LED area lights are commercial light fixtures installed on light poles. They are used to illuminate parking lots and other outdoor spaces. The main goal is to improve safety and security.
LED Parking Lot Lighting comes in a variety of styles and can include many features. The most common type of area light ranges from 100-150 watts and has an output of 10,000 to 16,000 lumens. Depending on the specifics of the installation, LED lights in this range are roughly equivalent to 400W metal halide lights and other 400 watt HID lights that were used in the past.
Area lights are typically mounted at heights ranging between 12’ and 20’. Lower and higher mounting heights are common, especially when installing LED parking lot lights that exceed 200 watts. Mounting parking lot luminaires at a higher level typically results in reduced shadows and more uniformity of light levels on the ground.
The majority of parking lot light fixtures run on voltages of either 120V, 208V, 240V or 277V. It is reasonably common for parking lot lighting to be powered by 480V. Although significantly less common, other voltages can be found in use.
The most common Kelvin rating for light color is 5000K. This is a daylight white color. Cool white and warm white ratings of 5700K and 4000K are not uncommon. 5700K typically provides slightly more visibility and makes the parking lot appear more crisp. 4000K parking lot lighting provides a warmer, softer light that may improve the color clarity of objects below the lights.
There are a variety of mounting methods to attach light fixtures to a light pole. Common mounting methods include tenons, bullhorns, slipfitters and direct mounts.
When performing an LED lighting retrofit for an existing parking lot, the first step in the process is to evaluate what the existing site consists of. If the existing light poles and electrical are in good condition, it is common to replace only the light fixtures or “heads.” In this situation, the existing poles and wiring are left in place and only the luminaires are replaced. In other scenarios, the existing poles may be rusted or at the end of their useful life. The existing concrete pole bases may or may not be able to be reused. In these situations, we recommend contacting us so we can help support your project and help you make the best decisions.