Fighting Crime With Solar Lights for Outdoor Security

Baldwin Park is located in the central San Gabriel Valley region of Los Angeles County, California. Although the overall crime rate is only slightly higher than the average US city, there are pockets of high crime where vandalism and theft are a major problem. Higher Ground, a local business located in one of these high crime areas contracted Leadsun through Delta Construction & Electric Co to supply solar lights for outdoor security and better visibility at night.

Apr 22, 2024

Shining a Light on a Dark and Unwelcoming Space

Previously, the parking lot in front of the Higher Ground retail premises as well as the adjacent warehouse had no external lighting. The area felt unsafe at night and crime was an on-going concern.

Surveillance was one way of tackling the problem, but research has shown that better public lighting can reduce crime too. An independent study by the Campbell Collaboaration, a global team of researchers and policy makers, has shown that improved street lighting can reduce crime by as much as 21 percent. Remarkably, the study showed that it can even reduce crime during the day!
Significantly, as well as actually making public spaces safer, better lighting also makes people feel safer too.

Reducing Crime with Solar Lights for Outdoors

Delta Construction & Electric Co. Installed seven Leadsun AE3C and AE6 lighting systems near the warehouse roll-up doors and rear entry gate. Each solar light on a pole was 20 feet tall and securely fixed to concrete footings. “As far as solar lights for outdoors go, this was not a particularly complicated project,” said Leadsun Office Manager, David Pineda.

“Although there was no previous lighting system or infrastructure for us to make use of, the project required no trenching or cabling because each of our lights is equipped with its own on-board solar engine including solar panel and battery.”

To conserve power, the lights were programmed to turn on at 30% brightness from Dusk until Dawn.
When motion is detected, they switch to full brightness ensuring there is always enough light when it’s needed most.

Seeing the Light

The new lights have improved visibility and safety for customers and act as a deterrent to vandals and thieves. Summing up the project afterwards, Pineda said, “the lights were quick and easy to install and have no ongoing electricity costs. Once the poles are in, we can finish the installation in under a day and turn the lights on that night. It’s fast, efficient and effective. That’s why I tell people these are simply the best outdoor solar lights on the market. Another plus is that there’s no copper cabling, so these lights aren’t at risk from copper theft which has become a major problem in LA lately.

Products Used

Solar module series – AE3, AE6
AE3C90R+ RS30 Solar Module
Solar Capacity: 90W PV
LED Output: 30W
Programming: 30% brightness dusk-to-dawn, 100% with motion detection
AE6S200U+2xRS30 Solar Module
Solar Capacity: 200W PV
LED Output: 60W
Pole type – Custom 20-ft Round Steel Poles, single-arm + double-arm designs, embedded in concrete