Nick Gwilliam, Lighting Designer at Ansell Lighting, shares his insights on how to approach outdoor lighting schemes effectively and explores the benefits of integrating the latest smart and solar-powered innovations.

Summer is finally on the horizon and outdoor lighting projects are high on the agenda for many. But they can be complex, requiring solutions for garden and social spaces, alongside safety and security requirements – and all with an eye on design as well.

Different roles

Whether it is for a home, garden, business premises – or a combination of the three – outdoor lighting is about so much more than security lights.

Lighting plays a multitude of roles, enhancing visibility during hours of darkness, ensuring safety and security around building perimeters and public access areas, deterring criminals, and enriching the ambience and visual appeal of buildings, gardens, features and outdoor spaces.

Planning an outdoor lighting project therefore goes beyond simply choosing a fitting and a place to install it. Considerations include product styling and durability; CCT and brightness settings; positioning, mounting heights and spacing; and, of course, issues such as light pollution avoidance.

The best starting point for an outdoor lighting project is to look at the spaces that require illumination and consider how each area will be used. Is lighting needed to enhance user safety or provide security? Is ambience important? Will the space be used for leisure or just access purposes? Is visual impact important? Is constant illumination required?

Defining the purpose of the lighting required will help to guide both the design and product specification. And combining all of the required elements takes some careful planning.

Product types

Product specification is key, which is where a knowledgeable wholesaler comes into their own. Different areas require different types of products. For example, wall-mounted luminaires are ideal for building façades and wall areas; floodlights for car parks and large open spaces and bollards are ideal for pathways or landscaped zones.

And due to their very nature, luminaires for outdoor and exterior building use need to be robust, with a high IP and IK rating. Those that are constructed from materials such as die-cast aluminium, polycarbonate or stainless-steel will offer the best performance against the elements for longevity.

In garden settings, whether that is residential or public realm, the most effective schemes usually incorporate a variety of lighting techniques, to add depth and bring life to the spaces.

Uplighting creates a dramatic effect, perfect for drawing attention to trees, sculptures or water features. Downlighting, which mimics moonlight, is ideal for softly illuminating paths, patios or doorways. Silhouetting involves placing light sources behind plants or objects to emphasise shape and structure, creating a striking artistic effect.

Other techniques like wall washing and grazing can highlight textured surfaces and materials, while cross-lighting and mirroring enhance depth and dimension. Together, these approaches ensure a dynamic and visually interesting space after dark.

Avoiding light pollution is a major consideration when designing an outdoor lighting installation and must not be overlooked. Clever placement, low level lighting and the specification of fittings that hold the Dark Sky Fixture Seal of Approval accreditation, are all recommended, helping to keep light spill to a minimum. The Dark Sky certification is only given to products that are fully shielded and emit minimal amounts of blue light and glare in the nighttime environment. Where this is not possible, luminaires with optics that combine advanced lens technology and enhanced glare control designs should be selected. The key objective is to ensure the minimal amount of light is given off upwards or sideways.

A huge part of product specification is, now more than ever, energy efficiency. Outdoor lighting can be left on for many hours – especially during winter months – meaning electricians and installers are under increasing pressure to deliver lighting that is energy efficient and cost effective to operate.

Opportunity

For wholesalers, this presents a key opportunity to add value and support to customers, by providing a comprehensive range of high-efficiency lighting solutions that work alongside LED fittings, to help reduce consumption and meet sustainability targets.

A great place to start is with motion sensors which ensure lighting is only in use when a space is occupied. Typically, there are two main types of motion sensor technology in use: Microwave and Passive Infra-Red (PIR).

Smart technology is another game-changer in terms of energy-efficiency. Allowing users to control, customise and automate lighting to an exceptional degree, connected lighting solutions help to optimise energy use and enhance functionality. They are great for domestic and commercial projects alike where lighting can be scheduled to operate only when areas are in use or programmed to activate at specific times as required.

And, connected lighting, is perfect to enhance design and ambience in social areas, with its adjustable settings allowing users to select different colours and colour temperatures to transform the look and feel of a space. Whether it’s a warm, welcoming white tone or a decorative colour for seasonal events, smart technology allows users to create a custom environment.

Solar power

Solar lighting is also worthy of consideration because of what it is able to deliver in terms of cost effectiveness and, increasingly, in performance. Significant advances in the technology has resulted in more efficient solar panels, improved LED function and better battery storage capabilities, so solar-powered lighting is now a reliable and high-performing choice, even in the UK’s less predictable climate. And as a result, the selection of solar lighting products now available has also increased.

