There can be a lot of technical terms thrown around when purchasing lighting. However with the copious benefits to LED lighting, especially the low costs and energy-efficiency, this should be no obstacle to stop you buying it.

In the first of our jargon-busting series, we’ll explain the terminology that can help you when purchasing LED floodlights, covering what different parameters mean, what you should be looking out for, and the options you should consider amongst the different products available to you.

Brightness: Unlike in traditional lighting solutions where wattage is the best measure for brightness, when it comes to LEDs the measure of brightness is given by lumens, a measure of luminous flux often written with the unit lm. Wattage in this scenario indicates power consumption. For an LED floodlight in a smaller, residential setting somewhere in the range of 1000lm-2000lm will provide ample brightness. For larger areas, such as car parks, look more at the 10000lm or higher.

Beam Angle: The coverage of LED flood lights is directly proportional to the beam angle. Therefore, a wider beam angle is recommended for lighting larger spaces. This will ensure that a greater area is covered by the light.

Colour Temperature: The choice of colour temperature for LED flood lights should be based on the intended use. For security lighting, cool white light (6000K) or natural white light (4000K) is recommended as it is more visible to the human eye and serves as a deterrent. For ambient and facade lighting, warm white light (3000K) is preferred as it creates a welcoming and cosy atmosphere. It is advisable to test the colours on the surfaces of the structure to ensure compatibility.

IP Rating: An IP rating, or Ingress Protection rating, is a measure of how well an electrical system within a device is protected from foreign bodies getting inside, both solid and liquid. As LED flood lights are intended for outdoor use, it is imperative that they have a minimum IP65 rating to ensure water resistance. A lower rating means it is susceptible to damage from the elements resulting in a significantly shorter life span. Therefore, it is recommended to ensure that the flood lights are IP65 rated or higher to guarantee their water resistance.

These are the basic terms that you will probably encounter when selecting LED floodlights. If you are in the market for an LED lighting product and have further questions about what would be best for your space, our team of lighting experts at Reddilight can guide you through the vast product selection and give recommendations on which LED light(s) that will be the best for you. Get in touch via the form on our Contact Us page and we’ll happily provide our advice.