Our customers often have questions for our lighting specialists that can be answered in multiple ways depending on several considerations, including budget and time constraints. Recently, a customer sent an Access Fixtures lighting specialist a photo of decorative street lighting, asking for suggestions to replace the heads with compatible LED heads. In other words the new LED luminaires had to fit the pole, be an appropriate design; illuminate the area effectively; and be energy-saving, low-maintenance LED. A lighting specialist provided the following options.
One of our RITO 191w LED open post lights that was used in a project.
The first way to retrofit a post-top luminaire is to simply purchase Post Top LED Retrofit Lamps (not available). The post top retrofit lamps, which are available in /p/30w-post-top-led-retrofit-lamp-for-antique-street-lights 30W and 45w, are designed to screw into an existing socket , either medium or mogul base, and use line voltage of 120 to 277v. If there is currently a ballast, bypass the ballast and run the power supply directly to the socket. This option is quick and inexpensive and will illuminate the area just like the existing lamp.
Access Fixtures is also able to design a retrofit kit for a specific fixture. In order to do this, the customer needs to send one of the heads without the globe. After receiving the head, Access Fixtures will manufacture a customized retrofit kit that includes LED chips, a driver, and metal kit for easy installation. The retrofit kit will emit 140 lumens per watt and is rated LM70 at 100,000 hours. Once identifying the existing lamp, Access Fixtures can advise the customer the best wattage to choose, as well as investigate new globes if the customer chooses to do so. This option is more expensive, but delivers a customized extreme long life solution for the existing fixtures.
Another alternative is to replace the entire head of the fixture. LEDs are a directional light source, and the current trend for new luminaires is to be dark-sky compliant as well as to limit light trespass. For this reason, few modern post-top luminaires will offer the same photometrics as the existing post-top luminaire. This new luminaire would distribute light down and out using 120 degree optics on the LED chips. The head is imported and built with LED chip sets that emit 140 lumens per watt, and are rated LM70 at 100,000 hours. It is also Assembled in the USA. This option is more costly, but provides a brand-new head.
The final option, albeit a different design, is purchasing the following head. It is less expensive, distributes light effectively, and can employ different LED setups. It is available with or without a finial on top.
Do you have a question about your lighting project? Contact an Access Fixtures lighting specialist.