180 lm/W Type III Forward Throw
for IES RP-8 Roadways
PLB Series: IES-verified 139–180 lm/W · DIP selectable 75–300W & 3000K/4000K/5000K · Type III optics for roadway forward throw · 200-480VAC utility direct
180 lm/W
Peak @4000K (IES)
Type III
Forward Throw T301
2 SKUs
Cover 6 Wattages
U0
Zero Uplight All SKUs
The PLB Series is Auvolar's purpose-built roadway and street lighting solution, delivering up to 180 lm/W at 4000K (IES verified) across six DIP-selectable wattages from 75W to 300W. The Type III (T301) optic produces an asymmetric forward-throw pattern optimized for roadway pole spacing — pushing light down the street with minimal backlight and zero uplight (U0). Two DIP tiers (150W and 300W) cover all six power levels, and the CCT DIP switch enables field-selectable 3000K/4000K/5000K — allowing DOTs and municipalities to specify 4000K for arterials and 3000K for residential streets from the same SKU. Available in 200-480VAC for direct utility pole connections without step-down transformers. IP65, IK08, 10kV/5kA surge protection. UL 1598 Listed, DLC Qualified, LM-79-19 Tested.
Why PLB for Roadways
PLB Series Advantages for Roadway & Street Lighting
Roadway lighting has unique demands: forward-throw distribution, high-voltage utility connections, municipal procurement requirements, and IES RP-8 compliance. The PLB Series addresses each one.
🔦 Type III Forward Throw
The T301 optic pushes light asymmetrically down the roadway — maximizing luminance on the travel lanes while minimizing backlight toward properties. This is the IES-standard distribution for roadway pole-mounted fixtures, matching the beam geometry that DOT engineers expect in photometric submissions.
⚡ 200-480VAC Direct Utility
Municipal street lights typically connect to 480V or 240V utility circuits at the pole. PLB's 200-480VAC driver accepts these voltages directly — no step-down transformer needed. Reduces installation cost by $150–300 per pole and eliminates a failure point.
🎛️ DIP Wattage = One SKU per Road Class
The 300W tier covers 200/250/300W — matching collector, minor arterial, and major arterial requirements from a single SKU. The 150W tier (75/100/150W) handles residential streets and local roads. Municipalities order 2 SKUs instead of 6.
🌡️ DIP CCT: 4000K Arterials, 3000K Residential
DOTs increasingly mandate 4000K for arterial roads (visual acuity) and 3000K for residential streets (reduced blue-light complaints). PLB's CCT DIP switch lets you deploy the same fixture and set CCT per road classification — no separate part numbers needed.
🛡️ 10kV/5kA Surge Protection
Street lights on utility poles are exposed to lightning-induced surges and switching transients. PLB's built-in 10kV/5kA surge protector exceeds the IEEE C62.41.2 recommended practice for Category C (high exposure) locations.
🏗️ 6 Bracket Options
Slip-fitter, adjustable arm, trunnion, wall mount, knuckle, and yoke — covering every roadway mounting scenario from standard round-pole slip-fit to davit arm to highway overpass brackets. Same fixture, any infrastructure.
What We Hear
4 Roadway Lighting Problems PLB Eliminates
“We spec'd 200W fixtures for the arterial, but the photometric report showed we needed 250W for the wider intersections. Had to re-bid the entire project because the manufacturer required a different SKU with a 6-week lead time.”
— DOT Traffic Engineer, County Transportation Department✅ PLB Fix: DIP switch the 300W tier from 200W to 250W in the field. Same SKU, no re-bid, no lead time. Intersections get 250W, mid-block gets 200W.
“Council approved the $1.2M LED conversion, but then residents on Elm Street complained about 5000K being ‘too harsh and blue.’ We had to order 3000K replacements for 120 fixtures on residential streets. $40K in restocking fees alone.”
— Municipal Public Works Buyer✅ PLB Fix: DIP switch CCT from 5000K to 3000K on the residential streets. Same fixture, $0 restocking, one maintenance truck afternoon.
“Half the poles are 480V utility feed, the other half are 240V from the panel. The LED manufacturer only offered 120-277V drivers. We had to install 48 step-down transformers at $200 each plus labor — an extra $15K the bid didn't account for.”
