In the beginning, it was tried-and-tested incandescent technology – the kind pioneered by Thomas Edison – that stood atop the flood light market perch. But then, halogen technology began its ascendency, with the headline benefit being up to 30% superior energy efficiency. But neither – and mind the pun here – can hold a candle to the latest and greatest LED flood lights, as a 2,000 hour lifespan for a halogen bulb is absolutely eclipsed by the 30,000+ hours that LED tech is capable of.
When it comes to getting the floodlight technology your workplace relies on to brighten up your operations, LED has proved more than capable of packaging all of its energy, durability, lifespan, colour temperature, colour rendering, heat, instant-on, emissions and other benefits with exactly the ‘flood’ of light you reuire from an intense wide-angle beam. Perhaps best of all, the superior optical control of LED technology means even a ‘flood’ of light is well controlled, driving down light pollution and minimising wasted energy and light.
But as amazing LED floodlights saturate the market, the sheer uantity of the products on the market can be overwhelming, especially when so many of them are high uality, efficient, low maintenance, and affordable. A reputable supplier like RS Components can have a huge range of LED floodlights – so how do you choose?
That’s why we’ve put together these 6 simple steps that should point you towards the LED flood lights your organisation reuires:
The location
The best place to start is at the very beginning, so the first thing to consider is where the floodlight will be placed, and how much area will need to be flooded with the light. The exact location will have implications for the flood light height, angle and overall energy efficiency of your setup, with knock-on effects for safety and glare considerations. Also crucial is whether objects or obstacles will get in the way, including ones that regularly move like trucks or euipment, and whether neighbouring properties or businesses need to be taken into consideration.
The colour temperature
It is well known that LED lights are extremely versatile when it comes to the warm, cool or white-intense colour temperature you are seeking for your specific application. If your LED flood lights are for security, higher-Kelvin temperatures producing white or daylight-like temperature will be appropriate, and this range may also be suitable for work or play performance. But if a warmer and more aesthetic appeal is the goal, such as in the world of hospitality, lower-Kelvin floodlights will be better.
The brightness
Don’t forget, in the highly energy-efficient LED world, brightness is all about lumens, not watts. However, your LED flood light setup will range in brightness from about 2,000 to up to 200,000 lumens and beyond, so it’s really all about the reuired illumination area. As with the location guidelines above, the floodlight setup’s height and angle values will make a big difference in terms of the optimal lumens.
But no matter what your specific reuirements are, you should always prioritise the following LED flood light technologies and features when choosing your products:
- Thermal heat sink airflow fins optimised for LED
- Lumen-per-watt efficiency of more than 120lm/w, resulting in significant energy savings
- Easy installation and maintenance, such as factory-fitted cabling and tool-less opening
- Optical beam flexibility, allowing for narrow/medium and wide for application optimisation
- Surge protection and anti-corrosion housings/fittings
- Extended longevity, with L70, L80 and L90 ratings meaning the product you choose produces 70%, 80% or 90% of its original output after 50,000 hours.
Are you ready to embrace all of the benefits of LED flood lights for your specific commercial or industrial application? While we hope our guide is a good starting point, it’s crucial to make a precise match between your application’s goals, operating conditions and working budget, so always ask an expert before proceeding.
