RAB Area Light & Pole Light Buying Guide

RAB Area Light & Pole Light Buying Guide

Parking lots, car dealerships, storage yards, campuses: pole-mounted area lights do the heavy lifting of site lighting. RAB's current area-light lineup is built around two field-adjustable families, the A17 and the A22, and picking between them mostly comes down to optics, output range, and how much on-site flexibility you want. This guide covers both families and the spec decisions that matter before you order.

The two RAB area light families

A17 field-adjustable area light. RAB's value-priced workhorse. Each fixture has selectable wattage and selectable color temperature (3000K/4000K/5000K), set with switches at install time. Rock stocks the tiers on dedicated product pages: the A17-3T100 (100/80/60W), A17-3T150 (150/120/100W), and A17-3T200 (200/180/160W), in Type III, IV, and V distributions, with 120-277V standard and 480V variants available.

A22 field-adjustable area light. The step-up family, running from 50W to 320W, with one feature the A17 doesn't have: interchangeable optics. The lens itself swaps in the field, so a single fixture can be converted between IES Type II, III, IV, and V distributions. The all-in-one A22-150X and A22-320X models bundle three selectable wattages, three selectable CCTs, three lenses (Types III, IV, V), a twistlock photocell, and an adjustable universal pole mount in the box. Every A22 also ships with a NEMA 7-pin receptacle standard, ready for a twistlock photocell or networked control node.

Verified specs: RAB A17-3T200 (the 200W-class Type III)

As a reference point for the family, here is what RAB publishes for the A17-3T200:

  • Wattage: selectable 200/180/160W
  • CCT: selectable 3000K/4000K/5000K
  • Output: 25,114 to 31,971 lumens depending on settings
  • Efficacy: 149.3 to 168.4 lm/W
  • CRI: 81-83
  • Lifespan: 100,000-hour L70 rating
  • Dimming: 0-10V dimming standard, dims to 10% (see our 0-10V dimming explainer)
  • Voltage: 120-277V
  • Rating: IP65, UL listed for wet locations, 6kV surge protection
  • Environment: starts down to -40°F, suitable up to 104°F ambient
  • Construction: die-cast aluminum housing, polycarbonate lens, 3G vibration rating per ANSI C136.31
  • Warranty: RAB 5-year limited warranty (light output, driver, paint finish)

The A22 family carries an IP66 rating, a 100,000-hour LED lifespan, and the same 5-year limited warranty, with DLC Premium listed models available.

How to pick a distribution type

The IES classification describes where the fixture throws its light. As a practical shorthand:

  • Type II suits narrow areas like drive lanes and perimeter roads, mounted along the edge.
  • Type III projects light outward from the side of an area, the common pick for general parking rows and roadway edges.
  • Type IV is the forward-throw pattern for mounting at a property line or building face, pushing light away from the pole.
  • Type V distributes evenly in all directions, for poles in the middle of a lot or intersection.

On the A17 you choose the distribution when you order (3T, 4T, 5T models). On the A22 you can change it later by swapping the lens, which is worth the premium when the site layout may change or when you want to stock one SKU for multiple jobs.

Wattage, poles, and layout

Higher mounting means more wattage per pole and fewer poles overall; lower mounting means less glare and tighter uniformity. Rather than guessing from a wattage chart, send us your site plan. RAB fixtures carry IES photometric files, and we can run a layout so the fixture count and pole spacing are right before anything ships. A wrong guess on distribution type or lumen package is the most expensive mistake in site lighting because it multiplies across every pole.

Controls: photocells, 7-pin, and motion

Dusk-to-dawn photocells are the baseline. The A22's standard NEMA 7-pin receptacle takes standard or Lightcloud twistlock photocells, and the A17 offers receptacle options as well. For energy-code work, both families run on 0-10V dimmable drivers, and the A22 can be ordered with an integrated motion sensor (Lightcloud Blue enabled, microwave or PIR) that adjusts brightness and hold time.

If the project is in California, outdoor lighting controls are not optional: Title 24 requires photocontrol or astronomical scheduling plus motion-based reduction on most hardscape and parking lighting. Our Title 24 outdoor lighting controls guide covers what applies and when.

Dark-sky sites

If the jurisdiction has light-pollution rules, the A22's static 3000K models are DarkSky approved and DLC LUNA certified, and house-side shields are available. Check the BUG rating on the exact SKU against the local ordinance (the A17-3T200 Type III, for example, is B4 U0 G4).

Mounting: arm vs slipfitter

A17 fixtures come with a universal mounting arm that fits drill patterns from 1" to 5-1/2" center-to-center, plus a round pole adapter plate in the box (round poles must be over 4" diameter to mount fixtures at 90 degrees). Slipfitter models like the A17-3T150SF mount on a standard tenon instead, which is the usual route when you're reusing existing poles from an HID retrofit. The A22 includes an adjustable universal pole mount on most models; static 3000K dark-sky models come with a non-adjustable mount.

Buy RAB area lights from Rock

Rock Lighting & Electric is an authorized RAB Lighting dealer and distributor. We stock the A17 and A22 families along with RAB floodlights and wall packs, all at contractor pricing with nationwide shipping. Browse the RAB Lighting collection, create a contractor account, or send us your site plan for a quote and we'll spec the layout with you.

FAQ

What is the difference between the RAB A17 and A22 area lights?
Both are field-adjustable (selectable wattage and CCT), but the A22 adds interchangeable optics: its lens can be swapped in the field between IES Type II, III, IV, and V distributions. The A22 also spans a wider range (50W to 320W), carries an IP66 rating, and includes a NEMA 7-pin control receptacle standard. The A17 is the value option with the distribution fixed at order time.
What do Type III, Type IV, and Type V distributions mean?
They are IES classifications for where the fixture throws light. Type III projects outward from the side of an area (general parking), Type IV is a forward throw for property lines and building faces, and Type V spreads light evenly in all directions for center-of-lot poles.
Are RAB area lights dimmable?
Yes. The A17 includes 0-10V dimming standard and dims to 10%, per RAB's published specs. It requires a separate 0-10V control circuit.
Do RAB area lights work with photocells?
Yes. All A22 models include a NEMA 7-pin twistlock receptacle standard, and receptacle-equipped A17 models are available. The A22-150X and 320X all-in-one models ship with a twistlock photocell included.
What warranty do RAB area lights carry?
RAB covers the A17 and A22 with its 5-year limited warranty covering light output, driver performance, and paint finish, subject to the terms at rablighting.com/warranty.
Can I mount these on existing poles from an HID retrofit?
Usually, yes. The A17's universal arm fits hole patterns from 1" to 5-1/2" center-to-center and includes a round pole adapter, and slipfitter (SF) models mount on standard tenons. Confirm pole condition and EPA wind loading before reusing old poles.

Specifications can change. Confirm current wattages, lumen packages, and listings against RAB's official spec sheets before finalizing a design.

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