— Utility Electrical Contractor✅ PLB Fix: Specify the 200-480VAC driver option. Direct connection to 240V or 480V utility feeds. Zero transformers, zero added cost.
“The new LED street lights are so bright they light up my entire bedroom. The old sodium lights were yellow and didn't bother anyone. I've been calling the city for six months.”
— Residential Homeowner, Public Comment at City Council✅ PLB Fix: Type III optics = forward throw with minimal backlight toward properties. DIP to 3000K warm white on residential streets. DIP wattage down if over-lit. U0 = zero uplight. Three adjustments, one truck visit, complaint resolved.
IES Verified Performance
Full IES Data — All 6 Wattages × 3 CCTs
Every number below comes from actual IES files and LM-79-19 test reports. Roadway CCT recommendation: 4000K for arterials (highest visual acuity), 3000K for residential streets (warm, low blue-light).
@ 5000K (Daylight White)
| Wattage | Lumens | Efficacy | DIP Tier | Uplight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75W | 12,594 lm | 172 lm/W | 150W Tier | U0 |
| 100W | 16,068 lm | 164 lm/W | 150W Tier | U0 |
| 150W | 22,190 lm | 150 lm/W | 150W Tier ★ Best Seller | U0 |
| 200W | 32,806 lm | 163 lm/W | 300W Tier | U0 |
| 250W | 38,830 lm | 155 lm/W | 300W Tier | U0 |
| 300W | 44,429 lm | 147 lm/W | 300W Tier | U0 |
@ 4000K (Neutral White) — Recommended for Arterials ★
| Wattage | Lumens | Efficacy | DIP Tier | Uplight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75W | 12,762 lm | 180 lm/W ★ Peak | 150W Tier | U0 |
| 100W | 16,473 lm | 175 lm/W | 150W Tier | U0 |
| 150W | 23,505 lm | 167 lm/W | 150W Tier | U0 |
| 200W | 33,645 lm | 175 lm/W | 300W Tier | U0 |
| 250W | 40,463 lm | 170 lm/W | 300W Tier | U0 |
| 300W | 46,950 lm | 165 lm/W | 300W Tier | U0 |
@ 3000K (Warm White) — Recommended for Residential Streets
| Wattage | Lumens | Efficacy | DIP Tier | Uplight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75W | 11,890 lm | 163 lm/W | 150W Tier | U0 |
| 100W | 15,183 lm | 155 lm/W | 150W Tier | U0 |
| 150W | 21,237 lm | 142 lm/W | 150W Tier | U0 |
| 200W | 30,662 lm | 154 lm/W | 300W Tier | U0 |
| 250W | 36,200 lm | 146 lm/W | 300W Tier | U0 |
| 300W | 41,463 lm | 139 lm/W | 300W Tier | U0 |
Source: IES files and LM-79-19 test reports. IES file naming: AoK-[W]WPLB-NV-L2-5070-T401. LM-79-19: AOK-[W]WPLB-NV-L2.
Design Standards
IES RP-8-18 — Roadway & Street Lighting
IES RP-8 is the standard used by DOTs and municipalities to specify minimum luminance, uniformity, and veiling luminance ratios for roadway lighting. The PLB Type III optic is engineered to meet these criteria at standard pole spacings.
| Road Classification | Avg Luminance (cd/m²) | Uniformity (Avg/Min) | Veiling Lum Ratio (Max) | PLB Wattage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local / Residential | 0.4 cd/m² | 6:1 | 0.4 | 75–100W @ 3000K |
| Collector | 0.6 cd/m² | 3.5:1 | 0.4 | 150W @ 4000K |
| Minor Arterial ★ | 0.9 cd/m² | 3:1 | 0.3 | 200–250W @ 4000K |
| Major Arterial | 1.2 cd/m² | 3:1 | 0.3 | 300W @ 4000K |
| Expressway | 0.6–1.2 cd/m² | 3:1–3.5:1 | 0.3 | 250–300W @ 4000K |
Source: IES RP-8-18 “Recommended Practice for Design and Maintenance of Roadway and Parking Facility Lighting”. PLB wattage recommendations are typical guidelines — actual design depends on pole height, spacing, road width, and photometric modeling.
