If you own a parking lot or are planning on turning a plot of land into one then there are many factors you must consider into it. Such as who you should pay to pave the plot of land, where you should source the materials from etc. However, one of the most important things to consider when owning a parking lot is what light poles you should use. A lot of factors go into choosing what light pole is the best suited for your or your companies parking lot, and in this article, we will guide you through all the factors and help you choose your perfect light pole.
How to select the best parking lot light pole?
Before getting further into the factors you should first of all figure out all the dimensions and properties of your parking lot. Factors such as how large your parking lot is will be important when choosing what light pole you should get. You should also check what your budget is and how much money you’re willing to spend on electric, as well as how much people actually use your parking lot at night.
If you’re struggling to find places to buy a parking lot light pole then we have a few suggestions for you. Specialist companies will not only provide you with the light pole but also install it for you. However, parking lot light poles can be found on many more mainstream websites. Second hand and even new light poles can be found on eBay however you won’t get the same level of professional customer support and installation as you would by getting it from a specialist website.
Now we’ve got the basics of figuring out the dimensions of your car park as well as where to buy a parking lot light pole from, let’s get into what you came here for, what factors do I need to consider before buying a parking lot light pole?
1. Material (Aluminum vs Steel vs Concrete)
When browsing through light poles you will generally notice a trend. Most light poles are either constructed from aluminum, steel or concrete, Obviously, there are huge advantages and disadvantages for every one of those materials, so let’s get into the pros and cons of them.
a. Steel Poles
Advantages: The main advantage of a steel pole is its low cost and decent lifespan. It also allows for flexibility with the circuits and is ultimately a strong and durable material.
Disadvantages: The disadvantages of a steel pole rest mainly with everything else constructed out of steel. It will rust and corrode, which means it needs to be under maintenance a lot, which is bad if you are trying to keep the costs of actually running the parking lot down.
b. Concrete Poles
Advantages: The concrete poles advantages rest mainly where the steel poles shortcomings are. The concrete light pole has a massively long life span of 50 years, is an extremely strong material and requires extremely low maintenance since it doesn’t corrode or rust.
Disadvantages: The concrete pole is difficult to install and transport. It is also in general much costlier than a steel pole and isn’t recyclable, it also doesn’t look too stylish.
c. Aluminum Poles
Advantages: Doesn’t weigh a lot, is corrosion resistance, low maintenance, can be transported easily, looks nice and has a similar life span to the concrete pole (50+ years)
Disadvantages: Has limited mounting heights and ultimately isn’t as strong as the steel pole.
See also: Steel vs aluminum light pole
2. Height of light pole
When choosing a light pole that is suitable for your parking lot then you should definitely consider what height your light pole needs to be. Considering the height is important because you want to make the most out of your light pole, and so you will want it to cover a large enough area while providing sufficient light to the users of your parking lot.
If your parking lot is small then you might only need a few 9 feet light poles, which should be sufficient enough to provide adequate light to the parking lots users. However, if you own a medium to the massive parking lot then you will want the light poles to be around 11-14 feet tall so they can provide adequate light to a number of the spaces in the parking lot.
3. Weight Limitations
When choosing the light pole, you should use you must definitely consider the weight of the lighting fixtures itself on to it. Having light poles that can’t handle the lighting fixtures you put on them is a bit counter-intuitive. This is where the factor of the material the light pole has used comes into play, as a concrete pole could definitely handle more weight from the lighting fixture than a steel pole.
Fortunately, most websites of light poles will tell you the maximum weight they can handle, however, we would definitely recommend you order the pole based around the lighting fixture rather than vice versa,
4. Base & Adapter
The base of your light pole is also an extremely important factor. The bases of light poles tend to be constructed out of metals (Steel etc.) and so are prone to corrosion and rusting, which in turn means you may need to have some form of maintenance even if you do get a concrete pole.
The base needs to, of course, be able to support and adapt your light pole so that it works without a problem. If you get a light pole that doesn’t fit in a certain base that you have bought then that could mean you wasted a lot of money over something a lot of people overlook.
So, before even considering materials etc definitely consider what base you are going to use and then get a pole that can actually work with your base.
5. Other Factors
These factors are often of less importance but should be considered nonetheless.
• Diameter
• Light Pole
• The surface of the Parking Lot
• Direct Mount or Pole
• Voltage requirements
• Special Features it could include.
Thank you for reading our article and we hope we informed you about all the factors you should consider before buying a light pole for your parking lot. Then, let’s take a look at the frequently asked questions.
Parking lot light pole FAQ
1. What is the common parking lot light pole height?
The height of the right light pole depends on the category of light that one chooses for a particular region. Every region may have its specific set of desires, such as limitations on the locations light poles can get positioned and how much space one wants to shield with each light established on the pole sites. Moreover, the capacity to put many lights on a single pole can aid with coverage region, and the height at which the lights get connected also affects the coverage region. Numerous counties can list a maximum acceptable height for light poles, and thus should be taken into contemplation before the project phase.
