Where to Buy LED Flood Lights and How to Select a Suitable One? | Buying Guide

Floodlights are everywhere: around schools, walkways, houses, driveways, malls, stadiums, and other public spaces. They are critical to any lighting plan for security, visibility, and safety. Due to the massive competition in flood light manufacturing, there are many options regardless of the application. LED floodlights are the most popular option for lighting applications due to their versatility, robustness, and customization options.

Finding the most suitable LED floodlight for your project can be challenging. These floodlights come in various shapes, sizes, and brightnesses, among other qualities. Analyzing your application and understanding the features of different types of LED floodlights will help you make the ideal buying decision. This buying guide will cover all LED floodlights' technical and installation aspects.

Types of LED Flood Lights: Essential for Selection

LED floodlights are at the core of SMD chips, illuminating when current passes through them. However, the size of the SMD, the circuit that drives the SMD, and other control aspects make each LED flood light unique. Manufacturers find ways to make different types of LED floodlights suitable for specific tasks. Here are five general types of LED floodlights:

1. Standard LED Flood Lights

These are the most standard types of LED flood lights. Their primary purpose is to illuminate large areas with minimal power consumption. These flood lights consist of LED chips installed within an enclosure that protects against water, dust, impact, and voltage. They provide the maximum value for money, consisting of basic 0-10V and DALI regulation systems. It has a metal casing that allows heat removal from the SMD chips and driver for longevity. They are easy to mount with a simple stand.

Applications: Shopping Malls, Exhibition Halls, Parking Lots, Playgrounds, Gyms, Billboards, Parks, Sculptures, Building Facades, Public Corridors, Stair Corridors, and Indoor and Outdoor Lighting.

2. RGB LED Flood Lights

If you need colorful lighting, RGB LED floodlights are the ideal choice. They are bright and can produce 16.7 million colors by combining the three basic colors: red, green, and blue. While there are many types of RGB LED floodlights, the most popular and advanced are the RGBW LED floodlights, which are multi-purpose. They have an additional White LED chip in case the user needs true white light instead of white generated through an RGB chip combination. The RGB LED floodlights provide versatility through their DMX512 and monochrome operation modes.

Applications: Shopping Malls, Exhibition Halls, Parking Lots, Bridges, Billboards, Parks, and Sculptures.

3. High-Power LED Flood Lights

If an application requires very high brightness, usually in stadiums and sports venues, high-power LED floodlights provide the required specifications. Manufacturers increase the number of SMD chips within the frame to increase illuminance. Depending on the output requirement, they could use SMD2835 or SMD5050 chips. Manufacturers may connect these chips in series and parallel. They provide these details within their LED floodlight specifications. A single high-power LED floodlight can consume up to 500W of power to produce ~340lux on a 314m² area at 10m from the light. We will show you how to calculate these values in a later section.

Applications: Footpaths, Cycleways, Stadiums, Motorway, Rail, Car Parking, Residential, and Road.

4. Motion Activated LED Flood Lights

There are LED flood lights that turn ON/OFF swiftly if the light detects any motion using its PIR sensor, and they are called motion-activated LED flood lights. They are great for security purposes and an excellent choice for unsupervised areas to reduce energy consumption. These lights use infrared technology to detect the movement of warm objects, usually human beings or animals. The rapid triggering of the lights is only possible with LED technology. In terms of technology, these LED lights are similar to other types, and they can be either RGB, RGBW, or Monochromatic, depending on the manufacturer's implementation.

Applications: Factories, Mines, Squares, Transportation Hubs, Stadiums, Golf Courses And Docks.

5. Dusk-to-Dawn LED Flood Lights

Another energy-saving technology in LED flood lights is the dusk-to-dawn type. Forgetting to turn off the lights when the sun rises and turning them on when the sun sets is just another task on your list. A pathway light to the house uses dusk-to-dawn technology. These lights come with a photoelectric cell technology that generates electricity on photon exposure. They are calibrated with sunlight and turned ON/OFF based on the environmental requirements. However, the user must clean their photocell in a dusty environment. Otherwise, they are great for automation on a small scale or independent lighting system.

