Princeton Tec

July 04, 2022

For HVAC-R contractors and technicians, a trustworthy, large-high quality headlamp can significantly make improvements to on-the-task safety and productiveness. Supplied the character of the work, quite a few conclude up working in poorly lit, cramped, and enclosed areas, so lights methods that permit the use of each hands can be essential.

As with any device, even so, there are alternatives to make as to expense and good quality. Because HVAC-R contractors operate in somewhat severe environments, headlamps need to be long lasting ample to endure tough dealing with and speak to with h2o, chemical substances, dyes, and refrigerants. Deciding upon a device that features highly developed features this kind of as a number of lighting configurations (spot, flood, near selection), are dimmable, or have UV LEDs for leak detection utilizing fluorescent dyes, can expedite career completion and make improvements to safety.

“Headlamps, penlights, flashlights, and other illumination resources are vital for bettering protection and performance in darkish or minimal-mild places,” states Rob Holmes, a sales representative at Sunbelt Advertising, a manufacturers’ agent/master distributor of HVAC-R, plumbing, and piping items.

“However, these important applications ought to reliably carry out at the jobsite and not fail or run out of batteries throughout get the job done shifts,” adds Holmes. “Still, quite a few contractors obtain very low-value headlamps from major box stores that are created abroad and not designed for contractor environments.”

Even goods marketed to the business by distributors and wholesalers can acquire weak reputations if the units are unsuccessful at the jobsite or establish reliability concerns.

“One small-cost [headlamp] manufacturer was well known with HVAC-R contractors for a while, but several distributors now refuse to offer them due to the fact the models failed regularly, and there were being constant returns,” suggests Holmes. “Contractors want trustworthy, substantial, however light-weight items that will not fall short on the occupation.”

Thankfully, a wide selection of specialist-quality headlamps and lights merchandise are accessible that provide HVAC-R gurus with the reliability, highly effective illumination, extended battery everyday living, versatility, and comfort necessary.

Larger Dependability and Security

Comprehension the want for trustworthy and superior-high quality items in the industry, Sunbelt Promoting manufactured the final decision to grow to be a manufacturers’ agent/grasp distributor of HVAC-R solutions from Princeton Tec. The Trenton, NJ-based mostly company designs and manufactures experienced-quality headlamps in the U.S. with long lasting thermoplastic product built to stand up to drops and tough managing. The U.S. military services works by using these products and solutions, and there is an possibility to make buys with a life span warranty.

“Because headlamps can be dropped or destroyed in the demanding configurations serviced by contractors, it is critical that the tools can withstand rough handling,” suggests Holmes. “The headlamps are also waterproof and chemical resistant and so can be simply washed if it arrives in get in touch with with the dyes, substances, and solvents used by HVAC-R contractors.”

Battery life is also an essential thought mainly because HVAC-R professionals working 8-to-12-hour shifts like to avoid the downtime required to modify out headlamp batteries two or a few situations for every change. These days, highly developed dimmable LEDs with reduced battery draw, less heat, and bigger illumination per unit of power can enable battery energy to last total shifts devoid of a transform.

The Vizz-IND headlamp, for example, features a reliable 420 Lumens of illumination with a melt away time of 90 hours. The headlamp can be switched in between a shiny LED spot beam for long toss illumination, four 5mm LEDs that produce a flood beam, and equipped with both equally a nylon head strap and an interchangeable rubber helmet strap.

The LEDs are dimmable, enabling the headlamp to be modified to fit the accessible light and the operate natural environment.

“If the gentle is way too vibrant for a unique job, or location, the dimming feature can be applied to alter to a more at ease gentle degree. Dimming also increase the burn time and battery everyday living of the headlamp,” states Holmes.

While skilled-quality headlamps cost more up entrance, the general expense of ownership is generally reduce because the batteries usually past 5-6 occasions extended and do not will need to be replaced regularly throughout function shifts. When multiplied by the selection of specialists out on careers, the cost savings to a HVAC-R contracting firm’s base line turns into even larger.

Simply because specialists ordinarily don headlamps for quite a few several hours, it is critical the headlamp is built for extended put on and comfort and ease. Some small-value designs have headbands that lose elasticity and need repeated tightening and re-adjustment. Experienced-grade solutions generally have better top quality headbands that keep their elasticity and condition.

Like lots of other varieties of contractors, HVAC-R professionals generally employ their headlamps in their individual lives as nicely, for pursuits these as trail running, biking, hiking, looking, and fishing.

“I run 30 to 50 miles a 7 days at evening, such as on trails, so a headlamp is very crucial to me,” says Avid runner Joshua Harrington, an HVAC-R gross sales consultant at Sunbelt internet marketing. “So, I tested the Vizz-IND headlamp to see how effectively it worked, how bright it was, how the dimming capabilities functioned, and how it match on my evening operates.”

“I located the elastic headband quite relaxed, and the product experienced a great harmony of becoming light-weight, but incredibly tough,” adds Harrington. “The dazzling LED lights make certain automobiles see me, and I have not had to improve out the battery as soon as.”

Flexibility for HVAC-R Tasks

Right now, some special headlamp possibilities even enable HVAC-R specialists safely and securely and efficiently manage a wide wide range of jobs in the discipline.

The Remix Ultraviolet (UV) headlamp, for illustration, is particularly developed to support with tasks this kind of as leak detection. The headlamp brings together a 300-lumen location beam with three high-depth UV LEDs that cause fluorescent dyes to “glow” for leak detection in very low mild configurations.

A different product, the Snap Solo from Princeton Tec, characteristics a removable magnetic head unit that can be worn as a conventional headlamp, made use of as a handheld flashlight, or connected to any magnetic area to illuminate even incredibly confined work areas. The unit provides 300 lumens and a 155-hour runtime. A easy swap is made use of for activation and switching concerning high and lower place beams, dimming, as effectively as a flash mode to attract interest in circumstance of unexpected emergency.

“If a technician enters a dim, enclosed room and requirements to illuminate a precise region, he can detach the head device and magnetically adhere it to any readily available steel surface in the greatest probable position for the process at hand,” claims Holmes.

In settings exactly where the surroundings is inherently volatile because of to attainable gases, vapors, or flammable substances present, Princeton Tec also presents headlamps that meet the basic safety necessities for these kinds of hazardous environments.

Handheld penlights are also handy for unique tasks. To make sure dependable battery power, an Alloy-X 400 lumen penlight delivers twin-gasoline technological know-how so contractors can make use of possibly a rechargeable lithium-ion battery bundled or two AAA alkaline batteries.

Whilst obtaining small-value headlamps and handheld lights is often an possibility, contractors and experts that find skilled-quality types with functions suited to the process will find that the improved dependability and effectiveness will raise their safety and productiveness for numerous many years to come.

For far more data, simply call 1-800-257-9080 electronic mail [email protected] check out princetontec.com or create to Princeton Tec, PO Box 8057, Trenton, NJ 08650.