Commercial Design

Commercial Grade Solar Lights

Genuine commercial grade solar lights are specifically engineered and fully capable of delivering consistent full illumination from sunset to sunrise every day if required, in the most hostile of environments.

They are built to withstand the severe weather conditions, extreme temperatures, and prolonged exposure to harsh elements, ready for deployment in industrial, mining, military, and remote infrastructure applications where long-term reliability and durability are a definitive non-negotiable which qualifies them as truly Fit-For-Purpose.

Mass-produced one model type solar lights from Asia, make claims to be a commercial grade product. Unfortunately, they are actually made to a “residential grade standard”, and fall short in durability, long term reliability, warranty term, and capability of delivering consistent daily full illumination from sunset to sunrise. Ask them this question:

“Can your solar light run at full power all night consistently?”

Commercial Grade Requirements

Five key manufacturing requirements need to be met to ensure solar lights deliver reliability, long lifespan, and value for money:

Utilise the highest grade of componentry and raw materials.

  • Commercial grade solar lights are not cheap

Manufactured under ISO9001 & ISO14001 guidelines

  • If not, it’s likely not commercial grade.

Product certifications (IP, IK, LM-79, etc) through signatories of ILAC and APAC Mutual Recognition Arrangements certification.

  • If not, it’s likely not commercial grade.

10-year manufacturer warranty including battery, pole/stem.

  • If not, it’s likely not commercial grade.

4 nights of winter solstice battery autonomy “without” solar input.

  • If not, it’s likely not commercial grade.

Commercial Grade Solar Lights

Genuine commercial grade solar lights are specifically engineered and fully capable of delivering consistent full illumination from sunset to sunrise every day if required, in the most hostile of environments.

They are built to withstand the severe weather conditions, extreme temperatures, and prolonged exposure to harsh elements, ready for deployment in industrial, mining, military, and remote infrastructure applications where long-term reliability and durability are a definitive non-negotiable which qualifies them as truly Fit-For-Purpose.

Mass-produced one model type solar lights from Asia, make claims to be a commercial grade product. Unfortunately, they are actually made to a “residential grade standard”, and fall short in durability, long term reliability, warranty term, and capability of delivering consistent daily full illumination from sunset to sunrise. Ask them this question:

“Can your solar light run at full power all night consistently?”

Commercial Grade Requirements

Five key manufacturing requirements need to be met to ensure solar lights deliver reliability, long lifespan, and value for money:

Utilise the highest grade of componentry and raw materials.

  • Commercial grade solar lights are not cheap

Manufactured under ISO9001 & ISO14001 guidelines

  • If not, it’s likely not commercial grade.

Product certifications (IP, IK, LM-79, etc) through signatories of ILAC and APAC Mutual Recognition Arrangements certification.

  • If not, it’s likely not commercial grade.

10-year manufacturer warranty including battery, pole/stem.

  • If not, it’s likely not commercial grade.

4 nights of winter solstice battery autonomy “without” solar input.

  • If not, it’s likely not commercial grade.

Definitions

Fit for Purpose (FFP)

is defined as:

that a product is suitable and functional for the specific use it was intended for.

Real Battery Autonomy

is defined as:

the time during which the load can be met with the battery alone, without any solar inputs, starting from a “fully charged” battery state.

Depth of Discharge (DoD)

is defined as:

the battery depth of discharge never exceeds 80% of its total rated full capacity. Ensures a longer cycle life of the battery can be achieved.

FFP Design Formulas

Battery Autonomy

Minimum Pass (Taut): ≥ 4 nights

Note: Your Winter Solstice Night Hours (WSnh)

1. Battery Capacity (Ah) x Nom Voltage (V) = BWh

2. WSnh x Luminaire W = Etot (Wh)

3. Calculate BWh ÷ Etot = Taut (Nights)

Solar Oversupply Coefficient

Minimum Pass (fo): ≥ 1.3 (130%)

Note: 1kWh/m2 = 1 Peak Sun Hours (PSH)

1. Solar Panel W (Pstc) x Lowest Winter PSH = Epv

2. Calculate Epv ÷ Etot = fo

Definitions

Fit for Purpose (FFP)

is defined as:

that a product is suitable and functional for the specific use it was intended for.

Real Battery Autonomy

is defined as:

the time during which the load can be met with the battery alone, without any solar inputs, starting from a “fully charged” battery state.

Depth of Discharge (DoD)

is defined as:

the battery depth of discharge never exceeds 80% of its total rated full capacity. Ensures a longer cycle life of the battery can be achieved.