Field Adjustable
DIP Switch Guide — Wattage & CCT for Roadways
PLB's DIP switches eliminate the two most expensive problems in municipal LED conversions: wrong wattage per road class, and wrong CCT for the neighborhood.
⚡ Wattage DIP Tiers
150W Tier → Residential & Collector
300W Tier → Arterials & Expressways
🌡️ CCT by Road Type
3000K — Warm White
Residential streets, historic districts, parks-adjacent roads. Reduces blue-light complaints. AMA-recommended for residential areas.
4000K — Neutral White ★ DOT Standard
Arterials, collectors, intersections, highway ramps. Best visual acuity at driving speeds. Most common DOT specification nationwide.
5000K — Daylight
Industrial corridors, port/logistics zones, high-security areas. Maximum scotopic lumens for camera surveillance visibility.
💡 Municipal Procurement Advantage
A city converting 500 street lights across residential, collector, and arterial roads needs only 2 PLB SKUs (150W tier + 300W tier) instead of the typical 6–8 separate SKUs. Each fixture is set to its road-class wattage and neighborhood CCT during installation. One PO, one delivery, one inventory bin per tier — reducing procurement complexity by 75%.
Photometrics
Type III T301 — Roadway Forward-Throw Optics
The Type III distribution is the IES-standard optic for roadway pole-mounted fixtures. PLB's T301 optic pushes the maximum candela forward and to the sides of the roadway, with minimal backlight toward adjacent properties — exactly what DOT photometric submittals require.
Type III ★
T301 — Primary Roadway
Asymmetric forward throw. Peak candela at 60–70° from nadir. Designed for pole-side mounting on 2–4 lane roads. 3–4× mounting height spacing.
Type IV
T401 — Wide Roads
Wider lateral spread for 4+ lane arterials and divided highways. Maximum coverage from single-side pole mounting.
Type V
T501 — Intersections
Symmetric 360° spread for roundabouts, intersections, pedestrian crossings, and median-mounted applications.
✓ Zero uplight confirmed — all 6 wattages, all optic types
Every PLB IES file shows U0 uplight rating. The full-cutoff die-cast aluminum housing prevents any light from escaping above horizontal — compliant with IDA Dark Sky requirements, LEED light pollution credits, and any municipal full-cutoff ordinance. Critical for roadway applications where uplight contributes to sky glow and wastes energy.
ROI Analysis
Energy & Maintenance Savings — PLB vs HPS Cobra Heads
PLB 150W @ 4000K vs 250W HPS Cobra Head (Collector Road)
| Metric | 250W HPS | PLB 150W @ 4000K | Delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| System wattage | 295W (incl. ballast) | 150W | 49% reduction |
| System lumens | ~27,000 lm (initial) | 23,505 lm | HPS degrades 40% over life; PLB maintains >90% at L70 |
| Efficacy | 91 lm/W | 167 lm/W | +83% |
| Annual kWh (4,100 hrs dusk-to-dawn) | 1,210 kWh | 615 kWh | 595 kWh saved |
| Annual electricity ($0.12/kWh) | $145 | $74 | $71/fixture/year |
| Maintenance/year (lamp + ballast) | $85 (2-yr lamp cycle) | $0 | $85 saved |
| Total annual savings per fixture | — | — | $156/fixture/year |
PLB 300W @ 4000K vs 400W HPS Cobra Head (Arterial Road)
| Metric | 400W HPS | PLB 300W @ 4000K | Delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| System wattage | 460W (incl. ballast) | 300W | 35% reduction |
| System lumens | ~50,000 lm (initial) | 46,950 lm | Comparable; HPS degrades faster |
| Annual kWh (4,100 hrs) | 1,886 kWh | 1,230 kWh | 656 kWh saved |
| Annual electricity ($0.12/kWh) | $226 | $148 | $78/fixture/year |
| Maintenance/year | $110 | $0 | $110 saved |
| Total annual savings per fixture | — | — | $188/fixture/year |
200-Fixture Municipal Retrofit Example
A mid-size city converting 200 HPS cobra heads to PLB LED (mix of 150W and 300W tiers): ~$34,000/year total savings ($170 avg/fixture × 200). With DLC rebates of $75–150/fixture, the total project payback is typically under 3 years. The DIP flexibility means zero wattage/CCT returns during the rollout — a hidden cost that typically adds 5–10% to traditional LED conversion projects.
