Frequently Asked Questions

How does a 221-Watt fixture provide more light than a 400-watt fixture? The relationship between initial wattage consumed and delivered output (foot candles) is not linear.  In other words, just because a fixture consumes more electricity does not mean it will necessarily produce more light.

The design of the InteLite yields thermal and optical dynamics unmatched by any other alternative.  These dynamics play a major role in the InteLite’s effectiveness in delivering more light than an HID.  The patented I-frame and reflector design harvests all of the usable light and focuses it on the working space.

Since the InteLite is a plane or linear – rather than a point – light source; the light is spread more evenly throughout a facility than with the traditional HID.  This even reduces shadowing and hot spots (brightly-lit core areas surrounded by poorly lit hinterlands) significantly improving overall light levels in a facility.

Will the quality of light fade as the fixture ages? All fixtures experience some light loss or lumen depreciation as the fixture ages.  This is unavoidable.  The InteLite, however, is designed to minimize the effects of light loss on the overall quality of the light provided by the system.  The T-8 lamps employed by the InteLite experience only a 7-8% light loss over their 30,000 hour lives.  Conventional HID lamps can experience a 40% light loss in their first year with light levels steadily decreasing as the lamp ages.

Customers tend to judge their vendors based on the appearance of their facilities and merchandise.  Fluorescent systems can have a tremendous impact on customers’ perception and employee productivity.  Fluorescent technology is not affected by color shift and provides a consistent color temperature from fixture to fixture.  We refer to our quality as “summertime sun at noon.”

Is the InteLite patented? Orion Energy Services created, developed, and built the InteLite to be an energy efficient light source.  The goal was to build a simple designed product that was high quality and user friendly.  There are several patents approved and more pending on the InteLite including the I-Frame design, the reflector design, modular wiring units, Orion’s proprietary metering device, cord sets, and modular sensor control technologies.

It’s obvious that the InteLite sets the standards for the lighting industry.

Did you consider using T-5 lamps when designing your fixtures? Orion Energy Services makes lights with both T-5 and T-8 lamps.  We are one of only a few companies that make both allowing us to talk frankly about each technology platform.  In the development and testing process, Orion’s T-8 lamp package outperformed the T-5 technology in delivering footcandles per watt consumed.  Although a T-8 lamp has 3,480 lumens and a T-5 lamp has 5,000 lumens, the effectiveness of a fixture needs to be determined by the amount of light output (measured in footcandles) that are delivered to the work area rather than lumen measurements which are taken in an atmospheric controlled testing environment under ideal conditions.  A number of other concerns with T-5 lamps influenced the company to put more emphasis on T-8 lamps.  Some of those concerns are cost of replacement lamps, wattage consumed per lamp, lamp availability, lamp length, heat, glare, quality of light, and lamp life.  See our “Comparison of High Bay Lighting Technologies” tab for more information.

How does the initial acquisition cost of the InteLite compare with the cost of a high intensity discharge (HID) fixture? Cost comparisons between the InteLite and HID fixtures can be misleading.  One reason is HID fixtures come in a broad range of prices based on quality and features.  HID pricing can range from $140 to $400 depending on features.  The problem with HID fixtures is “you get what you pay for.”  If you purchase an inexpensive HID, you can expect to get poor performance.  In most cases, when you purchase an HID, you still have to purchase a lamp, reflectors, and hanging hardware.

The InteLite is cost competitive with HID fixtures.  When comparing the operating costs of each, any premium paid for the InteLite is offset in the first 2-4 months of operation.  The InteLite is a wise investment… especially when you consider that the energy savings are not one time; but an accumulation every year thereafter, which quickly offsets any initial cost differential.  See our “New Construction” tab for more information.

What are the recommended heights of the InteLite? The InteLite line of fixtures comes with 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 lamp configurations.  This allows us flexibility to retrofit any existing lighting technology at varying hanging heights.  The typical effective range is 10’ – 100’.  It should be noted that the higher a fixture is hung, the less light output is delivered to the working space.

What options are available for lighting controls such as motion sensors or dual switching? Orion Energy Services has developed modular power supply attachments for each individual fixture that includes motion control, occupancy sensing, daylight harvesting, and dual switching.

Will the InteLite perform in a dirty environment?  Will the dirt impact the quality and performance of the light? There are several features of our products that separate our fixtures from others in the lighting industry.  The InteLite’s design is key to its performance in less than ideal conditions.

1. Heat is a major source of the dirt problem because it attracts dust to the fixture.  The InteLite operates at significantly cooler temperatures (120 degrees F) than tradition HID fixtures (1,200 degrees F).
2. Less heat creates less updrafts that force dirt towards the fixture as associated with traditional HID fixtures.
3. The patented I-Frame design is tremendous at dissipating heat.  Plus, the lamps and ballasts are separated from each other further reducing heat.

Our fixtures do gather some dust on top.  Foundries, steep spring manufacturers, welders, and furniture production facilities have utilized the InteLite successfully.  The lighting performance has exceeded their expectations.  Also, lens covers are also available as is a sealed and gasketed fixture.

Will the InteLite perform in cold storage and freezers? The InteLite’s ballast will operate effectively to 0 degrees F.  We also have an insulated version that is widely used to -20 degrees F.

What types of lens covers and guards are available for the InteLite? The InteLite can be equipped with a wire guard or a lens cover.

How effective is the InteLite in warehouse environments where there is row after row of merchandise? When the InteLite is properly specified and placed in a warehouse facility (i.e. row heights and shelve contents taken into consideration); Orion’s products have performed exceptionally well in these environments.  The spread of light given off by the fixture means a more even distribution of light throughout the facility and notably better uplighting than associated with traditional HID fixtures.  The light puddling effects associated with traditional HID fixtures does not plague the InteLite series; therefore, shadowing and dark spots are reduced in the facility, allowing better visibility for people working in the warehouse/factory.

How do we know which product to specify?  Is technical assistance available? To determine which Orion product to specify in a particular project, please contact us.  We will serve as your liaison with others in the company to develop an integrated, custom designed, expandable energy management system for your operation.