Author: Jennifer Castillo

What Types of LED Lights are Suitable for Commercial Use?

Posted on by Jennifer Castillo

Many types of LED lights are suitable for commercial use, including:

  • Bay lighting fixtures – high bays and low bays
  • Panels and troffers
  • Security lighting fixtures
  • Accent and task lighting fixtures
  • Exterior lighting – parking lot lights and streetlights

LED technology has been adapted for every commercial lighting application imaginable – and new ones are on the horizon.

Five Types of LED Lighting Suitable for Commercial Use

LED’s versatility and energy efficiency gives it the advantage in many commercial uses. Notable examples include:

  • Bay lights (high and low) – Bay fixtures are a universally effective option for general commercial lighting purposes. They can be used in department stores, grocery stores, malls, warehouses, airports, indoor amusement centers and any other large interior spaces.

    Bay lights are available in several fixture designs. The most important distinction is high bay vs. low bay LED fixtures. High bay LEDs are installed in interiors with a ceiling height between 20 and 40 feet, while low bays are appropriate for ceilings between 12 and 20 feet high. Each option has output characteristics ideal for their intended setting.

    LED bay lights are also available in linear or UFO (circular) designs, which describe their shape and distribution patterns. Linear bays are better for illuminating aisles and corridors, while UFOs throw illumination in all directions.

  • LED panels and troffers – In office settings, LED lighting is now the norm and has replaced fluorescent technology in most areas.

    There are several types of LED office lights, including LED panels, troffers and tubes. LED panels are edge-to-edge lights designed to fit in drop ceilings. They are ideal for general visibility purposes.

    LED troffers are also designed for drop ceilings but are slightly recessed up into the ceiling to isolate the light it casts into smaller pools. This makes sense when illuminating individual workstations and also prevents glare from bothering others in the room.

    LED tubes are a direct replacement for the fluorescent tubes offices have relied on for decades. LED tubes, available in T4, T8 and T12 designs, are much more energy efficient than fluorescent tubes, and they perform better as well.

  • Security lighting fixtures – LED lighting is also incorporated into various types of security fixtures, most of them intended for exterior uses.

    LED wall pack lighting and flood lights are the fixtures of choice for commercial use. LED wall packs can be installed directly to building facades and other exterior surfaces. They are also useful for illuminating walkways and areas around buildings and can be tied to occupancy sensors to detect and power on when someone is nearby. High-output LED flood lights can also be tied to occupancy controls in this way.

  • Accent and task lighting fixtures – LED lighting can also be built into many types of accent and task fixtures. They include LED strip and cover fixtures, which are compact designs that can fit into tight spaces while still delivering high quality illumination.

    Task lights are used to facilitate certain processes or desired behaviors in a commercial setting. For example, LED task lighting may be installed around checkout stations to help customers identify them from a distance, helping push the sales process along.

    Accent lighting is designed to bring attention to something else, such as a product display. You will find LED accent lighting in and around product shelving in boutique and luxury commercial settings. Here, accent lights add a layer of sophistication and aesthetics that can help sway purchasing decisions.

  • Exterior lighting – LED lighting technology is also a frontline choice for various exterior commercial uses, including parking lot lighting and street lighting. LED lighting’s durability, energy efficiency and extended lifespan elevate it over outdated lighting alternatives, such as high-pressure sodium fixtures and metal halides.

    LED parking lot fixtures and streetlights are manufactured in several illumination distribution patterns. Some throw light forward while others create a pool of illumination around the fixture. Again, LED’s versatility here means it can fit on any property, no matter its size or shape.

Four Reasons LED Lighting is Suitable for Commercial Use

The LED lighting revolution has progressed to the point that more than half of all commercial buildings rely on LEDs for their lighting needs. The benefits that have been driving this transition in the lighting industry include:

  • Energy efficiency – LED lighting has a significant energy efficiency advantage over metal halides, fluorescents, halogens and other older types of lighting. This advantage is expressed on two levels. One, LED lamps are individually more energy efficient because they are manufactured with semiconductor technology – a major step over heated metal filaments and pressurized gas. Two, LED lighting systems are more energy efficient because less illumination is wasted as the lights can be effectively aimed. Directionality is an advantage that is unique to LED lighting.
  • Longevity – LED lighting lasts much longer than all other types of commercial lighting. Halogens provide 1,000-2,000 hours before replacement is recommended. Metal halides last around 10,000 hours. Fluorescent lights are the longest lasting among older types of lighting with 20,000 hours being a typical lifespan.

    On the other hand, the typical LED light will provide at least 50,000 hours of quality illumination.