Solar is of course completely free to operate and doesn’t add to household or business running costs, but the other huge bonus is quick and straightforward installation, with no need for disruptive outdoor cabling or electrical wiring work, and the flexibility to more easily move the fittings.

There are a myriad of factors to consider with outdoor lighting projects, but achieving an effective installation is easily achievable if time if dedicated, up front, to planning, design and product selection.

For further details, click here

Find more industry features here

The post Outdoor lighting schemes: key product insights for electrical wholesalers appeared first on Professional Electricians Wholesaler.

Off-grid renewable power and lighting expert, John Foster, Managing Director, Prolectric, talks about renewable lighting and the operational risks for businesses that rely solely on diesel power.

As regulators call for the tightening up of environmental standards on site emissions, early adopters of renewable technologies are now not only ahead of the game when it comes to compliance but are able to realise a competitive advantage. As fuel markets remain unpredictable and supply chains increasingly fragile, more organisations are recognising the strategic value of futureproofing and diversifying their onsite energy sources. As a result, off-grid renewable power is rapidly becoming an intrinsic part of a site operator’s risk-management strategy – and no longer just perceived as an isolated tick box sustainability exercise.

With skills shortages, high inflation, rising material and equipment costs, not to mention volatile fossil fuel supply chains, pressure is mounting from all directions. As a result, we are currently witnessing a phenomenal pivot within our client base, where long-term established customer businesses have parted with their traditional diesel-dependent equipment in favour of investing in renewable off-grid alternatives. Business, they say, is booming, in what is globally a very difficult market.

For many companies, the adoption of more sustainable business practice is having a halo effect, helping to enhance brand reputation and attract more environmentally conscious clients who share similar values. The strategic reinvention and repositioning of traditional diesel-dependent businesses is clearly paying dividends.

Lighting the way

As industries across the UK accelerate their transition to lower‑carbon operations, renewable lighting has emerged as one of the most practical ways to reduce environmental impact while improving operational efficiency. From construction and infrastructure to events and urban environments, renewable lighting technologies are proving that sustainability and performance are no longer mutually exclusive.

Prolectric designs and manufactures both permanent and temporary off-grid solar lighting solutions for the UK market. Prolectric permanent solar street lighting solutions provide reliable, low-maintenance illumination, which is mains-free and fully compliant with British Standards and DarkSky Approved.

In the temporary lighting category, solar tower lights, column lighting and perimeter and zonal lighting systems deliver safe, sustainable and fully off-grid illumination for construction sites and infrastructure projects, as well as on many other schemes and applications. For example, they are often supplied to warehousing projects and are equally at home on film sets. Designed for rapid deployment and consistent performance, these solutions reduce operational costs while eliminating diesel dependency.

Tower lights are essential for safe and productive work after dark and in areas of poor lighting – and with so many mobile tower lights available in the market it is important to understand the various options available. They are operated all year round, offering the most essential, versatile and functional components to extend construction hours after dark.

Prolectric created the original solar-powered tower light in the UK in 2017, pioneering the transition from diesel and fossil fuel-powered tower lights to solar and hybrid alternatives. Since then, our solutions have saved customers over £40m in diesel costs and over 83m kgs of CO₂e.

Prolectric’s tower lights are designed and engineered in the UK at a manufacturing facility in Clevedon, near Bristol. From here, the company is able to specialise in developing lighting solutions that are specifically designed and built for the UK market. There is a unique and often challenging balance to strike in the UK winter between lower solar yield and longer nights.

Patented autonomous lighting control technology ensures lights operate reliably throughout the night, working as long and as hard as Prolectric customers do. The technology was specifically developed by an in-house R&D team in response to general market perceptions that off-grid solar lighting does not work consistently in the UK. Based on over 10 years of climate data, including sunrise and sunset patterns, combined with GPS location of the light and the battery state-of-charge analysis, the lights intelligently self-regulate their brightness to ensure they stay on all night.

Tower power

Advanced tower lights include specialised telematics systems which enable remote monitoring and control from any location. Prolectric has also developed the only solar lighting solutions on the market that eliminates the need for battery draining. Battery draining is commonly employed by traditional diesel tower lights to prolong the useable life of a battery and is required multiple times a month by our competitors’ products. The battery will be drained to 0 and then recharged using an external power supply back to 100%. This is a level of maintenance that we believe can be avoided by providing true setup-and-forget solutions, which are unique to Prolectric.

