Intermittent overdrive for sports lighting

A method of wide area lighting comprising:

• a. selecting lighting system components including lighting fixtures each with plural LED sources, elevating structure for the lighting fixtures, and power circuits to supply operating power to the LED sources;
• b. determining predicted operating performance for the light sources over a range of operating power and cumulative operating time including:
• i. individual light source life expectancy;
• and
• ii. individual light source light output;
• c. estimating a lighting system life expectancy;
• d. installing the lighting system at a target area;
• and
• e. operating the lighting system at different times at higher and lower operating powers estimated from the determined predicted operation performance for the light sources to:
• i. provide higher and lower individual light source light outputs for higher and lower lighting system composite light levels at the target area;
• and
• ii. provide individual light source life expectancy on the order of lighting system life expectancy;
• f. where the step of selecting lighting fixtures each with plural LED sources comprises:
• i. estimating a number of LEDs needed to light said target area to a first illumination level at a first defined operating power and a first defined operating time;
• ii. estimating a number of LEDs needed to light said target area to a second illumination level higher than said first illumination level at a defined second operating power higher than the first defined operating power, and at a second defined operating time lower than the first defined operating time;
• and
• iii. designing said lighting fixtures to include a number of LEDs commensurate with the larger estimation.

A wide-area lighting system such as can be used for illuminating indoor or outdoor sports or entertainment events comprising:

• a. a plurality of high intensity lighting fixtures in elevated positions on elevating structures at or near a target area and aimed to provide composite illumination relative the target area;
• b. a plurality of light sources in each lighting fixture, each light source contributing to the composite illumination;
• c. a control system operatively connected between an electrical power supply and the light sources, the control system including one or more components that can adjust operating power to the light sources at least between a first operating power and a second operating power that is higher than the first operating power;
• d. the light sources satisfying a defined system life factor related to operation at the second operating power;
• and
• e. the light sources satisfying a defined system composite illumination light level related to operation at the second operating power;
• and
• f. means to limit access to said control system to prevent unauthorized operating power adjustment.

A method of operating fir an extended period of time wide area lighting fixtures having light sources that have a light output that increases with operating power comprising:

• a. operating the light sources in a normal mode of operation at a first operating power for a majority of the extended period of time;
• and
• b, operating the light sources in a boosted mode of operation at a second operating power which is higher than the first operating power for a minority of the period of time;
• c. wherein operation of the lights in the boosted mode is restricted by a control interface requiring (i) authorization, (ii) a defined second operating power level, and (iii) a defined minority period.