Pilot Lights

Pilot lights - also commonly referred to as power indicator lights - are a simple and cost effective way of ensuring full visibility of the operational status of various industrial machinery. Here at Cromwell, we have a wide range of pilot lights from leading brand Schneider Electric.

What are pilot lights?

Also referred to as power indicator lights or LED power indicator lights, pilot lights are designed to ensure you can see the operation and power status of a part of machinery that shows no other visible, audible or vibratory signal that it is working. Usually vibrant in colour to stand out on a control panel, the lights possess an LED bulb that lights up when the machinery it relates to is in various states. The most commonly used colour of pilot lights are green, red, yellow, blue and white. Typically, the green light represents normal functioning operation or that the machinery is ready to be used, the yellow indicates a state of standby or change, the red represents a state of emergency or danger where an action needs to be taken immediately, white normally represents a standard power on state or something that normally falls outside of the three main red, green or yellow actions, and blue is used to show other aspects such as the charge of your required device or machine. However, these can be used interchangeably to suit your needs and the colour system of your workplace.

When are pilot lights used?

Although they can be used professionally or domestically, pilot lights - or power indicator lights - are generally used in industrial settings, where large machinery is in operation, usually via a programmed, automated process. They are regularly used to signal to the operator the status of the machinery or mechanical equipment where this may not be evident, such as on ships, control panels operating multiple pieces of machinery, large warehouses or other industrial pieces of machinery. Some pilot indicator lights have various IP ratings, meaning they can operate even outside or in adverse conditions where dust, liquids or foreign bodies are present.

Considerations when choosing a pilot light

• Beam colour - Pilot lights come in an array of colours, but are most often supplied in the colour green, red, yellow, blue and white. The colours typically denote the status of the machinery. Whilst the choice is yours, pilot lights are designed to stand out and some colours carry natural connotations; for example, red normally represent emergency stop, therefore it's best to choose a colour that you know will be highly visible yet also recognisable and understood on your control panel.

• Mounting type - Whilst pilot lights are normally suited for mounting straight into panels, they can also be monolithic in shape, It's best to check which type of mounting type is best for your application to ensure you select the right power indicator light for your needs.

• Terminal type - Although pilot lights are generally screw in, there are more specialised types of terminal that require more wiring such as an X1-X2 terminal type. This is worth considering before purchasing to make sure you find the product that best suits your desired application.

• Bulb type - Generally, pilot indictor lights possess an LED light for long functionality and to reduce the amount of times that the bulb will need changing. However, some older models may feature different bulbs that are not as energy efficient.

Pilot light jargon buster

We want to make it easy for you to shop our range of pilot lights, so here are some key terms that will help you understand the range and applications a little better.

What do the different levels of IP rating mean? What does IP66 mean?

Where a product is IP rated, this refers to an Ingress Protection rating. Put simply, this rating tests an electrical device's ability to effectively block foreign bodies such as dust, moisture or liquids as well as accidental contact. These ratings are stylised as the letters IP, followed by either two or three digits.

Let's break it down with the example of IP66...

• IP - This is the standard for any electrical device that has an IP rating.

• 6 - The first digit in an IP rating refers to the electrical device's ability to block solid foreign bodies such as dust, wires, tools or parts of the body such as fingers. This is rated from X (which denotes that there is no available data in which to rate the device in this way) or 0 (which denotes that the electrical device can offer no protection against the ingress of solids) to 6 which denotes the product is completely dust tight after being subjected to an 8 hour test with continuous airflow.

• 6 - The second digit denotes the product's ability to protect against moisture such as sprays, droplets and submersion. This is rated from X (which denotes that there is no available data in which to rate the device in this way) or 0 (no protection against the ingress of water or moisture) to 9K, which denotes that the electrical device is protected even against powerful high-temperature water jets.

What if there is a letter after the rating? For example, what is IP66F?

Any letter after the two or three digits is used to convey any supplementary information. In this case, the letter F denotes that the product is oil resistant. Some other supplementary letters include:

• D = Wire
• H = High voltage apparatus
• M = Device is in motion
• S = Device is standing still
• W = Certain weather conditions

FAQs

Is a panel indicator light the same as a pilot light?

Yes. The terms LED indicator light, panel indicator light or power indicator light are all interchangeable and refer to an LED light designed to be attached to your panel to signify various operational states of machinery.