LED lighting controls reduce energy use and extend the useful life of LED fixtures

Which LED Lighting Controls Should You Select for Your Parking Lot?

Selecting the appropriate parking lot LED light fixtures requires more than just selecting the correct fixtures. You also need to decide which advanced lighting controls will work best in your parking lot. LED Lighting controls can range from DALI and internet-based controls, which are complex, to more simple LED lighting controls. This content will review the different types of lighting controls that you might use in your parking lot and the benefits and negatives of each type. When planning for your parking lot lighting and controls, be sure to check local ordinances, as local lighting ordinances frequently address or require specific lighting control requirements.

Manual Light Switch LED Lighting Controls

The most basic of all lighting controls is a manual light switch. This is the same switch that is on the wall of every room you enter. You enter and you flipped the switch. The light goes on. While this is a potential solution for parking lot lighting controls, it is not necessarily a logical one. Somebody must remember to turn the lights on. Somebody must remember to turn the lights off. Neither will probably happen on a regular or timely basis. This will work in a bedroom, but it is probably the worst lighting control solution that you could employ for a parking lot. 

  • Pros
    • Inexpensive 
    • Simple to use
    • Ubiquitous 
  • Cons
    • You must remember to turn it on and off
    • It is unlikely you will remember to turn it on and off
    • Switches will not meet any lighting ordinances that require controls

Light switch

Time Clock Parking Lot LED Lighting Controls

There are two different types of time clocks, mechanical and electronic. 

Mechanical time clocks are very reliable and easy to use. A dial has times noted on it. To set it the user places on and off arrows that tighten onto the dial. 

Electronic Time Clocks are the digital version. Electronic time clocks are a little more complicated to use, but frequently offer more options, such as self-adjusting for sunrise and sunset times. 

  • Pros
    • Inexpensive 
    • Simple to use
    • It turns the lights on and off without you remembering 
  • Cons
    • May require resetting when there is a power outage
    • Lights may be on when the lights are not needed 
    • Needs to be reset when it starts to get dark early 

Mechanical Time Clock Used for Parking Lot Lighting Controls

Photocell Parking Lot LED Lighting Controls 

Photocells are a simple way to control LED parking lot lights. The lights go on at dusk and off at sunrise. There are two ways to deploy photocells. One way is to install a photocell on each fixture like a municipality does with streetlights. The alternative way is to install a remote photocell on the line between the power supply and the parking lot lights. Installed that way, all the lights go on and off at the same time. 

  • Pros
    • Inexpensive 
    • Either preinstalled or installed by electrician in line so easy to use 
    • The lights on and off without you
  • Cons
    • Time clocks may require resetting when there is a power outage
    • Dirty lenses can cause the lights to stay on during the day
    • May not meet very specific or restrictive lighting ordinances 

Photocells for LED Parking Lot Lights

Photocells Combined with Time Clocks for Parking Lot Lighting Controls

Photocells and mechanical time clocks or electronic time clocks are two simple ways to control LED parking lot lights. Combined, they are an excellent way to control LED parking lot lights. This is how it is installed. 

  1. The conduit leaves power supply which is typically the panel 
  2. The conduit is run to a location where the time clock can be accessed and set
  3. Next the conduit is run to a properly located photocell 
  4. Once the conduit exits the photocell it is run to each parking lot light
  5. If each parking lot light has a photocell, the conduit is run from the time clock to the light fixtures 
  6. Se the time clock to go on in the late afternoon and to turn off at a logical time during the night

This lighting control plan works well, and, in many instances, it meets more rigorous lighting ordinances.  The time clock lets power go to the photocells in the afternoon an hour or so before the earliest time it gets dark. Once it starts to get dark, the photocells turn on the LED parking lot lights. Once it becomes time to shut the lights off, the time clock turns off the power to the photocell and lights saving energy.

  • Pros
    • Inexpensive even with two types of controls combined 
    • Quite easy to use and the lights on and off without you
    • Significantly reduces energy use 
  • Cons
    • Lights may be on for hours when nobody is around
    • Dirty lenses can cause the lights to stay on during the day
    • Photocells work better combined with other options 

Occupancy Sensor Parking Lot Lighting Controls 

Occupancy sensors are available in multiple variations. The design of LED parking lot lights has evolved to the point that in many instances the occupancy sensor is hidden inside the light fixture. Occupancy sensors have advanced too. Some are programmable on site while others a preset at the factory. In parking lots common for each light fixture to have its own occupancy sensor. It should also be noted that most if not all occupancy sensors require either a photocell or a time clock to shut off the power to the parking lot fixture. Otherwise, the light fixture will continue to “be on” and draw some power. An occupancy sensor does not shut off the light fixture. The light fixture needs the photocell or time clock to cycle off. Using occupancy sensors can lead to significant cost savings by reducing unnecessary energy usage. The following is a summary of occupancy sensor variations and options.

