ZHL lighting group have been widely recognized by the industry as the top manufacturer for outdoor floodlights. In this episode, Our team of engineers will explain how to choose the right floodlight product.
If you are a contractor or electrician, it is important for your customers to have the suitable flood lighting installed in their outdoor spaces. Quality floodlight provides additional safety, security and optimum efficiency to a wide range of area lighting applications. Industrial areas, sports facilities, billboards, recreational facilities, ports, parking lots and driving ranges to name a few!
“As a contractor it can be daunting to choose ‘Right First Time’ outdoor floodlights considering heaps of choices out there.”
However, as a real professional, you would like to see quality, efficiency and low maintenance professional fittings to keep your clients happy. We would like to share our experience when choosing the Right First Time floodlights. Following these simple 6 steps should help in your buying journey.
“Safety standards,
height, angle, glare and
energy efficiency of your
fittings could make a
big difference in final
output for the spot you
want to illuminate.”
LOCATION. LOCATION. LOCATION.
Like any other type of lighting it is key to determine what kind of facility and area you will be installing floodlights to cover with light. Safety standards, height, angle, glare and energy efficiency of your fittings could make a big difference in final output for the spot you want to illuminate. Make sure to also consider obstacles such as moving trucks, doors, drainage; distance from neighbouring property; and energy consumption in the early stage of your project.
COLOUR TEMPERATURE
Colour temperature is a key specification when you’re looking for a specific application. For security, go for cool white (4000 K) or daylight colour temperature (6000 K), because it appears brighter to human eyes and more pre-emptive. If you’re working and playing under cooler light, it looks more natural and helps you to be more alert and concentrate on the job at hand. If you want to enhance architecture, warm colour temperature (3000 K) will create a welcoming and cosy feel. You might have observed that effect in many façade and hospitality applications. See the surface and test colour temperatures to enhance the area or architecture.
BRIGHTNESS
Lumens vs Watts War: Lumens equals brightness and watts does not. Not that watts are bad, as they help us with energy use. Floodlights output anything between 2,000-202,000 lumens. Choose lumens depending on the size of the area you want to illuminate. Small residential areas like backyard might use 2000 lumens, whereas large commercial areas like car parks might need 20,000+ lumens. Again, height and angles of installation also helps in choosing the right lumens for your floodlight.
“The good optical
control of LEDs means that
they deliver the light
where it is needed and
reduce spill and pollution
at the same time to keep
the neighbours happy!”
POLLUTION
When designing any kind of lighting outdoors, you should always minimise upward light. This is purely wasted energy and contributes to sky glow or light pollution. The good optical control of LEDs means that they deliver the light where it is needed and reduce pollution at the same time.
UPGRADE TO LED FLOODLIGHTS, LED’S TALK!
Three major advantages of using LEDs outside are their long life, reduced maintenance and better beam control. This leads to energy and cost savings for your customers. Contrary to most conventional lamps, in well designed fixtures, LEDs do not fail abruptly (or catastrophically). Instead, their light output deteriorates over time. Luminaire life, on the other hand, has to do with the reliability of the components of an LED luminaire as a system, including the electronics, materials, housing, wiring, connectors, seals and so on.
KEY FEATURES AND BENEFITS YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR;
- High Performing Optics that deliver maximum application coverage without being obtrusive.
- Efficient LED Thermal Design Fins on the back of the luminaires can ensure good heat dissipation; these create airflow around the housing to prevent dirt from settling on the luminaire.
- More energy savings for example, system efficacy over 120lm/w generates more than 50% in energy savings compared to conventional floodlights.
- Easy to install for example, factory fitted cables and tool-less opening reduces installation and maintenance time.
- Flexibility in optical beam choices (symmetric wide and, asymmetric medium and wide) will suit most lighting application needs.
- Excellent reliability meaning 15KV/KA surge protection and non-corrosive die-cast aluminium housing and bracket means you can install in harsh environments.
- Long-lasting for example, Lifetime 50,000 hours at L70 means that after 50,000 hours, the LEDs are emitting 70% of their original output.