As many lighting towers are used in very harsh weather conditions, the design of the canopy can be a gamechanger when it comes to optimising performance and usability. It is vital that the body of the light tower is made of material that is corrosion- and crack-resistant, environmentally friendly and able to meet the demands of the working environment.

Prolectric’s tower light canopies are built from robust, powder-coated steel to protect the tower’s internal components from the elements. What is more, the innovative design and tough material helps ensure that the tower continues to perform throughout years of service, helping retain a high resale value and providing an outstanding Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Wind resistance is another important consideration; our tower lights are rated for use in up to 80km/h wind speeds and are fitted with outriggers to provide further stability.

Proven technology

Renewable solar lighting is no longer a niche or futuristic technology; today it is a proven, high‑performance solution delivering real-world environmental and commercial value. As industries continue to decarbonise site operations and developments, solar and hybrid lighting will play an increasingly central role in creating cleaner, quieter and more resilient projects. For organisations looking to future-proof their energy sources and take meaningful steps towards sustainability, without compromising safety or productivity, renewable lighting offers one of the most rewarding and immediate opportunities to make a difference.

Find out more here

Find more industry features here

The post What are the opportunities in renewable solar lighting? appeared first on Professional Electricians Wholesaler.

As the warmer weather approaches and people look to make the most of their outdoor spaces, well-designed, efficient and reliable outdoor lighting becomes a desirable element for homeowners. Shyel Start, Senior Product Manager at Luceco, examines what switched on electrical wholesalers can do to make the most of this seasonal opportunity.

This is a key time for consumers to think about enhancing their outdoor spaces with thoughtful well-chosen lighting solutions. By stocking an outdoor lighting range, electrical wholesalers can not only provide the products that contractors demand to satisfy their customers but also increase their own profits.

Enhanced security

A well-lit home, especially including outdoor areas, is a simple and effective deterrent to opportunistic thieves taking advantage of the darker nights. Burglars prefer to work under the cover of darkness as it allows them to move undetected and reduces their risk of being caught. When a property is well lit, it increases the risk of them being seen by neighbours, passers by and surveillance cameras, making it a much less attractive target. Motion sensors are particularly effective as they instantly illuminate the area, whilst properly lit driveways, entries and gardens leave few places for an intruder to hide.

Comfort and convenience

Providing a level of convenience for the homeowner, especially during the summer months when people make the most of the warmer weather, outdoor lighting allows consumers to comfortably remain outside after dark, extending the amount of time they spend enjoying their gardens.

In addition, as well as enhancing the aesthetics of a home, well-considered outdoor lighting improves safety by deterring burglars, helps to prevent accidents and boosts the effectiveness of surveillance systems. It’s a smart investment for anyone with a property to protect. The demand for outdoor lighting solutions is stronger than ever, and homeowners are looking for solutions that are both functional and aesthetic.

Lighting products that perform

Since Luceco expert lighting engineers work closely with contractors so that they know what’s important to them, wholesalers can be reassured that the products will be in demand. They are designed for quick and easy installs so that contractors save time and effort during installation. The Luceco range is extensive, giving contractors options when recommending lighting solutions for outdoor spaces and our products are vigorously tested to exceed all safety and performance standards. With IP ratings that are high to deliver exceptional results in tough and variable weather conditions, Luceco is ideally positioned to offer comprehensive solutions that cater to a host of customer needs.

Floodlighting

Luceco’s Essence floodlight range offers a cutting-edge solution for residential lighting needs, providing exceptional performance, durability and ease of use. Featuring advanced LED technology, the Essence range delivers bright, energy-efficient illumination with minimal power consumption as well as superior brightness and an impressive lifespan which reduces the need for frequent replacements and helps to lower long-term maintenance costs.

IP65 rated, the Essence range is highly resistant to dust, dirt and water, making it the perfect choice for outdoor use and able to withstand a variety of weather conditions. Whether installed in gardens or on building exteriors, the robust construction and level of protection makes Essence ideal for applications where durability is crucial, such as security lighting or areas prone to rain or moisture.

