If you own or manage a parking lot that’s not properly lit, you are risking wasting your time and money. Additionally, you also risk jeopardizing the financial and physical safety of the people who entrust you with their vehicles. Having bright and evenly distributed LED parking lot lights should be the top priority for anyone running a parking lot.
But, how can you make sure that you’re making the best lighting choice?
By using LED lighting technology.
Here’s why LED parking lot lights are considered the best possible choice:
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High-Quality LED Parking Lot Lights.
LED lighting technology relies on multipoint design to distribute light evenly throughout the desired area. This is especially important when it comes to parking lots. During the night, a good parking lot light serves as protection against criminals, especially if the lot is unguarded. Even distribution eliminates dark spots and gaps in security camera coverage.
But in addition to that, LED lighting technology produces brighter and crisper light than other lighting solutions. This too contributes to the safety of a parking lot, along with a wide range of color temperatures and options to increase the visual perception of brightness that is available on the market.
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Reduced Energy Consumption
To a responsible parking lot owner, safety is the number one concern.
However, running a parking lot is like running any other business. If your main asset isn’t profitable enough, then there’s not much point in investing in it. And in terms of lighting, most parking lots are huge energy consumers. The average wattage for an HID-lit parking lot ranges from 400 to 1000 watts which is a lot of money on electricity bills alone.
Making the switch from HID lighting to LED parking lot lights may require some initial investment, but it pays off in the long run. In comparison to HID lighting, LED parking lot lighting boasts a significantly lower wattage – between 40 and 600 watts – thus ensuring a reduction in energy consumption of 40% to 60%.
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Reduced Maintenance Costs
In addition to emitting more light for less energy, LED fixtures are also much more durable than HID fixtures. And there’s no need to replace them as soon as the fuel source is reduced, as LED lights will continue to function with a gradually lower capacity until the fuel source is fully depleted.
So not only are LED lights cost-efficient enough to reduce your energy spending and expenses. But they are also extremely easy to maintain. This is yet another financial benefit of switching to a LED lighting solution, as frequent maintenance time, manpower, and resources can be costly as well.
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Now Buzzing
Managing a parking lot for a company, organization, or any other kind of public institution requires you to maintain the area in accordance with professional standards. Buzzing doesn’t leave the best first impression.
However old, LED parking lot light technology will never greet your visitors with buzzing.
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Advanced LED Parking Lot Lights Controls
If you’re using occupancy sensors or photocells as a safety measure, it’s important to know that LED parking lot lights pair perfectly with advanced controls such as these two. LED drivers are more responsive. This allows you to turn on or dim lights on your parking lot in just a second or two.
LED lighting technology is simply the best possible solution for creating and maintaining a safe parking lot. It also helps that it won’t bankrupt you. Being both cost-efficient and maintenance-friendly, LED lights are your go-to source of crisp, bright, and long-lasting lighting.
Get started today with Verde to help you convert your metal halide, HID, or fluorescent lighting in your parking lot to LED.
Parking lights: how do they work and what are they for?
Parking lights are different from sidelights, which are legally required. Here’s everything you need to know about them
Your car definitely has sidelights fitted – and they need to be working, too, in order for your vehicle to be roadworthy in the eyes of the law. Parking lights are often the same lights, but they need to be displayed when parked at the side of the road.
Sidelights are designed to provide visibility of your car for other road users, usually at dusk or in low-light places such as tunnels or in wooded areas. They’re usually accessed using a switch that also includes the operation of the headlights – one-click for sidelights, and two clicks for headlights is the usual formation.
When you switch on the sidelights, your number plate lamps also come on, as do the rear lights so that people behind can see your car more easily as well.
If you’re parked on a road, or in a lay-by on a road with a speed limit greater than 30mph (48km/h), you should switch on your sidelights, which then act as ‘parking lights’ so that you can be seen at the side of the road.
Some models allow you to display lights on one side – the side that faces traffic. Usually, this is activated by indicating in the desired direction, which will then also turn on the lights on that side. Sometimes there are separate switches for parking lights, though.
More common these days are Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) – all new cars have them, and many used models will do as well. They are always on, hence the name, and they mean that your car is always displaying a light no matter what – although many models have them only at the front.
Makers must fit these lights to new cars, because studies found there was a significant safety benefit to vehicles having their lights on all the time, no matter what the natural lighting conditions are.
Many manufacturers have adopted LED DRLs as a striking way to help their models stand out from the crowd. They shape these to form motifs that help create a bold family identity, as well as improving safety.
How do I use parking lights?
If the vehicle you own was built before 2011, it’s likely you will need to turn on its sidelights manually. To check, simply start your car’s engine, ensure the gearbox is in neutral (or ‘Park’ if it is automatic) and that the handbrake is fully applied, then hop out to see whether the sidelights are on or off.
If they are off, you’ll need to turn either the lighting-column stalk or a selector knob on the dashboard (usually above your right knee) to the position between off and dipped headlights.