Applications: Security Lighting, Perimeter Lighting, Commercial Buildings, Warehouses, Industrial Facilities, Driveways, Pathways, Farm and Barn Lighting, Billboard Illumination, House Exteriors, Construction Sites, School and Campus Safety Lighting.

Choosing the Best LED Flood Lights: Key Factors to Consider

You may need to weigh many features and unique aspects before selecting the most suitable one for your application. However, most LED flood lights share similar elements, which we will cover in this section of the blog:

• LED Chips: These are the light-generating part of an LED flood light. Manufacturers may use different brands for their LED chips, like Philips, OSRAM, and LUMILEDS. The efficiency of the flood light depends on the selection of an  LED chip, i.e., lumens of light produced with one watt of electricity consumption (lm/W). Their size and installation configuration also play a vital role in light production. They can be SMD 5050 (5.0mm x 5.0mm) or OSRAM 2835 (2.8mm x 3.5mm). The higher the number of chips in an LED floodlight, the higher its power consumption and light production.
  
  Another specification is chip s/p, which is an essential factor to consider. It is the number of chips in series and parallel. 25S29P means there are 25 LED chips in series and 29 LED chips in parallel. If a chip fails in series, the whole row will stop working, whereas in parallel, if one fails, the other continues to work. The parameter affects the LED flood light's stability, performance, reliability, and safety.

• Drivers: The chips in LED floodlights need constant current to perform stably. The driver regulates the power supply to the LED, ensuring that despite changes in the main line power supply, the output from the driver to the LEDs is stable. A higher-performing driver will ensure light stability with no flickering and stable color temperature.

• Beam Angle: An LED flood light distributes its illumination range through the beam angle, a significant attribute controlling the light's efficiency. LED floodlights operate between 25° and 120° beam angle configurations. A beam angle configuration is an asymmetrical or rectangular lighting arrangement with various spread patterns between opposing directions. The 50° x 120° beam angle is one such configuration.

• Color Temperature: Many factors affect the color temperature of an LED floodlight. These include the types of LED chips, driver voltage and current, phosphor coating on the LED, and the manufacturing bin. Manufacturers mention the color temperature in the specifications for their LEDs. A typical choice is 3000K / 4000K / 5000K / 5700K / 6500K.

• Regulation Technology: The regulation technology can change depending on the type of LED floodlight. There are 0-10V / DALI and ON/OFF / DMX512 regulators. A single-color LED light used for illumination uses a 0-10V / DALI regulator, whereas RGB LED floodlights use DMX512 to produce colors according to user requirements.

• Voltage Range: Different nations and regions maintain separate standards for electrical main lines' voltage and frequency levels. Power delivery from any socket in the USA will range between 110V and 125V but keep a constant 60Hz frequency. Correct operation requires that the light source remain within the voltage specifications set for your area.

• Working Hours: The amount of time the LED can work is a critical factor to consider. LEDs typically have a lifetime of 50,000 hours, which makes them extraordinary compared to other technologies like HID or Halogen lamps. Manufacturers often provide extended warranties, around 5 years, for LED flood lights.

• Ingress Protection: Using LED floodlights in moisture, dust, and rain environments can be challenging. The ingress protection (IP) rating, which usually consists of two digits, represents the degree of protection against dust and water. For example, IP 66 provides six levels of protection against dust and six levels against water. A higher number means better.

• Impact Protection: The IK (Impact Protection) rating represents the kinetic force the light can bear. It is usually two digits, for example, IK08, which means the light is safe from impact energies of up to 5 joules.

• Certifications: LED floodlights may be certified by CE (Conformité Européenne), RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System), ISO 9001 (Quality Management System), ISO 45001 (Occupational Safety & Health Management System), and ISO 50001 (Energy Management System). These certifications can be critical for some regions when it comes to imports.

The Ultimate Guide to Selecting the Right LED Flood Lights

After establishing foundational knowledge, our blog will progress to its primary focus. The ultimate selection guides the right LED floodlights.

1. Determine the Purpose and Application

• Identify where the floodlight will be installed (e.g., security, architectural, industrial).
• Consider indoor vs. outdoor usage requirements.
• Calculate the lux requirement in your project.
  

