Retrofitting Your Wall Packs to LEDs
Mounting wall packs to exterior walls is a great way to increase visibility and security around your building. You are likely to see wall packs in commercial spaces, like entryways, pedestrian paths, and parking lots. Their compact, robust designs make wall packs ideal options for outdoor lighting applications.
Most wall packs offered now have LED technology for its significant advantages over traditional incandescent and fluorescent bulbs. However, if you already have traditional wall packs, you can still upgrade them with minimal cost and disruption. For lights that are brighter, longer lasting, and more durable, consider retrofitting your wall packs to LEDs.
A Quick Wall Pack Guide
A wall pack is a lighting fixture that mounts on the outsides of buildings to illuminate a large area. Their durable casings allow them to withstand extreme temperatures and various outdoor elements. While commercial LED wall packs are more common, you can also see them in residential areas.
Wall packs differentiate themselves by the beam angle of the light they emit. Most wall packs have beam angles between 90 to 140 degrees, which means that the light can emit over wide and very wide spans. Depending on the shape of the fixture, the angle of light will cast in different ways. The four main types of wall pack fixtures are:
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Forward Throw
Forward throw wall packs distribute light in a forward and outward direction. They are ideal for lighting outdoor public spaces that require visibility for safety and security. You will often see forward throw fixtures illuminating parking lots, courtyards, and park areas.
Full Cutoff
These fixtures only distribute light downward and eliminate any upward lighting. Because they do not shine light upward, they lessen contributions to light pollution. They focus light on a specific area, making them ideal for illuminating small to medium sized areas. You might use full cutoff LED wall packs to wash the sides of buildings, illuminate signage or narrow walkways.
Semi-Cutoff
These fixtures fall in between forward throw and full cutoff wall packs. They distribute light at a downward angle and partially eliminate upward light. The semi-cutoff casing also keeps light from distributing too far from the mounting area. Semi-cutoff wall packs are ideal for lighting medium-sized areas such as entryways, sidewalks, and building perimeters.
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Up and Down
These fixtures have unique designs that distribute light directly up or directly down. Up and down wall packs are better for smaller applications like accent and display lighting. You would likely use these fixtures for more aesthetic designs rather than for security lighting.
LED Upgrade Options
Retrofitting
Retrofitting refers to the process of converting an existing metal halide light fixture to LED. Since LED bulbs have become the leading choice for modern lighting, manufacturers have created a way to upgrade traditional fixtures to LED without the hassle of complete replacement. Retrofit kits refit just the interior components of your current fixture with upgraded LED technology.
Retrofitting, as opposed to replacing, has many benefits. It allows you to keep the fixtures you already have while also getting the improved light quality of LEDs. Installation difficulty and cost is significantly lower, and some retrofit kits even have DIY capabilities. Once you've retrofitted to LEDs, you will see increases in energy savings, visibility, and lifespan of your wall packs.
LED wall pack retrofit kits come in many forms, but one of the most common is the LED corn bulb. These bulbs come with either an E26 or an E39 screw base and install the same way as a traditional incandescent lightbulb would. Browse our selection of LED corn bulbs here.
Most wall packs are capable of being retrofit, but always check with the manufacturer to verify compatibility before purchasing.
Replacing the fixture
If you’re not concerned with keeping the aesthetics of your fixtures, you can fully replace them with new LED wall packs. While replacements do require more costly and labor-intensive installations, they also provide long-term benefits. Because the fixtures are brand new, you will likely need to do less maintenance over time. It also eliminates the concern of LED retrofits being faulty or incompatible with the fixtures.
Something to keep in mind when replacing your wall packs is wattage equivalents. LED bulbs emit brighter light with using less energy, making them more energy efficient than metal halide bulbs. To make sure you emulate the same wattage as your previous lamps with your new LEDs, consult the wattage conversion table below.
We always recommend consulting a professional contractor or electrician when replacing large fixtures. However, if you are doing it yourself, some tools that may help in the process include:
HomElectrical's selection of LED wall pack lights are the perfect lighting solutions for your commercial project. Whether you're retrofitting or replacing, you're sure to find quality, compatible LED lighting for all your needs.
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