Solar lighting systems provide security and illumination in needed areas when grid power is unattainable or costly to bring to a site. It is also great in applications where a company is looking for a grid alternative to showcase their green initiative, or for companies looking to get LEED points for a new project installation.   

  With the increase of natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and blizzards, off grid solar lighting systems can improve the security of an area since the lights do not rely on utility grid for operation. During most natural disasters, the utility grid can become compromised and fail. Solar outdoor lights can be used to generate light for these areas and provide added security during these downtimes.

  So you are looking to purchase and install a solar lighting system; however, you now have to decide if you should source a pole locally or get the one that the manufacturer can provide with the system. Poles sourced locally are typically lower in cost, and using existing poles on a job can lower the costs even more. BUT there are many differences between standard light poles and poles that are manufactured to deal with the added weight and EPA of the solar power assembly, most of which is typically mounted at the top of the pole.  

  Part 4 of the solar lighting design guide is about choosing mounting hardware. SEPCO solar power assemblies come standard with a 45° / 5° mounting bracket and battery assembly mounting; however, fixtures require mounting in all types of arrangements. Also, pole types need to be determined and assessed for the project.

EPA stands for Effective Projected Area and is used in many applications, including solar lighting system design, construction and installation. The EPA is calculated to help determine the strength of the pole needed to provide support to the solar lighting system during wind events. This calculation takes into consideration the entire area that the solar power system and light fixture will take up at the top of a pole and helps manufacturers determine the size of pole, the type of anchors used, the embedment and foundations used at installation, and the types of brackets required to keep everything mounted during a high wind event.