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Lighting DesignLED Wall Pack Lights
The term “wall pack lights” describes the outdoor lighting that is commonly mounted on the outside facing walls of buildings. LED Wall pack lights are generally used to provide a wide swath of illumination to high-traffic ground areas. But, they also function well as an added layer of security for property owners. It is common to see wall packs mounted on the exterior walls of commercial and industrial buildings, providing general and security lighting to exterior grounds. In fact, this type of lighting is one of the most common commercial outdoor lighting solution. Get Your Free LED Wall Pack Lighting Plan
Want a well lit Outdoor Area? Let us do a Commercial Wall Pack lighting plan for you.
Wall Pack Lighting Plans allow you to see your outdoor space lit up with LED Wall Packs - without spending any money. Not all wall packs are the same - and minor differences can make the difference between under lit to well lit.
We have create 100's of free outdoor wall pack plans for our commercial customers. The plans allow us to alter placement, power and type of wall pack so that we can optimize the results before $1 is spent and you - the customer - is having to fix a poor buying choice.
We can model and simulate different wall packs inside our lighting software. By using the Lighting Plan software, we can see how well and what wall pack is your best lighting option.
10 Considerations for choosing the right Exterior LED Wall Pack
1. Look At the Lumens
If you’ve shopped for any type of lighting in the past, chances are the stat that you paid the most attention to is watts. But, when you’re switching to LEDs, watts are not the best comparison point. This is because watts are a measurement of energy consumed, and LEDs were designed to be energy efficient. LEDs can produce a shine equivalent to your existing HID fixtures while consuming much less energy.
With this information in mind, the best way to find an LED light has a similar light output as your existing fixtures is to pay attention to the lumens. Lumens is the actual measurement of light output and therefore is the best way to determine brightness.
Why LED lumens are more important than the LED watts?
Lumens tell you the amount of visible light a bulb or fixture produces. A LED bulb, or any bulb from any source, that emits more lumens appears brighter than one that generates fewer lumens.
And, unlike watts, you can compare lumens across different products. With LED, it is well known you need fewer lumens than other light sources because, for the most part for many reasons, but primarily these three:
LED light is directional
LED light is higher quality light
LED light degrades a lot slower than traditional light sources
2. Use Motion Sensors
Motion sensors are often overlooked in commercial lighting because facility managers can just turn lights on and off when they leave.
But, they shouldn’t be. Switching to LED lighting is a great way to cut back on energy costs, and motion sensors are an easy way to achieve even bigger savings. However, not all types of lighting work well with motion sensors. Luckily, LEDs do.
LED is instant on and instant off. It works perfectly in unison with motion sensors.
LED can dim. So you can choose to dim or turn the light completely off
Do you really need lights turned on at 100% at 3 am?
3. Use Photocell Sensors
Photocells are basically automatic on and off switches. They turn on at dusk and off at dawn, using their lighting-reading photocells to determine whether or not there is a need for supplementary light.
There is no need for timers. There’s no need to have a person in the room. Photocells adjust to daylight and night time all on their own. Having the lights on only when they are needed and off when they aren’t, will lower your utility bill and reduce your maintenance costs. And coupled with a motion sensor and LED lighting, photocells can help take your energy savings to the next level.
4. Make Sure They are Wet Rated
Wall packs are not to be installed outdoors. If you’re looking for large-scale indoor lighting for a commercial facility, we would suggest high bays or Shop Lights. But if you’re looking for outdoor lighting, these are a perfect choice.
And with any outdoor lighting, there is rain, snow, sleet, and hail. All of which are not typically considered friendly to lighting. So to make sure your lights last a long time, whether they are wall packs or any other type of exterior light, they should be wet rated.
A wet rating can be found by looking for IPXX on the product spec sheet. Make sure it is IP65 to IP68 rated. IP65 is more than enough for normal weather conditions, but IP68 lights can be fully submerged in water.
5. Keep Dark Sky Compliance in Mind
What is Dark Sky Compliant? Dark Sky Compliant lights are lights that do not cause night glow and therefore do not disturb the natural environment around them. All products approve,d in the program are required to become fully shielded and to minimize the amount of blue light in the nighttime environment.Many communities require dark sky compliant fixtures, especially those in rural or coastal areas.
So what fixture should you choose? Full Cut off and some semi-cutoff fixtures. These lights direct most if not all their light downwards. Avoid flood style wall packs, which cast a wide and bright shine, which is ideal for security but is not Dark Sky Compliant.
6. Efficacy (Lumens Per Watt)
Luminous efficacy is a true measure of a bulb’s efficiency. It indicates the number of lumens produced for every watt of electricity consumed. LEDs are more efficient than traditional bulbs with higher luminous efficacy. Although, in general, high-quality LEDs have great efficacy ratings. Higher efficacy ratings is also one of the reasons why, when comparing LED lights to other types of bulbs, watts are not the best way to go.
Although LEDs with higher efficacy are more expensive at the onset, they are also more efficient than other LEDs ( and considerably more so than other types of lighting). And, because of this higher efficiency, you’ll see even more savings on your energy costs. So, although the initial investment is slightly steeper, you’ll earn your money back even quicker.
7. High Voltage LED Wall Packs – up to 480V
Does your facility have high voltage, 277V to 480V? Fortunately, high voltage drivers are available for these installations. Constant current drivers handle everything from 100 Volts up to to 480 Volts.
100V-277V - Most common - standard voltage
277V-480V - High Voltage Option
347V-480V - Canadian complain voltage
8. Color Temperature Options
We briefly discussed color temperature above, but now we’ll go into a little more detail. Color temperature measures the tone of a light source using Kelvins. The Kelvin scale (pictured on the right) is a measurement of color temperature.
