When selecting the best parking lot lights, consider your space's practical needs and aesthetic preferences. While most outdoor parking lot lights feature modern, straightforward designs, there are versatile options available for various settings.
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Shoebox lights, known for their efficiency in illuminating vast areas, are among the best parking lot lights &#; though they can also be used for spaces like highways and streets. Shoebox lights are typically mounted on poles and can be adjusted to different angles, allowing for customizable and targeted lighting. This flexibility makes them effective for lighting large areas uniformly. They are also highly energy-efficient, especially when equipped with LED bulbs. Shoeboxes consume less power and have a longer operational life, reducing both energy costs and maintenance needs. A final great feature is their resilience against harsh weather conditions, making them a reliable lighting solution for outdoor environments.
Take a look at some of our best-selling shoebox lights:
If you're looking for the best parking lot lights to keep your lot safely illuminated at all hours of the night, you'll want to look into picking up some security lights. Available in models with one, two or three heads, security lights offer excellent coverage and customization for your parking lot. Additionally, many have dimmable features, providing the flexibility to suit different needs.
Here are some top-selling options:
Outdoor wall lights are also a great choice for parking lot lighting. These fixtures can complement your lot's main lighting as people transition from the parking area to your building. Perfect as parking garage lighting or for use around building perimeters, outdoor wall lights enhance visibility along walkways and entrances, improving safety. Our durable die-cast aluminum wall packs are designed to withstand harsh weather, ensuring longevity and reliability.
Some excellent choices for complementary wall lights include:
Architectural area lights are crafted with a focus on design, aiming to complement the architectural features of the surrounding environment. They come in various styles, shapes, and colors, allowing them to serve as both a lighting source and a decorative element. These lights, often used for pathways and entryways, provide focused illumination and add an aesthetic element to the space. Their lower mounting height offers concentrated lighting, making them an integral part of finding the best parking lot lights for compact areas.
Here are a few of our best-selling architectural area lights:
When selecting the best parking lot lights, it's essential to consider not only the lights themselves but also the supporting infrastructure, including light poles and various accessories, to ensure a complete and effective lighting solution:
Street lighting plays an important role in cities. When night falls, they are activated, however, sometimes due to malfunctions, the lights do not function properly and even remain on during the day. In some cases, the brightness of the lamps is still too high late at night when there are few people and cars. These all reflect the failure of effective management of road lighting. Street lighting control is a technology used to manage and optimize the operation of street lights. It offers a variety of options, including traditional switches, photo sensors, dimming (intelligent control), time control, motion sensors, wireless communications, and more. Selecting the appropriate control method depends on several factors, including project needs, budget, energy efficiency goals, and the capabilities of the street manager. This article will focus on these different street light control methods, and their respective advantages and disadvantages, hoping to help street light providers, project managers and street system operators more fully understand these control methods, so as to optimize the use of road lighting and improve the performance of street lights.
Street lighting control systems such as traditional switches, photocell, dimming (intelligent control), time control, motion sensors, and wireless communications have their necessity and benefits. Different types of street lighting controls provide a variety of benefits that not only help improve the efficiency, safety and sustainability of urban lighting systems ( Please review the video of the Urban Street Light. ) , but also promote the development of smart lighting. Here are some common benefits of different types of street lighting controls:
Traditional switches are a common way to control lighting, whether they are found in homes, offices, or in industrial and outdoor settings. These simple and affordable devices control lights on and off by connecting or breaking an electrical circuit. One of the main advantages of traditional switches is their simplicity. They are easy to use and require no additional equipment or complicated installation processes. Just press or turn the switch to control the status of the lamp. Another obvious advantage is the low cost. Traditional switches are more affordable than other more complex lighting control systems, making them ideal for projects on a budget. In the street lighting, traditional street lighting systems usually use traditional power switches to turn on and off power. The power supply is transmitted via underground cables to street light poles or facilities, and power switches are installed near a group of street light poles. After these street light systems are connected to the power supply network, street light managers can manually control the on and off circuits through switches to control the turning on and off of street lights.
However, traditional switches also have some limitations. Their functions are limited and can only achieve basic switching operations and cannot meet other lighting needs, such as dimming. Additionally, they require manual operation, which may be inconvenient in some situations. For large facilities or outdoor areas, planning requirements are higher and not easy to achieve. Therefore, some traditional street lighting systems are usually equipped with timers and photocell controllers in the distribution cabinets, through which the street lights can be automatically turned on and off based on the timer (preset schedule) and photocell controller (according to the ambient light level). This not only saves manpower but also ensures adequate lighting for the road when needed.