2. Calculating Lux from LED Flood Light Specification

Take SMD2835 LEDs with 150 lm/W efficiency with beam angle of 120° as example: 

• The floodlight uses SMD2835 LEDs with 150 lm/W efficiency.
• Total Lumens = 500W × 150 lm/W = 75,000 lumens.
• The beam angle is 120°, meaning the light spreads over a wide area.
• User can approximate the illuminated area (A) at a given height (h) using:

A=π×(h×tan(θ/2))²

• Now, at 10m, the floodlight delivers around 239 lux for a 314 m² area.
  
  

3. Choose the Right Type of LED Flood Light

• Standard LED Flood Lights – General area illumination.
• RGB & RGBW LED Flood Lights – Decorative and color-changing applications.
• High-Power LED Flood Lights – Large-scale lighting for stadiums and highways.
• Motion-Activated LED Flood Lights – Security and energy-saving purposes.
• Dusk-to-Dawn LED Flood Lights – Automated lighting for outdoor areas.
  
  

4. Select the Appropriate LED Chip and Efficiency

• Check the lumens per watt (lm/W) to ensure energy efficiency.
• Choose from high-quality LED chip brands like Philips, OSRAM, and LUMILEDS.
  
  

5. Understand Series/Parallel (S/P) Configuration

• Higher parallel chips ensure continued operation if one LED fails.
• A balanced S/P ratio optimizes performance and durability.
  
  

6. Select a High-Quality LED Driver

• Ensure constant current supply for flicker-free performance.
• Consider SOSEN, ZHIHE, or other reliable drivers for longevity.
• Choose the correct control system (0-10V/DALI for dimming, DMX512 for RGB).
  
  

7. Choose the Right Beam Angle

• Narrow (25°-60°): Focused lighting.
• Wide (90°-120°): General illumination.
• Asymmetric (50°x120°, 80°x150°): Rectangular spread for roadways.
  
  

8. Select the Ideal Color Temperature

• 3000K - Warm White: Cozy, soft lighting.
• 4000K - Neutral White: Balanced white light.
• 5000K-6500K - Cool White: Daylight-like brightness.
  
  

9. Verify Voltage and Frequency Compatibility

• Ensure the floodlight matches your regional power supply (e.g., 120V, 60Hz in the USA).
  
  

10. Check IP and IK Ratings for Protection

• IP65/IP66: Waterproof and dustproof for outdoor use.
• IK08 or higher: Impact resistance for durability.
  
  

11. Ensure Certifications and Compliance

• CE, RoHS – Safety and environmental standards.
• ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, 50001 – Quality and efficiency certifications.
  
  

12. Consider Lifespan and Warranty

• Look for 50,000+ hours of lifespan for long-term use.
• Choose products with at least a 5-year warranty.

Where to Find Premium LED Flood Lights?

The selection of an appropriate vendor is vital for proper lighting in different conditions. Here are three leading LED flood light producers that stand out with their exceptional product quality and reliable aftersales service:

● Philips Lighting

The company currently operates under the Signify name and holds international acclaim. It is the leader in the manufacturing of LED products, and its products are reliable and durable, suitable for critical lighting applications. The company has a well-established research and development department that targets innovation.

● CHZ Lighting

They have over 13 years of experience exporting to over 80 countries. Their diverse supply chain, a factory of 12,000 square meters, and an annual production of 1 million sets of LED lamps represent their ability to produce LED floodlights. Their products are ISO and RoHS certified. It also boasts ENEC, ENEC++, CE, CB, and ETL certifications. With high investments in the R&D department, CHZ Lighting is an emerging player in LED.

● GE Lighting

With a legacy of innovation and reliability, GE Lighting has remained a trusted name in the LED industry. The company is known for high-quality LED floodlights designed for industrial, commercial, and outdoor applications. Their energy-efficient solutions focus on delivering high-lumen output, uniform illumination, and long-lasting durability. GE Lighting integrates advanced lighting controls to optimize performance and energy savings. Backed by decades of experience and cutting-edge research, GE Lighting is preferred for high-performance LED solutions worldwide.