The first thing to do before choosing an LED high bay is to develop a lighting plan. This is because different spaces require different types of lighting. For example, a storage room may only need a 200w LED high bay light. A large warehouse may require dozens or more. A space like a gym needs bright and balanced lighting. So is the production facility, to keep the production area safe.
Creating a lighting plan is perhaps the most important thing you can do. It will guide your next decisions and make sure you have an adequate amount of light.
Wondering how many high bay lights you need?
The most accurate method is to develop a high bay lighting plan.
A high bay lighting plan will determine how bright your interior space can be and how evenly the light will be distributed. It will also determine the location of the lights.
Determine the brightness you need.
This is arguably the hardest part of the decision. Starting with knowing the brightness you need will greatly improve your chances of success.
Don’t even think about how many watts you need for a light.
Once you understand that, the rest is easy. With a lighting plan you can find the ideal fixture. The right light fixtures will provide optimal light levels and provide balanced lighting. We often see bad results from not identifying the right light fixture
Determine which high bay light suits your needs
There are two main types of high bay lights: bar high bay lights and UFO high bay lights
This sturdy, round high bay light can replace all other traditional light fixtures such as metal halide lights.
If you want to use it in warehouses and gyms, the ufo is probably the best option. They are also suitable for places prone to humidity as they are usually IP65+ rated.
Most of these fixtures are not rated for impact or moisture, so make sure your area is dry and free from external disturbances before choosing them.
Determine the power you need
Power is a measure of an LED’s ability to convert electrical energy into light. The efficiency of an LED refers to the number of lumens per watt, which is how much energy a light needs to consume to produce a certain amount of visible light.
The more efficient an LED light is, the fewer watts a high-bay light uses to produce the same number of lumens.
How important is efficacy or lumens per watt to you? Less efficient LED lights are usually less expensive to buy, but consume more energy over their lifetime. This means you will have a higher lighting bill. A high-efficiency light will save you even more money throughout its use.
Make sure you know your voltage
The typical voltage range for most commercial and industrial indoor spaces is between 100 and 480 volts. LED luminaires can work in the middle and provide multiple drivers. These drivers automatically switch to the input voltage, so there is no need to adjust the high compartment during installation. Common LED drive voltage ranges are:
- 100V-277V (standard voltage)
- 277V-480V (High Voltage)
- 347V-480V (less common)
What is the best color temperature for you?
This can be a tough decision. Color temperature is measured on a Kelvin scale, with high numbers representing warm yellow light and low numbers representing cool blue light.
4000K is a good alternative to fluorescent lights or a color temperature used in commercial environments.
5000K is the main color temperature used, which can replace metal halide lights and HIDs.
What CRI (quality of light) should you choose?
CRI is an abbreviation for Color Rendering Index. It is a measurement of the true quality of light produced by any light source.
LED lights for commercial and industrial applications should have a CRI of 70 or above.
For fine detail work, or where painting and finishing are done, the 80+ CRI is a great choice
Use light controls such as motion sensors
Light control helps automate light capacity and power on/off processing. When choosing from the various dimming controls available for LED fixtures, motion sensors are the best choice for indoor lights.
PIR and microwave are the two main types of motion sensor control.Microwave sensors are best for detecting common movements in large spaces.PIR or passive infrared sensors use an infrared beam to detect movement in the target area.While industrial and commercial facilities use microwave sensors, smaller facilities or areas use PIR sensors.
A 0-10V dimmable driver must be installed in the LED fixture to use these controls. These drivers allow motion sensors to automate low light levels. Without them, you can only control on/off.
According to the driver, 0V doesn’t always mean power down. Some drives will only dim to 10% at 0 volts
Takeaway: Future-proof your purchase by ensuring your fixtures have dimmable drivers.
Standard Mounting Options
You’ll find new high bay fixtures to match existing installation options you may currently have or need. Eye hooks, pendants, and hanging wire holders are all common. We even offer trunnion mounts that are common on floodlights but are also acceptable for high bays.
Do you have a hot cell with a high ambient temperature?
You will also need to decide whether your facility requires heat resistant lights. Most LED lights are rated for about 122 ℉ .If your facility is hotter than that, then you should look into a high temperature high bay. We offer high temperature fixtures rated from 149-212℉.
Is it possible for the schedule to be hit?
Larger spaces such as manufacturing facilities, warehouses and school gyms are more susceptible to the high impact of their lights. This has increased the need for rugged and impact-resistant lights in these areas.
Impact resistance with performance retention in any light is indicated by the IK rating.
IK grades range from IK01 to IK10, where IK10 represents the strongest light.
So if you have any space where these lights are susceptible to accidental effects (like a gym), use IK08+ rated lights.
Takeaway: If you need impact-resistant fixtures, a UFO high bay is usually your best solution.
Is your location wet? Do you need to clean your fixtures?
If your fixtures are installed in areas that are likely to get wet, then you need to consider IP-rated fixtures. The most basic of all waterproof protection is IP65. For high pressure washdown with hot water and steam in food processing environments, make sure it is IP69K rated.
Ps: UFO high bay and NSF rated fixtures are IP rated for installation in wet locations. Linear luminaires are not IP rated in most cases (but we do have some)
Do you have hazardous/explosive conditions?
If your luminaire is installed in a hazardous location where fire and explosion can occur, then you need to consider an explosion-proof rated luminaire. These fixtures are designed to work in the most dangerous of all locations and keep your facility and workers safe.
Do you need food safe/NSF rated fixtures?
If you need food safe lighting, standard high bays won’t work. NSF has a program to certify luminaires for these environments. These fixtures are tested to be safe in food/pharmaceutical environments and are designed to withstand frequent hot water high voltage washdowns.