Although traditional power switching systems are still widely used in many places, dimming control has also become increasingly popular in street lighting in recent years. This dimming method is generally equipped with a dimmer and a dimmable LED driver. The former can emit or indirectly emit dimming signals such as PWM, 0-10V and DALI, while the latter receives these signals and adjusts the output of the LED driver as needed to achieve street light brightness adjustment. This method of dimming has many benefits. First, it helps save energy and money by reducing electricity consumption and extending the life of street lights. For example, by dimming street lights by 50% in the middle of the night, we can save about 40-50% of energy. Another benefit is that users can customize the brightness of street lights based on project needs, real-time road conditions and other special situations. Among them, wireless intelligent control systems are the most widely used in street lighting, and their rise has changed the way street lights are controlled. Smart street light systems use wireless communication technology and Internet connections to remotely monitor and control street lights, improve the efficiency of energy management, and provide more flexible control options to adapt to different lighting needs. In the field of street lighting, it usually needs to be used with NEMA and Zhaga socket instead of traditional wired wiring. If the project requires wireless intelligent control at the beginning, we can equip the customer with the corresponding wireless control module, and the customer needs to conduct corresponding learning to achieve real-time street light control. If there is no need for this at the beginning, the NEMA and Zhaga sockets of street lights can also facilitate future project upgrades. Of course, wireless control also has some disadvantages, such as higher initial investment, longer learning period, and the installation of centralized controllers. These shortcomings limit its wide application to a certain extent, but with the development of society, wireless intelligent control will gradually become popular, leading cities to a digital and intelligent future.
Dimming street light with smart controlSensors work by detecting changes in the environment and then sending signals to the lighting system, which adjusts the light output accordingly. There are two main types of sensors used for lighting control: occupancy sensors (motion sensors) and phtotocell sensors.
Microwave sensors are another common control technology in street lights, which use microwave radiation to detect motion and presence in the surrounding environment and automatically adjust the brightness of the street lights based on the detection results. Similar to infrared (PIR) sensors, it is also a type of occupancy sensor because it is used to detect the presence of people in a space. In road lighting applications, when there is no one under the streetlight lighting area, the sensor will not be triggered and the streetlight will operate at low power. When the sensor detects a person or vehicle in a specific area under the streetlight, it triggers corresponding controls, causing the streetlight to operate at higher power to meet the visual needs of pedestrians and drivers.
As mentioned earlier, one of the main advantages of microwave sensors is to reduce unnecessary lighting while ensuring that sufficient lighting is provided when necessary, helping to reduce energy consumption and electricity costs. It also provides convenience and enhanced safety since users do not need to manually adjust or turn these lights on and off. This makes microwave sensors widely used in areas with low traffic volume in the middle of the night, such as parking lots, roads and parks, as well as indoor lighting, such as corridors, warehouses and promenades.
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However, there are some drawbacks to microwave sensors, such as the fact that they can be triggered by any moving object, including small animals, insects, and trees, resulting in unnecessary switches that can be uncomfortable or distracting. At the same time, microwave sensors have limited detection capabilities for fast-moving objects. In addition, frequent switching and adjustment will bring certain tests to the service life of microwave sensors and lamps.
Street light with motion sensorPhotocell (Photo sensor) is a common control technology in street lamps. It uses light-sensitive components to sense the surrounding ambient light level and control the switching status of the lamp according to the light intensity. When the ambient light is strong, the lamp will automatically turn off and vice versa. In addition, some light controls are also equipped with dimming functions, which will gradually increase the brightness of the street lights as the environment darkens.
One of the main advantages of light sensors is their plug-and-play nature. For example, once a streetlight is equipped with a light control, users no longer need to worry about turning the light on and off manually because the photocell will automatically complete this task. In addition, the application of photocell helps reduce energy consumption, thereby extending the service life of lamps. In general, photocell is a simple, low-cost and relatively energy-saving control method. However, photo sensors also have some potential drawbacks. One issue is their sensitivity to changes in natural light levels, which can cause the light sensor to incorrectly perceive true ambient light levels, as buildings, trees and dirt on the light sensor lens can all affect its judgment. Additionally, it&#;s not always very smart, as it may not proactively reduce lighting brightness to save energy, even late at night when there&#;s less traffic.
Street light with photocellIn street lighting systems, this type of timer is often used to control the operation of street lights according to a predetermined schedule to ensure that sufficient light is provided when needed during the night and turned off during the daytime to save energy.
In contrast, &#;timer dimming&#; divides the night into different stages based on the changing characteristics of pedestrian and vehicle flow at various times of the night. For instance, during the first stage when the flow of vehicles and pedestrians is high, street lamps operate at full power. In the second stage, as the number of vehicles and pedestrians gradually decreases, the lamps start operating at reduced power. In the third stage (usually from midnight to 4:00 AM), the lamps run at a lower power level, such as 20%, as there are minimal pedestrians and vehicles at that time. In the fourth stage, the lamps return to full power operation as early morning city activities resume, and adequate lighting is needed to ensure pedestrian and driver safety. It&#;s evident that &#;timer dimming&#; is an enhanced version of a standard &#;timer,&#; better suited to the characteristics of street lighting. When combined with a photocell, it is widely used in road lighting. For more details, please refer to our other blog timer dimming.
