Do you ever wonder why LED lighting is a big hit in the lighting world? Many people are shifting their inclination from traditional light sources to LEDs. Well, it is simple! LEDs last longer than conventional energy-guzzling bulbs. Additionally, they give adequate light in otherwise dark areas, such as in tunnels and underpasses.
Today, many engineers are opting for LED tunnel lights because of the benefits they offer. That said, let us now dig deeper and get to know all about tunnel lights and how to choose the right ones. Read on.
What are LED Tunnel Lights?
LED tunnel lights are a particular type of lighting designed to provide the necessary lighting in tunnels and underpasses. The tunnel lights often come in either square or rounded shapes, with four bulbs per unit. Due to their design, you can install them on the ceiling of tunnels and other dark areas, such as underpasses. Further, you can also attach them to walls like traditional track lights.
Benefits of LED Tunnel Lights
There is so much that LEDs have to offer. As a result, many prefer to install these lights in the tunnels. When compared to traditional light sources, LED tunnel lights offer numerous advantages. Let’s have a look at a few of them:
- Longer Life Span– LED tunnel lights provide a much longer lifespan than traditional incandescent bulbs. The combination of sturdy construction, high-power LED chips, and robust driver circuitry allows for an average working life span of 20 years.
- Lower Energy Consumption– Thanks to the new LED technology, these lights use only a fraction of the electricity needed to run their older counterparts. They can help reduce your carbon footprint while saving you a lot of money on monthly electrical bills.
- They can save you a whopping 50%-60% electricity cost compared to traditional light sources.
- Higher returns– LED tunnel lights offer high returns on investment due to their low operating costs and long life span. On average, the ROI is about five years with an energy savings of over USD2 000 per year.
- Less maintenance– You do not need to worry about the frequent replacement of the tunnel lights because LED lights last longer.
- For example, you can expect your LED tunnel lights to last at least 40,000 hours or up to 15 years which could cut your maintenance costs by 95%.
- Greater safety– With one bulky halogen lamp attached on top of each other inside a small confined space, traveling in tight spaces is dangerous and very unpleasant. However, with LEDs installed, there is no need for bulky lamps that are hazardous if they fall apart while you’re driving through them. Instead, LEDs are durable and produce bright white light that improves visibility inside tunnels.
- Better light quality– One of the most obvious advantages of LED lighting is the light it produces. They produce better quality light than halogen lamps, such as white and vibrant colors. You cannot compare the light output with the yellowish or brownish color emitted by halogen lamps.
- Produce less heat– Compared to other lights, LEDs also produce less heat and last longer. As a result, they are more environment-friendly than standard lighting options.
- Easy to install– One of the best aspects of LED lights is their easy installation. You can reduce installation time by 50% due to its plug-and-play feature.
Other than that, most LED lights come with an easy install manual for those who need extra guidance.
So next time you travel through a tunnel, look up, and you might just see one of these brilliant LED lights shining bright on top of your head.
Types of LED Tunnel Lights
It is important to understand the different types of LED tunnel lights that you can install. There are different zones in a tunnel, all of which require a specific amount of brightness. Note that the light you install in each zone will depend on the amount of illumination needed at that point.
The three common types of LED tunnel lights include LED wall packs, canopy lights, and vapor-tight fixtures. Let us now get a better understanding of each one of them.
- LED-Wall Packs: The installation of this type of lighting is very fast and easy. All you have to do is place it on a wall or surface. These lights are used mainly in tunnels for a safe drive. With a rating of IP65, they are completely waterproof and shockproof, which makes them perfect for any harsh environment.
Furthermore, the LED wall pack light system has high-end technology that makes it easy for drivers to see the lighting even in bad weather conditions.
- LED canopy lights: These lights are also a perfect choice for tunnel lighting. They are installed on the ceiling of the tunnel to make sure it is well lit, and drivers can maneuver well without any problem.
The canopy lights have a rating of IP65 which means that they can withstand water and dust. Moreover, the lights are shockproof, which means they can last long without any damage or repair.
- Vapor tight fixture– You can use these fixtures where there is a risk of water seepage. They are small and compact housings with a rating of IP65. So much so, they can handle the high pressure and flow conditions inside a tunnel. Also, they have a clear lens, which helps in distributing the light evenly inside the tunnel.
How to Choose LED Tunnel Lights
With seemingly endless options of the LED tunnel lights, it is sometimes difficult to choose the right LED lights. Below are some of the things you need to consider when choosing LED tunnel lights;
1. Power output
The first thing you need to look at when buying the LED tunnel lights is the power output. The power output will determine how bright the light is.
2. Brightness
When you enter a dark tunnel, your eyes take time to adjust, and then they can see what’s happening. This is what we call adaptive lag. A black hole will form if there isn’t enough light throughout this transition. The black hole phenomenon means that the drivers will not be able to see clearly hence posing a great risk.
