What is a UFO High Bay Light?
UFO high bays are round light fixtures emitting an intense light output and providing uniform lighting in larger spaces with higher ceilings. These LED fixtures replace traditional metal halides to increase energy efficiency and light quality while minimizing maintenance needs.
Four types of UFO high bays are available:
Why are They Called UFO High Bay Lights?
UFO stands for ‘unidentified flying object’ due to the distinct, round shape of the high bay fixture.
Do UFO LED Lights Get Hot?
Like all lighting, UFO LED lights do release heat. However, our UFO high bay lights feature integrated heat sinks to dissipate heat more effectively than traditional fixtures. If you’re installing high bays in hot environments, use High-temperature UFO high bays since they are constructed to withstand higher temperatures without overheating.
Why are UFO Lights Good?
UFO high bay lights are ideal for larger spaces requiring broader light coverage. This includes warehouses, gymnasiums, supermarkets, and indoor sports complexes.
Key benefits of UFO high bays include:
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Simple Installation: UFO high bays must be installed by an electrician. Installation usually requires installing the eye bolt or mounting bracket, hanging the light on the hook, attaching the safety cable, and connecting the wiring. Each specific installation will vary. If you’re uncertain, check the user manual for more information.
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Longevity: Installing LED UFO high bays is a sure way to increase the lifespan of your commercial lights. UFO high bays usually have up to 2-3x the lifespan of metal halide fixtures.
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Cost-effectiveness: UFO high bays will save you money in the long run. They are energy-efficient and require fewer replacement costs. Plus, these fixtures have a higher lumen output with a lower wattage, delivering more light with fewer fixtures.
Types of UFO High Bay Lighting
UFO high bays replace metal halide fixtures in larger areas with high ceilings. These round light fixtures provide uniform lighting. They can be installed in large, open spaces such as gymnasiums, supercenters, warehouses, and factories.
High-temperature UFO high bays are suitable for warmer environments and will not be affected by extreme heat. Our high-temperature high bays can operate at an ambient temperature of up to 149°F. You need these in warehouses and factories located in areas subject to high heat or where you’re performing tasks that cause hotter internal temperatures, such as metal smelting and refining facilities.
The NSF washdown UFO high bays are weatherproof and can handle high-pressure washdowns. These fixtures are certified by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) for installation in areas that concern public health, such as industrial kitchens, agricultural processing facilities, and food processing plants.
Sensor Ready High Bay
Sensor-ready high bays are energy-efficient and have integrated ports so motion sensors can be installed. Attaching motion sensors allows the lights to be adjusted to turn automatically off after a set period of time with no motion and turn back on after motion is detected. For increased energy savings, choose a sensor-ready LED UFO high bay and pair it with one of our compatible motion sensors. There are two common sensors used for these high bays. Microwave motion sensors use high-frequency waves to detect movement, even through walls and other materials. PIR (Passive Infrared) sensors detect heat from people or animals and require a clear line of sight. When combined with a built-in photocell, both types can detect ambient light and turn on luminaires only when it’s dark and motion is present. Some models also feature daylight harvesting, using the photocell to dim or brighten luminaires based on available natural light.
This Keilton Network Controlled Motion Sensor is energy-efficient and can be installed in most sensor-ready UFOs. These Networked Lighting Controls are wireless and can operate via an app that allows you to control the sensors simultaneously from your phone. It also has a plug-and-play design for simple installation. You can learn more about our Networked Lighting Controls under the “Additional Features” section.
What Additional Features Affect Which LED UFO High Bay Light I Need?
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Wattage and Lumens: Since LEDs use less energy than traditional lighting solutions, all high bays on our website feature an ‘equivalent wattage.’ This means the LED fixture emits the same amount of light as a metal halide lamp at that equivalent wattage. Lumens are a more accurate comparison when considering the brightness of the light. If you are lighting a larger space, you might choose a bulb with a larger amount of lumens to create a brighter light.
