Upgrading a Car Park with the Gabbro Streetlight and Photocell Accessory

Project Overview

A busy commercial car park required a modern lighting upgrade that combined reliability, flexibility and long-term efficiency. The chosen solution needed to deliver excellent illumination levels, simple installation, and low maintenance while withstanding the rigours of an outdoor environment. Ansell Lighting’s Gabbro Streetlight was identified as the ideal product, enhanced further by the integration of the Gabbro NEMA photocell accessory to provide intelligent dusk-to-dawn operation.

The Challenge

The client’s key requirements centred on adaptability, precision and durability. They needed a luminaire that could offer adjustable colour temperature and power settings, ensuring optimum performance across different zones of the car park. Precision light distribution was essential to create uniform coverage and enhance safety, while the installation process had to be quick, accurate and cost-effective. In addition, the fitting had to be robust enough to withstand frequent use, outdoor weather conditions and occasional impact, all while offering smart energy-saving functionality.

Ansell Lighting Solution

The Gabbro Streetlight provided a complete answer to these demands. Its selectable colour temperature of 3000K, 4000K or 5000K, combined with multiple output power options, meant that a single luminaire could be configured on site to suit varying lighting requirements without the need to stock multiple variants. The adjustable 30-degree head tilt allowed the fittings to be angled for precision coverage, reducing glare and maximising visibility across parking bays and walkways. Manufactured from die-cast aluminium with an integrated breather gland, the luminaire offered excellent heat dissipation and long-term durability, while its IP66 and IK08 ratings ensured resilience against water, dust and impact.

Installation was made faster and more accurate by the inclusion of a built-in spirit level, while the AFIX IP-rated connector simplified wiring, saving time and labour. The fitting was designed for versatile mounting, compatible with both post-top and side-entry spigots, and came with standard 10kV surge protection for added reliability. Crucially, the Gabbro also incorporated an integrated NEMA socket, which allowed the quick and seamless addition of the photocell accessory. This small but important enhancement enabled automatic dusk-to-dawn control, ensuring the lights operated only when needed, reducing energy use and cutting running costs.

Implementation and Results

Once installed, the Gabbro luminaires immediately transformed the car park environment. The adjustable features allowed the installation team to fine-tune lighting levels and coverage with ease, ensuring a bright, safe and welcoming space for both drivers and pedestrians. The photocell accessory clipped in effortlessly and provided smart automated switching without the need for additional cabling or complex programming. As a result, the car park benefitted from a reliable and energy-efficient solution that not only improved visibility and safety but also reduced operational costs.

The project demonstrated the effectiveness of the Gabbro’s combination of flexibility, robust construction and smart control capability. By uniting tailored illumination with ease of installation and intelligent energy management, the Gabbro Streetlight, complemented by the NEMA photocell, delivered a solution that exceeded expectations and provided long-lasting value.