Several factors determine the brightness of LED tunnel lights at the entrance. Some of them include how bright it is outside, how fast cars are driving through your tunnel, and what kind of field view they have when entering.
3. Uniformity
You cannot understate the importance of uniformity when it comes to lighting in a tunnel. Uniformity provides a better visual effect for drivers who are driving through the tunnel. Furthermore, it drastically reduces accident rates by providing ample contrast between what is ahead versus behind.
4. Anti-glare
When choosing the tunnel lights, you will need to find the ones that have an anti-glare feature. This means that the light will not hurt the drivers’ eyes when they drive through the tunnel. Moreover, anti-glare LED lights provide drivers and motorists with comfortable driving experiences.
5. Special optic design
A special optic design ensures a balance of light so that the drivers have a clear view through the tunnel while not being blinded by the lights.
6. Waterproof Rate
Because of the complex environment in the tunnel, it is best to choose at least IP65 waterproof rated lamps to ensure that the lamps can work stably for a long time.
7. Warranty
A warranty protects your investment while ensuring top-notch quality for all parts included in the package. Usually, dealers offer 30-day or 1-year warranties. This is to protect customers against any unforeseen problems that might arise within this period.
So much so, make sure your chosen seller offers some kind of warranty before you purchase their products.
8. Design
LED tunnel lights come in different shapes and designs. The design of the lights that you will choose to install on the tunnel will depend on what you want and how much light you require in the tunnel.
9. Electricity
Before installing any lighting system in a high-traffic area such as a road, it requires thorough calculations. This is to ensure that it will not interfere with the lights of vehicles or electricity grids.
10. Duration of Operation
The working duration of your LED tunnel lights depends on their size and output. The larger the power output and its capacity, the more hours they will last without requiring maintenance or recharges.
Now that you have an idea of choosing the proper tunnel lights for your needs, let us look at how to design the layout of LED tunnel lights.
Layout Design of LED tunnel lights
How you design the tunnel lights layout is important, so you will need to read this section carefully. Here is a step-by-step guide to help make the process much easier.
- Get the measurement of the length and width of your tunnel
- Determine the spacing required between lights- Getting the spacing right ensures that there is brightness uniformity throughout the tunnel.
- Mounting LED lights under overhead structures- When mounting the tunnel lights, the last thing you want is them falling off after installation, so it’s best to get it right the first time.
Some of the best ways to mount the tunnel LED lights to include;
- Mounting on top
- Mounting on two sides
- Mounting on one side
Remember that the style of mounting will depend on many factors such as the size of the tunnel, brightness of the lights, and so on. Our experts at RC lighting can help you get the right measurements and also do the installation for you.
Tunnel Lighting Zones
There are five main lighting zones in a tunnel: the access zone, the threshold one, the transition zone, the interior zone, and the escape route zone. Let us look at each one of them.
- Access zone– this zone is usually marked with yellow markers. It is closest to the entrance of the tunnel. Additionally, it usually has several lights running along its length. These lights provide good lighting in case anyone enters the tunnel during low light conditions.
- Threshold zone– this zone lies just before you enter into the main body of the tunnel, where all the lighting systems are in place. These lighting systems in a tunnel ensure is enough visibility even in areas with blind spots, like around corners or at crests.
- Transition zone– It lies after the threshold zone and before any other zones like interior, escape routes, etc.
In this zone, drivers move smoothly from one movement plane to another without any risks involved.
- Interior zone– It is the largest zone and is the brightest. Vehicular traffic moves smoothly here as there are enough lights to help the drivers see around them. There are no shadows present here which can create hazards for drivers.
- Exit zone– This is where vehicles move out of the roadways and enter into escape routes. This zone is also highly illuminated and has enough visibility for drivers exiting to take final decisions like turning or changing lanes.
Making Sure You Get the Best Deal on Your New LEDs
Changing the tunnel lighting up from the traditional light sources to the LEDs can increase visibility. It does this by giving good quality of light and increased life. It also helps in reducing power consumption.
You, therefore, need to shop around and look out for the best prices for you to get the best deal. How can you do this? Read on to find out.
- Enter a good website, which can give you competitive pricing of LEDs and various other options. This will, in turn, help you choose the right product for your business while shopping.
- You also need to check the quality offered by such websites or companies before purchasing products from them. This is so as it will help in giving long-term service and better lighting conditions inside the tunnel.
- Make sure that they provide the latest products at affordable prices
- Look out for return policies and ensure that there is a replacement warranty on defective products.
- Check if they offer customized solutions or not
Conclusion
Here at RC lighting, we offer our clients complete peace of mind because we have the most reliable and efficient team of experts. Our team will ensure that you get high-quality products within your budget. We guarantee you that you will get the best LED tunnel lights.
Furthermore, we also have a strong team of proficient engineers who take care of every aspect related to the LED lights. From product designing to its installation, you can trust us with the job.
You can check our website for further information and the latest updates. You can also reach us via mail or chat with our customer service executives online to know more about our quality products and services.
