LED High Bay Buyers Guide

Due to its relatively small size and high lumen output, high bay lighting has long been a preferred option for commercial and industrial customers all over the globe. Due to advancements in energy efficiency, service life, and much better color rendering accuracy, LED technology has overtaken the high bay industry during the last several years. This significant advancement in high bay lighting technology has reduced operating and maintenance expenses for users and increased worker productivity and safety.

Due to variances in wattage to brightness ratios and a far greater selection of alternatives and choices than what was previously accessible, first-time or even experienced purchasers of LED high bays often find it challenging to comprehend and shop for these new lights. In order to help with the choosing of the finest LED high bay light for a number of applications, we have put up one of the most thorough buyers guides currently available. To further assist consumers in understanding why they should use LEDs over traditional forms of lighting fixtures for their commercial and industrial applications, we have also included information about the technical and performance advantages of LED lighting.

Choosing the Right Wattage for LED High Bays

Definitions

The term “Light-Emitting Diode,” or LED, refers to a semiconductor diode that emits light when a voltage is applied. Since its invention in the early 1960s, this kind of light has been widely used in electrical and the computer equipment. The lumen output of LEDs has grown tremendously as technology has advanced, and they can now perform better than almost every other kind of commercially accessible light source.

Lumens are used to quantify how much visible light a source emits. In the past, watts rather than lumens was often used to measure a light’s output. This was caused by the conventional incandescent lights’ linear connection between wattage and lumen output. Comparing lights based on their lumen output is now the norm because of the huge variation in lumen outputs of LED lighting compared to older lighting sources.

Wattage is the accepted unit of measurement for power consumption in the lighting industry. Its relationship to a light’s lumen output is often used to assess a light’s energy efficiency. A watt is the amount of work that is produced when one ampere of current travels across a one volt electrical potential difference. The formula for this is [1W = 1V * A].

The potential for energy to travel is known as voltage. Voltage is compared to water pressure because it has properties that are comparable to those of water flowing through a conduit under pressure from a pump.

DLC Listed – Abbreviated for “Design Light Consortium,” a product that complies with this standard has been approved for use at the highest levels of energy efficiency.

Color Temperature is a term used to describe the color hue of a light and is measured on a scale from 1,000K to 10,000K using Kelvins. Today, 3000K to 6000K are the most often used color temperatures in commercial lighting, with 5000K being the closest to daylight.

High bay lights are a particular kind of lighting fixture that are designed to be installed very high up to allow vertical clearance for regular activities and to provide broad illumination capabilities. High bay lights are designed for industrial and commercial settings and feature a high brightness output.

The measuring scale used to assess a light’s accuracy and effectiveness in appropriate color rendering is known as the Color Rendering Index, or CRI for short. The CRI of daylight, which is 100 and is regarded as the ideal light source, is the highest point on this numerical scale, which runs from zero to one hundred. A light will illuminate its surroundings more correctly the higher its CRI.

For further details, see our in-depth article on CRI lighting.

Choosing the appropriate power for LED high bay lights

High bay lights are available in a range of wattages to accommodate a variety of applications and lighting needs. A light’s output was formerly often expressed in watts since performance for certain wattage ranges was very constant across manufacturers. This made it simple for customers to choose new lighting fixtures and to arrange the number and location of lamps in new building.

The performance of different manufacturers varies greatly on the market today, with some offering illumination that is far more efficient than others. Because LED lighting consumes far less energy than conventional lighting, it may be challenging for those who are experienced with metal halide and HID technology to choose the right wattage LED high bay for their application. To aid in the decision-making process, the table below shows typical HID wattage ranges for high bays and how they relate to contemporary LED technology.
Chart for LED High Bay lights displaying lumens and wattage. For tiny interior spaces, these figures vary from 50 watt lights up to 360 watt lights for big industrial spaces.

Low Wattage (30-90 Watts) – These lights typically lie within the 30 to 90 watt range at the low end of the wattage spectrum. Users who want to light up smaller spaces in the most energy-efficient way possible tend to choose these. Many high bay lights in this wattage range also have the advantage of being plug-and-play with existing outlets, eliminating the need for manual rewiring.

