you see on top of traffic barricades or traffic barrels. You may see them on your campus, on you way to work, or in your small town. They are a ‘greener’ alternative than battery powered barricade lights because you do not have to keep changing the batteries.
Solar barricade lights typically last 3+ years and even after that you may be able to buy replacement batteries, depending on the light. You will notice that there are a lot more solar lights out there than there used to be, and it is because the technology has become cheaper to a point where it is economical to buy them when you weigh in how much you save from not buying batteries.
Popularity of Solar Barricade Lights
When driving past construction, I doubt the average person looks closely at the type of barricade light attached to the overwhelming amount of traffic barrels. Because of my interest in the traffic safety industry, however, I like to see what brand and what type it is. I am surprised to see that 70% of the time these are solar barricade lights.
I would never think they would be so popular because they are about twice the cost of battery operated barricade lights. But, they are ‘green’ and you do not need to have batteries or worry about going out and changing the batteries.
Barricade Lights Brand
There are many different types of barricade lights. There are different brands, different options such as voltage, solar or battery powered, and different size batteries. Some of the brands of barricade lights include Collt and Empco.
Collt barricade lights are strictly one type, 6 volt battery powered. They do not carry d cell options or any sort of solar option. Empco has a wide selection of barricade lights such as 6 volt, d cell, type d, type a and c, solar assist, type b, etc.
Solar Barricade Lights are Eco-Friendly
Why are solar barricade lights better for the environment than battery powered barricade lights? Well, quite obviously, they are more environmentally friendly because you are not throwing anything out with solar barricade lights.
With battery powered barricade lights you most likely will be disposing your batteries every 2 months. Disposing batteries is not environmentally friendly because of the chemicals inside of the battery. Another great thing about solar powered barricade lights is that you don’t have to hire someone to go out and change the batteries, therefore saving you money.