Commercial LED Street Lighting

What are LED Street Lights?

LED street lights are pole-mounted fixtures designed to illuminate roadways, highways, and urban areas with precise light distribution. Also called cobra head lights, these fixtures mount to the top of light poles and use advanced optics to distribute light evenly across traffic areas. Most installations use one fixture per pole, with spacing based on road classification and local requirements.

Modern LED street fixtures operate on 120V to 480V input with drivers that adjust automatically to your electrical system. We generally recommend 3000K to 4000K color temperatures for municipal use, with many towns now preferring 3000K to reduce light pollution and improve nighttime visibility.

Street light optics follow standardized Type classifications (Type 1 through Type 5), with Type 3 and Type 5 most common for roadways. Optional photocell controls can automatically turn fixtures on at dusk and off at dawn, eliminating manual operation and ensuring consistent nighttime lighting.

What are the Benefits of LED Street Light Fixtures?

• Energy Savings - Reduce electricity costs by 50 to 80 percent compared to traditional sources like mercury vapor, metal halide, and HPS. LED upgrades often pay for themselves quickly.
• High Quality Illumination - Superior color rendering and consistent white light improve visibility and eliminate the orange glare of sodium fixtures.
• Lower Maintenance Costs - Long operating life reduces bulb changes and ballast replacements, cutting labor and service costs over the fixture's lifespan.
• Safety - Enhanced visibility from quality LED lighting, when properly designed, can help reduce crime and traffic incidents in well-lit areas.
• Long Life - Projected lifespans of 50,000 to 100,000 hours (model dependent) far exceed the 10,000-hour life of metal halide systems, reducing replacements and disposal costs.
• Control Ready - Compatible with smart controls, dimming, and photocells for automated, energy-efficient operation without complex retrofits.
• Instant On - Full brightness immediately upon switching, unlike HID systems that require warm-up time.
• Rugged - Built to withstand extreme temperature changes, high winds, moisture, and mechanical stress without performance loss in wet locations.

What is the Best Way to Design Street Lighting?

Professional lighting design starts with a photometric analysis using specialized software. Roadway illumination requires precise modeling of light distribution, pole spacing, and uniformity ratios to meet municipal standards. Our team creates detailed lighting plans that consider road width, traffic, and local codes.

Fixture selection depends on mounting height, pole spacing, and required uniformity. We recommend starting with a lighting audit, then developing a plan that optimizes performance and energy efficiency while meeting standards.

Common Wattages and Applications

Wattage selection depends on mounting height, pole spacing, and road classification. Most municipal installations use fixtures from 50 watts to 400 watts, depending on requirements.

Residential streets typically use 50W to 150W fixtures at 20-25 foot heights. Collector roads use 150W to 250W, while major arterials and highways use 300W to 400W fixtures at 30-40 feet. When replacing HID systems, LED wattages are usually 50-60% lower while providing equal or better illumination.

What are Standard Lux Levels and Foot Candle Levels for Street Lighting?

Illumination requirements vary by municipality and depend on road classification and pavement type. Higher-traffic roads need more light than residential streets. Foot-candle measurements are the most common specification in North America.

Lux and Foot Candle Levels

Mounting and Installation Considerations

LED lights support various mounting options, including slip fitter, adjustable arm, and direct pole-top mounting. Standard slip fitter sizes range from 2-3/8 inch to 4 inches to fit existing hardware.

Installation usually requires minimal electrical changes since LED drivers accept 120V to 480V input automatically. Photocells can be integrated via built-in receptacles or external mounting, depending on fixture design and local preference. Most municipalities prefer fixtures with tool-free driver access for easier maintenance.

Safety and Performance Certifications

Our fixtures carry essential certifications: DLC Premium for energy efficiency and rebate eligibility, UL Listed and ETL Listed for electrical safety and product compliance. These certifications help ensure safety, performance, and access to utility rebates and tax incentives. DLC Premium indicates the highest efficiency standards and maximum rebate eligibility.

