Beacon Resources
Resources
THE BEACON
The patented Beacon is a commercial flagpole light hand-made by experts in our Acworth, GA facility and built for lasting performance. It uses energy-efficient, long-life LED bulbs that minimize maintenance while properly illuminating the U.S. flag at night. Designed to reduce light pollution, the Beacon becomes DarkSky approved when paired with its optional visor, ensuring your flag flies proudly and responsibly after dark.
The Beacon Plus
Solar Power Packages
DarkSky Approved Visor
Technical Resources
Installation guides, engineering references, compliance letters, and printable cut sheets for every FlagCo Beacon model. All documents are PDF downloads.
Installation Guides
Foundation & Engineering
Compliance & Certification
Photometric Spec Sheets
Product Data Sheets
Product Cut Sheets
Printable spec sheets for every Beacon model, with dimensions, lumen output, wiring, and SKU. Each model lists up to four configurations: 120V AC hardwired · 12V DC solar · Plus adds downlight bulbs for calm-wind illumination. External, Internal, and Cam cut-sheet tables follow below.
External Beacons — Cut Sheets
External Flagpole Beacon 12V 208357SOL / 208361SOL
External Flagpole Beacon Plus 12V 208358SOL / 208362SOL
External Heavy Duty Beacon 12V 208359SOL / 208366SOL
External Heavy Duty Beacon Plus 12V 208360SOL / 208367SOL
Outrigger Stationary Beacon 12V 208325SOL / 209452SOLInternal Beacons — Cut Sheets
Internal Beacon 6.5″ IH 12V 208349SOL
Internal Beacon Plus 6.5″ IH 12V 208350SOL
Internal Beacon 8″ IH 12V 208353SOL
Internal Beacon Plus 8″ IH 12V 208354SOL
Internal Beacon 8″ IH 12V Quad 208351SOL
Internal Beacon Plus 8″ IH 12V Quad 208352SOL
Internal Beacon 10.5″ IH 12V 208356SOL
Internal Beacon 14″ IH 12V 210999SOLCam Beacons — Cut Sheets
3″ Internal Cam Beacon 12V 208322SOL / 208363SOL
3″ Internal Cam Beacon Plus 12V 208332SOL / 208363SOLTRUSTED BY PROFESSIONALS NATIONWIDE
"Top quality with exceptional craftsmanship and realism in materials. Quick turnaround and reliable delivery — exactly what we look for in commercial specifications.” — FlagCo Customer Trustpilot
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"Easy to order, excellent lead times, and products built to last. Quality and service we can count on.” — Verified Buyer Trustpilot
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FlagCo delivers exactly what they promise—well-built products, clear specifications, and reliable lead times. Their flagpoles and hardware feel engineered, not generic, which makes them easy to specify and trust for long-term installations.”
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Commercial Flagpole Light: The Beacon LED System
The FlagCo Beacon is a patented commercial flagpole light engineered to replace the standard truck and finial assembly on commercial-grade flagpoles. Hand-built in Acworth, Georgia, each Beacon uses energy-efficient LED technology to properly illuminate the U.S. flag at night. Below is a complete reference covering every Beacon model, specifications, power options, and selection guidance.
How the Beacon Commercial Flagpole Light Works
The Beacon threads onto the top of a commercial flagpole using an industry-standard 1-1/4 inch NPT spindle, replacing the conventional truck and finial in a single integrated unit. All models use LED bulbs rated at 3000K, providing warm-neutral light that maximizes color vibrance on flag textiles. A patented 359-degree stop allows the housing to rotate with the flag while keeping the electrical lead separated from the halyard path. The Beacon is Intertek (ETL) certified and available in 120V AC or 12V DC solar configurations.
Because the Beacon mounts at the pole top, it illuminates the flag from just inches away. This pole-top placement delivers far more effective illumination per lumen than a ground-mounted uplight, which must push light upward across the entire height of the pole (see the inverse square law section below).
Engineered for Commercial Flagpole Lighting
Every Beacon is hand-built at FlagCo's manufacturing facility in Acworth, Georgia using the same quality standards applied to its commercial-grade aluminum flagpoles.