LED Parking Lot Light with Occupancy Sensor

Basic occupancy sensors 

Basic occupancy sensors will turn the light on when it recognizes the someone is in range. The light will stay on for a preset amount of time. If the occupancy sensor senses a continued presence, the length of time will be set back to the pre-set time. In other words, the light remains on as opposed to going off and then testing for someone being present. 

Programmable occupancy sensors 

Some occupancy sensors are preset at the factory. While there may be options, once set the program remains the same. Programmable occupancy sensors are a key component of advanced lighting systems. Many can be programmed via a handheld device. The handheld is then aimed at a single fixture or a row of fixtures within range and the program for those fixtures is updated.

Bi-Level Occupancy Sensors for Energy Efficiency 

Instead of simply turning the lights off like a more basic occupancy sensor, bi-level occupancy sensors, bi-level occupancy sensors dim the lights down to a predetermined percentage of the maximum light available when the area is unoccupied. That way the area with reduced illumination is still illuminated for safety or to appear open for business. Most bi-level occupancy sensors are programmable. It should be noted that bi-level occupancy sensors can only be used on LED light fixtures that have dimmable drivers. Bi-level occupancy sensors help create efficient spaces by providing the right amount of light when needed.

  • Pros
    • Increases the energy efficiency of LED lights
    • Lots of flexibility to meet the property manager’s preferences 
    • Meets almost if not all state and local light fixture ordinances 
  • Cons
    • Additional expense 
    • Initial installation and operation are more complex 
    • Adds more points of failure 

DALI Parking Lot Lighting Controls 

DALI stands for Digital Addressable Lighting Interface. Managed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) through the IEC 62386 family of standards, the standard ensures the interoperability of all products using DALI. DALI facilitates two-way communication, meaning that it can precisely control many aspects of a lighting fixture. It can also read back the operational status such as light level, light failures, configuration, and emergency lighting battery tests. DALI systems can significantly optimize energy usage by providing precise control over lighting fixtures.

Use of DALI is growing overseas but is still limited in use in the USA. DALI is complex and adding to the difficulty is a lack of trained personnel in the USA. To use DALI, the drivers in the LED parking lot light fixtures need to have DALI drivers and the drivers need to be programmed correctly. Most DALI installations are run via a computer and require a DALI trained professional to commission the installation.

  • Pros
    • Increases the energy efficiency of LED lights
    • Flexibility to meet and monitor all preferences 
    • Facilitates meeting almost if not all state and local light fixture ordinances 
  • Cons
    • Similar LED fixture cost as 0-10 diming but significantly more expensive to deploy
    • Installation and operation are complex, complex, complex 
    • What happened to “Lights on – Lights off – No drama”?

DALI Driver Manufactured by Philips Advance

Wireless Advanced Lighting Controls for Parking Lots 

Wireless parking lot controls entered the marketplace with all kinds of heightened anticipation. Finally, there was an advanced parking lot lighting control system that didn’t require fancy wiring. While wireless controls have significant potential and offer the most options and flexibility, wireless controls have the highest upfront cost of any lighting control system.

Wireless controls require additional hardware to receive and send signals. The device is wired to the driver and the driver must be compatible, which means compatible to transfer information and capable of 0-10v dimming or able to accept 12v controls. Once the parking lot light fixtures are set up, they all communicate to one central control unit.

Deployed wireless control systems can handle functions as basic as turning the lights on or off as well as dimming. Better use is having the system collect data, send alerts to the system manager, and following pre-programmed if-then routines for lighting disruptions or failures. For example, a manager would know if a light failed without sending an employee to walk around a facility looking for a non-functional light.

For large applications, wireless controls solutions provide ROI. Managers have complete system control. During periods of his or her facility’s peak demand, the manager could reduce the light levels reducing peak demand charges. On the other hand if the power supply company was maximizing power production and hitting power generation limits, power reduction might be monetized by the end user.

  • Pros
    • Comprehensive data on the performance of all parking lot lights 
    • Maximum control of all parking lot lights all the time
    • Facilitates peak demand management and grid requests for reduced use  
  • Cons
    • The most expensive parking lot lighting control system there is 
    • Ongoing cost for communication between lights and control system 
    • Complex, complex, complex 

State Ordinances, Local Ordinances and Parking Lot Lighting Controls

Many state and local lighting ordinances now require lighting controls for parking lot lighting. While the ordinance might not specify the controls, the results are specified. Consequently, the lighting controls are required. For example, a state, city or town may specify that the lighting in a parking lot cannot be on after midnight, or, the ordinance might specify that the lighting has to be dimmed down to 20% from a maximum light level of  5 foot candles anytime nobody is present for 5 or more minutes. In any of these cases lighting controls are required to meet the ordinances. Access Fixtures’ lighting specialists and lighting engineers can review the lighting ordinances that need to be met and to advise you as to which lighting controls would best meet the requirements of the local ordinances.

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