Warranty Support

All our lights include at least a 5-year warranty, with USA-based support. Our team is committed to resolving warranty claims quickly to keep your lighting operational.

Expert Support Throughout Your Street Lighting Project

Our lighting specialists have 15+ years of experience in municipal and roadway lighting for schools, parking lots, security, and industrial sites. We provide custom lighting system plans tailored to your infrastructure. Our team calculates energy savings based on your current system, helping you assess ROI and find available rebates. This technical expertise ensures your street lighting upgrade meets standards and maximizes energy savings. We provide ongoing technical support throughout your project.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Most street lighting failures result from basic oversights. Common retrofit issues occur when engineering fundamentals are overlooked for speed.

• Skipping photometric analysis leads to dark zones between poles. Get spacing calculations before ordering.
• Wrong slip fitter size delays installation. Measure pole hardware before delivery.
• Using Type 2 distribution on collector roads causes light trespass. Use Type 3 for medium roads, Type 5 for wide intersections.
• Installing 5000K fixtures in residential areas creates complaints about harsh light. Use 3000K near homes.
• Ignoring surge protection in storm-prone areas shortens driver life. Budget for SPDs upfront.
• Assuming illumination levels without checking local codes risks project rejection. Requirements vary by municipality.
• Buying non-DLC fixtures eliminates rebate eligibility. Always verify DLC listing before purchase.

Commercial LED Street Lighting Frequently Asked Questions

What are LED street lights?

LED street lights are pole-mounted fixtures engineered to illuminate roadways using advanced optics for even light distribution. These fixtures, also called cobra head lights, mount directly to light poles and operate across 120V to 480V input ranges with drivers that automatically adjust to your electrical system.

What color temperature is best for street lighting?

Color temperatures of 3000K to 4000K are recommended for municipal applications, with many towns preferring the 3000K option to reduce light pollution and improve nighttime visibility.

What are the benefits of LED street lights?

LED street lights deliver 50 to 80 percent energy savings compared to mercury vapor, metal halide, and high-pressure sodium sources. Projected lifetimes of 50,000 to 100,000 hours reduce replacement frequency, and built-in compatibility with smart controls and photocells allows automated operation.

What are the standard foot candle levels for street lighting?

Requirements vary by road classification: major roads require 2-3 foot candles, collector roads require 1-2 foot candles, residential roads require 0.5-1 foot candles, and pedestrian areas require 1-2 foot candles.

How do I design a street lighting project?

Professional lighting design begins with a comprehensive photometric analysis that models light distribution patterns, pole spacing, and uniformity ratios to meet municipal standards. Proper fixture selection depends on mounting height, spacing between poles, and required uniformity ratios.

What wattage LED street light do I need?

Residential streets require 50W to 150W fixtures at 20-25 foot heights, collector roads perform well with 150W to 250W, and major arterials use 300W to 400W fixtures mounted 30-40 feet high. When replacing HID systems, LED wattages are 50-60% lower while providing equivalent or superior illumination.

What mounting options are available?

LED street lights accommodate slip fitter, adjustable arm, and direct pole-top mounting configurations. Standard slip fitter sizes range from 2-3/8 inch to 4 inches to match existing pole hardware - verify your existing pole hardware before ordering.

What certifications should LED street lights have?

Fixtures should carry DLC Premium, UL Listed, and ETL Listed approvals to ensure safety and performance while qualifying for utility rebates. DLC Premium certification guarantees the highest efficiency standards and maximum rebate eligibility.

What warranty comes with LED street lights?

All fixtures include at least a 5-year warranty with USA-based support.

What are common mistakes to avoid with LED street lighting?

Skipping photometric analysis leads to dead zones between poles. Using the wrong slip fitter size delays installation - measure existing pole hardware before ordering. Installing 5000K fixtures in residential areas generates pushback about harsh light, so use 3000K near homes.