A:
The most common stadium light is a 30 degree lens. NEMA 3 classification which is the same as a 1500 watt Metal halide sports lighter. At 30 feet it produces about a 50 foot diameter circle. At 50 feet it produces about a 70 foot circle of good light
How High should Stadium Lights be mounted?
A:
Stadium lights should be mounted starting at 40 feet for a 500 watt and about 60ft and higher for the 1000 watt or 1200 watt
Here is the beam angle of a 30 degree at 3 heights; 30 feet, 45 feet and 60 feet. The first chart shows us the actual FC readings across a 45x45-foot grid. You can see how intense the light is at 30 feet high, generating very high FC in a tiny area. At 45 feet and 60 feet, the light has a much more natural pattern. Particularly the 45-foot height is a nice sweet spot for sports fields lighting. The 60-foot height will be best in wider applications. At 60 feet or higher in sports applications, it may be best to drop down to the 20 degree lens that is available on the 750 watt, 1000 watt or 1200 watt.
The next chart is the same type of demonstration as above, just using 10-foot circles to get an easier idea of distance. In the upper chart on the right, the 75 FC numbers are actually less than 10 feet in diameter. Below we see the Isolines at 50 feet. This shows generally how it drops off, although to the untrained eye these numbers are not that dramatic, so going from 14 to 29 will not be radically different.
This picture is not one of stadium lights; it is a wider angle light, but gives an idea of what the test would look like as a visual rather than a chart.
Here is the beam angle of a 40 degree stadium light at 45 feet high. This grid is 60'x60' so a bit larger than the 30 degree above. You can see we get light even to the corners and off this grid. So where the 30 degree is typically ideal at 40-60 feet, the 40 degree is best suited in the 30-45' space for solid coverage. Again, it can be used anywhere depending on the objective.
Part of section 2 or new? Other things to know
Look for quality
LED driverUsing products with superior quality has obvious advantages. When it comes to LED lights, look for top-end components for your purchases. The most important component of any LED light is the, and using a high-end manufacturer like Invetronics, Sosen or MeanWell means you have an LED light that is going to function properly for a long time. The higher quality driver means less maintenance in the long term and the knowledge that the light will function as planned without failures and irregularities like flicker and loss of power. Lights with high-end LED modules will also increase long term durability and efficiency, so keep an eye out for top names like Osram, Seoul, Epistar, Bridgelux, Lumileds, Cree, and Nichia.
Ensure that the lights are weather proof
Stadium lights are often set up outdoors where they are exposed to humidity, rain, moisture, and so forth, which can be destructive to electronics. Make sure you buy lights with a weatherproof rating of IP65 or higher to ensure they can stand up to the elements. UL listed lights also give you the security of knowing that the light you purchase has been certified for safety by an independent safety organization.
Look for higher Color Rendering Index
Color Rendering Index (CRI) measures the ability of a light to give an accurate color rendering of object. A high CRI means that objects colors seen under that light are very close to the color as it would be seen under ideal or natural light. Look for lights with CRI rating of 75 and higher.
Light Color
There are options in light color, but 5000K is pure white and the color of choice for sports. Lights color also known as Kelvin or Color Correlated Temperature (CCT). CCT is an often-overlooked measure in stadium lighting. The standard white beam color has been a staple, but depending on the effect you are aiming for you might want a softer tone.
Glare
Reducing glare is a major factor. Glare can disrupt a game and too much can ruin the experience for the audience. All of our lights have built-in measures against glare, including high-end optic lenses and shields. You will also need a proper understanding of angles and intensity combinations for your lights in order to reduce glare in your particular stadium lighting layout and situation.
Section 3: Planning it out
LED Stadium Lights of Your Own
Lighting is an art in itself, and stadium lights are no different. Sporting events are often a very personal affair, creating bonds among friends and family, classmates and colleagues as they cheer on their favorites. Seeing it all crisp and clear is a vital part of the game.
The first question to ask yourself is: Existing lights and retrofit, or new install; and are the existing lights the caliber to create your ultimate stadium experience?
For existing lights, we try and match up the old sports lights to an equivalent or brighter if needed. The 1500 watt Metal Halide sports light is far and away the most common fixture installed over the last 40 years. For this, there is a 500-watt LED stadium light designed from the ground up to replace it, beam angles and all. It saves 1000 watts and lights up a touch brighter. This one is easy. We have interchanges to other ones as well. If it’s determined that you need more light rather than maintaining an equivalent amount, we can help with that too.
New Install?
