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SPECIAL REPORT


Some LED designs allow diode replace- ment to extend service life even further. “LED light sales are strong, and replace- ment of the older incandescent light are fewer,” said Gina Moore, the drop-ship coordinator for Blue Bird Service Parts. “Te LED long-term (outlook) is a cost saving benefit, eco-friendly and economical product. Since the LEDs utilize less power,


last longer and appear brighter, this is a game-winning product.” With years of research and development behind them, LED light manufacturers are continuing to improve the technology and satisfy state laws and Department of Trans- portation specifications. With longer life cycles, fewer parts and superior illumination the LED might very well become a standard


specification in the transportation market. Jerry Pederson, parts manager at A-Z


Bus Sales, Inc., said most fleets in California are specifying LEDs on new bus purchases, and many customers have completed LED retrofits on their legacy fleets. “Design improvement and price reduc-


tions have helped increase the popularity of LED lights,” he added.


A TECHNICIAN’S PERSPECTIVE We have been using LEDs at School


District No. 73 in Kamloops, British Columbia, for several years now, and it took some getting used to the cost. But we soon realized the long-term advantages. "When LED's first came out they had a number of issues, however with the changes in technology they are now more reliable. Tey have lowered our maintenance costs on replacement of bulbs and provide better visibility and an improved level of safety with our daily operation," said Transporta- tion Manager Dave Mell. Our new buses all come equipped with


LED lights from the factory, and we rarely have to replace them. Tis is an option that costs approximately $1,800. And the five- year warranty stretches the limitations of the lights. Maybe once a year we've had to ship out two or three failed LEDs. Obviously, we save a lot of labor having


LEDs on our buses, and the cost is absorbed initially in the original purchase. If one fails, we get another five-year warranty covering the majority of the bus life expectancy. When you consider a $100,000 school


bus, the incremental cost of the LED option is miniscule. Te one big advantage that comes to mind is the fact that the LEDs are totally sealed from the environment, so the only failure can be the diodes, which happens far and few between. Incandescent lights, on the other hand,


are a constant maintenance issue, and the biggest cause of failure is the poor seal- ing ability, which allows the environment to deteriorate connections and internal components. Before moving to LEDs, each summer my operation had to disassemble each and every lens cover and wash out the dust and grime then clean the connections and use dielectric grease to protect the bulbs from moisture and corrosion. You can imagine how much work that is


on a fleet of buses. Our local DOT officer would advise us to do this on a regular basis, since the dirt build up inside the incandescent lights would decrease illumination. —


44 School Transportation News September 2013


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