LED Outdoor Post Light
LED OUTDOOR POST LIGHT
An LED post light at the end of the driveway, a pole near the cottage entrance, a light that comes on by itself at nightfall: for a home or a small business, post lighting is first about welcoming and reassuring. LEDCO supplies the CSA certified 120V photocell, the 20W solar post fixture that installs with no trenching, grid-connected LED pole lights, bollards and low solar landscape lights, to light an entrance or a private driveway without turning the property into a parking lot.
120V Photocell: the post light that runs from dusk to dawn
A photocell turns the fixture on when daylight fades and off at sunrise. No timer to reprogram at every season, and no consumption during the day. LEDCO's 120V photocell, fixed mount with a 1/2 thread and CSA certified, can be added to an existing post light or outdoor fixture. It is the simplest photocell light fixture there is: you keep the fixture and add the cell.
On a façade, a garage entrance or the side of a house, dusk-to-dawn operation pairs well with motion-sensing outdoor LED floodlights. The base light stays low all night; the floodlight only turns on when there is movement.
20W solar post fixture: a driveway with no trenching
When the driveway is long or the wiring was never planned, digging a trench to the light pole quickly gets expensive. The 20W solar post fixture installs with no connection to the electrical panel: its solar panel recharges the battery during the day and the fixture lights up in the evening. Choose a clear location, away from the shade of trees and buildings, so it gets enough sun. Our LED solar lighting range also includes hybrid solar floodlights and a 4' solar sign fixture.
LED pole lights: the grid-connected entrance
For a business entrance, a building courtyard or a large property that already has power, our LED pole lights deliver more light than a decorative fixture. Before replacing the head of an existing pole light, check compatibility with the pole: its diameter and the load it can carry. In 4000K neutral white, the light provides good visibility while remaining welcoming, and a protection rating of IP65 at minimum is what it takes to get through our winters. For a full parking lot or a private road, see our page on LED street lights for roads and parking lots instead.
Where to place an LED post light on a residential lot
One well-placed pole often does more than a row of poorly spread fixtures. The spots that come up most often:
- At the end of the driveway: the post light marks the entrance to the lot and is seen from the street; it is the base pole.
- Near the front door: a lower post fixture or a wall pack lights the threshold and the house number.
- Along the path: evenly spaced bollards guide your steps without glare.
- In the flower beds: low solar fixtures light the shrubs and the base of the pole.
In every case, the light falls on the ground where people walk, not into the neighbour's windows. An outdoor LED post light that is too powerful for the lot creates more harsh shadows than it removes.
500LM solar bollard and 15" and 19" TULUM lights: marking the way without digging
Between the street and the door, a row of bollards traces the path and marks the edges of the driveway, the steps or a flower bed. The 500LM 4000K solar bollard installs with no wiring, so you can mark out an existing driveway without excavating it. For a hard-wired installation, the LED outdoor bollards category groups our other models.
Near the house, low fixtures complement the pole light by lighting the flower beds and the base of the shrubs. The 19-inch TULUM solar LED light and its 15-inch version run on solar power, with no wire. For a hard-wired circuit, see our LED landscaping range.
LED wall packs and recessed lights: when there is no pole
If the existing pole is in poor condition or there never was one, an LED wall pack mounted on the façade or a garage offers a sturdier solution. The 9W-12W-15W doorway LED wall pack lights a door or a step, and the solar models, available in 15W and in a 20W mini version, avoid any wiring. Under a canopy, LED recessed lights complete the setup by lighting the doorstep.
Technical tips for an LED post light
The photocell watches the sky, not the neighbour. Have it installed on the most open side, away from the light of another fixture, otherwise it thinks it is daytime.
Check the pole before changing the head. Diameter, condition of the base and allowable load: a fixture heavier than the old one sometimes calls for a new pole.
A solar fixture needs direct sun. A panel in the shade of a maple or a gable recharges poorly; move the pole a few feet.
Stay with 4000K neutral white around an entrance. It is the tone that gives the best visibility without the cold feel of a parking lot.
120 V goes through the electrician. The photocell, the wall pack and the pole light are permanently connected; the solar fixture, on the other hand, installs with no connection at all.
Outdoor LED post light FAQ
How does a photocell work on an LED post light?
The cell measures ambient light: when daylight fades, it closes the circuit and the fixture turns on; at sunrise, it opens it and everything goes off. The 120V photocell screws onto a 1/2 thread and is wired ahead of the fixture by an electrician.
Does a solar pole light stay on all night in winter?
It all depends on the sun the panel receives during the day. A clear spot, with no shade from a tree or a building, gives the best run time; a panel covered in snow recharges little. For an entrance that must stay lit all night, the grid-connected fixture with a photocell remains the safe bet.
Can I replace only the head of an existing light pole?
Often, yes, and it is the most economical way to switch to LED. You first need to measure the diameter of the pole and check its condition, because a new head does not necessarily have the same weight or the same mounting as the old one.
What is the difference between a post light and a bollard?
The post light shines from above and covers an area: the entrance, the yard. The bollard shines low and guides: it marks the edge of the driveway, the steps, a change in level. The two complement each other.
What protection rating does an outdoor fixture need in Quebec?
IP65 at minimum for a fixture exposed to rain, snow and frost; our post fixtures, wall packs and bollards are made to stay outside year-round. If in doubt, contact LEDCO with a photo of the entrance and the length of the driveway: an advisor will guide you to the right post light, photocell or solar solution.