Bulbs with a low color temperature produce warm light (in the red, orange, and yellow spectrum). And, those with a high color temperature produce cool light (in blue and white spectrum).
Generally speaking, warmer light temperatures are better for retail spaces and other areas where you want to have a welcoming atmosphere. Cooler lights, on the other hand, are better for precision tasks and help improve employee productivity. We offer both 4000K and 5000K fixtures for outdoor lighting. Not sure which one you should select? We can help!
9. Wall Pack Light Quality
We have also mentioned that LEDs have a higher CRI than other bulbs. And what is CRI? Well the color rendering index is a measurement of how well a light source will reveal the colors of items compared to sunlight (the ideal light source).
When it comes to HID lamps, people most often complain about one thing: poor light color. And although we believe that poor lifespan and rapidly deteriorating lumen output is their biggest challenge, the poor color quality is the most noticeable.
Light color is important in all applications, but especially outdoor applications. It has a huge impact on clarity and contrast, which is important for both safety and security purposes. The majority of our Wall Pack fixtures are offered between CRI 70 and 85, but we can special order almost any CRI you might need.
10. Light Pollution
In simple terms, this means inappropriate and excessive artificial light. Light pollution negatively impacts the natural environment and can damage the surrounding ecosystem. LEDs are easily made Dark Sky Compliant, which helps combat the four measures of light pollution. Light pollution is composed of four components that may overlap or mix.
Light Trespass: Light falling where it is not needed or intended. Exceeding the borders of a specific area.
Glare: Excessive bright light which causes visual discomfort. Too much glare can affect visibility
Sky Glow: Artificial light generated upwards, lighting up the night sky
Light Clutter: Excessive groupings of light sources that are bright and confusing. Often found in over-illuminated urban areas. Light clutter can contribute to sky glow, glare, or light trespass.
Many areas have certain requirements regarding light pollution. Especially urban areas where dark-sky compliance is important. Consider full cut-off or semi-cut off fixtures for these applications.
Frequently Asked Questions about LED Wall Packs
1. What are Commercial LED Wall Pack Lights?
LED Wall Pack Lights are wall mount lighting fixtures that can project light outwards and downwards. They are a general purpose light that can provide outdoor security lighting, facade lighting and can provide additional light to pathways and parking lots near the building walls. Wall mount lights are typically dark bronze in color.
2. What are the benefits of LED Wall Pack Lights?
LED Wall Pack lights offer many benefits over Metal Halide and High Pressure Sodium Wall Packs.
LED Wall Mount Lights provide super bright, energy efficient, long lasting powerful outdoor lighting solution that can provide both general purpose and building security lighting.
The quality of light produced by LED Wall Pack Fixtures are higher than metal halide and vastly superior to High Pressure Sodium, Metal Halide and HID Wall Packs.Energy costs are much lower, and maintenance costs are dramatically reduced since their are no bulb and ballast replacements.
Extremely long expected life ranging between 50000 hours and 100,000 hours (+)
3. What are the different types of Wall Pack Lights?
There are three main types of wall packs, and one hybrid type. The three main types are:
Forward Throw Wall Pack - or - Non Cutoff Wall Pack
Semi - Cutoff Wall Pack
Full Cutoff LED Wall Pack
The hybrid type is a wall pack with an adjustable head, that can swivel from full cutoff to semi-cutoff.
Full Cutoff Wall Packs
These wall packs only allow light to escape out the bottom of the fixture. This design ensures the lights are dark-sky compliant - eliminating light trespass and reduces light pollution
They are not a good option for general security lighting. They are an excellent option for wall facade lighting.
Forward Throw Wall Packs
Forward Throw Wall Packs flood an outdoor area with bright LED light. Light is distributed in almost every direction, but predominantly outwards and downwards. They are the wall pack with the most forward-throw of light.
These lights are your best choice for security and general lighting, and are also the best option for path way and parking lot lighting that are close to the building facade.
Semi-Cutoff Wall Packs
A semi-cutoff wall pack is a marriage of full flood and a full cutoff wall pack.
It tries to limit the amount of light that might trespass upwards while providing some forward-throw.
The design of the fixture prevents some upward light pollution, it is not a good option for dark-sky lighting.
Adjustable Wall Packs
These hybrid wall packs can swivel between full cutoff and semi-cutoff.
Adjustment is done at time of installation, so this allows for on-site lighting optimization.
These led mini wall pack lights are an excellent option for those looking for a wall mounted light that provides adjustability.
4. Can you add lighting controls to a LED Lighting Wall Pack?
Yes. It is common to find photocells and/or motion sensors on led wall packs. Photocells turn the wall pack on at dusk and off at dawn, where as motion sensors turn the wall packs to full brightness when motion is detected and off when no one is around. A motion sensor light option is an excellent way to make a wall pack fixture a good outdoor security light.
5. Do LED Wall Packs make good outdoor security lights?
They do. You will often see wall packs mounted on the exterior of buildings to provide lighting used as security lights. You can equip them with motion sensors so they are off when no one is around and full brightness when motion is detected.
6. What are LED Wall Pack Retrofit Kits?
Wall Pack Retrofit kits converts your existing wall packs from Metal Halide to LED. Once you remove the existing ballast, bulb and socket, you can install the LED Retrofit Head and LED Driver in the same locations as the old bulb and ballast.
7.What are the best LED Outdoor Wall Lights to replace Metal Halide?
We always recommend a lighting plan to make sure you have the right solution. However, here is a quick guide as a reference to replace some common Metal Halide bulbs
Replacing 150 Watt Metal Halide: look for a LED Light producing between 6,000 and 9,000 lumens
Replacing 250 Watt Metal Halide: look for a LED Light producing between 9,000 and 14,000 lumens
Replacing 400 Watt Metal Halide: look for a LED Light producing between 14,000 and 21,000 lumens