The project

The project requirement was to create safe pedestrian crossings for businesses and homes in the Green Park area of Reading. A key part of the brief was that the Belisha beacons needed to be easy to install and that all the light had to be generated by solar power.

The solution

Street Furnishings' fully solar-powered Belisha beacon was selected for this installation.

For this project, the use of an extra solar panel will help keep a year-round charge for the Belisha beacon.

The Belisha beacon also has a dusk to dawn solar powered motion activated light to ensure more visibility for pedestrians (and it is vital a pedestrian can be seen by drivers in an otherwise poorly lit area). Being motion activated, the stored solar energy is only used when required, with 2 modes available.

The mode selected produces 30% constant light from dusk, then increases to a selected brightness when the PIR is triggered by movement. The light then reduces back to 30% after approx. 20 seconds of no motion detection.
This auto function retains charge very efficiently, especially paired with its in-built dimming cycle. The other mode is constant ‘on’ for a selected time (2hr, 4hr, 6hr, 8hr, 10hr or 12hr) and selected brightness level of (60%, 80% or 100%)

With post adaptors and our al-in-one product, this meant installation of the solar Belisha beacon was more straightforward than for other solar power units or standard mains streetlight-lighting (no wiring involved).

The outcome

The installation was completed and met all the project requirements. With a LED life expectancy of 100,000 hours, this installation will ensure safe pedestrian crossing for the long term.