Stadium lighting heights vary per application which is why they are offered with different beam angles. A light placed at a height of 30-40 feet might use beam angle of 30 degrees due to the needs of the application. Choosing the proper light and beam angle is going to depend on the size of area being covered by light, the lumen requirements on the ground and the height of the lights. Creating a proper light plan is important, so getting with a lighting expert to plan out your application is essential to a good outcome.are often used to ensure the end result really nails it. A lighting expert can design the phtostudy, often at no cost.
Photometric Design
Photometric is the measurement of how we perceive light with our eyes. This measures brightness as well as shifts in the lighting due to movement or other forces.
For this, a pre-measured test run is a common practice. The right equipment will have potent adjusting tools to have you monitor and shift the lights as needed during the test.
Section 4: Where to use them
With dozens of different sporting events and locations that hold them, the various types and areas of stadium lighting can change in drastic ways. While there can be almost unlimited combinations, the major sports help showcase the main configurations. Let's go over what you may need for the big stadium showcases.
1.Outdoor Football Stadiums
Most football stadiumsare outdoors, so to ensure that games don't have to end by sunset, lights are vital. The focus of lights on a football stadium needs to highlight the field from the perspective of the audience. The angle of many stadium edges means you need to understand the angle of the light you are using. Besides the angle, outdoor stadiums need to ensure that their lights are waterproof. They also need a proper ventilation system to avoid overheating.
With such a large coverage, too much glare on each light can become overwhelming, so make sure your glare rating is low.
Actual install in the City of Redlands California. 500 watt Stadium plus 450 Watt Pro II Area Lights. Mixed use Soccer Field.
2. The Tennis Courts or very intimate Pickleball courts
tennis courts lightsTennis courts are a lot more enclosed, both in the field's size but also in how they are often fenced in to prevent wayward balls in a dense area. A lot ofbuildings, as they are centerpieces to country clubs and private living communities. You need to avoid light pollution and lighting too much space. A concentrated effort, focusing inward with its light and using multiple, smaller lights can be your best way forward. Pickleball is fast becoming a major sport and good lighting is equally important. Given the compact nature of these courts, it’s critical to get light even and natural.
3. The Wide-Open Cricket and Baseball Fields
Cricket and Baseball share two major items: they are both often outside and both have a structured variety of movements. As with the football stadium, being outside means a wide range of weatherproof and durable lights. For the movements, you will want an even balance of lights, allowing for good illumination no matter where the ball and players end up. Where these two fields differ is in concentration. Baseball will have a stronger focus on the bases, with the outfield only coming into play with big hits. Cricket has a more dynamic movement and longer action, but still has a focus on where the ball is and where the runners go to as they make plays in the game.
4. The Interior Basketball Courts
Basketball is a unique sport because it is almost always played indoors on a professional level. This changes the dynamic of the lighting as you have no natural light to call upon. Basketball is also fast and dynamic, with near-constant movement. This means your spread of lights needs to produce an even sheen on the court. The closed, indoor court and the polished floor mean that you must be cautious with your lights so you don't create too much glare during the event.
The closed environment also means that you do not have as much space to incorporate lights where they are most efficient. Most use overhead lights, which need a more thorough installation. A lot of what applies to Basketball can also work with hockey, which also has reflective surfaces and an indoor environment as two key factors to consider.
5. The Quiet Golf Courses
Golf courses are a unique dynamic. While most play golf during the day, the novelty of nighttime play combined with a more comfortable and cooler nighttime environment makes lighting a golf course a solid idea. Golf courses are the most massive of gaming environments, sprawling over many long stretches of hills and obstacles. The positive side to the size is that the relaxed attitude of golf, combined with fewer spectators, makes for fewer restrictions on lighting. You can light every few stretches, spreading out the lights to create dimmer overall lighting, and still achieve the lighting effect you desire for your golf course experience after daylight hours.
6. Anywhere You want Bright Light
With a sweet spot of 30-50 ft, these 500 watts can be used anywhere or the 1200 watts from 70-200ft. Just add Light.
LED Stadium Lights - Stadium Pro Lights to replace Metal Halide Sports Lighters
LED Stadium Lights - Stadium Pro Lights to replace Metal Halide Sports Lighters See a Video overview of the StadiumPro Series! includes; -Beam Angles -Mount Options -Photometric Study -Locations ...
section 5 - why LEDs are better
Just a few years ago, this was section 1. Now most people understand the benefits of LEDs and so its been kicked down here to the bottom, but still as important as ever;
Lighting plays an important role in stadiums, arenas and other large venues. It’s not only important for the people in the stands watching the events, but it’s also for the performers in front of the crowd. Proper lighting is key to a good performance from the athletes on the field or musicians on the stage. Whether the event is a sport, concert, rodeo or a racing event, brightwill help make the event enjoyable for everyone involved.
