Background

The American Embassy in Gabon, Africa is a residential compound designed to host diplomatic events.  The compound consists of a large house, several other buildings, a swimming pool, and a garden area with walkways.  

The United States State Department decided that they wanted to better illuminate the areas between buildings, gardens, and along trails.  Prior to contacting RLLD Commercial Lighting, they decided that LED bollard lighting would provide the best level of light and operate at the most cost effective electrical rates for the task at hand. 

Challenge

The challenges that the State Department faced was ones of choice and operability.  There are many options in bollard LEDs that the Department representative had been informed of, but he was uncertain as to which one would be the most effective.  There are purely functional models which distribute light at varying degrees and intensities.  There are also purely decorative models which function more on an ornamental level.

The other challenge lay in the realm of operability.  In Africa, electrical current runs on frequencies of 50 Hz.  Equipment manufactured here in the United States runs on frequencies of 60 Hz.  A means of adapting our equipment to their environment would need to be found in order to make the LED bollard lighting system function in the compound. 

Equipment at a Glance

The bollards we sold to the embassy actually represent a blend of both dynamics.   They are made from heavy wall extruded aluminum, each with a tapered lens made from one piece clear polycarbonate.  The optical reflector distributes light at a wide throw, low incident angle that is ideal for illuminating walkways and gardens.   A patented heatsink allows for direct conduction of heat that extends LED lamp life.   

This LED bollard lighting system is also highly decorative.  The polyester powder coat is created with a four step iron phosphate process that cleanses the metal, and then treats its surface to facilitate firm adhesion of paint to its surface. 

Durability also results from this electrostatically applied polyester powder coating.  This coating is applied at a temperature of four hundred degrees Farenheit and produces a maximum hardness that makes it weather, impact, and vandal resistant. 

Solutions

In order to make LED bollard lighting that is made in the USA work on the African electrical grid, we had to use special equipment to handle the conversion of 60 Hz to 50 Hz.  We chose a set of drivers that actually function like transformers.  As incoming voltage from the compound comes into the drivers, the conversion is made to the appropriate frequency necessary to operate the lamps in the bollards. 

Results

As our standard process goes when sending materials overseas, we shipped both the photometrics, all pertinent documentation regarding the equipment, to a designated location in the United States.  In this instance, the State Department had arranged for us to send everything to a government facility in New Jersey.  From there, the LED bollard lighting equipment and specs were shipped to Gabon and installed in the recommended locations around the pool, the gardens, and along the walkways. 

RLLD Commercial Lighting carries a wide variety of industial & commercial lighting fixtures. If you can not find what you are looking for call us toll free at 1-866-654-3961 and we will find it for you. Our home office is located in Houston, Texas with warehouses located throughout the United States that enable us to service all 50 states.