Commercial LED Lighting

Frequently Asked Questions

We asked our new and existing customers the questions they wish they had answered before making their first commercial LED lighting purchase. If you cannot find the answers you are looking for, please call (888) 423-3191 and a dedicated lighting expert will help you find the right solution.

What Is Commercial Lighting?

Commercial LED lighting are fixtures that are installed at a commercial location or business. There is some crossover between commercial lighting and industrial lighting in that some fixtures, like high bays, low bays, parking lot fixtures and flood lights, can serve both applications.

Other institutions, like schools, colleges, ball fields, are also considered commercial lighting applications. Homeowners who would be interested in commercial lighting might have a pole barn, workshop, large garage, horse barn or horse arena they want lit up.

What Is Commercial Grade Lighting?

Commercial grade lighting is a grade of lights that do not require the ruggedness and power of an industrial requirement. These are fixtures that would be too powerful and too bright for a typical homeowner to use, other than possibly in large out-buildings, pole barns or shops.

Do you want a Free Commercial LED Light Plan?

Lighting Plans for Commercial Areas, indoors or outdoors, provide the proper assurances that the lighting project will meet your requirements. We supply free lighting plans for our commercial customers. Ask for yours.

Request a Free Commercial LED Lighting Plan

What Voltage Does Commercial LED Lighting Have?

There are two ranges of voltages that are available in commercial LED lighting. Actual voltages vary from fixture to fixture, but you typically find 100-277V as the primary range, and 347-480V as the secondary range. These ranges coincide with the multi-tap drivers we supply that automatically adapt to the input voltage detected on the line.

There is no setting up or dial in process you need to do – the drivers will automatically adjust to your incoming voltage. When selecting a fixture, it is important to know what your current voltage input is.

Are Commercial Light Fixtures 120V?

They can be if that is the voltage in your space. If you purchase a commercial light with a 100-277V driver, then it is equipped to handle 120V automatically.

If I Could Supply 120V or 277V to My Fixture, Which Is Better?

First, 120V is safer. So, if your main concern is safety, choose 120V.

However, the higher voltage you can use, the less amp draw each fixture uses. And on a panel circuit, that can be a concern. You can install more fixtures of the same type on one circuit at 277V than you can at 120V. But, if you can choose, 277VAC provides more advantages.

Remember, most of our standard LED Drivers are 100-277V auto switching. They will adapt to any voltage within that range automatically.

How to Add a Dimmer Switch to Commercial Lighting?

Most of our commercial LED lights are dimmable, but the dimming system is quite different from the dimming system used in households.

In commercial lighting, there is typically a 0-10V or 1-10V step dimming system that uses a specific isolated dimmer control that is not part of the on-off switch. To support this, you will require 2 low voltage wires run from the switch and daisy chained to each fixture that will be installed on the switch. The fixture must be equipped with a dimmable driver in order to be dimmed.

However, practical applications of dimmable commercial lighting includes, for example, a high bay or low bay fixtures in a warehouse with an attached motion sensor. That motion sensor is smart enough to tell the commercial high bay to dim when the area is vacant. It sends a signal to the dimmable driver to dim. No external switch or extra wiring is required in these installations.

How to Install Commercial Light Fixtures?

Commercial lighting fixtures are simple and easy to install for any qualified electrician. They are essentially a 1-for-1 replacement of your existing commercial lighting. They include all the same mounting you are accustomed to and the same wiring that allows you to easily connect to your existing conjunction boxes or lighting infrastructure.

How Is Commercial LED Lighting Wired?

With commercial LED lighting, you are only dealing with 3 wires – line, neutral and ground. This wiring is simple and easy to deal with. However, it’s always best to hire a licensed electrician.