Traditional light sources such as incandescent, fluorescent and HID lights contribute to global warming and pollution due to the chemical substances used in these lights. Such lights have mercury, lead and other dangerous substances. These also produce UV radiation. All of these can be harmful for spectators and players, and anyone else present in these stadiums. There are no such risks with LED stadium lights. These do not have these hazardous materials, don’t produce UV rays, and are far more efficient at producing light from the power supplied, using 90+% of the power supplied as light output.
Energy Efficiency Pays For Itself
LED lights are far more efficient than previous lighting technologies, leading to a huge difference in the amount of power used per fixture. A 500-watt LED stadium light can replace a 1500-watt metal halide stadium light, in effect saving 1000 watts per light plus the power drained by the original ballast. Now you have a light using about one third of the power of the previous metal halide light. Considering that stadium lighting usually consists of multiple fixtures on multiple poles, the power saving is tremendous. Swapping out 40 total fixtures would end up saving around 40,000 watts of power.
Installation of brand-new lights, especially when it covers an entire stadium or more, can be a massive cost. To recoup those costs, you need a number of benefits that pays for itself. The energy efficiency of LEDs is a clear benefit that can ultimately pay for itself.
LEDs draw a tiny fraction of energy compared to the other types of bulbs used in large floodlights. With every energy bill, you will save large swathes of money. The longer-lasting bulbs will, as well, save money the longer you have them installed. The sooner you switch over to LED, the sooner you can stop the expensive bleeding that is your lighting bill.
Long Life and Low Maintenance
LED light fixtures have much longer lifespans then any of the older lighting technologies. Some are rated for more than 100,000 hours. At 6 hours every night, 7 nights every week, this covers more than 45 years. In that time frame, a metal halide bulb would likely need to be replaced 8 or more times. Depending on the ballast used, they might be replaced every 2-3 years; or if you are really lucky, they might last 10 years, meaning you would still be replacing the ballast 4 times. Bulb and ballast replacement costs just add to the lifetime cost of these older technologies.
Speaking of a positive impact on your wallet, LED stadium lights are a great deal more durable and require a much lighter touch to maintain than other traditional lights
Naturally no system is without issues, especially out in the field where thousands of variables can affect things. That said, LEDs don't need intricate maintenance or frequent replacement in comparison to older lights. Still do keep an eye on surge control systems, those do need maintenance and replacing every 5-10 years. Keeping those working is more than enough to stay ahead of problems.
Dimmable
LED Stadium Lights offer simple 0-10v dimmable solutions for stadium lighting. Different events may require different lighting, even within the same venue. Some events even need different lighting over the course of the event as it progresses from dusk to full nighttime. With dimming capable lights, the ability to adjust the lighting on the fly is possible. Not only does this help provide different end results with the same light, but can also help reduce energy costs by using less power when the lights are dimmed.
Integrated Power Supply
There is no external ballast to increase the usage of energy, which makes these lights energy and cost-efficient. This also helps keep LED stadium light fixtures compact and lightweight compared to an HID stadium light. For example, a 1500-watt metal halide stadium light would likely be around 55-60 pounds, while the comparable 500 watt LED Stadium Pro Light weighs only 35 pounds, around 40% lighter.
Reducing Light Pollution
While larger, commercial stadiums are deep in the downtown areas of major cities, many other types of stadiums are in residential neighborhoods. This makes light pollution a major concern for communities that have nearby people eager to get a good night's sleep. LEDs have a drastic reduction in light pollution. The precision focus of the LEDs gives coverage where you need it, with a lot less spillover into the surrounding areas and night sky.
With LEDs, late-night games won't be shining out into the windows of nearby homes, keeping up residents and turning a supportive community against you. With sports stadiums often being a great central hub of pride for a smaller community, it is great to pay it back by keeping their own needs in mind.
Section 6 - extras
This technology can revolutionize how you deal with your stadium lights. Check out the important factors below.
Digital Control
One potent thing that people often overlook is the power of LEDs to better integrate into digital systems. 0-10v can be used with DMB boards or DALI and zigbee wirless. Digital control may seem like a small benefit, as power switches work no matter if they are digital and analog. However, digital control can become a massive benefit when you can control your lights from remote control on your personal smartphone. Digital control can also allow for insane levels of control over lighting changes. Dimming the lights by a fraction can allow you to balance the exact lighting you want and allow you to adapt to changing weather and other variables.
If you get complicated, you can also control which parts of the light system are on, allowing you to only light what you need for items like practice or maintenance.
RGB
Red, Green and blue lights can be built into stadium fixtures. They are expensive but can bring a big dimension to shows and the overall fan experience. call for quotes on those
This bird is enjoying the view on a golf course light