  • Performance – LED lights can output extremely bright light that is more uniform than other lighting options. LED light also renders color much better than other types of commercial lighting, which improves long-distance visibility and improves safety, as a result.
  • Controllability – LED fixtures are compatible with all modern lighting controls, such as timers, dimmers, photocells and occupancy sensors. These controls can enhance an LED lighting system’s energy efficiency further by ensuring lights are only powered on when they are needed. Advanced lighting controls are also recommended for security applications, and LED’s compatibility allows for a greater range of security focused uses.

A Lighting Expert Can Help Determine the Best LED Lights for Commercial Use

LED lighting manufacturers have rapidly developed high quality LED lights for nearly every application and setting imaginable, so there is likely an LED lighting solution for your project as well. The challenge is determining which fixtures to incorporate into your project.

This is where a commercial lighting expert can provide considerable value. With an expanded selection of commercial fixtures and specialized tools – like photometric software – lighting professionals can identify the most effective and cost-efficient lighting system for any property.

Lighting Options for a Backyard Putting Green

Posted on by Jennifer Castillo

Lighting options for a backyard putting green include various bullet and flood lights, installed close to the putting green surface to deliver targeted illumination. For the true golf enthusiast there is another type of lighting fixture that is ideal for night-time putting practice.

Putting cup lights fit inside the hole, directly under the cup. From this position, a backyard putting green lighting system will provide enough quality light to allow for some extra night-time practice.

The Best Lighting Options for a Backyard Putting Green

If you work on your putting stroke after the sun goes down, there are lights that can keep you putting late into the night. Those fixtures include:

  • Bullet lights – Bullet lights have a cylindrical body that is ideal for projecting a spotlight in a small area. They are effective at illuminating the cup, the green and any paths around the putting area.

    Our bullet lights are built with an aluminum or brass housing for maximum durability and corrosion resistance, which is important for lighting fixtures exposed to the elements. The lens is manufactured from sandblasted glass for excellent optical quality, and the light engine we recommend is a 4 or 6-watt LED that provides superior illumination quality and extended lifespan.

  • Flood lights – Flood lights throw a wider beam of illumination than bullet fixtures, so they are more appropriate for larger greens and for illuminating large areas in your backyard.

    Like our bullet fixtures, our flood golf fixtures are manufactured from aluminum or brass for durability and weather protection. The lens is made from a flat panel of tempered glass for impact resistance.

    35-watt and 50-watt halogen lights are recommended for our backyard putting green flood fixtures, as they offer excellent visibility and illumination quality.

  • Path lights – Although path lights will not serve as your primary form of putting green illumination, they are helpful for lighting the walkways around your greens and along any walkways in your backyard. If you plan on doing night-time entertaining on top of putting practice, path fixtures will improve general visibility in your space. They can also be used with landscaping to illuminate gardens, small sculptures and planters.

The Ultimate Backyard Putting Green Lighting System Includes In-hole Lights

To take your night golfing to another level, consider a specialty putting green LED lighting kit. Each one contains a set of five or nine putting cup lights, each with a 3-watt LED uplight that emits illumination in a vertical pattern. In other words, each putting cup will be marked by a vertical column of illumination.

In addition to the putting cups and LED lights, each backyard putting green lighting kit comes with a set of acrylic flags – one for each hole – as well as the lead wires and magnetic transformer needed to power them all.

Three Advantages of Installing LED Lights for Your Backyard Putting Green 

LED lighting is the leading lighting technology for a variety of applications, including putting greens. There are many reasons why LED lighting is the new standard, but here is why homeowners prefer it for their backyards:

  • Energy efficiency – LEDs are the most energy efficient lights on the market, no matter the application. Compared to halogen fixtures, for example, LED lighting is up to 90 percent more efficient. LED has similar energy efficiency advantages over fluorescent, metal halides and every other form of illumination.

    With its superior efficiency, LED lights can operate for long stretches of time without running up your utility bills.

  • Lifespan and durability – LED lights are also the longest-lasting lighting fixtures on the market. On average, you can expect around 50,000 hours of high-quality illumination out of your LEDs. Compare this to halogen lights, which last a few thousand hours before they need to be replaced, or fluorescent fixtures, which only produce around 20,000 hours of quality illumination before replacement is necessary. Another important consideration is that halogen and fluorescent lighting technologies are becoming obsolete.

    With their extended lifespan, LED putting green lights require only the occasional replacement – typically years following installation. This is a major cost efficiency and convenience advantage.