Many newer cars have light sensors that will automatically turn the sidelights on, followed by the dipped-beam headlights as the ambient outdoor light progressively dims. For this function to be enabled, the lighting control switch will need to be in the ‘automatic’ position, which is often marked with an illuminated ‘A’.
When the sidelights are turned on, the symbol in the image below will usually appear within the instrument cluster. Sidelights must always be lit during the hours of darkness – defined in the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 as half an hour before sunrise and half an hour after sunset.
When should I use parking lights?
According to the Highway Code (section 249), all vehicles are required to display parking lights when parked either on a road or in a lay-by on a road with a speed limit greater than 30mph. This makes it impractical to park on faster roads at night for extended periods because leaving parking lights on for too long is likely to drain the car’s battery.
When parked on a road with a speed limit of 30mph or less, you don’t need to turn on parking lights as long as the vehicle is parked in a recognized parking place or lay-by, and it is at least 10 meters from a junction, close to the kerb and facing in the direction of the traffic flow.
It’s important to note that the Highway Code also states you must not park on a road at night facing the direction of the traffic flow unless the car is within a recognized parking space.
The Highway Code also advises motorists not to park on the road in fog unless it’s unavoidable, and to leave parking lights on in this situation.
Parking lights and the MoT
It’s a legal requirement that all cars driven on UK roads have a full set of working sidelights. This means any vehicle submitted for its annual (from its third birthday onwards) MoT test will fail if any of the front or rear sidelights or number plate bulbs are faulty.
We recommend following our MoT checklist a few days before your car’s test because replacing a bulb yourself is often a very cheap and easy task that can save you an unexpected bill at the garage.
In case you’re stopped on a street, or in a lay-by on a street with a speed limit more noteworthy than 30mph (48km/h), you should turn on your sidelights, which then, at that point go about as ‘LED Parking lot lights‘ so you can be seen along the edge of the street.
A few models permit you to show lights on one side – the side that faces traffic. Normally this is initiated by showing the ideal way, which will then, at that point additionally turn on the lights on that side. However, now and again there are discrete switches for LED Parking lot lights.
More normal these days are Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) – all new vehicles have them, and many utilized models will do too. They are consistently on, subsequently the name, and they imply that your vehicle is continually showing a light regardless – albeit many models have them just at the front.
Producers should fit these lights to new vehicles, since concentrates on found there was a huge security advantage to vehicles having their lights on constantly, regardless the regular lighting conditions are.
Numerous producers have embraced LED DRLs as a striking method to help their models stand apart from the group. They shape these to frame themes that assist with making an intense family character, just as further developing security.
How would I utilize LED Parking lot lights?
In the event that the vehicle you own was worked before 2011, it’s reasonable you should turn on its sidelights physically. To check, just turn over your motor, guarantee the gearbox is unbiased (or ‘Park’ assuming it is programmed) and that the handbrake is completely applied, jump out to see whether the sidelights are on or off. In case they are off, you’ll need to turn either the lighting-segment tailor a selector handle on the dashboard (as a rule over your right knee) to the situation among off and plunged headlights.
Numerous more up-to-date vehicles have light sensors that will consequently turn the sidelights on, trailed by the plunged pillar headlights as the encompassing open air light continuously darkens. For this capacity to be empowered, the lighting control switch should be in the ‘programmed’ position, which is regularly set apart with an enlightened ‘A’.
At the point when the sidelights are turned on, the image in the picture underneath will normally show up inside the instrument bunch. Sidelights should consistently be lit during the long stretches of obscurity – characterized in the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 as 30 minutes before dawn and 30 minutes after dusk.
When would it be a good idea for me to utilize LED Parking lot lights?
As per the Highway Code (segment 249) all vehicles are needed to show leaving lights when left either on a street or in a lay-by on a street with a speed limit more prominent than 30mph. This makes it illogical to leave on quicker streets around evening time for expanded periods, since leaving lights on for a really long time is probably going to deplete the vehicle’s battery.
When left on a street with a speed cutoff of 30mph or less, you don’t have to turn on leaving lights as long as the vehicle is left in a perceived leaving spot or lay-by, and it is something like 10 meters from an intersection, near the curb and looking toward the traffic stream.
Note that the Highway Code additionally states you should not leave on a street around evening time looking against the bearing of the traffic stream, except if the vehicle is inside a perceived parking spot.
The Highway Code additionally prompts drivers not to stop out and about in mist except if it’s unavoidable, and to leave LED Parking lot lights on in the present circumstance.
LED Parking lot lights and the MoT
It’s a legitimate necessity that all vehicles driven on UK streets have a full arrangement of working sidelights. This implies any vehicle submitted for its yearly (from its third birthday celebration onwards) MoT test will come up short if any of the front or back sidelights or number plate bulbs are broken.
We suggest following our MoT agenda a couple of days before your vehicle’s test, since supplanting a bulb yourself is frequently an extremely modest and simple undertaking that can save you a surprising bill at the carport.