Sequential lighting on cones: cone light or light-up cone, how to choose?
Steady, flashing or sequential light, what the French temporary signage instruction and the EN 12352 standard say, a light fitted on a cone or a rechargeable light-up cone: a guide to choosing the right sequential lighting for the job.
Even when well placed, a line of cones can be hard to see at night, in the rain, or on the approach to a lane closure on a fast road. Sequential lighting is designed for these demanding situations: lights that switch on one after the other along the cone line and show drivers which way to move over.
Our distributors and rental customers often ask us about this equipment. Does it work by day as well as by night? How many lights are needed? What battery life can be expected? Should existing cones be fitted, or is it better to switch to light-up cones? This article answers these questions and compares the two solutions we offer, both made by our partner Pi-lit: the SF sequential light, which fits on a cone, and the Smarter Cone, a cone assembled with its rechargeable light base.
Steady, flashing or sequential
A light added to a cone line can work in three ways:
- a steady light, which marks the presence of an obstacle without drawing the eye through movement;
- a flashing light, where each light flashes on its own, independently of its neighbours;
- a sequential light, where the lights in a line switch on one after the other, in a set order.
The sequential effect creates a moving light along the cone line. Drivers no longer see a series of isolated points, but a line that runs and shows them the direction to follow. This effect is most useful where the lane closes and traffic has to merge.
What the regulations say
In France, the Interministerial Instruction on road signage (Part 8, temporary signage) classes these devices as warning and marker lights. It distinguishes several types, including KR2d running lights, which it explicitly associates with ground-mounted devices of type K5 or K16. K5a cones belong to this family: this is the regulatory framework for sequential lighting on cones.
The text then specifies where these lights come into play:
- on dual carriageways, the cone line in the frontal zone and where the lane closes is reinforced with warning and marker lights, and some longitudinal guidance markers may be fitted with them;
- on two-way roads, the first danger sign must be class 2 retroreflective, or fitted with three warning and marker lights.
On the product side, the reference is the European standard EN 12352, which sets the requirements for stand-alone warning lights: luminous intensity classes, steady or flashing light and flash rates, colours, water tightness, and resistance to temperature and impact. Its latest edition dates from 2024 and replaces the 2006 edition.
First solution: a sequential light on the cone
The SF sequential light fits on top of any standard cone. It raises the light output point by more than 20 cm compared with a lamp placed directly on the cone. This is the solution for fitting an existing cone fleet, without changing cones.
The lights synchronise by radio, on 2.4 GHz, up to 300 metres apart. A light is easy to replace within the chain, and more can be added at the end of the line. Each light offers five running patterns, flashing to the front, to the rear or on both sides. A lockable keypad prevents setting errors on site, and a remote control is available as an option.
Four AA alkaline batteries give about one month of continuous flashing. The light weighs 650 g and is visible at 920 metres on a clear night. It works either:
- in 24-hour mode, where it flashes continuously, day and night;
- in night mode, where a built-in light sensor switches it on at dusk and off at dawn, which saves the batteries.
Second solution: the rechargeable light-up cone
The Smarter Cone is an all-in-one product. The light is built into the cone itself: we assemble the cone and its rechargeable LED base into a single unit beforehand, in our workshop, on 71 cm US-size cones. The customer receives a ready-to-use light-up cone, whose base is not meant to be removed. The cones talk to each other over radio and light up in sequence: the merge line becomes an animated light arrow.
What the base changes:
- recharging replaces batteries. The Smarter Cone provides 17 hours of flashing for an 8-hour charge, with 110-240 V mains and 12 V vehicle chargers supplied;
- the cone reports that it has been hit, thanks to impact detection;
- the cone line is controlled from a smartphone, over Bluetooth, with the GPS position of each cone;
- visibility rises to 1,500 metres, and the moving light takes over from the retroreflective sheeting at night and in poor weather.
The radio range between cones is 50 metres, and the cones are laid out in the direction of travel. The Smarter Cone comes in sets of 6 or 12 cones, with their chargers.
Which one to choose?
The SF sequential light suits short, one-off deployments: a temporary lane closure, a checkpoint, a sporting or city event. It is added to cones the rental company already owns, and its batteries give it about one month of continuous flashing.
The Smarter Cone is aimed at teams that often work at night and recharge their equipment between call-outs: merges, lane closures, night-time works. Delivered assembled, it requires no installation by the user, with no light to fit and no batteries to change. On the other hand, it cannot be added to an existing cone fleet: it is a piece of equipment in its own right.
For works lasting several weeks on K5C panels, a steady light such as the Wemas K5 work-zone lamp is preferred. It runs on 6 V batteries and fits on the panel’s end cap, as explained in our article on the K5C panel.
Quick reference
| SF sequential light | Smarter Cone | |
|---|---|---|
| Principle | Light fitted on top of any standard cone | 71 cm cone and rechargeable LED base assembled as one unit by EHS |
| Synchronisation | 2.4 GHz radio, up to 300 m between lights | 2.4 GHz radio, 50 m range |
| Power | 4 AA batteries, about 1 month of flashing | Rechargeable battery, 17 h for an 8 h charge |
| Visibility | 920 m on a clear night | 1,500 m |
| Modes | 5 running patterns, 24 h or night only | 5 flash patterns |
| Extra features | Optional remote control, lockable keypad | Impact detection, Bluetooth control, GPS |
| Typical use | Fitting existing cones, one-off deployments | Frequent night-time work, merges |
Frequently asked questions
Does sequential lighting work during the day?
Yes. The SF sequential light has a 24-hour mode that makes it flash continuously day and night. It can also switch on only at dusk, thanks to its light sensor.
How many lights or cones are needed?
The number depends on the length of the area to be coned off and the site’s signage plan. On the equipment side, the constraint is the radio range between two units: 300 metres for the SF light and 50 metres for the Smarter Cone.
Can cones we already own be fitted?
Yes, with the SF sequential light, which fits on any standard cone. The Smarter Cone, on the other hand, is an all-in-one product: we assemble the cone and its light base before delivery, and the unit is not designed to be taken apart on site.
Need sequential lighting for your fleet?
Are you a distributor or rental company? Our team helps you choose the right solution for your customers’ sites and prepare your stock orders. Contact us or write to contact@ehsgroup.fr. If you are an end user, we will direct you to the nearest distributor in our network.
To choose the cones that will carry these lights, see our complete guide to traffic cones.
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