  • Illumination quality – LED lighting emits flawless, bright illumination that renders color well. At night, this ensures superior visibility and helps with tracking the ball in low light conditions. LED fixtures can also be modified to emit a range of colors, which can be used to color code certain holes or just to produce a unique and interesting look for your backyard putting green.

An Experienced Lighting Company Can Suggest the Ideal Lighting Options for a Backyard Putting Green

If you like to schedule your putting practice for after sunset, a reliable and effective backyard lighting system is a must. Bullet and flood lights are effective options in this regard, but LED putting green lighting kits are purpose built for the job. They come with all of the fixtures and LED lamps you will need to get started, as well as the necessary electrical accessories.

A trusted lighting expert can help you select the right backyard putting green lighting kit for your space and can also assist with installation if necessary.

Benefits of Getting a Photometric Design

Posted on by Jennifer Castillo

Photometric designs benefit commercial properties that are considering new or replacement lighting fixtures. Those benefits include:

  • Better lighting precision and accuracy
  • Better energy efficiency
  • Compliance with local lighting ordinances
  • Improved lighting system aesthetics
  • Superior lighting optimization

A photometric analysis and plan will ensure the new lighting solution surpasses all requirements and expectations.

What is a Photometric Analysis and Plan?

Photometrics refer to the science and math involved in measuring illumination intensity and how it is perceived by the human eye. A photometric analysis is designed to use photometric tools to simulate a variety of potential lighting system designs.

This is done with industry-specific software that models the project space. From here, lighting designers can position fixtures in the space and choose exactly which lamps or luminaries to use as illumination sources. Lighting distribution patterns, lamp intensity and energy usage data are all taken directly from the manufacturer, so photometric analysis software provides an accurate model that lighting professionals can rely on.

Once the lighting designer has put together an optimal lighting solution, the supply team will source the necessary lighting fixtures, and the installation team will place them. Along the way, the system’s photometric analysis will serve as the guiding plan.

Five Benefits of Getting a Photometric Design

If you are working with a reputable lighting company, they will recommend performing a photometric analysis for any large-scale commercial projects that have well-defined lighting goals and challenges. Tight budgetary concerns or rigid lighting ordinances are two examples.

Here is how a photometric plan can optimize your lighting solution:

  • Better lighting precision, accuracy and visibility – Photometric analysis software can measure how much illumination will strike each square foot of the property once the lighting system is installed, down to the lumen. With this level of insight, lighting installers can guarantee sufficient lighting coverage in all areas where visibility is a concern. When combined with LED lights, which provide superior directionality, photometric designs can achieve unmatched levels of lighting performance and uniformity. Visibility is a critical safety factor in large commercial or outdoor spaces, so photometric plans are recommended for parking lots, warehouses, parks and similar spaces.
  • Better energy efficiency – Photometric designs make it easy for lighting designers to alter the big-picture aspects of a new lighting solution. This includes the types and placement of all fixtures, so the designer has access to valuable power usage data. Lighting professionals use this information to achieve necessary visibility levels with the minimum amount of power required. If your facilities must improve energy efficiency for compliance or cost savings reasons, a photometric design will provide optimal results.
  • Compliance with local lighting ordinances – Facility owners are challenged with increasingly stringent energy efficiency standards, and a photometric design can help with this.

    In many cities, commercial property owners are also required to obey light trespass and light pollution ordinances. With these ordinances, the illumination must stay on the property. Photometric design and analysis support this goal by modeling how much light passes beyond the property’s perimeter. If too much light is trespassing onto neighboring properties, the lighting designer can take measures to mitigate it.

  • Improved lighting system aesthetics – A photometric design maximizes lighting precision, so illumination goes only where you want it to. With greater control over how illumination is distributed, it is easier for lighting experts to reduce glare and keep the illumination within comfortable levels. It may not seem like much aesthetically, but better distributed light supports better productivity, as workers are less likely to experience eye strain, headaches and other side effects of light that is too harsh.
  • Superior whole-system optimization – Photometric analysis ensures all aspects of your new lighting solution are considered. This includes how various parts of the system will interact with each other. For example, your lighting solution may include lighting controls to improve energy efficiency or safety further. During a photometric plan, the design team can model how lighting controls will affect the system’s performance and energy usage, depending on where the fixtures are installed and how they will be controlled.

    A photometric plan can also help facilities better link their various lighting systems to ensure they are operating at peak efficiency and efficacy. One example is ensuring your security lighting and general lighting achieve their intended goals, using different lighting controls and without affecting the system’s overall performance.

An Experienced Lighting Company Can Perform a Photometric Analysis

Photometric design and planning will allow you to see the new lighting solution before it is installed. It removes guesswork from the process and ensures optimal visibility, accuracy, aesthetics and energy efficiency.

