Commercial Grade Lighting Systems

1
Commercial Grade Lighting Systems

• If you own a business, you will sooner or later
  need to update the way you light it. There are
  several reasons why you will need a new or
  updated commercial grade lighting system. One of
  the most important reasons is that older systems
  are much less energy efficient. You are wasting
  money every month in electric costs with older,
  inefficient lights. You also might note problems
  in some lights such as flickering or humming, or
  constantly needing to replace the bulbs.

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• There are many applications for commercial grade
  lighting systems. You might need interior lamps,
  security lights, or exterior lights for a parking
  lot or open space. All of these require a
  different type of lamp and possibly different
  bulbs in those lights. General advice and tips
  can help you to narrow down your many options.
  Once you have fine-tuned your choices, you can
  ask an expert if you have specific questions
  about your project.

3

• If you have a commercial grade lighting system
  that is ten years old or more, it will be time
  for more modern replacements. Today's parking lot
  lights are able to light larger areas, have truer
  coloring, and lack flickering and humming seen in
  older models. The most common commercial grade
  lighting systems several years ago used
  incandescents and commercial fluorescent
  lights for indoor lighting. Incandescents are not
  very energy efficient, since much of the energy
  they require ends up generating heat.
  Fluorescents and their fixtures of decades gone
  by were one of the few options. While they were
  more efficient, they would often flicker and hum,
  and everything under them often had a yellowish
  hue.

4

• The flickering and humming have been solved by
  modern fixtures with newer magnetic and
  electronic ballasts to control the electricity
  going to the lights better. Today's fluorescents
  also have a different mixture of gases in them,
  so their coloring now is truer.

5

• Security lights for your commercial grade
  lighting system will likely be tied into a motion
  detector. This will save energy costs by only
  turning the lights on when they are needed. A
  bright security flood light with a motion
  detector is a good way to deter criminal activity
  in and around your business at night. You should
  choose long-lived halogens or cool fluorescents
  for motion activated flood lights. If your flood
  lights are going to be lit all night long, such
  as for a parking lot, then you also have the
  option of high intensity discharge (HID) bulbs
  such as high pressure sodium, mercury vapor, and
  metal halide bulbs. These can be wired to a timer
  or light sensor to turn on at dusk and off at
  dawn, but since they take a few seconds to warm
  up before lighting, they should not be used with
  motion detectors.

6

• If you are still uncertain about any aspect of
  choosing or installing your commercial grade
  lighting system, you will need to consult with an
  expert. A professional electrician can be hired
  to do the job as a contract worker, or you could
  talk to the experts at the lighting products
  retailer. Many reputable light stores are staffed
  by current and former electricians. These people
  can help to guide you to choosing the right
  lights and hardware if you want to install your
  commercial grade lighting system on your own.