Beacon Plus Downlighting
Two vertically-pointed 2-watt bulbs (300 lumens each) keep the flag illuminated even when it hangs at rest against the pole in calm conditions.
Solar Power Package
Self-contained panel, battery, controller, and pole mount. Provides reliable flag illumination without electrical infrastructure at the pole.
DarkSky Approved Visor
Optional visor enables DarkSky International approval by shielding upward light and reducing light trespass.
Beacon Product Lineup: Complete Specifications
FlagCo manufactures Beacon models for every commercial flagpole type. Lumen values below are shown as AC / DC (120V hardwired / 12V solar). All models operate at 3000K color temperature, use LED bulbs, and are Intertek (ETL) certified.
| Model | Lumens (AC / DC) | Max Flag Size | Fits Diameter | Weight (lbs) | DarkSky Approved |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| External Beacon | 800 / 640 | 6' x 10' | Up to 5.5" | 4.25 | Yes* |
| External Beacon Plus | 1,100 / 940 | 10' x 15' | Up to 5.5" | 4.5 | No |
| External HD Beacon | 800 / 640 | 6' x 10' | Up to 8" | 6.95 | Yes* |
| External HD Beacon Plus | 1,100 / 940 | 10' x 15' | Up to 8" | 7.5 | No |
| Cam Beacon | 800 / 640 | 6' x 10' | 3" / 3.5" / 4" | 6.0 | Yes* |
| Cam Beacon Plus | 1,100 / 940 | 10' x 15' | 3" / 3.5" / 4" | 6.5 | No |
| 6.5" IH Beacon | 800 / 640 | 6' x 10' | Up to 3.5" | 9.25 | Yes* |
| 6.5" IH Beacon Plus | 1,100 / 940 | 10' x 15' | Up to 3.5" | 9.5 | Yes* |
| 8" IH Dual Beacon | 800 / 640 | 6' x 10' | Up to 5" | 10.25 | Yes* |
| 8" IH Dual Beacon Plus | 1,100 / 940 | 10' x 15' | Up to 5" | 10.5 | Yes* |
| 8" IH Quad Beacon | 1,600 / 940 | 20' x 30' | Up to 5" | 11.9 | No |
| 8" IH Quad Beacon Plus | 1,900 / 1,580 | 30' x 50' | Up to 5" | 11.9 | No |
| 10.5" IH Quad Plus | 1,900 / 1,580 | 30' x 50' | Up to 7.5" | 18.25 | No |
| 14" IH XL Plus | 1,900 / 1,580 | 30' x 50' | Up to 7.5" | 26.75 | No |
| Outrigger Beacon | 800 / 640 | 6' x 10' | Up to 3" | 4.25 | Yes* |
How to Choose the Right Commercial Flagpole Light
Selecting the correct Beacon depends on three factors: your flagpole type, the pole height, and the pole-top diameter. The pole type determines which Beacon family to use. The height and diameter narrow the selection to a specific model and lumen output. Use the FlagCo Beacon Selector for an interactive recommendation, or follow the guidance below.
External Halyard: External Beacon (up to 5.5") or External HD Beacon (up to 8"). Standard for poles 20 to 35 feet; Plus for 40 feet and taller.
Internal Winch: IH Beacons sized to pole-top diameter: 6.5" housing for tops up to 3.5", 8" for up to 5", and 10.5" or 14" for up to 7.5".
Internal Cam Cleat: Cam Beacon in 3", 3.5", or 4" top-diameter configurations. Plus versions available for enhanced calm-wind illumination.
Outrigger: Outrigger Beacon for external halyard poles with outrigger arm hardware, accommodating pole-top diameters up to 3 inches.
120V AC vs. Solar Power for Flagpole Lighting
Every Beacon model is available in two power configurations. Both options use the same Beacon housing and LED modules; the difference is in the driver and connection method. Switching from AC to solar (or vice versa) does not require a different Beacon model, only a different power configuration at order time. The right choice depends on whether electrical infrastructure exists at the pole location and the lumen output requirements for the installation.
