With the continuous advancement of technology, Outdoor flood lights are playing an increasingly crucial role in the field of lighting. As an efficient and energy-saving lighting solution, LED floodlights are widely applied in outdoor lighting, architectural illumination, and security applications. Prior to purchasing LED floodlights, understanding their fundamental principles and considering various factors is paramount. These factors include wattage, lumens, installation options, and more.

 
Hyperlite have prepared a buyers guide for Outdoor flood lights which is one of the most common and versatile forms of outdoor lighting.

Lumens – Lumens measures the total amount of light emitted per unit of time. This unit essentially measures the brightness of the light.

Wattage – Wattage refers to the amount of power a light projects. Generally speaking, higher wattage lights will project more lumens (brightness). Outdoor flood lights come in a wide range of wattages. This ranges from 15 watts all the way up to 400 watts.

Color Temperature (Kelvin) – Kevin or color temperature basically corresponds to the color of the light projected which also correlates to heat. LED flood lights generally come in two different measurements: 4000K, and 5000K.

DLC Listed – DLC stands for Design Light Consortium and certifies that the product can perform under high levels of energy efficiency.

Photocell– A photocell uses a sensor to detect the level of lighting available outside and turn on if necessary. In other words, once it becomes dark, the light will turn on. Certain LED flood lights are photocell compatible and can serve as “dusk to dawn lights.”

Base – The base for a flood light involves the type of mount to attach the fixture. For example, some mounting
options such as a Trunnion Mount allows the flood light to cast illumination from side-to-side. Other mounting options such as a Slip Fitter Mount involve mounting the light up on a pole.

Lens – The type of lens a lighting fixture uses will influence how light is dissipated. Two common types are a
clear lens or frosted lens.

Voltage – Voltage involves the amount of work required per unit of charge to move a test charge between two points. For LED lighting, this is the amount of power a lighting fixture provides a bulb.

Shorting Caps – The Shorting Cap contains a shorting connection between the line and load of the receptacle keeping the lights on at all times when power is being supplied.

Motion Sensors – Motion sensors inside outdoor flood lights detect when there’s movement close to the light and will automatically turn on. This is an ideal for security lighting purposes.

Dusk to Dawn Lights – Dusk to dawn lights are any light which automatically turns on once the sun begins to set. Certain Outdoor flood lights can be installed with a photocell and serve as dusk to dawn lights. It’s
important to check product descriptions and spec sheets to ensure your flood
light is photocell compatible if you wish to use this functionality.

Wattage refers to the amount of power a light projects; thus, the amount of watts light bulb has pretty much dictates its brightness. In other words, the higher the wattage, the brighter the light will be. There are a wide range of wattages available for LED flood lights. This ranges from low wattage lights (15-40 watts) all the way up to industrial grade 350+ watt flood lights for major applications such as airports and sports stadium lighting.

Wattage refers to the amount of power a light projects; thus, the amount of watts light bulb has pretty much dictates its brightness. In other words, the higher the wattage, the brighter the light will be. There are a wide range of wattages available for LED flood lights. This ranges from low wattage lights (15-40 watts) all the way up to industrial grade 350+ watt flood lights for major applications such as airports and sports stadium lighting. We’ll break this down further below.

Low Wattage (15-40 Watts) –
Flood lights that are considered “low wattage” operate with bulbs in the range of around 15 to 40 watts. These are ideal to illuminate small areas such as a footpath or door way. These bulbs generally provide ample illumination for residential purposes or very small areas around commercial buildings.

Mid Wattage (40-80 Watts) – Mid wattage lights operate with bulbs in the range of around 40 to 80 watts. These are ideal to illuminate areas such as a small yard, garden, or driveway with a moderate level of brightness.

High Wattages (100 Watts or more) – Once you get into triple digit wattage numbers, the bulbs are considered “high wattage.” These bulbs are necessary for applications such as parking lot lighting, roadways, and other municipal or commercial lighting needs. According to the International DarkSky Association, roadway lighting may have wattages up to 400 watts. These high wattage bulbs are mounted on poles high above the ground.

Ultra High Wattage (400+ Watts) – 400+ watt flood lights are the highest number of approved wattages. These are typically only appropriate for major municipal or industrial lighting verticals such as airport lighting, highways, large parking lots, or outdoor sports arenas.

Lumens measures the total amount of light projected per unit of time. In other words, the higher the lumens the brighter the light. It’s important to note, this number also correlates with wattage; thus, as the amount of watts go up, so does lumens.

Low Lumens (1,600-4,000) – LED Flood Lights operating between 1,600 and 4,000 lumens are ideal for small outdoor area lighting such as a staircase, walk way, etc. These are very common for residential or small commercial needs.

Medium Lumens (4,000-10,000) – 4,000 to 10,000 lumens is a mid range of brightness. This level is ideal for yards, fields, and slightly larger exterior areas around buildings.

High Lumens (10,000 and up) – High lumens outdoor lights are generally used for municipal areas or larger commercial applications such as parking lots, cities, etc.

Ultra High Lumens (50,000 and up) – 50,000 or more lumens is typically only ideal for large industrial needs like highways, airports, and large parking lots.

5000K is recommended for warm weather locations and retail spaces due to its accurate color perception.

4000K is suitable for cool weather locations and areas with high activity and family use.

3,000K – 3,000 Kelvin is a warm color of LED light used primarily inside restaurants or houses.

Apart from lumens, wattage, and color temperature, there are a variety of other distinguishing factors for LED flood lights. One other factor is the type of application it’s used for which is largely determined by the mounting option.

Spotlights – These lights can be attached to a flexible mount such as a Knuckle Mount and used to aim illumination at specific points; thus, serving as a spotlight.

Dusk To Dawn Lights – When equipped with a photocell, flood lights can automatically turn on once the sun sets which makes them an effective security lighting option.

Parking Lot Lights – LED Flood Lights are an effective way to provide illumination around parking lots as these lights can be attached to poles through mounts such as a Slip Fitter or Extruded Arm.

Building Perimeter Lights – Flood lights are a great way to provide security around building perimeters. They can be attached to walls with Yoke Mounts and illuminate the area.

There are a variety of outdoor flood lights mounting options as well as accessories for various purposes.

Extruded Arm – The extruded arm mount is a L-shaped base which allows you to mount the light up on a fixture and provide illumination to a fixed area. This is the standard form
of mounting for flood lights.

Slip Fitter Mount – The Slip Fitter provides a pole mounting option. In this case, the light is
attached to a pole and provides lighting around a broad area. This type of mounting is common for parking lot lighting.

Trunnion Mount – A Trunnion Mount uses a pivoting point to allow the flood light to cast illumination from side-to-side.

Shorting Cap – The Shorting Cap contains a shorting connection between the line and load of the receptacle keeping the lights on at all times when power is being supplied.

Photocell – A photocell uses a sensor to detect the level of lighting available outside and turn on if necessary. In other words, once it becomes dark.