Spec Guide
Recommended PLB Configurations by Road Classification
| Road Class | PLB Tier | DIP Wattage | Optic | CCT | Voltage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential / Local | 150W Tier | 75 or 100W | Type III (T301) | 3000K | 120-277VAC |
| Collector | 150W Tier | 150W | Type III (T301) | 4000K | 200-480VAC |
| Minor Arterial ★ | 300W Tier | 200 or 250W | Type III (T301) | 4000K | 200-480VAC |
| Major Arterial | 300W Tier | 300W | Type IV (T401) | 4000K | 200-480VAC |
| Expressway / Highway | 300W Tier | 300W | Type III (T301) | 4000K | 200-480VAC |
| Intersection / Roundabout | 300W Tier | 250 or 300W | Type V (T501) | 4000K | 200-480VAC |
Available colors: Bronze, Black, White. Specify color to match existing pole infrastructure or municipal standards.
Compliance
Certifications & Regulatory Compliance
UL 1598 Listed
Listed for wet locations. Outdoor pole/arm-mounted luminaires.
✓ UL Listed — all PLB models
DLC Qualified
Utility rebate eligible. $75–150/fixture from most US utility programs.
✓ DLC Qualified
LM-79-19 Tested
Full photometric data per ANSI/IES LM-79-19 standard.
✓ IES files + LM-79 reports available
IP65 / IK08
Dust-tight and water jet resistant. IK08 impact resistance for roadway environments.
✓ Suitable for exposed pole-mounted locations
10kV/5kA Surge
Built-in surge protection exceeds IEEE C62.41.2 Category C.
✓ No external SPD required
IDA Dark Sky
Full cutoff housing + BUG U0 = zero uplight, all wattages.
✓ 0.00 lm in 90–180° zone
Frequently Asked
PLB Roadway & Street Lighting — FAQ
Does the PLB Series meet IES RP-8 roadway lighting standards?
Yes. The PLB Series with Type III (T301) optics delivers the forward-throw distribution required by IES RP-8 for roadway lighting. At 200–300W with 4000K CCT, the PLB exceeds minimum maintained luminance levels for collector and arterial roads. Combined with U0 uplight rating, it satisfies both IES RP-8 performance criteria and Dark Sky/municipal light trespass ordinances simultaneously.
How does the PLB DIP switch wattage selection work for street lighting?
The PLB has two DIP tiers: the 150W tier covers 75/100/150W, and the 300W tier covers 200/250/300W. Open the driver compartment (tool-free access), flip the DIP switches to select your target wattage, and close. This means a single 300W SKU can serve collector roads at 250W and arterials at 300W — reducing inventory from 3 SKUs to 1.
Which CCT should I specify for roadway applications?
For arterial and collector roads, specify 4000K (neutral white) — the DOT standard that maximizes visual acuity and peripheral detection at highway speeds. For residential streets adjacent to homes, specify 3000K (warm white) to reduce blue-light complaints and comply with residential-area lighting ordinances. The PLB DIP switch lets you stock one SKU and set CCT in the field per road classification.
Can the PLB Series connect to 480V utility power?
Yes. The PLB Series is available in both 100-277VAC and 200-480VAC configurations. The 200-480VAC option is specifically designed for direct utility pole connections and DOT infrastructure where 480V is the standard distribution voltage. No step-down transformer required.
What is the ROI of replacing HPS cobra heads with PLB LED fixtures?
A typical 250W HPS cobra head consumes 295W (including ballast) and produces ~27,000 lumens at 91 lm/W. The PLB 150W at 4000K delivers 23,505 lumens at 167 lm/W — comparable illuminance at 49% less power. At $0.12/kWh running dusk-to-dawn (4,100 hrs/year), each fixture saves ~$60/year in energy plus ~$85/year in eliminated lamp/ballast maintenance. For a 200-fixture municipal retrofit, that is $29,000/year in total savings with payback under 3 years after DLC rebates.
PLB Series — Roadway & Street Lighting
Ready to Spec PLB for Your Roadway Project?
Get a free IES RP-8 photometric layout, compare DIP wattage tiers for your road classification, or request a municipal volume quote. Our team responds within 1 business day.