Solar Lighting Systems

Overview

Formetco’s Solar Lighting Systems bring reliable, off-grid illumination to billboards and outdoor signage without the cost and complexity of running new electrical service to a structure. Each system is ultra-efficient and environmentally friendly, giving outdoor advertising operators a way to light a panel cleanly while keeping ongoing operating costs low. Because every component — batteries, solar panels, LEDs, wiring, and mounting hardware — ships together as a complete system, crews aren’t left sourcing parts from multiple vendors or guessing at compatibility.

Built for Simple, Low-Maintenance Installation

The system uses a pre-wired, plug-n-play design that keeps hardwiring to a minimum. For crews working at height on a billboard structure, that translates directly into less time spent making field electrical connections and fewer opportunities for wiring errors. Combined with the system’s cost-effective, long-lifespan, low-maintenance design, it’s built to be installed once and largely forgotten — an important consideration for structures that may only be serviced a few times a year.

Run-time flexibility is built in as well: the system is available in dusk-to-dawn configurations for continuous overnight illumination, or 6-to-8 hour run times for markets and applications where extended nighttime lighting isn’t required. That lets Formetco tailor the system to the specific advertising and energy needs of a given site.

System Components

Luminaires

The system uses the 45W LED BrickLite by LTI, a low-profile, ultra-lightweight fixture designed to deliver excellent coverage across the face of the panel without hot spots — meaning the copy is lit evenly rather than in bright patches. The luminaire carries a 5-year manufacturer’s limited warranty.

Batteries

Power storage is handled by photovoltaic solar gel batteries. Forged terminals and bushings help prevent leakage, and the batteries sit in non-corrosive battery boxes equipped with a battery temperature sensor — a design intended to protect performance across seasonal temperature swings while keeping the system completely maintenance-free.

Solar Panels

Energy collection comes from monocrystalline half-cell panels, a design chosen for higher energy yield. The panels use a bifacial design with double-glass construction for extended lifetime, and are framed in a high-tech aluminum alloy frame built to hold up to continuous outdoor exposure.

Charge Controller

The charge controller is engineered to maximize energy harvest from the panels and includes automatic lighting control, so the system turns the luminaires on and off without manual intervention. It also incorporates extensive electronic protections, and the necessary wiring and breakers are included rather than sourced separately.

Optional Mount

For sites needing additional panel capacity, an optional mount is available, designed to accommodate 1 to 3 solar panels. It uses a T-post design with an H-frame array, and attachment U-bolts are included, simplifying the mounting process for installation crews.

Long-Term Value

With a 20-year life expectancy backed by a 5-year warranty, Formetco’s Solar Lighting Systems are built as a long-term infrastructure investment for a billboard site rather than a short-term fix. Reach out to Formetco to talk through which run-time configuration and mounting option best fits your outdoor advertising structures, or explore related hardware like Conduit Light Arms and Support Brackets.

Browse the full Solar lineup for more options built to the same Formetco durability standard. Formetco’s lighting hardware is built around the same efficiency principles outlined by ENERGY STAR’s LED lighting guidance.

The Solar Lighting Systems is backed by Formetco’s manufacturing expertise. See the related products above for more options alongside the Solar Lighting Systems.