The control panel is what switches your high mast lighting on and off automatically, protects the circuit, and (increasingly) lets you monitor the system remotely. Here's what a properly specified panel includes.
Standard high mast panels use an LDR (light-dependent resistor) photocell to detect dusk/dawn and switch the lighting automatically, often backed by an astronomical timer as a secondary control — so the system doesn't rely on the photocell alone if it gets dirty or shaded.
Panels are housed in IP55-rated enclosures to keep out dust and rain, with MCBs sized to the connected luminaire load and a surge protection device (SPD) to protect the electronics from lightning-induced transients — a real risk for tall, isolated pole structures.
Every panel installation includes earthing per IS 3043, using GI strip or copper earthing depending on soil resistivity at the site — essential both for equipment protection and personnel safety around a 20–40m metal structure.
For larger installations (highway stretches, ports), we can add GSM/IoT-based monitoring so faults, unscheduled outages, or panel-door tampering trigger an alert rather than waiting for the next scheduled patrol to notice.
Can the control panel be integrated with a central monitoring system?
Yes, for multi-pole projects we offer GSM/IoT-enabled panels that report status centrally, useful for highway authorities and large industrial sites managing dozens of poles.
What protection does the panel have against lightning strikes?
Panels include a surge protection device (SPD) rated for the site, in addition to standard earthing — both are standard on our installations, not an upsell.