Our range of products by style
Choosing solar lighting presents an opportunity for dramatic installation cost reductions. It does however present additional challenges for lighting engineers and procurement professionals in deciding what units to purchase.
Below is our Solar Lighting Buying Checklist. It lists all of the information you should look for from any solar lighting manufacturer or distributor. Gathering all of the information below will help you to make an informed decision about the best possible product for your application and give you confidence that you have chosen a high quality product.
Panel Power
A solar panels output is measured in Watts. The higher the wattage, the more energy a panel can produce under the same conditions. As a general rule of thumb, here more is better. The higher wattage your solar panel is, the more energy it will be able to harvest and store during the day allowing for more light at night.
Panel Size
Panel size shows the area of the panel and is measured in M2. This information can be combined with the panel efficiency and solar radiation data to calculate how much power will be generated in a specific location.
Panel Efficiency
Measured in %, solar panel efficiency is a measure of how much sunlight a panel can convert into useable electricity. Panel efficiency is a good indicator of a units quality. The higher the efficiency, the better engineered a product is.
Solar Irradiance
Solar irradiance is the amount of power received from the sun for a given location. Often expressed in kW Hours per Metre2 per day. Whilst solar irradiance is a natural feature rather then a product feature, a knowledgeable and responsible manufacturer or distributor of solar products should be able to provide you this data to help you make an informed choice as to whether solar will work as desired for your project.
We are happy to draw data for any location and recommend NASA’s excellent power data access viewer for anyone wishing to learn more.
Battery Capacity
A batteries capacity is the amount of electric charge it can deliver at the rated voltage and is measured in amp-hours (Ah) or watt-hours (Wh). The higher volume a units battery is, the greater the number of days backup it will be able to provide in case of overcast weather.
Battery Voltage
The potential difference or electrical “pressure” contained within a battery. Battery voltage is determined by the batteries internal construction and chemistry and is useful for converting Ah into Wh or vice versa. The formula’s to do this are;
Wh = V*Ah
Ah = Wh/V
Battery Type
There are three types of battery commonly used in solar lighting, each with their own advantages and drawbacks.
Lithium-Ion – Lithium-Ion is the most commonly used battery type for solar lighting and is similar to the batteries you will find in your smartphone or laptop. A low maintenance, high density battery type, Li-Ion batteries have no memory or scheduled cycling.
Lithium-Phosphate (LiFePo4) – An advanced battery type found in high end solar units, Lithium-Phosphate batteries experience a slower rate of capacity loss compared with standard Li-Ion batteries.
Deep Cycle Gel AGM Batteries – Gel AGM batteries allow for a lower price point then LI-Ion or LiFePo4 batteries however their life cycle is not as long.
Battery Warranty
All batteries degrade over time. A units battery warranty will suggest how long the battery on your unit will last for before needing replacement.
Charge controllers are an important feature of solar lights. They help ensure that a units are working at optimum performance, helping power to last all night.
Programmable on off times and dimming options help to conserve power, as do PIR sensors.
High quality units such as the GFS Aspire, Defender and Stealth feature IoT functionality and remote control. Green Frog’s SAM (Solar Activity Monitor) system allows you to remotely measure the performance of your solar units.
Adjustments to light levels and dimming schedules can then be made to maximise performance of your units.
This online CPD course is designed for lighting engineers, contractors, designers and architects. You will leave the course with a firm grasp on the different components of a solar street light, how they work and how best to make use of solar technology.
This tool can be used to compare installation costs of wired and solar lighting schemes and to calculate the installation cost savings available by using solar technology.
This tool makes the business case for solar lighting by estimating the yearly and lifetime cost and emissions savings permitted by choosing solar lighting units instead of mains wired units.
Unit F1 Grafton WayWest Ham Industrial EstateBasingstoke, HantsRG22 6HY
01256 308467
©2020 Acrospire
Our story
The idea for Acrospire was formed in 2012 when founder Tim envisioned a different kind of lighting manufacturer: one that would not only deliver outstanding customer experiences but also prioritise fair treatment for its employees.
We’ve come a long way
Motivated by the belief the industry wanted and needed better, Tim shared his plan to establish his own venture with Hatty, who simply couldn't let him do it alone.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Protecting local jobs and ensuring the best quality possible.
Working from a rented office by day and assembling lanterns in a garage at night, Tim and Hatty set to work.
11 Years later
Acrospire now inhabits a 14000² ft manufacturing facility in Basingstoke, Hampshire. We’re a proud partner of the Made in Britain scheme, ISO9001 certified and a member of all relevant lighting industry trade bodies.
Along with great relationships with our customers and a great team! We've attracted some of the most experienced members of the lighting industry, all by following one golden rule.
A simple ethos
That runs through all that we do. Customers who have made the switch to Acrospire have found working with us to be a breath of fresh air.
If you’re a professional in the lighting industry, you’re probably familiar with warranties that range from 3 to 10 years, with extensions available on special request or at additional cost. At Acrospire, where we’re proud to be different, we offer a market-leading simple 12-year warranty, as standard.
We focus on our customers not our competition. We manufacture our products in the UK: with the exception of our solar products, our supply chain is within a 60-mile radius of our factory in Basingstoke: to maintain greater control over quality. We al
Speed of response is crucial when it comes to resolving warranty issues. If we’ve made a mistake, we own it, get to the root cause, and fix it as quickly as possible. We believe in timely communication with our customers and making the resolution pro
Test and Test Again
We believe in independent testing and certification. Our new product development is in line with ISO 9001. Many of our products hold ENEC Certification. To meet the requirements of ENEC we also send random product samples for third party safety testi
Our product design is another key factor in our ability to offer a 12-year warranty. We value engineer rather than cost cut, never compromising on quality. We stick to our processes and engage with our supply chain to ensure that every product meets