The average person may not give lighting arms much thought, despite passing by light poles in your day to day life – whether it’s at a park, in a parking lot, or on your way home as you drive past each light post. However, light pole arms and bracket fixtures are essential in open public areas; this includes perform certain tasks, ranging from operating a vehicle to working construction and electrical maintenance jobs at night.
Mounting brackets onto light poles extends the range of brightness that LED lights cover, while also securing the light fixture into place. This method is recommended to ensure safety, reliability, and proper lighting in general.
In this article, we will dive deep into the types of lighting arms and brackets used on light poles, while providing information on how these parts play an important role in enhancing everyday light sources used by the public.
Finding Pole Mount Designs to Meet Your Performance Needs
When mounting brackets for poles, there are certain specifications that must be met, including height, diameter, material, state and municipal rules, industry standards for different lines of work.
Bracket Sizing
Fun fact about pole brackets: a 2-inch pipe is actually 2 and ⅜ inch OD and a 1-inch and a quarter pipe is actually 1 and ⅝ inch OD! When it comes to finding the right bracket length, it’s essential to factor in how far the pole is from where the light must be. Light pole placements can differ based on geographic location with varying state mandated regulations where light poles sit. For example, certain states like South Carolina install poles further from the road, which would require an 8 or 10 foot arm to reach the street. When considering size to mount brackets, the diameter is also important, and can be determined by the fixture of the light used.
Arm and Brackets Materials
Arms and brackets can be made using different materials, but the most popular light pole brackets are built using aluminum and galvanized steel. Aluminum is lightweight and non-corrosive. Aluminum is a recommended material to help protect against hazardous risks.
Industry Standards for Lighting Brackets
Industry standards differ based on municipality guidelines, state restrictions, and safety protocols amongst construction and electrical labor unions. This article’s FAQ section will discuss the different types of brackets, what they're commonly used for, and suggestions for best installation practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Mount a Light to a Pole?
This is dependent on the type of light pole installed, the light fixture and what type of bracket or arm is needed. A wood light pole, which is used for electrical utility purposes and to create a flood area light effect, is actually made out of steel or aluminum. This type of extender is mounted to a wood pole by bolting the bracket 20 feet up the pole.
There are also different methods of mounting brackets and how they can be attached to different surfaces. Wall mounts are common amongst large commercial businesses. These are often installed onto the sides of bigger warehouses like Amazon and UPS. This style of mount bracket is used for flood lighting rather than putting up light poles.
What are the Most Common Mounting Arms and Brackets?
- A Bullhorn bracket is commonly used in places where bright lighting is needed, such as flood lighting or sport courts or car dealerships to illuminate these spaces at night
- Upsweep arms, which are typically mounted to light posts that line streets and highways, or brackets on light poles that surround airports
- Flood Light Brackets are specifically designed to support light poles and LED flood light fixtures
What Considerations Should Be Made When Buying Light Pole Arms & Brackets?
Weather conditions such as strong winds, tornado regions, and coastal areas affected by hurricanes should be factors when searching for the right equipment to support outdoor light poles. Different materials are used to accommodate specific needs. Steel brackets, for example, are strong and used for durability while aluminum is lightweight, flexible, and resistant to corrosion.
What Types of Light Pole Mounting Arms Are There?
Cross arms are also frequently installed onto wooden poles that support power lines. When sourcing material for high risk structures such as this, it’s recommended to use aluminum or steel brackets. Tenon Arms can also clamp onto wooden poles, as well as steel poles.
Spoke brackets are usually installed onto light poles within commercial spaces, like the outside of a strip mall or parking lot. This type of part is available as a single arm or as many as four arms on a fixture, allowing customers to optimize their brightness needs by choosing a fixture that supports 2-4 lights on it. Spoke brackets are mounted on a tenon on top of the light pole.
What Types of Light Pole Bracket Designs Exist?
Elliptical brackets have a sleek design and are more costly. They exist in high end residential communities and commercial utility environments. Elliptical brackets are generally found in Gulf Coast states like Florida, and they are made to withstand hurricanes and strong coastal weather. The pipes are made from lightweight, durable, non-conductive aluminum.
Cantilever brackets are often found in municipalities. This style of arm is typically common in older neighborhoods that have been around since the 1950s and are generally added as a mounted bracket onto a city’s street lights. The light poles installed in these areas are poles made for above ground use, so they rely on cantilever arms to fit the current style rather than updating these foundations to underground light poles – which comes at a high cost.
Cantilever brackets attach onto steel or aluminum poles, and can adapt to a variety of light fixtures. These extenders also come in a range of sizes. You can even mount shorter 30-inch cantilevers to a pole for wifi, using smart grid utilities to manage routers and wifi outages.
Wrap around brackets fall under a category of light pole mounting brackets which is commonly found in utility and commercial spaces, such as electrical lighting work. These reinforcements wrap around any kind of pole – whether it’s steel, wood, or concrete poles – and are mounted onto light posts to accommodate any light fixture.
In Conclusion:
We’ve discussed how to mount brackets to a light pole or wall, suggested materials, environmental factors that should be considered when researching light pole brackets, the different types of extenders, and the spaces that these arms and brackets are commonly used in. You have the tools and knowledge to get you started! To learn more from the lighting professionals, or to invest in mounting brackets for your commercial lighting needs, click here.