What are LED Street Lights?

LED ( Light Emitting Diodes ) Street Lights are pole-mounted light fixtures designed to light up roadways and urban streets and are a common outdoor lighting solution. They are sometimes referred to as cobra head lights. 

LED Street lights are mounted on the top of a light pole and there is usually one light per pole. The light has optics that allow it to distribute the light on the roadway. Streetlights are sometimes equipped with a photocell that turns the lights on at dusk and off at dawn.

LED Streetlights fixtures can easily replace high-pressure sodium lights and metal halide road lighting. Like most LED Lights, they are energy-efficient street lighting fixtures that provide quality lighting while reducing maintenance costs. Energy efficiency is significantly higher than traditional HID Light Sources, LED Street Lights are available in color temperatures ranging from 3000K to 5000K. More cities and municipalities are opting for a warmer 3000K option.

Optics and beam angle availability with street light Type optics, Type 1 to 5. The most common street light optics are Type 3 and Type 5. We can supply photocells with the lights, and they act to turn the lights on at dusk and off at dawn.

What are the Benefits of LED Street Lights?

• You should see an instant reduction in your lighting bill between 50 – 80% over metal-halide and HID lighting.
• LED light source is a high-quality light source, especially when compared to High-Pressure Sodium Lighting
• Maintenance will be dramatically reduced. There are no bulbs or ballasts to change.
• Studies have shown that LED lighting will result in less crime.
• The streets will be well-lit. The area will feel safe for employees, patrons, and customers.
• LED's lifespan is much longer than metal halide and other HID light sources.
• They can be equipped with controls like photocells.
• They are instant on - instant off. So your parking lot won't be dark after a power outage.
• They are the best replacement for metal halide and high pressure sodium lights

Standard Lux Levels and Foot Candle Levels for Street Lighting

Lux and foot candles vary from city to city, town to town, and state to state. On top of that, they vary based on the type of road and the type of roadway/pavement type. The one thing that appears to be common, is the more important the roadway is, the lux/footcandle requirement is higher. In other words, most cities want freeways brighter than neighborhood streets.

Lux and Foot Candle Levels

Major Roads: 20-30 lux or 2-3 foot candles
Collector Roads: 10-20 lux or 1-2 foot candles
Residential Roads: 5-10 lux or 0.5-1 foot candles
Pedestrian Areas and Sidewalks: 10-20 lux or 1-2 foot candles

What's the Best Way to Design Street Lighting?

Like with other types of lighting, start with a lighting plan. The software allows for the creation of effective street lighting plans. The software differentiates between indoor plans, outdoor plans, and street lighting plans. A reputable LED street light manufacturer like LED Lighting SUpply will have these capabilities to assist with your project. The best way to design street lighting is within a lighting plan.

What LED Street Light Is Best for You?

Need Help? Talk to an LED Street Light Expert.

With so many options and fixtures available, it's hard to decide what option is going to meet your needs and requirements. The sales engineers of LED Lighting Supply are experts in LED Street Lighting. Use our experience and tell us your needs, and we will provide you with the best LED Street Light options for your project or application. We can provide you with a free lighting plan to make sure the area is well-lit and the lighting is balanced.

Completed Commercial Lighting and Industrial Lighting Projects using LED Lighting Supply Outdoor LED Lights

LED Street Light FAQ

What are LED Street Lights?

LED ( Light Emitting Diodes ) Street Lights are pole-mounted light fixtures designed to light up roadways and urban streets and are a common outdoor lighting solution. They are sometimes referred to as cobra head lights. 

LED Street lights are mounted on the top of a light pole and there is usually one light per pole. The light has optics that allow it to distribute the light on the roadway. Streetlights are sometimes equipped with a photocell that turns the lights on at dusk and off at dawn.

Should You Consider Using LED Solar Street Lights?

Yes, Solar Street Lights are good but they do have a limit to how much light they can produce. And they’re affected by days when clouds keep the batteries from recharging. They are also much more expensive than normal wired streetlights. You should use them for off-grid applications where AC power is not available.

How Long Do Street Lights Last?

LED street lights should last a very long time, 10 to 15 years without maintenance. This assumes there is some type of control to turn the lights off during the day and run time is capped out at 12 hours a night.

What is the Cost of LED Outdoor Street Lights?

The cost of LED outdoor street lights varies but in most cases can fit in the range from $250. This is because street lights are used for a variety of areas such as underground parking lots, expressways, as well as residential backyards and this all affects the price.

Can You Retrofit a Street Light with LED?

Yes, you can. We have LED street light retrofits. These retrofit kits will allow you to keep your fixtures and replace the bulb and ballast. They also provide high-quality light output.

What's the Best Way to Keep Light from Street Lights Away From Houses?

A combination of optics or back shields. Choosing the right optic might reduce the amount of light that shines on houses. A back shield right behind the back edge of LEDs will also block light from lighting up homes.

Are LED Street Lights Brighter than Traditional Outdoor Light Sources?

Lumens are a measurement of brightness. Quality of light, known as CRI or Color Rendering Index, makes LED Street Lights appear brighter. High-pressure sodium (HPS), used in street lighting, is high lumens but poor quality. LED streetlights produce fewer lumens than a High-Pressure Sodium bulb. But the area lit by the LED Light will appear much brighter.

What's the Cost to Install LED Street Lights?

The cost of installing lights for street applications varies. The best way to estimate your cost is to have an electrician provide an estimate. In most cases, a man lift is required to install a street light and this will add to the installation cost. Depending on the height of the pole and location, installation can take from 30 to 60 minutes.

Is it Difficult to Install LED Street Lights?

Experienced professionals should install LED Street Lights. They’re trained to install street lights as they require lift trucks to get the light on the pole. The lights themselves are simple to work on and install. LED street lights work on existing poles, with 3 simple wires – line, neutral, and ground, to power the lights.