parking lot and security lighting questions

[machsnell]

Hello and thanks to patenp and all who have helped answer questions for my garage electrical questions. This weekend i had a problem with some wheels and rims being stolen off a dump truck and tractor trailer i had in my new yard. I just got power there and need to hook up area lights.

First off it is roughly 2 acres. I will not need to light it like a football field and i currently only have 200 amp service but will hopefully up that to 400 amp. Long story.

In any event there is an office trailer and will be another travel trailer and eventually a shop. This is a similar setup to my current yard and i am good with 200 amp but it cant all be electric heat and i have to be careful with consumption.

My first priority is to light the new yard so it isnt so dark and inviting.

I want to use LED for the power consumption and the fact that some of the runs are long and wire is expensive so there is not only cost savings of power but savings on wire and saving power consumption in regards to only currently having 200 amps.

I wanted to see what you would lights you would recommend and why.

I was thinking about running on both 300 foot sides four telephone poles (which i can get for 40 bucks each and i have equipment to drill and drop) to a height of 20 feet and installing the Lighting Ever 240 watt (which they say is equvalent to a 600 w MH or HPS. It has 20400 lumens. They are $300 each. I was thinking about 6 or 8?

http://www.lightingever.com/240w-high-power-led-flood-lights-dw.html

Does this sound like a good idea?
Will that be enough light? Too much?

Any better ideas? Cheap low power consumption like everyone.

Thanks in advance

Tom

 

[Stuart in MN]

Parking lot lighting can be a fairly involved design exercise...I'm sure you don't want to hear this but it would be best to get an engineer involved, to make sure you have enough lighting and it's even enough so the whole area is lit adequately. Alternately, I'd suggest checking with a local industrial lighting distributor, if you buy the fixtures through them they can do a photometric calculation, recommend what light fixtures to use, and tell you what installation height and spacing is required.

The neat thing about LED fixtures for this kind of application is they can be designed so the individual LEDs are each pointed out in specific directions, to give you more uniform coverage than you would be able to get with a conventional high pressure sodium or metal halide fixture.

You don't mention where you're located, but if you did that I could maybe do some checking to find a reputable distributor in your area. I'm an electrical engineer and lighting is one of the things I do for a living.

 

[machsnell]

Ecellent. Thank you. I am in northern virginia. Again right now it is just dirt and stone but I have started excavating and installing a pad to make it a stone parking lot to eventually pave. It will be used for storage of trucks and equipment. Lot is 350 in length by 250 in width. So the center of the 250 width will be drive lane-ish and the trucks and trailers will be backed into the sides. I won't have anything in the center for lights because I will need that space open. Let me know what you can find. Thank you

 

[machsnell]

Chantilly virginia.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I'll do some checking tomorrow at work.

 

[gregtwojeeps]

May not hurt to check with your power company. We have a security light in our back yard furnished and maintained by our POCO. $3:50 a month, a cheap peace of mind for us and I don't have to climb a pole to change photocells or lamps. . They did the same at work where they park the HD equipment and lit it up with floods. Just pay a monthly fee and forget about them until they go out, then just call the POCO to fix them. JMO

 

[dw1]

We just did this on a bldg for my buddy, he bought a metal bldg on 2.5 acres, they were breaking into it faster than I could finish wiring it, I put a 400 watt wall pack on each side of the bldg, he then had power company put a 400 watt light shining on lot, $17.50 month and he had to sign a 5 year lease on the light, which came out to $1000. I think I paid about $153 for each 400 watt wallpack.

 

[machsnell]

Interesting. I will check with power company tomorrow. I didn't know they would put a light on private property.

 

[dw1]

Interesting. I will check with power company tomorrow. I didn't know they would put a light on private property.

They will put a light on "Their Pole" on private property, but it could be your best available option right now?

 

[theoldwizard1]

I was thinking about running on both 300 foot sides four telephone poles

I am not a lighting contractor, but my gut says that is nowhere near enough poles. I would space them about 50' apart and mount 2 lights, angling apart, on each post. 20' high is not very high for truck and trailers. Too many shadows. You would be better off with 30-40' (above ground) posts.

The good news on those lights is that will operate on lower than normal AC (85V minimum) so you can use lighter gauge wire.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I did a little checking around, but unfortunately I don't deal with any distributors who have offices in your area. I did find a couple places that are nearby to you that may be able to help with questions.
http://ambiancelighting.com/
http://www.federatedlighting.com/

 

[machsnell]

Stuart thanks for checking. I will contact. I am waiting to hear back from power company.

 

[Platonic Solid]

Just FYI, the light fixture originally posted is not UL or certified by any recognized testing lab. Might also want to find out what your local zoning laws are regarding lighting before doing anything. For anti theft, a dog might be cheaper.

 

[jkwilson]

Very often lighting like that just gives people a place to hide. In some studies, turning off lights reduced crime activity. Criminals need light too.

With several fixed lights, they can move from shadow to shadow effectively hiding at the edges of the light. The shadows are darker to your eye because it is being hit by the lights. Your eyes and security cameras both perform much better with uniform lighting with no glare.

I'm a big fan of motion activated lights. If the lights are on, somebody is there, and they don't know where the dark spots are until the lights come on. If the lights do come on, there is a good chance they will leave. Modern ones are excellent at not triggering on dogs and cats, and you could cover the whole place at much lower cost with better security.

 

[roscoe2000]

While you are at it, have you consider installing security cameras. The over all the material cost is reasonable and installing is not to difficult to do your self. Most can be upgraded for remote (over internet monitoring), and come with a DVR for recording and playback.

 

[machsnell]

Interesting points. I remember the discussion on the ul listing which is definitely concerning. I am going t9 get a dog there as well for sure. The lights are not only for security but for my guys loading and unloading equipment and moving 30 or 40 trucks in the morning. So that being said are there any ul listed leds that anyone can recommend? Or alternative? Thanks again for input.

 

[machsnell]

I am also looking into cameras. Any suggestions?

 

[404]

How about a caretaker with free lodging and a salary? Older person, spouse deceased, looking for a quiet place to stay? The older people can be the best guard dogs, they have so little to lose in their lives. If you are in a Stand your ground state so much the better.

 

[toplessHO]

Add these and you may not need any thing else

note I made these many years ago but were due for a freshen up.

 

[danfromsyr]

I am using 30W led outdoor flood lights in my shop w/12ft ceilings.
I've placed one outside and it's a great area light so I'd imagine that a 50w or 100w would be more than ample. I've see 100w led units on buildings around my college campus.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/10W-20W-30W...t=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item35d52eb11e

 

[machsnell]

Like the signs those are in order for sure. Good to hear on the 100 watt. I am go I ng to order a 100 w and a 200 watt and see th e difference and then make up my mind.

 

[CNGsaves]

Are you parking big vehicles in such a way that lot is NOT accessible?? Thus, park vehicles to block driveway, and prevent access to trailers. This is common practice of car lots and construction companies. Near me, there's a paving company that has wide open lot right next to major highway and so far they've just used parking techniques and lots of lighting.