What are Parking Lot Solar | Shoebox Solar Lights?

Harness the power of the sun to illuminate outdoor spaces with solar-powered fixtures. These lights are easy to install and don’t require a connection to utility mains. They are easy to maintain and save you money on energy costs. This is especially true when paired with LED light fixtures which are long-lasting and energy efficient.

How Do Solar-Powered Lights Work?

Rather than drawing power from the electrical grid, LED solar lights capture their energy from the sun. This energy is captured by

Photovoltaic (PV) panels that are mounted on the light’s structure. During the day while there is sunlight present, electrons are drawn from the photons that strike the PV panels and they are then routed to DC power and stored in a rechargeable battery.

After the sun has gone down, sensors in the light fixture direct the flow of energy from the battery to the light source and it is automatically turned on. Conversely, when the sun rises, the light automatically turns off and the battery charging process resumes.

Advantages of Parking Lot Solar Lighting

Solar lighting for parking lots has many advantages over conventional lighting:

• There is no energy drawn from standard electrical utilities which saves money on utility bills.
• Because you are using solar parking lights, there is no need to dig trenches for electrical wiring during installation. This is another cost savings due to vastly reduced installation costs.
• Parking lot solar lights are essentially off the grid. This makes them especially ideal for areas physically located away from utility mains.
• Solar lighting requires less maintenance than conventional lights.

Disadvantages of Parking Lot Solar Lighting

Even though there are many advantages to having solar lighting, there are some drawbacks that you should consider before buying:

• They can involve a higher initial investment cost compared to standard lighting.
• Because they are not wired, they are easier to steal.
• PV panels sometimes need to be cleaned if dust moisture and snow accumulate on them. This accumulation can lead to decreased or stopped energy production.
• During the light’s lifespan, its rechargeable batteries will need to be replaced a few times. This must be accounted for and included in expected maintenance costs.

Cost of Parking Lot Solar | Shoebox Lights

The cost of solar lighting will depend on the size of the parking lot. On average, this will be in the range of $3,000 to $5,000. This includes light pole installation and light fixture cost (if you use LED lights, which is recommended). Larger parking lots will likely require a higher upfront cost.

Are Solar Lights Worth the Investment?

Are they worth the investment? Yes, they are, depending on your situation. It will be a higher upfront investment compared to standard lighting due to the solar components but savings on energy and maintenance costs will more than offset this over a short period.

Are Solar Powered Lights Reliable?

Yes. They require very little maintenance, especially if you use LED fixtures with them. This combination works so well because LED is the most energy-efficient, long-lasting, and durable light that you can use and it draws less energy from the battery, making it last longer.

How Bright are Solar Powered LED Lighting?

This will depend on the type of light that you use. LED is best because of its superior light quality. Commercial solar lighting for parking lots will have a higher light output than for residential applications.

Here are a few tips to properly illuminate your parking lot with commercial LED solar lights:

• LED lights are a better choice than fluorescent or HID. This is because they use directional lighting without the need for reflectors. This prevents light pollution by focusing light only where it is needed.
• It is recommended that you have 5-foot candles of illumination evenly distributed throughout the space.
• The lumen output for lighting a 15-20 feet space should be around 16000-20000.
• The lumen output for lighting a 20-30 feet space should be around 40000.

Replacing Metal Halides with Solar Powered Parking Lot Lights

Replacing 400-Watt Metal Halides / HID Lights is no problem, you can choose an 80-Watt Solar Powered Light producing 16000 lumens or a 100-Watt Solar Powered Light producing 20000 lumens.

To replace 1000-Watt Metal Halides, we would recommend (2) of the 100-Watt Solar Powered Lights for a combined total of 40,000 lumens.

Using Solar Powered Lights  in All Climates

Yes, but if you use them in an area that experiences harsh climate conditions or extended cloud cover, they may require some additional maintenance to keep them running reliably. If they are placed in a dusty, rainy, or snowy environment, you’ll want to ensure that any horizontally mounted PV panels are cleaned as needed. This helps them to operate at full capacity and avoid inefficiencies.

Comparing Solar Powered Lighting to Traditional LED Lighting in Terms of Cost and Efficiency

The solar components will add additional cost along with the LED light fixtures. However, this is easily offset by lower installation costs than traditional LED lighting and the fact that there will be no utility costs because you’ll be off the grid.

The efficiency of LED solar fixtures will be the same as traditional ones. The only difference between them will be their energy source. Commercial solar lights make them perfect for areas where grid power is not available.