FFP Design Formulas

Battery Autonomy

Minimum Pass (Taut): ≥ 4 nights

Note: Your Winter Solstice Night Hours (WSnh)

1. Battery Capacity (Ah) x Nom Voltage (V) = BWh

2. WSnh x Luminaire W = Etot (Wh)

3. Calculate BWh ÷ Etot = Taut (Nights)

Solar Oversupply Coefficient

Minimum Pass (fo): ≥ 1.3 (130%)

Note: 1kWh/m2 = 1 Peak Sun Hours (PSH)

1. Solar Panel W (Pstc) x Lowest Winter PSH = Epv

2. Calculate Epv ÷ Etot = fo

Luminaire Testing

Buyers should be aware some manufacturers will make misleading claims about their luminaire Wattage or Total Lumen output.

To ensure the actual operating wattage or total lumens are correct to design the solar light power system, the seller through an accredited photometric laboratory undertake a LM-79 photometric test.

LM 79 is the Illuminating Engineering Society North America (IESNA) approved testing method to generate electrical and optical measurements of solid state lighting (LED) products. It was first used in the US Energy Star program in 2008 and has since become the international standard method for integrated LED & OLED products.

What is the LM-79 test methodology?

LM-79 prescribes the testing procedures and precautions including lab considerations, ambient conditions, electrical equipment and measurement equipment used for carrying out LED products testing.

Measurements are done using either Integrating Sphere or Goniophotometer systems. Proper orientation / test position & stabilization of the luminaire are key for obtaining accurate results.

Luminaire Testing Procedure

LM-79 testing procedure:

1. Power supply set to the solar system battery chemistry voltage.

2. Power supplied to the LED driver input first to then power the LED modules as when installed in-situ.

POWER INPUT DIAGRAM

NOTE: Power supplied directly to the LED modules will give a false wattage, current draw, and total lumen values.

FAQ’s

Solar bollard lights that are commercial grade in design are primarily used to light up pathways, sidewalks, footpaths, trails, driveways, access ways, parking lots, streets, recreation areas, docks, jetties, pontoons, stairways, pedestrian crossings, playgrounds, or to enhance the aesthetic appeal of outdoor spaces by highlighting architectural features, and landscaping.
Solar bollard lights enhance public safety and liveability at night and offer a cost-effective and sustainable lighting solution for areas with environmental restrictions or where it’s too cost prohibitive to run electrical wiring.

Many industries use solar bollard lights, including local, state and national governments, defence, mining, oil and gas industries, commercial infrastructure, residential construction, retirement living, sport, recreation, theme parks, hotels, resorts, schools, colleges and universities, places of worship, agriculture, and many more.

Commercial grade solar bollard lights must be designed Fit-For-Purpose to survive the harshest of environments and extreme temperature fluctuations, whilst consistently delivering reliable lighting across a wide range of applications. Commercial-grade solar lights require five key design and manufacturing requirements to ensure a reliable and value-for-money lighting outcome is achieved.
1. The highest grade of componentry and raw materials has been used.
2. Manufactured in a country with ethical work practices under ISO9001 & ISO14001
3. Certifications (IP, IK, LM-79, etc) through accredited signatories of ILAC and APAC.
4.10-year warranty including the battery, pole/stem/post/mounting bracket
5. 4 nights of winter solstice battery backup (without daily solar input).

Most solar bollard light manufacturers use High Pressure Die Casting to make their poles, which can only produce thin wall sections and have a low strength, as it is the cheapest process and uses various types of mixed aluminium grades depending on where it is made, and what is cheapest to keep costs down. One of the main reasons is that most of these manufacturers do not warrant their poles.
Commercial-grade solar bollard light manufacturers use extruded aluminium poles, which is the most expensive process. It uses pure billets of 6000 Series grade aluminium because it is marine grade, has good welding properties, is high strength, has a high level of wear and tear robustness, and has high corrosion resistance. These poles will be included as part of their commercial-grade 10-year warranty with life expectancies that can exceed 25 years in situ

Solar bollard lights are made in various locations with manufacturers in Australia, Austria, Canada, Britain, and China.
Reliability always depends on product quality, so you won’t buy a quality commercial-grade solar bollard light cheaply.
A quality commercial-grade solar bollard light will be what is called fit-for-purpose and will reliably come on every night for at least 10 years and will come with a 10-year product warranty that covers the battery and light pole or mounting bracket as well.

Solar Bollard Lighting design all their solar bollard lights to withstand mechanical impact from a 3kg/6.6Ibs sledgehammer at full swing. These products have been IK10 certified and proven to withstand impacts from floating debris in rapidly flowing floodwaters, and flying debris during cyclones, hurricanes and typhoons.

Have More Questions? For more information check out our FAQs

FAQs

Solar Bollard Lighting acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands and waters upon which we depend.
We recognize their continuing connection to land, waters and culture and we pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

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