You can say beacon lights are all around us. For example: on roads, buildings, vehicles & tall towers. But the thing is, many people don’t notice them until these lights start flashing.
They actually play a very important role in alerting, warning and guiding people in different settings. Some most prominent situations include danger signaling, showing direction and indication of an emergency.
Well, as a safety officer, vehicle owner and aviation / marine professional, you need to know how beacon lights work, their types, colors & safety advantages in daily life. That’s exactly we have explained in this guide. JACKWIN’s beacon light manufacturing team has also told you how to select the right lights for your security or other projects.
What Are Beacon Lights?
Beacon lights are also called flashing lights. They are used to warn about danger or show a response where something is important. They flash again & again so people can notice any hazard and remain safe.
You can also place them on tall buildings, emergency vehicles, and towers. Plus, these lights stop accidents at construction sites, factories, and airports. For example, a flashing red light on a crane tells you to stay back.
Working and Components of a Beacon Light
There are four primary elements of Beacon lights.
- Light Source: It is usually an LED light that shines bright and is energy-efficient, too.
- Housing: The cover that protects the light from conditions such as dust, water, and damage.
- Power Supply: It provides energy to the light and is powered by electricity or batteries.
- Flashing Mechanism: With its help, the beacon light can flash on and off at regular intervals.
Beacon lights work by flashing bright lights to grab your attention. Inside, there is a light bulb. It is usually an LED. These bulbs use little energy but shine very brightly. As a result, this flashing light can be seen from far away (even in bad weather).
Furthermore, there are a variety of beacon lights. Each has a unique working principle. Some of them can rotate and give a quick or slow flash. If we use a rotating beacon light on a truck, it will spin 360° to capture your attention. Therefore, drivers can see the truck from all directions.
Types of Beacon Lights
1. Red Beacon Lights
As we all know, red is the sign of danger and emergency. So, the red beacon lights are used to indicate hazardous conditions and the presence of any alarming situation. Most of them use 110 to 230 volts AC, which is the common power in homes and buildings. These lights can also be used in breakdown recovery vehicles to keep drivers safe.
2. Magnetic Beacon Lights
Magnetic Beacon Lights stick to cars or metal using magnets. These lights mostly have LED bulbs that are available in a variety of colors (amber). Plus, they operate on rechargeable batteries or a car charger. You can put them on automobiles, trucks or machines when you need a warning light fast. Additionally, they are also perfect for your temporary jobs such as fixing a broken-down car or working on a construction site.
3. Blue Beacon Lights
If we talk about these particular lights, blue beacon lights are used by emergency vehicles to tell people something critical is happening. It flashes and spins as well. Its most popular applications are police cars, ambulances and fire trucks. Primary aim of these lights is to clear the road so the vehicle can get to an emergency fast. As compared to red lights (which indicate a general alert), blue beacon lights signal to move out of the way due to an urgent situation.
4. LED Beacon Lights
If someone wants energy efficiency plus more long lasting and bright beacon lights, LED beacons are one of the perfect options. There are special types of LED bulbs that are installed in it. In the market, they are available in various sizes, power options and mounting styles for different purposes. Furthermore, you can install them on vehicles, airports, roads, industrial and stationary locations as per your need.
5. Remote Beacon Lights
Remote beacon lights can be controlled from a distance. These are basically portable lights with wireless technology systems. Generally, you can put them in situations where it is not easy to control them manually and switch them on or off. In addition, you can use these lights for signaling and warning purposes in places like construction zones, emergency vehicles and tree presence marks.
6. Xenon Beacon Lights
Xenon beacon lights are powerful and quick flashing lights. These beacons use xenon gas to produce a bright and intense light. Also applicable in situations where high visibility is needed. For example: emergency automobiles, construction sites and for warning purposes in dark or low light conditions. Moreover, these beacons are an ideal choice for you if you face conditions like extreme temperatures or harsh weather. It’s also suitable for outdoor use.
7. Solar Beacon Lights
Solar beacon lights are among the most energy-efficient options for you. Powered by sunlight, they require no external power sources. This modern technology makes them an ideal choice for rural areas & off grid locations too.
Beacon Colour Codes Explained
With the help of this table, you will easily understand the meaning of different colors of beacon lights. That means that the next time you see a flashing beacon of any color, you will know the nature of that alert (either normal or emergency).
| Color of Light | Meaning of Color (Code) | Application |
| Red | Danger | Electricity, active and heavy machinery |
| Blue | A change | Security alarm, device shutdown |
| White | Long-range detection | Low-visibility zones / moving large objects |
| Amber | Be aware | Automatic doors and forklifts |
| Green | Safe/normal operations | Operator confirmation & emergency |
| Yellow | Warning/caution | Abnormal sensor reading and overheating |
Advantages of Installing Beacon Light
1. Reduced Risk of Accidents
Beacon lights help you stay safe at work. They flash bright enough to warn you about danger. For example, if a machine is moving or there is an emergency, the light tells you to be careful in noisy places, too.
