Temp Light Pros & Cons For Construction Lighting

Use this tool to find the right LED temp lights for your jobsite

As an electrical contractor or electrician, your “office” is never the same – and that’s part of the fun! No two jobsites are alike, so neither is the temporary lighting that will best illuminate your workspace. Compare the pros and cons of different types of temporary lights, and use our selection tool to choose the best temp light option for your next project.

Rechargeable, Portable LED Lighting

Looking for something convenient and portable? With up to 10 hours of battery, Southwire's rechargeable work lights are perfect for in-and-out jobs when you need to quickly light your work area. They are easy to carry around to different areas of the jobsite. With no cord, you don’t need to have a power source nearby, and you eliminate trip hazards on the jobsite. It’s not as powerful as other LED temp lights, but when you need something quick and convenient, this is the best option.

•   Portable
•   No cord to trip on
•   No external power source needed
•   Limited light output
•   Limited by battery life

Wobblelights

The best construction lights need to be durable. Southwire’s wobblelights can get knocked over and pop right back up. Available in different sizes, wobblelights can light a work area up to 75 feet in diameter. This portable lighting option is easy to transport to different locations on the jobsite, so you can quickly illuminate different work areas without any complicated set up. You can’t direct the light towards a specific work area, but for portable, durable area lighting, wobblelights are your best choice.

•   Portable
•   Durable
•   360-degree light distribution
•   Can’t control light direction

Corded LED Work Lights

If you want to illuminate an area but need more directional control, you should use corded LED temp lights. With a six-foot tripod stand and single or dual-head options, a corded LED temp light gives you sufficient lighting for a more specific work area. These are a great construction lighting option for outdoor areas at night, especially when days start getting shorter with fewer hours of daylight. There’s even a rechargeable version of these. Knocking the tripod over can damage the light, and they’re tougher to carry around the jobsite, but for high light output, these corded LED work lights are your best option.

•   Directional control of lighting
•   No cord to trip on
•   Suitable for outdoor locations
•   Not as portable
•   Can fall over and be damaged

String Work Lights

If you need overhead lighting, and you’re going to be on the jobsite for an extended period, you will probably need to hang string work lights. Southwire’s string work lights are protected by a durable plastic cage surrounding each base socket and suitable for indoor and outdoor use illuminating attics, garages, construction sites or other large areas.

If you won’t be on the jobsite long, hanging construction string lights and taking them down is tedious, but they’re your best option for long-term construction lights when you need sufficient overhead lighting.

•   Overhead lighting
•   Durable
•   Can’t trip or knock them over
•   Installation time

Temporary Overhead Lighting for Construction

If you are on a more permanent or long-term jobsite and you need overhead lighting for large, indoor, industrial projects with high ceilings, you will want to install temporary overhead light fixtures like Southwire’s Temp LED high or low bay lights.

On long-term jobsites like this, it’s especially important you meet OSHA’s temporary lighting for construction requirements. In addition to supplying these temporary construction lights, Van Meter can help you comply with OSHA standards by providing a lighting layout that will ensure you have the right products and placement to achieve sufficient footcandle levels on your jobsite.

•   Overhead lighting
•   Suitable for large facilities
•   Long-term solution
•   Installation time
•   Cost and Complexity