Lighting Design for Substations
Get Your Custom Lighting Plan With Product Recommendations
Includes up to 8% off the price of our recommended lighting products What to Expect When Requesting a Lighting Plan
A Lighting Expert Reviews Your Request
We Follow Up to Gather Project Details
Custom Lighting Plan With Product Recommendations is Created
Review and Approve Your Lighting Design
Purchase the Recommended Products
Dedicated Sales Support
Every lighting plan comes with a dedicated product specialist, providing personalized service and expert advice for your project needs.
How long does it take to get a plan?
1-2 for indoor and 2-3 days for outdoor projects
Our Customers
CBRE needed high quality lighting for their customer, with stock available for ongoing projects.
Customer had an urgent need for high temperature lights. We had them in stock & shipped out next day.
Poor lighting caused parking lot safety issues for spectators. Our lighting plan & new lights resulted in an improved experience.
Customer needed to source large quantities of specialty fixtures for use in their manufactured products.
Tracy Electric was seeking a reliable source for ongoing lighting projects.
Distributors partner with us to provide customers a high quality product at a reasonable price.
Repeat lighting supplier for an electrical contractor working in manufacturing facilities.
Permanent tent lighting for large acrobatics facility. Our lighting plan & recommendations resulted in ideal performer & spectator safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Lighting Design for Substations?
A lighting design for substations is a comprehensive lighting plan that maps the physical layout and strategically positions fixtures throughout the space. The design includes 3D modeling of equipment that could block light paths and calculates precise illumination levels. We ensure uniform light distribution across critical work areas while accounting for shadows from transformers, switches, and other substation components.
What is the Ideal Lighting Layout for a Substation?
The ideal layout positions fixtures to deliver NECA-recommended light levels while minimizing shadows around critical equipment. We typically recommend perimeter mounting with fixtures aimed inward to reduce glare for operators. Multiple fixture zones allow selective lighting during routine inspections versus full illumination for maintenance work.
What are the Typical Substation Lighting Standards?
Substation lighting follows IEEE and NECA guidelines requiring minimum 5-10 foot candles for general areas and up to 50 foot candles for detailed work zones. The lighting must provide safe working conditions and adequate security illumination. We recommend supplementing area lighting with portable task lighting for precision work on specific equipment.
How Many Lumens Do I Need to Light up a Substation?
Calculate 5-10 lumens per square foot for general substation areas, equivalent to 5-10 foot candles of illumination. Critical work areas require 50+ lumens per square foot for detailed maintenance tasks. A typical 100′ x 100′ substation needs approximately 50,000-100,000 total lumens distributed across multiple fixtures.
What Will a Lighting Plan Show Me?
Our lighting plans display precise foot candle measurements throughout your substation using color-coded illumination maps. You’ll see exactly where shadows fall from equipment and identify any dark spots below 5 foot candles. The plan includes fixture locations, mounting heights, and beam angles optimized for your specific layout.
What Type of Fixtures Work Best for Substation Lighting?
We recommend LED flood lights rated for outdoor electrical environments with excellent heat dissipation. Choose fixtures with Type III or Type V distributions for optimal coverage patterns. All fixtures must be UL Listed for wet locations and rated for the electrical classification of your substation area.
How Do You Handle Lighting Around High Voltage Equipment?
Fixtures near high voltage equipment require minimum clearance distances specified by electrical codes and utility standards. We position lighting to maintain safe working distances while providing adequate illumination for equipment inspection. Indirect lighting techniques help illuminate high voltage areas without compromising safety clearances.
What Color Temperature is Best for Substation Applications?
We recommend 4000K to 5000K color temperature for optimal visibility during equipment inspections and maintenance work. This range provides excellent color rendering for identifying wire colors and equipment conditions. All LED fixtures should maintain 70+ CRI for accurate color perception in critical electrical work.
Can Substation Lighting Be ControlLED or Dimmed?
Modern LED substation lighting supports zone control and dimming for energy efficiency and operational flexibility. We can integrate photocell controls for automatic dusk-to-dawn operation and motion sensors for security applications. Manual override switches ensure full illumination is available when needed for maintenance work.
How Long Do LED Substation Fixtures Last?
Quality LED substation fixtures provide 50,000+ hour lifespan in outdoor electrical environments when properly specified. This translates to 15-20 years of operation with minimal maintenance compared to traditional lighting. Choose fixtures with L70 ratings that maintain 70% of initial output throughout their rated life.
Sample Substation Lighting Plan and Heatmap