2. Quick and Clear Visual Alerts
Just like traffic lights guide you on the road, beacon lights give clear signals in workplaces. You don’t have to guess because one look tells you what to do. Even in locations like airports or factories, these lights help you act fast and stay safe.
3. Cold-Weather Compatibility
From the perspective of its manufacturing, beacon lights are designed to work in freezing temperatures without losing performance.
Hence, it does not matter if you are in a chilly warehouse or outdoor site, these lights stay reliable. You can depend on them for indications even in the harshest winter conditions.
4. Low Maintenance Requirements
Beacon lights require very little maintenance. Such as: LED models last for years without needing replacement. This also reduces downtime. The only thing you have to do is check them daily to inspect battery backups & electrical connections.
5. Multiple Mounting Options
If we talk about its installation process, it’s simple, straightforward & easy as well. You can put them on walls, ceilings or machines with minimum effort. If you want a fixed or adjustable mount, these lights are flexible and easily fit in different work environments.
Major Applications of Beacon Lights
● Warning Signals & Traffic Control
As we already discussed, beacon lights are used to inform people about any dangerous situation. They also have an important role in traffic management. Plus, these lights help to keep alert drivers and protect them from major disasters.
● Construction Sites
Beacon lights are the great choice if you are going to start tall building projects. Because, it warns the workers about dangerous areas like excavations (ground dug out) or high risk work zones.
● Airports and Aviation
Sometimes helicopters or airplanes can collide if the pilot can’t see properly (mostly in bad weather). Beacon lights can overcome this exposure. Additionally, they help guide pilots safely to their destinations. This ultimately prevents aircraft from hitting structures or other flying craft.
● Agricultural Equipment
In large open fields, these lights are essential for agricultural machinery like tractors, harvesters and plows. The reason is that, as an operator you can identify things more clearly with these beacons. This also assists other workers or vehicles to be aware of the moving apparatus and maintain safety on the farm.
● Boats
It doesn’t matter if you are operating a small boat or a large vessel. These lights ensure the safety of people as well as ships. Not only do they guide you, but they also signal your presence to other ships. Beacon lights indicate direction, location & dangers (shallow waters) of your boats.
How To Choose Right Beacon Lighting For Your Project?
Do you want a perfect beacon light which can also fulfill your project / customer requirements? For this purpose, we recommend you to consider these points for the better selection of beacon lights.
- First of all, you need to assess the surroundings and environment conditions where you want to install the beacon lights.
- Then, think about your basic needs, such as roadway control, emergency situations, airport operations, etc.
- People should also wisely select the color. For instance: For night, you can go for red/blue. And for day time, you can consider amber / white.
- You can make sure the light you are purchasing is bright enough and other people can see it from a far distance.
- Also keep in mind how you will use them. For example: portable use (magnetic beacon lights) or permanent wired (12 V).
- Now the last point is you must select strong and weatherproof options. The reason is these durable lights will easily resist the outdoor tough weather conditions.
JACKWIN’s Advice For Beacon Light Maintenance
JACKWIN is the top Chinese supplier of road safety and parking products. So, according to our experience, you should keep in mind the following points to keep your lights in good condition.
- Regular Assessments: If you do regular checks, then you can easily identify small problems before they become too serious. So you must perform daily checkups for cracked lenses, loose power supply, rust or faulty wiring.
- Inspect Electrical Connections: Well, users need to properly check wires and plugs to make sure everything is tight & secure. You should also check the cables to stop the light from going dim in wired beacons.
- Test the Light: We also recommend you to turn the light on from time to time to see if it’s working properly. In this way, you will definitely be able to observe small or big issues early.
- Clean the Cover: We also suggest you wipe the outer cover. It will often keep the lens dust free. Moreover, the lighting will be clear and bright.
Conclusion
In the end, we can say you are now able to understand all the important things related to beacon lights. You can also see how safe it is to install beacon lights in places such as airports, construction sites, traffic control, and ships.
If you are looking for a professional manufacturer and supplier of beacon lights, Jackwin is the perfect fit for you. You can contact us today! We have a very big stock of products available in our factory. Our product engineering team will also customize lights and other traffic safety products according to your brand requirements.
FAQs
What is the Beacon Light Price?
It generally depends on the features and brand of the beacon lights. If we talk about the average price, it is between $30 to $900+. However, it can also vary according to the type of lights. We can proudly say our team will manufacture the best quality beacon lights for you at highly affordable prices as compared to other global companies.
When to Turn on Beacon Lights?
Beacon lights should be turned on before you start the engine. Moreover, you can leave them on until the engine is turned off. As a result, this guides ground staff and other aircraft that your engine is still running.
What is Beacon Light in a Truck?
You might have seen that most truck operators use rotating strobe lights. From the perspective of a truck, it’s also known as a flashing beacon. This flashing beacon tells others about the truck’s presence. Additionally, it helps to improve safety by giving warnings to nearby vehicles and pedestrians.
