Frequently Asked Questions

We spoke to first time buyers and long-term customers to find out their most commonly asked questions when it comes to buying high bay lights. If you couldn’t find an answer to your question below, feel free to call us at (888) 423-3191 and a dedicated lighting expert will help you find the best light for your needs.

What Is Considered High Bay?

High bay fixtures are commonly used in industrial and some commercial applications.

Today’s high bays are typically one of two styles:

1. LED UFO Round High Bay – these are a good replacement for metal halide fixtures
2. LED Linear High Bay – these lights are a great replacement for fluorescent/T5 fixtures.

Choosing a certain style comes down to personal preferences. Both options produce the same light coverage and levels in most applications.

What Is the Difference Between a High Bay and Low Bay Light?

Old Metal Halide High Bays all had a dome on them (the term high bay was used because they were tall). The dome was used to direct the light downwards. Today, the light from LED fixtures shines down so the dome is not needed. Nowadays, the term ‘low bays’ refers to a low-profile, lower powered fixture mounted at a height below 20 feet.

How Do You Size High Bay Lights?

Sizing a high bay is understanding the number of lumens you need collectively to produce the foot candles you require at your facility. It is important that you understand that purchasing a light based on the lumens it produces and not the watts it consumes is the way to go.

A lot of buyers who come to LED Lighting Supply’s website are searching for lights based on watts, not lumens. LED lights produce lumens which can vary greatly for fixtures that consume the same number of watts.

The size of the light you need is the one that delivers the foot candles you require on the floor. A high bay lighting plan takes away all the guesswork in finding the right sized light for your needs.

In terms of physical size, round LED high bays can range from 9 inches to 15 inches in diameter. Panel high bays can be as long as 48 inches and vary in width between 10 inches and 24 inches.

Are LED High Bay Lights Harmful?

No. They do not contain mercury or other harmful products, and they are not manufactured using harmful products. They do not require special recycling procedures at the end of their lifespan, unlike metal halide and fluorescent lights.

Are LED High Bays explosion proof?

No. But we do offer Explosion Proof Class 1 Div 1 and Class 1 Div 2 High Bays.

What to Look for When Buying High Bay Lights?

The main features you should look for include:

1. Wattage / Lumens / Lumens per watt – how powerful and efficient the high bay is
2. Color temperature
3. Color rendering index (CRI) - the quality of the light
4. Voltage range - make sure it matches your needed voltage
5. Beam angle - does the light you're looking to buy has any, and what do you need
6. Mounting - consider whether the unit matches your needs
7. Warranty and who services it: this is where LED Lighting Supply excels.

A few more things to consider before you buy high bay lights:

Look for good product reviews and make sure the company is reputable

Find a vendor that understands your requirements and provides professional recommendations based on them

You like how the product looks

The product has a 5+ years warranty.

How Quickly Can You Ship High Bays to My Location?

Shipping times for in-stock products range from same-day delivery to 7 business days, depending on the product.

How Many LED High Bay Lights Do I Need?

If you are converting your existing lights over from metal halide or fluorescent to LED, chances are we can do a 1-for-1 replacement. For new lighting layouts, it's important to go through the following steps:

1. How many foot-candles do you want on the ground?
2. What is the physical space of the area?
3. Are there any obstructions?

From there, we can create a lighting plan that will model this area. This plan will not only tell you how many lights you need but will also tell you where they should be located and what's the optimal distance between them.

The lighting plan will show you the average, minimum, and maximum foot-candle readings in the space and will tell you how balanced the light is (look for a low average/min ratio).

Do High Bays Come with a Plug?

Our high bay solutions come with a bare whip /power cord ranging from 4 feet to 6 feet. We do not supply a plug because the requirements can vary from installation to installation.

Most industrial installation wires go directly into a J-box and do not require a plug. If a plug is required, we can quote an optional plug.

Do You Offer Bulk or Contractor Discounts?

Yes, we do, and if you are a contractor or have a large facility that requires lots of fixtures, please call us and ask for a bulk discount.

Are All High Bays good for wet locations?

Some are. You need a high bay that is UL Wet Location tested, and has the IPxx rating. IP Ratings start at IP65 and go to IP69K. The higher the number, the better it is in wet conditions.

What Are the Best Applications of LED High Bay Lights?

Large open spaces are perfect for LED high bays, these include:

Warehouse Lighting Fixtures

Factories

Gymnasiums

Recreation Centers

Convention Centers

Industrial Facilities

Manufacturing Facilities

Large Retail Box Stores

Are LED High Bay Lights Good as Outdoor Security Lights?

No. There are far better fixtures that can do a better job.

For outdoor security lighting, consider using:

Wall packs

Shoe box or parking lot lights

Flood lights

How High Do High Bay Lights Need to Be?

Any ceiling with a height of 20 feet or higher is good for installing high bay lights.

How Do You Mount a High Bay Light?

High bay lights come with these common mounting options:

Eye Hook

Pendant Mount (typically ¾ inch)

Cable Mount (used on panel style high bays)

Surface mount – mounted to the wall or ceiling

How Do You Layout High Bay Lights?

The best way to figure out the layout is to create a lighting plan. This takes out all the guesswork of trying to find the best layout and the best light to match the layout.

How Can I Wire LED High Bay Lights?

Wiring is pretty simple. There are typically 3 main wires that the high bay uses:

Line

Neutral

Ground

Optionally, there are two low voltage dimming wires that allow you to control the light levels with a 1-10V dimmer. Make sure the LED high bay light you purchase has dimming wires if you plan on dimming the fixtures – not all of them do.

However, we highly recommend hiring a licensed electrician for any high bay LED lights installation.

Founded in 2008, LED Lighting Supply has been providing high bay lighting solutions to facilities across the country for more than a decade.

Whether you need a free lighting plan or have questions about LEDs, our expert lighting team will help you make the right choice – whether that’s for a school gym or a 1,000,000 square foot facility.

 Contact us for a free lighting plan or to discuss your LED lighting goals.