The most common high bay lights for commercial and industrial applications are by far those with a medium wattage (100–230 Watts), which is in the center of the spectrum. For the majority of applications, lights in this wattage range provide the greatest lumen output and power consumption balance, and they are often used in manufacturing plants, warehouses, and other commercial buildings.

High-Power High-Bay Lighting (280-360 Watts) – These lights provide the most amount of lighting while still benefiting from LED technology’s advantages in energy efficiency at the upper end of the wattage range. Most often used in sports stadiums, arenas, and other buildings with high ceilings that need a lot of light.

Suitable Lumen Rating

To guarantee adequate lighting performance and the most return on your investment, it is essential to choose the appropriate lumen rating for your application. On fact, lumen output has replaced watts as the primary indicator of a light’s performance in the market today. Converting to lumens as the main measurement of a light’s output might be challenging since the majority of people still conceive of lighting performance in terms of watts. It is crucial to comprehend how lumen ratings translate into actual performance since this will be how the lighting industry gauges performance for the foreseeable future.

Although this varies depending on the manufacturer, with LED lighting the amount of lumens generated is often proportionate to the wattage of the light fixture. To make the purchasing process simpler, we have provided a few typical lumen ranges:

Bottom Lumens (4,000—20,000) – These lights are used largely in situations that call for a high-quality light with great energy efficiency. They are at the low end of the lumen spectrum. These lights are often used for non-critical regions that don’t need high lighting or tiny to medium sized spaces in industrial and commercial operations.

Medium Lumens (21,000 to 35, 000) Lights in this category are often utilized for large-scale activities like warehouses and substantial commercial buildings since they are by far the most common brightness range. Due to their blend of excellent illuminating powers and energy efficiency, they are in great demand. Additionally, these lights are often reasonably priced, making them available to a variety of consumers.

High Powered High Bays (40,000—50,000) – These are the most potent lights available and are utilized when maximal lighting is the main goal. These lights still retain the energy-saving advantages of LED technology, but in order to produce their lumen output, they need the most watts of any high bay light. These lights are often utilized in sports arenas, public places, and other settings that call for precise and powerful illumination.

Temperatures of color

It’s critical to choose the appropriate color temperature for your application in addition to the appropriate wattage and lumen output. Depending on the lighting’s ultimate goal and purpose, this will change. While certain color temperatures are better for promoting relaxation and a good mood, others are better for assuring worker efficiency and attention. To aid in the purchasing process, we have produced a list of the most popular color temperatures now offered in high bay lighting below.

The majority of LED high bays are 5000K – 5000 Kelvin. This color temperature simulates daytime situations by emitting a cold white light. This is perfect for general lighting in factories, warehouses, and other commercial environments that need precise lighting. The most natural of all color temperatures, this one works well with illumination that has a higher CRI.

The natural colored light that 4000K – 4000 Kelvin LED lights provide is typical of workstations. Even though they are often less prevalent than high bay fixtures with a color temperature of 5000K, many electrical contractors and building managers still choose this shade of blue. This is because it has a cozier feel and closely resembles the color temperature of conventional lighting sources like HID and fluorescent lamps. Consequently, 4000K high bays are widely available in the LED lighting industry.

Warm LED light in the 3000K-3000 Kelvin range is generally utilized in homes or restaurants. Since high bay lights are intended for big structures like warehouses and commercial gyms rather than residential or hospitality lighting applications, 3000K LED bulbs are seldom seen in high bay fixtures.

Services and Types

In a broad range of commercial and industrial settings, including workshops, car repair shops, warehouses, manufacturing facilities, fitness centers, indoor sports stadiums, and even large retail stores, high bay lights are employed. They are perfect for areas where conventional lighting cannot offer sufficient illumination because to their high power to size ratio. The following is a list of the most popular high bay lighting fixture types:
An industrial facility’s ceiling is illuminated brightly by round UFO high bay lamps.

High Bays for UFOs These circular lamps, so named because they resemble a conventional UFO, are the main kind of illumination used in factories, warehouses, and other commercial spaces. They are quite popular because of a number of important characteristics that make them a great option, including their amazing endurance, high lumen output, and small, simple-to-install design. This design offers illumination that is very concentrated while yet being highly energy-efficient and requiring little upkeep.
The level below is illuminated by a linear high bay light hanging from a warehouse ceiling using four chain hooks.

