Retrofit Fast: Wall Pack LEDs

Working on projects during this time of year can be expensive. Customers expect their residences and parking lots to look good for an affordable cost. That is why you should focus on energy efficiency and savings during projects.

One of the best ways to be efficient while saving is through retrofitting. Retrofitting is a way to add to existing equipment without having to remove the entire fixture. This is very helpful especially for wall packs.

Retrofitting upgrades the existing equipment without having to remove the entire fixture. Retrofitting is especially useful when renovating wall pack and parking lot lighting systems.

If you are working on outdoor projects, this blog is for you! The blog goes over retrofitting LED outdoor Wall Packs and why they are so helpful.

Retrofitting combines old and new by adding new technology to a space. This can be done without replacing the whole structure. By retrofitting, you can work to bring buildings and residences up to code. It also helps to reduce the amount of waste associated with a complete renovation.

Types of Retrofitting Explained:

There are multiple types of retrofitting including:

• Energy Retrofitting: Improves energy efficiency and performance
• Structural Retrofitting: Strengthens or increases fixture integrity
• Safety Retrofitting: Ensures code compliance and protects against weather
• Functional Retrofitting:Adds new capabilities to the fixture (i.e. motion sensors, daylight harvesting)

Once you can determine the retrofit you need, you can proceed from there. For LED Wall Packs, you can retrofit to improve energy performance or bring the fixture up to code compliance standards.

Why Retrofit in Winter?

1. Reduced work disruptions: Retrofit kits require less effort to install. This is especially helpful in the snow, ice, and freezing conditions of winter.
2. Immediate energy savings: LED retrofits deliver 60 to 89% more energy reduction than outdate HID systems.
3. Better performance in cold: LED technology works perfectly in low temperatures and delivers full brightness instantly.
4. Lower waste, lower cost: You reuse existing housings and reduce material waste by avoiding a full fixture replacement.
5. Faster payback over long nights: With longer winter nights, energy savings build faster. Ultimately accelerating the return on investment.

Deciding whether to retrofit or replace your commercial wall pack light is very important. Some things to consider when making this decision include:

• Labor & Time
• Conditions of the fixture
Material Cost
• Wiring

Labor & Time

Retrofit LED Kits require less time to install than a full replacement. Replacing a fixture requires new mounting, wiring, and possibly even a new conduit. As a result, retrofitting dozens of fixtures is much faster than replacing them all.

Material Cost

On average, retrofit light material cost less than the total cost of replacing a fixture. Full replacement requires the purchase of the new fixture and possible new mounting, rewiring, and specialized installation equipment.

Condition of the fixture

Wall pack light fixtures that are in good condition typically do not need much repair. This means that they can go through the retrofitting process. Retrofitting only works if the existing fixture is in good structural condition. On the other hand, replacement works even if the old fixture was heavily damaged.

Wiring

Retrofits wire minimal wiring changes during installation. This could make them more ideal in scenarios where rewiring is too costly. Replacements could require major wiring changes since the wiring might need updating before installing the new fixture.

If your fixtures are aging, rusted, or have structural damage, replacement might be necessary. For solid housings, retrofitting let you get results faster, especially in bulk.

Modern LED wall packs often include advanced control options to maximize efficiency, safety, and reliability. This is especially important under winter conditions. Key features to highlight:

• Selectable lumen / adjustable wattages (great for security lighting)
• Dusk?to?dawn (photocell) built in
• Motion sensors / bi?level dimming
• Optional cold?rated battery backup (for outages in freezing weather)

MaxLite’s 40-100W Cutoff Wall Pack will brighten your workspace, parking lot, or large facade. It comes equipped with a negative 20 Celsius battery backup. This will help when the battery goes out.

Shop MaxLite’s LED Wall Packs today to fulfill all the outdoor needs.

Other product offerings include:

• ILP Lighting's 40W LED Adjustable Slim Wall Pack
• MaxLite's 70W Full Cut-Off LED Wall Pack & Sensor

Having more adjustable options allows the customer to adjust to their preferences!

LED Wall Packs and occupancy sensors are perfect together, buy now to save even more energy this season!

Before retrofitting commercial LED Wall Packs, it is important to understand the code compliance requirements. Before you spec a retrofit job, keep these standards in mind:

• National Electrical Code (NEC): Follow the NEC for best practices of wiring, circuit loads, and grounding.
• UL?1598C: Required for LED retrofit kits installed in existing luminaires. This standard certifies that a product meets safety and performance requirements for retrofitted fixtures after testing.
• DLC Standard & DLC Premium: Guidelines for energy efficiency and light quality. DLC standard products need to increase light quality, controllability and energy efficiency. DLC Premium has stricter metrics to meet, meaning higher efficiency and better light quality.

Make sure each retrofit product is UL?1598C rated and, when possible, DLC?listed. That ensures acceptance in utility rebate programs and builds trust with commercial buyers.

Look for other energy codes to stay up to date on your project!

Retrofit kits can be expensive depending on the kit you choose. On top of the expensive equipment that you will need to take apart the wall pack. Over time you can get your investment back through energy savings.

To determine your true return:

• Calculate energy use of the existing system (watts x hours x cost of electricity)

Old Fixture Wattage x Hours per Day / 1000 = Old Daily Energy Use (kWh)

• Calculate energy use of the LED system (watts x hours x cost of electricity)

LED Fixture Wattage x Hours per Day / 1000 = New Daily Energy Use (kWh)

• Subtract new energy use from old energy use to find daily kilowatt-hour savings

Old Daily Use - New Daily Use = Daily Energy Savings (kWh)

• Multiply by the electricity rate and days to get total savings

Daily kWh Savings x Electricity Rate x 365 = Annual Savings

• Divide total cost of retrofit by annual saving to find payback period

Cost of Retrofit Kit / Annual Energy Savings = Payback Period

Installing the wall packs are a great way to introduce lighting to your area. However, during the installation there are things to avoid.

• Avoid glare and over-lighting. Glares cause visual discomfort and visibility issues. This leads to eye strain and safety hazards like accidents. Use proper lensing and distribution to protect visibility and reduce light pollution.
• Seal all drilled holes carefully to prevent water ingress. Water ingress can lead to corrosion, rot, or mold.
• Test for flicker or power surges. Loose or weak wiring can cause flickering or failure during hot or cold weather voltages. Loose connections can lead to fires or electrocution.
• Use proper torque on mounting hardware. Temperatures expand and contract fixtures in winter, so securing mounting is crucial in avoiding damage.

Being aware of these challenges will help you during the installation.

Retrofitting LED Wall Packs and mini wall packs is a fast and quick way to change a building's lighting. While it may take time to retrofit, the benefits will help you make money in the long term!

Need backup heating for unconditioned workspaces? Pair your Wall Pack upgrade with our electric unit heaters or space heaters to stay warm AND productive.

Don’t miss out on our Winter Promo which ends Jan 31st!