Manufacturer and distributor of technical lighting products Beka has introduced a new energy efficient light-emitting diode (LED) streetlight, which is specifically designed for use on South African roads.

The Beka LEDlume is locally designed and developed by Beka for the functional lighting of roads where energy savings, low maintenance and precise light control are important factors. All components are locally manufactured except for the LED chip, which is imported from Germany.

Beka MD Johann Schleritzko says the product can provide energy savings of up to 70%.

“Energy consumption is of concern to all South Africans as electricity becomes more expensive and pressure on all industries to go green increases. The streetlight is initially more expensive than conventional streetlights, but the customer will enjoy significant savings in the long run,” he says.

One of the optional features, which can make this product even more energy efficient, is a daylight switch. “The daylight switch uses a downward-directed sensor to sense the ambient lighting level, and switch the luminaire on or off accordingly. This enables authorities to keep supply cables live at all times,” he adds.

A stand-alone incorporated dimmer dims lighting levels according to the customer’s requirements, further reducing energy consumption.

Further, the product is specifically designed for South African class A3, A4 and class B suburban roads and, unlike other streetlights, it illuminates a wider area along the sidewalks in residential suburbs.

The luminaire body is manufactured from LM6 aluminium alloy, which is the most corrosion-resistant alloy available, making it suitable for use along the South African coastline.

In addition, the luminaire can withstand temperatures of up to 35 °C.

“The LED and the control gear are separated to ensure that the LEDs do not overheat. We have also designed a short thermal path between the heat source and the outside, as well as an optimised external heat exchange surface to avoid accidental overheating,” says Schleritzko.

He adds that a specially coded access screw makes the luminaire tamper-proof, preventing access to the luminaire and ensuring that it cannot be removed from the pole spigot.

It adheres to specifications set out in South African National Standards (SANS) 100098 and it bears the SANS 60598 mark for luminaire compliance, as well as ISO 9001 certification. The product also recently received its patent application numbers 2011/07074 and 2011/04836 from the South African Patents Office.

Schleritzko says that, even though the Beka LEDlume is not currently designed for use on highways, the company is confident that rapid future LED technology improvements will make LED lighting for highways and main roads a viable economical solution, in future.

Meanwhile, the streetlight can be used in other applications, such as perimeter lighting, lighting parking areas and public spaces, environment-friendly outdoor lighting and solar-powered applications. The LED streetlights will be marketed to authorities, such as municipalities, to replace conventional high-intensity discharge and compact fluorescent streetlight luminaires.

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