Linear high bays are a common choice for situations that call for high bay lighting that must be scattered over a larger area than a typical UFO light. In commercial buildings and storage spaces, particularly those that prioritize simplicity and financial effectiveness in their facility’s lighting configuration, linear high bays are common. Compared to UFO type high bays, they have a broader beam angle, allowing them to light a bigger area with less lumen output.

Optional Mounting

Yoke Mount Bracket: With these brackets, high bay lights in the UFO type may be mounted on a level surface and can be tilted to fit sloping roofs. In particular, in buildings with lower roofs that nonetheless want to employ high bay lighting, they are useful for lights that are put up against a ceiling.

The vast majority of high bay mounting solutions are suspension hook mounts, which dangle a light from a ceiling at a variety of distances depending on the needs of the application. Although they need some suspension system modifications, they are quite simple to install and sometimes don’t even need a mounting point change. Though theoretically they may mount anyplace with a hook, they commonly employ cables or chains for their suspension mechanism.

V-Hooks are common hooks that are used to hang high bay fixtures from a ceiling or other higher surface. Typically, they come in separate parts that bolt into the fixture using threads typical of electrical conduit. The majority also include a locking screw to keep them in place, prevent unintentional disengagement, and prevent falling.

The most appropriate mounts for situations needing the most vertical space beneath the light itself are surface mounts. Surface mount lights feature a low profile fixed angle bracket to do this while yet allowing enough space for heat dissipation and ventilation. This allows the unit to be mounted as near to the ceiling or mounting surface as feasible.

Rod and Plate Mount – Comparable to suspension mounts, this mounting solution connects a high bay light fixture to a metal mounting plate attached to the ceiling via conduit-style rods. These are the most fashionable suspended or hanging mounting solutions available because they allow the wire to be enclosed in a sleek rod that may be painted or customized to match the facility’s decor.
Questions and Answers

What do LED high bay lights entail?

These are a particular kind of lighting fixture made to hang from a tall ceiling. These lights, which are often employed in huge facilities, feature a rather narrow light pattern that intensely illuminates the surface below. They come in a range of sizes and forms, but owing to their adaptability, circular or spherical UFO type lights are the most common.

How are high bays hung?

Depending on the needs of the application, there are many alternative methods to hang or install high bay lights. Using a cable, chain, or other way to hang the fixtures from the ceiling is the most popular and straightforward installation solution. The chain or cable would typically be hooked to a pendant hook, v-hook, or other attachment affixed to the fixture’s back.

Direct attachment utilizing a surface mount or yoke mount is the other popular choice. Surface mounting has the smallest profile and is used for level ceilings without the need to alter the fixture’s angle. While yoke installation is similar, it does allow for modifications for angled ceilings.

What number of high bay lights do I require?

For your particular project, the amount of high bay fixtures you’ll require will depend on a number of variables. Identifying your lumen needs for the coverage region is the first of these. The number of fixtures required to satisfy your application needs must then be determined, and this depends on the lumen output of each fixture. This will also depend on how high the lights are from the ground; the higher the light is off the ground, the more watts is needed to give adequate lighting.

It goes without saying that this may be a challenging undertaking, therefore it is advisable to speak with a business LED lighting specialist to properly plan your project. Cost savings and more lighting will result from consulting an expert.

Why should high bay lighting utilize LEDs?

The use of LED technology in high bay lighting fixtures has a number of advantages. The majority of customers cite the drastically reduced energy usage of LED lights compared to conventional lights like HIDs as the main justification. Additionally, LED lighting need no maintenance throughout the course of their lifetime, saving you a lot of money on both labor expenses and components. When compared to conventional lighting sources, they also create light that is more precise and of greater quality, which enhances visibility and safety.

How do you go from metal halide to LED?

Depending on how the present lighting configuration is set up, there are many approaches to retrofit lighting systems with LEDs. In many circumstances, replacing the current light with a new LED fixture that produces an identical lumen output is the simplest and most basic approach to do this. In some circumstances, it can be preferable to redesign the arrangement of the complete lighting system in order to successfully transition to LED technology. In rare circumstances, it may even be able to replace the current fixture with an LED conversion kit, although this needs some electrical know-how to properly finish.