2. What will happen if the pole is too short or too tall in the parking lot?
The region of the parking lot can naturally decide the height of the light pole. In firmly inhabited regions, shorter poles can certify that brightness does not become the matter. Still, more light poles can be required to offer decent coverage, particularly when associated with rural locations, where taller and scarcer poles can attain the same consistency without the concern of brightness due to less public communication. Additionally, mounting height for parking lot lights can array from 12 ft. to 20 ft. But in some circumstances, its mounting height can extend as high as 35 ft.
3. How much does it cost to install a parking lot light pole?
The cost of the LED light is exclusive than halogen or high-pressure sodium. However, the reason is that LED light has a much-extended lifespan duration of 80,000 hours, which is 8 to 10 intervals greater than MH or other HID. Additionally, the expected cost of a highway light pole is US$2000 to US$3000. Still, with electrician cost to put in highway light to installation is up to $1000! If the plan is for the highway or bridge, the entire cost can increase by 20% extra.
4. How often do we need to repair the parking lot pole?
The question of how often does one needs to repair the parking lot pole solely depends on several aspects. For instance, the burned-out pole light bulb is a common cause for fixing the parking lot pole. Additionally, if one notices a pole light that’s precipitously not functioning, a burned-out bulb is the whole collective issue, and this, therefore, requires a speedy emergency. Besides, if the pole lights are scorching out frequently, it is acclaimed to deliberate upgrading the light bulb to LED light bulbs, which have an extended lifespan and need less care. Nonetheless, burned out ballast is yet an additional reason for repair. Pole light ballasts get used to the observer and control the quantity of electrical current rolling through the light bulb. Over time, the ballast depreciates due to regular wear and tear and desires to get changed.
Also, to comment is the damaged capacitor. Nonetheless, the capacitor in the pole light gets used to supply electrical charges and blocks straight current while permitting sporadic flow to pass through the viable light pole — furthermore, that aids in alleviating energy and power movement. Signs of a damaged capacitor comprise a light bulb that twinkles regularly. As soon as it gets observed that the pole lights are blinking, then it is crucial to deliberate repair. Furthermore, the spoiled photocells are yet another reason for repair. When it gets observed that the light poles are flickering or turning on aimlessly during the day, this could be due to a spoiled photocell. Photocells watch how much light is current, and photocells aid to keep pole lights off throughout the day and to turn the lights on at night. Substituting a spoiled photocell is vital and should be done by a qualified electrician. Also, one needs to repair the parking lot pole if the pole light is spoiled. Hurricane period and summer rainstorms can cause harm to the viable property, including the loss to the pole light fittings.
5. What is the difference between an ordinary light pole and a decorative light pole for a parking lot?
Ordinary light pole is commonly the cheapest choice. One can even treasure used or rejected telephone poles in the native area to use as light poles for the projects if one wants to save the budget down. Furthermore, the ordinary light pole needs the electrical wiring that turns about the outside of the pole, which means that one also wants to do more exertion to waterproof the electrical structure. While one may save on the light pole, one has to recall that it may cost more to run all the wiring up the pole and protect the pole from rain and inside electrical code. On the other hand, the decorative light pole gets recognized for being multipurpose and pawn, but decorative light is less secure. Also, the decorative light pole inclines to be more exclusive but are much more waterproof.
6. Which light type is better of the parking lot, LED, or halogen? Why?
LED parking lot lights are much healthier for pageant cases than halogen lights for several explanations. The utmost important factor unraveling the two pageant choices is heat production. Halogen lights use about 90% of the energy-giving off temperature, making LED lights a possible fire threat near flammable materials. With such great temperatures, halogen lights can be hazardous, and source burns if affected. The LED discharges an ordinary 10% of the energy in temperature, making LED lights much additional energy-efficient and calm to the touch. On the other hand, Halogen lights are much cheaper to secure, but the lifetime of the LED light is about 25-50 intervals extended. Extended-term consumers of LED’s can bar money on the number of substitutes that need to be acquired. Customers can also save prices on power consumption. A standard LED light uses 8 watts of power, whereas halogen lights average approximately 90 watts.
7. How many lumens do I need inside the parking lot?
The lumens acclaimed inside the parking lot are two LED Parking Lot Light heads of 20,000 lumens both at around 15-20 feet tall on both poles. However, the space of the pole needs to be approximately 20 feet separately. That is standard lighting. Furthermore, if one goes for up to 30 feet and do two light heads at 30,000 or 40,000 both, one can space the poles 30-40 feet separately. Finally, there are so several variables in lighting that one has to choose whether suitable or bright is necessary.
Free parking lot light pole consultation: beatus@ledsmaster.com