Sealed beam or Halogen?

[Gary_in_Indiana]

That's my question. Since I can't afford HID, which type of lighting is superior and why? What are the pro's and con's of each?

 

[Junkman]

halogen is always superior, but what the application is, is also important.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Just some additional lighting on equipment to extend my workday - nothing special or elaborate. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Junkman]

Halogen will give you more light for the same wattage. Power consumption is always a concern on a tractor with a marginal output alternator. I have found that to get enough light to work in the dark, you have to set up work lights, and even then it is marginal. When it is dark, I just park the machine for the evening. No sense in getting hurt just because you can't see well. My old eyes have taught this old body that safety is in the light of day, not the light of halogen.. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

If I were able to have my tractoring as a priority and my job as a secondary concern I could take your good advice. Unfortunately, I seem to have to do it the other way around and, as a result of that, sometimes find myself mowing or brush hogging well into the evening.

Just Tuesday night I went over and mowed a few acres for my next door neighbor because I knew he didn't have a brush hog and had seen him trying to get through some three and four foot high grass with a belly mower on his Kubota last weekend. I was just finishing for the day but told him to let it alone and I'd get it for him next time I was out there with my brush hog on. Rather than wait, I just went out Tuesday and did it. I didn't finish until after ten and some additional lights might have helped.

For me it seems like it's never a choice of working at night or not, but rather a choice of working at night with just my headlights or with some decent additional lighting. Given those realities, additional lighting seems like the safe and prudent choice. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Ozarker]

I agree with Junk man that halogen produces more noticeable light but halogen also produces significantly more heat. That is a concern when you decide where to mount the light. Make sure wires are mounted away from the heated area and you have to pay attention to the overhead stuff such as branches. Park under a tree with branches close to the light and you could set the tree on fire.

 

[JimR]

Go with the halogens and get the most for your money. I have 2 sets of portables that I have been using while working on my barn at night. Those lights almost make it look like daylight. I bet they would work even better on a tractor. I would love to mount the high beams off my wife's Acura on my Cub. They are the brightest lights that I have ever seen.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

<font color="blue"> "I would love to mount the high beams off my wife's Acura on my Cub." </font>

Sounds like a 'win-win' deal. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

You get nice lights for your Cub and she doesn't have to worry about driving at night. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Ozarker]

I have and use the halogen work lights as well. But one has to be aware of the additional heat put out by halogen bulbs and the increased fire hazard. Halogen lights have burned down a lot of houses over the past 20 years or so.

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml97/97173.html

 

[KENSFM]

I agree with the others that halogen is the way to go. Halogen is also available as a "sealed beam", they came as standard driving lights on my Jeep Cherokee.
Ken