Solar fixtures can be a great addition to your outdoor basketball court. Thanks to LED technology, these products offer an affordable lighting system. However, you still need to consider their actual lighting capacity.
For starters, you must place the photovoltaic panel on a solid surface. More precisely, in an area where the cells will receive direct sunlight for at least eight hours per day. Each rechargeable battery also has a different capacity. So, the model type may limit your choice depending on the available stock at the time of the purchase.
Recent solar flood lights have a better design than earlier prototypes. Usually, they have a sturdy and durable case. Above all, they are reliable and mount highly efficient LED chips, which are often densely distributed. But before you buy, here is what you need to know about solar lights when it comes to lighting up a basketball game.
How to choose the best solar lights for a basketball court
Traditional solar lights did not have a rotatable design. As you can still find some old models on the market, make sure that the fixture has all the features you need. But besides the aesthetic appearance and trivial functionality, you should focus on the product spec sheet.
1. Lumen output
The first spec you need to check is the total lumen output. As you might know, the lumen (lm) value in the spec sheet describes the lamp brightness. So, the total lumen output is crucial data for calculating illuminance levels. Especially if you plan to host local basketball tournaments or competitions, including FIBA, NBA, or ABA leagues.
On average, cheap solar flood lights offer between 300 and 1,500 lm. Heavy-duty solar flood lights can reach 10,000 lm. Of course, the higher the lumen output value, the more the price rises.
Keep in mind the illuminance and lux level requirements
If you ever consulted a lighting designer, you may know that you need anywhere between 100,000 and 250,000 lm for a standard basketball court. At least, to host national and local basketball events outdoor on a 430 sq. meter playing field.
Solar lights may help you cut down the running expenses. After all, they recharge with daylight and will not be eating at your power bill. But as you should have figured it out, current models are not suitable to provide a stand-alone lighting solution. Not yet, anyway.
Without a doubt, you can put the photovoltaic panels on the light poles around the arena and lower the lights for better results. But think of solar lights as the ideal solution for cutting your electricity bill and provide secondary lighting.
2. Photovoltaic cells and battery capacity
A lot of energy comes out of the sun. In fact, that energy is thousands and thousands of times more than we need to recharge a solar battery. But to convert this energy directly into electricity, a solar light needs a photovoltaic panel.
Solar cells are materials that can take the energy coming from the sun in the form of photons. Next, they convert those photons into electricity. Of course, the battery in a solar lighting system lets you store the energy until you need it.
The active layer semiconductor contains metals on two different sides. Under the first layer, you find the packaging. Usually, it is a glass layer that prevents solar cell deterioration over time. Thanks to this gap, electrons can move inside the photovoltaic panel and generate electricity.
What battery to choose for illuminating a basketball arena?
For a standard basketball court, a 10,000 mAH large lithium-ion battery is recommendable. The higher the battery capacity, the better. Of course, the battery comes second because it is slightly less critical than the lumen output
As you can imagine, getting a bright LED solar lamp is of no use if you cannot count on an adequate battery capacity. On the other hand, if the battery lasts forever, but your lights emit an insufficient lumen amount, then you will have only wasted money.
Storage is the main limitation when it comes to solar energy. First of all, because the battery capacity is limited. Every battery has a specific capacity. Second, better battery capacity means a more prices solar lighting system or fixture. Then again, if the sky gets cloudy, the battery will not recharge as quickly. Or fully.
Choose a product that is easy to install. For high mast lighting, a model with smart controls via WiFi or Bluetooth is better. In this way, you will be able to check the battery status at any point during the day. Most apps let you control brightness, color temperature, and dimming as well.
3. High-quality LED chips
LED chips are separate microcircuits inside LED lights. To be precise, LED chips are individually located inside each LED package, plastic casing that contains up to hundreds of chips.
High-quality light with a high CRI depends on the manufacturing and quality of raw materials like phosphor. As a result, all LED chips have slightly different colors, brightness, and other characteristics.
Different manufacturers could use varying binning processes to sort and group LED chips. Simply put, not every LED lamp brand is the same. This is why an expert designer knows many lighting companies and their products.
Solar lights must use the most cost-effective LED chips available. After all, they do not need any AC power outlet. As long as the lamp emits an adequate luminous flux, you can install them on the basketball board.
Avoiding lighting pitfalls: shadows and glare
In an outdoor basketball court, you need to find the most suitable place for installing solar lights. Some coaches may prefer mounting the lights on the fence around the arena. But you may want to mount a support structure on the back-board to illuminate the key.
Imagine a player executing an in-and-out wrap behind the back to go beyond the other team’s center. If the solar lights are on the fence, the light will fall from the side. So, you will have to balance the brightness to avoid shadows. Instead, if you mount the solar light near the net, the light will fall on a larger portion of the arc. But you will have to prevent glare and discomfort vision for the shooting guard or attacking player.