120V AC (Hardwired)
- Higher lumen output (800 to 1,900 lumens)
- Consistent brightness regardless of weather
- Requires electrical conduit to pole base
- Licensed electrician needed for connection
- Best for new construction with planned electrical
12V DC Solar
- No electrical infrastructure required
- Self-contained solar panel, battery, and controller
- Slightly lower lumen output (640 to 1,580 lumens)
- Low-voltage; may not require licensed electrician
- Best for retrofits and remote locations
Why Pole-Top Lighting Needs Fewer Lumens Than a Ground Uplight
Light intensity decreases with the square of the distance from the source. This principle, known as the inverse square law, is why a pole-top commercial flagpole light like the Beacon is dramatically more efficient than a ground-mounted uplight.
A ground uplight positioned 30 feet below a flag must push enough lumens to cover that entire distance. By the time the light reaches the flag, most of its intensity has been lost. A typical ground uplight needs 10,000 lumens or more to adequately illuminate a flag at that height. The Beacon, mounted just inches from the flag at the pole top, delivers nearly all of its output directly to the textile surface.
The result: an 800-lumen Beacon provides comparable flag illumination to a ground uplight rated at 10,000 lumens or more, while consuming a fraction of the energy and eliminating the ground-level light trespass that triggers dark sky ordinance concerns.
Lumen Requirements by Pole Height
The amount of light needed from a commercial flagpole light depends on the pole height and flag size. Taller poles with larger flags require higher-output Beacon models. The table below shows recommended lumen ranges and the corresponding Beacon models for each height bracket.
| Pole Height | Max Flag Size | Recommended Lumens (AC) | Typical Beacon Models |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20' to 35' | 6' x 10' | 800 | External, Cam, 6.5" IH, 8" IH Dual |
| 40' to 50' | 10' x 15' | 1,100 | External Plus, Cam Plus, 6.5" IH Plus, 8" IH Plus |
| 55' to 100' | 20' x 30' to 30' x 50' | 1,600 to 1,900 | 8" IH Quad, 8" IH Quad Plus, 10.5" IH Quad Plus |
| Over 100' | 30' x 50' | 1,900 | 10.5" IH Quad Plus, 14" IH XL Plus |
For Architects and Specifiers
If you are writing a CSI Section 107500 specification that includes flagpole illumination, the Beacon integrates into the standard spec as a pole-top lighting accessory. FlagCo's Interactive Specification Builder generates complete guide specifications with beacon illumination sections, including submittals, power source options, and installation requirements.
Use the Wind Speed Tool to determine the required ASCE 7-10 wind speed for the project site, then configure the flagpole and beacon together in the Cut Sheet Builder to generate a branded PDF cut sheet with all engineering data.
All Beacons are Intertek (ETL) certified. BAA and BABA compliance self-certification is available for government projects. The Beacon does not affect the pole's wind load rating per NAAMM FP 1001-07. FlagCo is a veteran-owned manufacturer located at 3600 Cantrell Industrial Ct, Acworth, GA 30101.
Frequently Asked Questions About Commercial Flagpole Lights
Common questions about the FlagCo Beacon lighting system, covering compatibility, power options, installation, and compliance.
What is the FlagCo Beacon and how does it work as a commercial flagpole light?
What is the difference between the Beacon and the Beacon Plus?
Which Beacon model fits my flagpole?
Can I add a Beacon to an existing flagpole?
Is the Beacon compatible with solar power?
Is the Beacon DarkSky approved?
How many lumens does a commercial flagpole light need?
Why does a pole-top light need fewer lumens than a ground uplight?
Does the Beacon affect the flagpole's wind load rating?
How does the Beacon prevent the power wire from tangling with the halyard?
Is a licensed electrician required to install a Beacon?
What is the warranty on the FlagCo Beacon?
What color temperature is best for illuminating a flag?
Where is the electrical driver located on the Beacon?
How much wire ships with the Beacon?
Can the LED bulbs in the Beacon be replaced?
Are FlagCo Beacons BABA-compliant for federal projects?
Yes. FlagCo’s Beacon flagpole lights are manufactured and assembled in Acworth, Georgia and qualify under both BABA (Build America, Buy America Act) and BAA (Buy American Act). See BABA and BAA compliance for federal projects for FlagCo’s domestic content declaration letter and the procurement documentation federal GCs need at submittal and closeout.