Designed to make life easy for electrical contractors, the Essence range benefits from a hassle-free two-step installation process – simply install the mounting bracket and slot on the floodlight – reducing time spent on unnecessarily complicated installations. In addition, the Fit + Tilt multi-position ball joint allows for full adjustment so that the floodlight can be positioned exactly where required. Whilst setup is quick and easy offering significant time and therefore cost savings for installers, the end results are often transformative for previously underused spaces and deliver immediate and tangible benefits for customers.

Moreover, the range provides flexibility in terms of application, with options available in varying wattages and beam angles. This allows electrical contractors to tailor the lighting solution to their customers specific needs, whether it’s providing wide-area illumination for outdoor spaces or focused lighting for security or task-specific areas. With their combination of efficiency, durability, ease of installation, and adaptability, Luceco’s Essence floodlights are an excellent choice for anyone seeking reliable and versatile lighting solutions.

Sustainable solar

With a growing focus on sustainability, consumers are increasingly looking at solar lighting to fulfil this need. Luceco’s solar lighting products deliver long lasting performance and are ideal for the UK climate, having been designed to operate year-round.

Luceco’s Solar Guardian wall lights provide a versatile and eco-friendly solution for outdoor security and lighting needs. Powered entirely by solar energy, these floodlights eliminate the need for wiring and reduce electricity costs, making them an ideal choice for customers looking to lower their environmental impact while ensuring reliable lighting around their property. With built-in solar panels, the lights charge during the day and automatically illuminate at night, providing consistent and efficient lighting without the need for external power sources.

Equipped with advanced LED technology, Solar Guardian wall lights deliver bright and clear illumination enhancing the safety and security of homes, gardens and driveways. The integrated motion sensor ensures the light activates when movement is detected, providing instant visibility and deterring potential intruders.

With a sleek modern design that blends seamlessly into any outdoor environment, Solar Guardian wall lights are built to withstand the UK’s weather ensuring durability and long-term performance whilst offering security and aesthetic appeal.

With their ease of installation, energy efficiency and reliability, Luceco’s Solar Guardian wall lights – along with other Luceco solar lighting, including solar floodlights, stainless steel and decorative brick – are an excellent add-on for contractors to offer to their customers, especially when kept in the van for easy ‘on the job’ upsells.

Elevating outdoor aesthetics

While security and functionality are crucial aspects of outdoor lighting, there is also space for aesthetic appeal, with decorative lighting solutions such as festoon, string and garden spike lights creating a warm, inviting atmosphere in customers’ outdoor spaces.

Luceco’s versatile Festoon Light Kit provides a stylish way to add ambient lighting to any outdoor setting. Whether it’s for a summer garden party, a cozy winter evening, or simply enhancing the mood in a backyard, the Festoon Light Kit offers an easy and effective way to bring charm and character to outdoor spaces.

Featuring high-quality, weather-resistant bulbs that are ideal for year-round outdoor use, the lights are designed to be both energy-efficient and cost-effective, providing a bright yet soft glow that creates a relaxed and inviting environment without consuming excessive energy.

Installation is straightforward, with the flexible cables allowing for easy setup across a variety of outdoor areas. Whether draped across a garden fence, strung between trees or hung along a pergola, the Festoon Light Kit gives creative flexibility to suit the unique space and design vision.

Luceco’s Garden Spike Light Kit is an excellent solution for adding both functionality and beauty to outdoor spaces. Ideal for illuminating gardens, pathways, flower beds, and outdoor features, this versatile kit allows homeowners to highlight specific areas of their landscape with ease.

The Garden Spike Light Kit, with durable, weather-resistant spike lights simply inserted into the ground to create the desired effect without the need for complex wiring or drilling, making them quick and easy to install. Powered by energy-efficient LED technology, the lights deliver bright, focused illumination while minimizing energy consumption, making them both eco-friendly and cost-effective. Adjustable heads offer flexibility in direction, allowing homeowners to highlight specific plants, trees, or architectural features, easily enhancing the outdoor space.

Make the most of the opportunity

Now is the time for electrical wholesalers to make the most of the growing trend for outdoor lighting, boosted by seasonal demand. The stylish, reliable and easy to install range of outdoor lighting from Luceco can shine a light on profit opportunities for wholesalers.

To uncover more, click here

Find more industry feature articles here

The post What can electrical wholesalers do to make the most of seasonal lighting? appeared first on Professional Electricians Wholesaler.