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Networked Lighting Controls: Networked lighting controls allow you to control the lights from your phone via Bluetooth. Choosing a fixture with networked lighting controls has multiple benefits, including grouping your lights into zones and groups to control several fixtures simultaneously and add fixtures over time. Automation and scheduling are available to operate the fixtures at specific times. Opting for a product with a Bluetooth Mesh network allows the fixtures to send and receive signals from one another to create a self-healing network. This allows for communication between multiple devices and helps relay messages to devices farther away from the control source. Read this blog to learn more about network lighting controls in businesses.
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Reflectors: Installing a UFO high bay light with a reflector evenly distributes the light downward while minimizing glare. Reflector lenses also give these fixtures the traditional metal halide high bay appearance. The reflectors are removable if you decide you don’t like the light distribution.
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Emergency Backup Drivers are available for UFO high bays. Drivers help ensure that some of your lights will still operate during a power outage in your commercial or industrial space.
Read our High Bay LED Lights Buyer’s Guide for more information.
How High Do I Hang UFO Lights?
Due to their wide light distribution, UFO high bays are used in areas with higher ceilings. UFOs should be installed on ceilings at least 18 feet from the ground. Additionally, the ceiling height will affect the number of UFO lights installed, as explained in the section below.
How Many UFO LED Lights Do I Need?
The number of UFO high bay lights needed for your installation will vary depending on the size of the area you are lighting, the beam angle of the lights, and the height of your ceilings. You must adjust the spacing based on the ceiling height to ensure the lighting is sufficient to cover the amount of space but doesn’t overlap too much. Since the specifications for UFO fixtures differ, we provide an IES file for each product. This will help you determine what light you need and the amount of fixtures to purchase to meet specific lighting requirements. We also feature a Lighting Layout Tool on each product listing page, which you can utilize as a guide to help you understand product placement.
Type of Space
The general purpose of the commercial space will determine the number of UFOs you should install. If you use the UFO fixtures for task lighting and need sufficient lighting in areas where you’re completing specific activities, such as packing stations, you might need to install more UFOs and space them closer together. If the UFO fixtures are overhead lighting in a warehouse or factory, they can be spaced farther apart and adjusted based on the ceiling height.
Ceiling Height
For 15-20 feet tall ceilings, you will need to space your lights closer together. This is usually 12 to 15 feet between each light. For ceilings 20-30 feet tall, you can have more space between the lights. We recommend 15 to 20 feet between the lights. The lights can be the farthest apart for ceilings 30-40 feet. Spacing between the lights should be at least 20 to 30 feet. However, when spacing lights farther apart on higher ceilings, you must install UFOs with a higher wattage.
Lumen Output
You must ensure the UFO high bays you install have enough lumens to light the space. The higher the ceilings, the greater the lumens a fixture needs. If you are lighting a larger area, such as a warehouse with tall ceilings, we recommend choosing fixtures with at least 15,000 lumens and can space the lights 25 to 30 feet apart. If the area you’re lighting has lower ceilings or is smaller, you can get away with fewer lumens, usually between 10,000-15,000, with spacing 12-15 feet apart.
Beam Angle
Understanding the beam angle needed for a UFO high bay is necessary for proper light distribution. Most of our beam angles are between 80-120°. If you choose to install lights with wider beam angles, you’ll need to install fewer fixtures than if you’re installing lights with narrower beam angles. The larger the area you want the light to cover, the wider the beam area needed. You might prefer a wider beam angle in larger areas such as supercenters or factories. You can choose a narrow beam angle when lighting smaller areas or if using the high bays to focus directly on a specific area. The area the beam covers will change based on the height of the ceiling. The higher your ceilings, the wider the coverage.
Uniform Lighting
It’s critical in all lighting installations to ensure uniform lighting throughout the space. Proper overlap guarantees that the fixtures will create no gaps or shadows. Overlap varies for each installation based on the area's ceiling height and the fixture's lumens and beam angle. Uniformity is essential in industrial and commercial spaces, and you must ensure adequate lighting to see when working. Uniform lighting also reduces eye strain and enhances productivity.