To achieve these performance-boosting results, it is important that your organization pattern with a reputable commercial lighting expert. An experienced lighting team will have access to photometric design tools, as well as the knowledge needed to interpret the software’s analysis.

Whether your organization is installing a new lighting system for a warehouse, department store, parking lot, park, sports venue or another large-scale project, photometric design will ensure the best results for your project.

Types of Landscape Lighting Transformers

Posted on by Jennifer Castillo

Although there are many types of landscape lighting transformers, they all have a few things in common, including that they are all designed to safely step-down voltage from line supply into a safer, low voltage form. Landscape lighting transformers are also built to be wear and weather resistant, as they must be able to handle the elements without creating a safety hazard.

Where the transformers differ is the technology that drives them, whether electronic or magnetic, and their capacity.

Landscape lighting transformers are often overlooked as a critical system component, but every outdoor lighting system needs one to ensure safe and reliable operation.

What Does a Transformer Do for a Landscape Lighting System? 

A landscape lighting transformer serves the same purpose that any low voltage transformer does for a lighting system – it takes the high voltage current from the main power supply and stepping it down into a safer, low voltage form – typically between 12 and 15 volts. In addition to improving safety protecting installers from dangerous electrical discharges, this low voltage current is necessary for most landscape lights, which are designed for low voltage supply.

What is the Difference Between an Electric and Magnetic Transformer?

The many types of landscape lighting transformers can be grouped into two categories: electronic transformers and magnetic transformers. Here is a quick look at each:

  • Electronic transformers – Electronic transformers step down line voltage to low voltage by first increasing the current’s frequency before passing through a miniature coil that generates the magnetic field needed to induce a lower voltage current in a second coil – the low voltage power that is fed to the landscape lighting fixtures.Electronic transformers are more compact than magnetic transformers, given their micro coil design. They are also less expensive, but electronic transformers occasionally have compatibility issues with LED landscape lighting. They also generate more heat, which must be controlled, and they must be positioned closer to the lights due to potential voltage losses.
  • Magnetic transformers – Magnetic transformers also step down line voltage using a pair of coils. The primary coil’s electrical current creates a magnetic field that induces a current in the second coil. This second coil has a lower number of windings (about 1/10 of the primary coil), which results in a proportionally smaller voltage, from 150 volts to 12-15 volts.There are two types of magnetic transformers: stacked core transformers and toroidal transformers.

    Stacked core transformers are built with a set of copper winding-wrapped sheets that together act as the transformer’s core. This type of magnetic transformer is less expensive to manufacture but is less efficient than a toroidal magnetic transformer.

    Toroidal magnetic transformers are built with a donut-shaped core around which the copper windings are wrapped. This is a more efficient transformer design but is more expensive to produce.

When installing a landscape lighting system, part of the transformer selection process will come down to picking between an electronic and magnetic transformer design.

What to Look for in a Landscape Lighting Transformer

When selecting a landscape lighting transformer, the following considerations are important:

  • Voltage output – Low voltage lighting transformers output a tight range of voltages, but it is still essential for installers to verify that their lighting fixtures are compatible with the transformer’s voltage specifications.
  • Power capacity – Landscape lighting transformers have capacities measured in voltage. Make sure that your transformer has the capacity for your landscape lights.
  • Housing and design – Landscape lighting transformers are available in a variety of designs and sizes. When selecting yours, the goal is to choose one that blends in with your property for aesthetic reasons and to prevent people from tampering with it.

In addition to the above considerations, the following features are recommended for landscape lighting applications:

  • A fully dimmable design – Landscape lighting systems must be controllable since they are used outdoors. If your transformer is compatible with dimmers, it can precisely control the amount of illumination your lights are generating.
  • A secondary connection block – A secondary connection block simplifies installation by providing a simple wiring interface for installers to work with.
  • Secondary protection – If the landscape lighting transformer is designed with secondary protection, it will not pose a safety hazard if the primary protection mechanism fails. This added protection is highly recommended for outdoor lighting applications.
  • A stainless steel build – A stainless steel housing provides excellent impact protection and shielding from inclement weather. Stainless steel is also corrosion-resistant, which is a must for exterior lighting applications.

A Lighting Expert Can Help Select the Ideal Transformer for any Landscape Lighting System

Landscape lighting systems require a reliable, compatible transformer to safely convert line voltage to low voltage that outdoor fixtures rely on. The challenge is identifying the right transformer for your project. In this regard, a trusted lighting expert can provide insight into the right choice for your property.