LED RetrofitHPSV to LED Retrofit: What Changes and What It Saves
Most high mast poles installed before 2018 still run HPSV (high-pressure sodium vapour) or metal halide luminaires. Retrofitting the fixture head to LED, without touching the pole or foundation, is usually the fastest payback upgrade available for highway authorities, ports, and industrial facilities running high mast lighting on old fixtures.
Why the Energy Saving Is So Large
HPSV luminaires run at roughly 50–60 lumens per watt including ballast losses. Modern LED high mast luminaires deliver 140+ lm/W. For the same lux level on the ground, that typically translates to a 60–70% reduction in connected load — which is why LED retrofit is usually the single highest-ROI project a facility can do on its existing lighting infrastructure.
What the Retrofit Process Involves
We survey existing lux levels, calculate the LED wattage and beam angle needed to match or improve on the current lighting pattern, remove the old HPSV/metal halide fixtures and ballasts, and mount IP65-rated LED luminaires on the existing ring. In most cases the pole, foundation, and lowering mechanism are reused as-is, which keeps retrofit costs well below a new installation.
Payback Period
Because LED retrofit reuses the existing pole and foundation, the cost is limited to the fixtures, driver, and labour — which is why payback periods on high-usage sites (12+ hours/night operation, ports, highways) typically land in the 18–30 month range depending on local electricity tariffs and the wattage difference.
Beyond Energy: Maintenance Savings
LED luminaires rated for 50,000+ hours of operation mean far fewer lamp-replacement call-outs compared to HPSV lamps, which typically need replacement every 12,000–18,000 hours. For a 30-pole site, that difference alone can cut AMC lamp-replacement visits significantly over a 5-year period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you retrofit any existing high mast pole to LED, or only certain brands?
LED retrofit is largely brand-agnostic as long as the existing ring and mounting hardware are structurally sound. We inspect the ring and pole condition during the site survey and confirm compatibility before quoting.
Will LED retrofit reduce our lux level or change the lighting pattern?
No — we design the retrofit to match or exceed the original lux level using photometric calculations for the specific pole height and luminaire spacing, so you get equal or better lighting at a fraction of the running cost.
What warranty comes with the LED luminaires?
Our LED high mast luminaires carry a 5-year warranty, covering the driver and LED module.
Do you provide before/after lux level and energy-saving reports?
Yes — we measure baseline lux levels and connected load before the retrofit, and provide a post-installation report with the actual reduction in kWh so you have documented ROI figures.