It&#;s worth noting that both &#;timer&#; and &#;timer dimming&#; are highly beneficial for automating lighting control, improving energy efficiency, reducing operating costs, and ensuring the right level of street lighting at the appropriate times. However, timers can make setting up and adjusting schedules complicated or challenging. For example, seasonal changes necessitate frequent adjustments to accommodate shifts in sunrise and sunset times. Furthermore, once &#;timer dimming&#; settings are configured, making real-time and flexible changes to dimming settings can be difficult.
Street light with timer and timer dimmingIn the previous chapter, we introduced in detail the various control methods of street lights, their principles, and their advantages and disadvantages. Now we make the following summary:
Lighting ControlsFeatureProsConsTraditional switchTurn lights on or off by Switch on or off the electrical circuitWidely used; Low costNo dimming function; Depend on manual operationDimming + smart controlAdjust the brightness of light in real timeSave energy and money; Customize the light level according to requirementHigh cost; Training is required before operationMotion sensor(Occupancy sensor)Detect the present or motion of pedestrians/vehicles under the lamp and adjust the lighting level accordinglyMinimize energy usage and reduce electricity cost; Enhance convenience and safetySometimes insensitivity; False triggers by animals/leavesPhotocell(Daylight sensor)Detect the ambient light level and turn on/off lighting accordinglyEasy for application(plug and play);Reduce labor costsNo dimming; False triggers when the window is blocked by trees, construction and othersTimer or timer dimmingSet timelines for lights to turn on/off and dimmingSave energy and reduce costs; Meet the lighting standards and dark sky guidelinesThe light level cannot be adjusted in real time; Timelines can not easily be re-programmed afterwardsZGSM is a professional manufacturer of LED lights. ZGSM has a wealth of knowledge and project experience in street lighting control. At the same time, our streetlights can be equipped with various features, including photocell control, microwave sensing, dimming power supply with NEMA/Zhaga interfaces, time-based dimming power supply, and intelligent control, among others. We are well-versed in configuring these features, and if you have such requirements, please feel free to contact us. Below are various series of streetlights offered by ZGSM for your reference.
This article introduces in detail the various controllers of street lighting, including traditional switches, photocells, timer dimming, intelligent dimming, microwave sensors and wireless communications. Each of these different control methods has a set of advantages and disadvantages, and understanding these advantages and disadvantages can help us better select the control method suitable for a specific project. Intelligent control technology is currently at the most advanced stage. Although it has excellent performance, it also requires road operators to have corresponding professional knowledge and operating skills, and its cost is also relatively high. In contrast, technologies such as light-controlled switches, time-division dimming and microwave sensors are relatively mature and low-cost, but they have some shortcomings, such as false responses, inability to adjust light in real time, and inability to quickly modify settings. Wireless communication technology is an emerging technology, but it is more suitable for the civilian field. ZGSM provides a variety of street lighting solutions, but we encourage readers to learn about various street lighting control methods through this article and choose the appropriate method based on the needs of their own projects. If you need more information, feel free to contact us.
Dusk-to-dawn is also called light control. It and motion sensors are two common lighting control technologies in street lighting. Dusk to dawn light control turns lighting equipment on and off based on changes in natural light levels, it turns the fixture on after the sun has set (dusk) and turns it off when the sun rises in the morning (dawn), hence the name dusk to dawn sensor. Motion sensors use infrared or microwave technology to detect objects or object movement. There are certain differences between the two. Taking the microwave sensor as an example, it will start lighting when there are moving objects under the lamp. It is suitable for determining the switch and brightness of the lamp based on the occupancy (activity) in the area, such as warehouses and parking lots.
In this case, it&#;s usually because the light fixture is malfunctioning. Dusk to dawn sensors (Photocell or photosensor) usually operate in &#;fail on&#; mode, which means that if the sensor itself fails, the light fixture will remain on during the day to alert the user that the fault is with the dusk to dawn sensor, while the problem isn&#;t from LED driver or LED module. In addition, it is also possible that some external factors cause the light control sensor to incorrectly detect that the ambient light is too dark and trigger the lamp to light up, such as the threshold setting is too high or the photosensitive window is blocked (for example, trees, buildings, etc.). These factors may cause false triggering of the light control sensor. Therefore, when encountering this situation, you need to first check whether the light control is accidentally triggered. If it is not a false trigger, please replace the old light control with a new one and try again. By this way you will find the cause of the problem.
Photocell sensors are different from microwave/PIR sensing. Rather than detecting motion or heat signatures, it measures ambient lighting levels, turning lights on at dusk and off at dawn. However, with the advancement of technology, some manufacturers are now integrating microwave sensors into light controls, so that lamps can achieve the following functions:
My name is Taylor Gong, I&#;m the product manager of ZGSM Tech. I have been in the LED lights industry for more than 13 years. Good at lighting design, street light system configuration, and bidding technology support. Feel free to contact us. I&#;m happy to provide you with the best service and products.
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