Off-grid renewable lighting expert Rachel Preen, Managing Director of Prolectric, outlines all you need to know about permanent solar lighting.

Heading into summer, the demand for high quality, reliable, solar solutions are set to surge.

As the UK transitions towards net zero, more and more electrical wholesalers are extending the breadth of their off-grid product ranges to accommodate the growing industry appetite.

We are witnessing the uplift across industry as the sustainability specifiers’ web of influence grows and electricians, contractors and developers take advantage of the opportunity to be part of a highly profitable industry. At the sharp end, this increases the need to provide customers with the right information to make informed and factual decisions.

Solar without sun

As with all new and emerging technologies, a range of misconceptions can sometimes cast a shadow over the effectiveness of solar lighting as a game-changing technology. One of the most common myths is that solar power is most effective in summer when the sun is out and becomes less efficient during winter. Contrary to this belief, solar panels are designed to work efficiently even in colder, darker climates – and often are more efficient at converting sunlight into electricity when operating at cooler temperatures.

While shorter daylight hours might slightly affect the overall energy generation, advancements in solar technology, such as improved panel efficiency and energy storage systems, have minimised this impact. Prolectric’s solar technology has been engineered to work in the harshest of UK winters, where cloudy days make up 43% of the year.

Even on overcast days solar panels can still capture diffuse sunlight by efficiently converting it into usable energy, allowing customers to effectively harness solar power in low-light conditions. To date, Prolectric has provided over 8,000 solar streetlights across the UK, brightening up car parks, walkways and streets, round the clock, 365 days a year.

The dark days are over

Solar lighting has come a long way from its early days. Thanks to technological advancements, solar-powered lighting systems are now equipped with high-efficiency LED lights and sensors that provide bright and effective lighting. The energy generated from the sun during the day is stored in batteries, allowing them to shine throughout the night. Prolectric’s specially developed smart light controller and Passive Infra-Red (PIR) sensor work to ensure the solar LED light lasts from dusk until dawn, even on dark days, and throughout the UK winter.

Our very latest development in 3 PIR offers a unique solution which now ensures movement is picked up from an even greater distance. Solar lights offer a reliable and eco-friendly solution without compromising on brightness, whether installed in car parks, pathways, campuses or parks. And when used across large commercial properties, operational carbon emissions can be significantly reduced.

Low maintenance solar systems

Solar streetlights and bollards are simple, quick and economical to install. With no manpower required to dig trenches or install trunking for cables, labour costs and carbon footprints are significantly reduced. Installation time is minimal compared to conventional mains power alternatives which minimises the disruption to roads users and the impact on traffic. It can also help to cut down construction project schedules and with reduced contractor presence, onsite safety and security is also enhanced.

Reducing the reliance on grid energy, unlike EV charging units and stations that stretch the grid capacity; solar streetlights and bollards are low maintenance, with no need for PAT testing, and have a long operating life. There is no need to change the whole unit when one element comes to the end of its life; instead the single component can be replaced, again reducing embodied carbon and waste.

Solar systems are often perceived as high-maintenance due to concerns about cleaning panels and maintaining batteries. However, modern solar panels are designed with self-cleaning technology. Battery maintenance is also minimal, with many solar systems featuring smart battery management systems that require little to no manual intervention. Routine checks and occasional cleaning are usually sufficient to keep a solar system running smoothly year-round.

Delivering change

When it comes to solar lighting, both temporary and permanent solutions, Prolectric has been championing quieter, safer and more environmentally friendly sites since 2011, as the first to introduce solar street lighting to the UK. This game-changing solar technology provides a practical way for businesses to achieve their carbon-reduction commitments, enabling them to move away from fossil-fuelled or mains powered systems.

Prolectric solar lighting and hybrid generators provide high-performance temporary and permanent site lighting and power – with minimal environmental impact and low running costs. In particular, these lighting systems produce no carbon, no noise, need little maintenance, and require no fuel. As the demands on the UK electrical grid become greater and the need to reduce carbon emissions becomes increasingly important, solar lighting has the potential to deliver real change.

In close, we don’t want to wish the Great British summertime away, but when the sun starts to fade, the nights draw in and summer feels like a very distant memory – you can be safe in the knowledge that year-round solar power and lighting is a feasible, practical and reliable option, contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable future.

For more information, click here

The post Everything You Need to Know About Permanent Solar Lighting | Prolectric appeared first on Professional Electricians Wholesaler.