Parking lot lighting requires much more than just illumination; it's a complex interplay of safety, functional, legal, and commercial needs. Most countries and regions have explicit building codes and public safety regulations that mandate lighting in public spaces like parking lots.

Parking lot lightingtypically needs to be energy-efficient because the lights operate for extended periods, especially at night. Solar power is an excellent option, saving on electricity costs while being environmentally friendly. Motion sensors can further reduce energy consumption by illuminating the lights only when vehicles or pedestrians are present, minimizing unnecessary energy consumption.

High-efficiency solar panels are essential. Considering the size of the parking lot, multiple lights may be necessary, each with its own independent solar system, or a centralized power supply, although a distributed approach may offer more flexibility. The charging controller must prevent overcharging and over-discharging to extend battery life. The battery capacity must be sufficient to support operation on cloudy or rainy days; calculating daily power consumption may be necessary to select the appropriate capacity.

Why are motion sensor-equipped parking lot lights so popular?

Because they cleverly solve a series of core pain points in traditional parking lot lighting, achieving an intelligent upgrade to "on-demand lighting." Commonly used sensors include pin-infrared (PIR) sensors or microwave radar sensors. PIR sensors are low-cost, but their detection range may be limited and they are easily affected by temperature; radar sensors have a wider detection range and stronger anti-interference capabilities, but are more expensive. Appropriate sensors need to be selected based on the parking lot environment, such as whether small animals frequently pass by, potentially triggering false alarms.

For the lighting itself, LED lights are the first choice because of their high brightness and energy efficiency. The power and brightness of the LEDs need to be determined to ensure sufficient illumination of parking spaces without causing light pollution. The protection rating of the luminaires may also need to be considered, such as IP65 or higher, to adapt to outdoor environments.

The control circuit is the core, needing to process sensor signals, control the switching of the lights, and manage solar charging and battery discharge. Microcontrollers such as Arduino or ESP32 can be programmed to achieve intelligent control, such as adjusting brightness gradually to avoid sudden on/off states, or automatically adjusting LED brightness based on ambient light intensity, turning off during the day and activating only in darkness.

For installation, the height and angle of the solar light poles need to be optimized to ensure effective sensor coverage and avoid blind spots. The solar panels should face the sun; in the Northern Hemisphere, they typically face south, with the tilt angle adjusted according to latitude. The structural design must be wind-resistant, and the materials rust-proof, suitable for long-term outdoor use.

Network connectivity may also need to be considered, such as transmitting the status of each light to a management center via LoRa or WiFi for real-time monitoring of faults or battery status, facilitating maintenance. However, this would increase cost and complexity, requiring a trade-off.