Essential Questions for Your Commercial Solar Lighting Project

When you install a traditional commercial light, you don’t often need to worry about whether it will be “bright” enough or will work continuously because there is an expectation that it will operate as specified. You dig the trench, lay the cable, connect to the public utility, and bam—you have the lighting.

However, a properly sized modern commercial outdoor solar lighting system is a fantastic option if you want to avoid expensive and time-consuming trenching options and prefer not to pay any ongoing electricity costs. While solar commercial lights can achieve the same lighting results as traditional lights, there are some specific things you need to evaluate to make sure you get the right results.

Why Are These Questions Being Asked?

Avoid overspending by ensuring the lighting system uses the right-sized components for your project’s requirements rather than using an unnecessarily pricey system to make up for a poor design.

Avoid battery changes or automatic shut-offs by installing a system that will be able to meet your long-term lighting needs rather than one that causes the lights to dim, the battery to fail too soon, or turns the lights off entirely.

Q1. Ask About The Project Location

Where exactly is the project located?

Try to get precise street addresses and site descriptions whenever feasible. Why? This enables the manufacturer’s designers to take solar insolation information into their system design. Different areas receive different amounts of sunlight each day. For example, a solar light specified for sunny, southern California would be smaller and therefore wouldn’t generate enough power to provide continuous light for New York City. Conversely, a solar street light specified for New York City would be unnecessarily large for California.

Knowing the project location allows the manufacturers to build and specify their systems for your exact location and avoid proposing a system that’s too small or too large for your area. Additionally, a street address helps evaluate potential shading risks from trees, structures, or other impediments that could shade the solar panel and reduce the efficiency of your system.

Q2. Ask About The Project Application

What kind of area are you trying to illuminate? Is it street lighting or area lighting? Knowing the basic type of street vs. pathway will change the lighting output requirement.

Why? The application affects the necessary light levels, pole height, and pole spacing. For example, a street probably needs more light than a park or trail. Some possible applications include:

• Urban Roads
• Residential streets
• Pathways & parks
• Recreational reserves
• Parking lots
• Perimeter & security entryways
• General public areas

Q3. Ask About The Project Dimensions

What is the length of the street/pathway or the size of the general area (for a parking lot, etc.)?

How much area are you trying to illuminate?

Why? The size or length of the area will affect the number of lighting systems required, as well as the uniformity of light hitting the ground, which all factors into the overall project cost. A PDF or CAD of the installation site will help the designer execute your project professionally.

Q4. Ask the Project Type

• New Installation Projects
• Retro-fit
• Replacement of failing infrastructure
• Temporary installation

Q5. Ask About The Pole Details

Will your project require pre-existing poles or new poles?

Is there a specified pole height request? What types of poles are required, such as single-arm, double-arm, or without an arm?

Why? The height of the pole may affect the number of lighting systems needed for the project. Additionally, the type of light pole may influence installation costs. Typical light pole heights are:

• Streetlights: 25 to 30 feet
• Walkway lights: 12 to 20 feet

Common light pole types include adjustable cone-shaped poles, conical poles, octagonal poles, and straight poles. If frequent typhoons or hurricanes occur in the area, your customers may also have specific requirements for the wind resistance rating of the light pole.

Q6. Ask About The Installation Type

After determining road width, lanes, and length, consider which installation type is suitable for your project. Common installation types include:

• Single side installation
• Double side installation
• Double arm middle installation

Q7. Ask About The Required Light Levels and Uniformity

Is there a state/municipal standard for light levels for the project? What light levels need to be met on the ground (measured by foot candles or lux)? What uniformity requirements are there, if known?

Why? Different applications will require different light levels, influencing the overall project cost. Manufacturers can create a lighting design via Dailux Simulation to ensure the lux and uniformity match your lighting requirements.

Q8. Ask About The Operating Profile

How long does the light need to be on each night? 6hrs, 12hrs, or even 14hrs? When the light is on, do the light levels need to be met throughout the night at full brightness or only at certain times with dimming mode?

Why? The operating profile is key in a solar lighting project. Manufacturers tune systems differently for power management based on these profiles. Examples of operating profiles include:

• Dusk to dawn: The light runs at the same output level all night.
• Dim in off-peak hours: The light dims to 30% after 5 hours and returns to full brightness 2 hours before dawn.
• Off or dimmed at a specific time: For example, the light turns off at 11 p.m.

Planned dimming operations during periods of low activity (e.g., midnight) can reduce system costs and make projects more dark-sky friendly.

Q9. Ask About The Backup on Rainy Days

Solar lighting systems depend on sunlight, so in cases of extended rainy days (5-7 days or longer), the lights may go out. It’s important to consider local weather conditions to configure the right battery size for normal operation during rainy periods.

For example, in the UAE, where it rains fewer than 7 days a year, we need to consider just one rainy day battery backup. However, in Europe, where continuous rain is more common, we consider 5-day backups. Most of the world considers 3 rainy-day backups.

Q10. Ask About The Color Temperature

What color of light is required—warmer (3000K) or cooler (6000K)?

Why? Color temperature affects the fixture power output and can impact project cost. While color temperature may be more of a preference than a requirement, many cities are leaning towards lights with warmer color temperatures due to their health and environmental benefits.

In Summary: 10 Key Questions to Ask

Here’s a review of the essential questions to ask about your commercial solar lighting project:

1. Project Location
2. Project Application
3. Project Dimensions
4. Project Type
5. Pole Height and Type
6. Installation Type
7. Required Light Levels and Uniformity
8. Operating Profile
9. Backup for Rainy Days
10. Color Temperature

By asking these questions, you can ensure your solar light is correctly specified to meet your project requirements without unnecessary costs. You’ll also have confidence that your lighting system will operate efficiently for the long term.

Additional questions to consider with your clients include:

• Do you have any specific aesthetic concerns?
• Do you already have a budget in mind?
• Who else is involved in your project, and what role will they play?

Proper planning of your public lighting project can save you both time and money.

For more details on solar lighting systems and how they can affect the performance and cost, consult the Hongzhun team. Contact us at nicole@hongzhunled.com or call us at +86 132 4902 8523 for quick communication.