LED Flood Lights Guide: Learn from Experts

When it comes to outdoor lighting solutions, LED outdoor flood lights have emerged as the most popular choice for both residential and commercial settings. This is due to flood lights waterproof durability and powerful ultra bright output. In this deep dive into waterproof outdoor LED flood lights, we will delve into their practical applications, industry-standard features, and the key advantages they offer for fulfilling your outdoor lighting requirements, whether for residential or commercial purposes.

What are Outdoor Flood Lights?

Flood lights are high-intensity lighting fixtures designed to emit a broad beam of light across a wide area. Unlike traditional outdoor lights that provide a weaker output of brightness, flood lights are capable of illuminating larger outdoor spaces. This makes LED flood lights the top choice for many commercial and residential lighting solutions that require a more powerful lumen output. For example, you can find outside flood lights being used to light parking lots, retail building exteriors, sports fields, construction sites, and large residential backyards. Flood lights are also known for their flexible mounting options. Exterior LED flood lights are typically mounted to floors, ceilings, walls, poles, and decks. But with so many mounting brackets out there you can practically mount flood lights anywhere you want.

Advantages of LED Flood Lighting

The advantages of LED outdoor flood lights are numerous and diverse, making them a popular choice for various outdoor lighting applications. Some key benefits include:

• Powerful Illumination: LED flood lights produce bright, intense light, ensuring visibility in large outdoor environments. Flood lights are used for outdoor security lighting since they offer a more powerful and intense light output.
• Energy Efficiency: LED technology is highly energy-efficient, consuming significantly less power than traditional lighting sources. This translates to lower energy costs. Business owners like these lights because they can permanently slash their energy costs while having commercial grade durability. It's a great investment if you need to upgrade your outdoor lighting.
• Long Lifespan: LED flood lights have a long operational lifespan, typically lasting tens of thousands of hours before requiring replacement. This results in reduced maintenance and replacement costs over time.
• Durability: LED flood lights are built to withstand harsh outdoor conditions, with rugged construction and weatherproof features that ensure reliable performance in rain, snow, heat, and ice.
• Adjustable Mounting Options: LED flood lights offer versatile mounting options, including ceiling, deck, floor, and pole mounts, allowing for flexible installation options.

Common Uses For Outdoor Flood Lights

Outdoor flood lights are utilized in a wide range of residential and commercial applications to enhance safety, security, and functionality. Some common uses include:

Outdoor Security Lighting

Illuminating building perimeters, entryways, and parking areas to deter intruders and enhance visibility during nighttime hours.

Backyard Lighting

Creating inviting outdoor spaces for relaxation, entertaining, and recreational activities, such as barbecues, parties, and gatherings. It only takes one powerful flood light to light your entire backyard, this makes it a highly cost effective option for people with low budget constraints.

Landscape Lighting

Highlighting landscaping features, trees, pathways, and architectural elements to enhance curb appeal.

Building Exteriors

Accentuating architectural details, signage, and facades to enhance aesthetics and create a welcoming ambiance for visitors.

Flagpole Lighting

Illuminating flags, banners, and monuments to showcase national pride, commemorate events, and enhance visibility around the flags landscape below.

Construction Sites

Providing temporary lighting solutions for construction projects, roadwork, and outdoor work areas to ensure safety and productivity. Construction sites always go with flood lighting because they produce the brightest light at a low price. Plus, they offer better mounting options, waterproof durability, and corrosion resistance.

How To Install Outdoor Flood Lights

Installing outdoor flood lights requires little to no planning. Attach the flood light to a mounting bracket and attach the bracket to the surface using power tools. Some key installation steps include:

1. Determine Mounting Location: Identify the desired mounting location for the flood lights, taking into account factors such as height, angle, and proximity to power sources.
2. Select Mounting Method: Choose the appropriate mounting method based on the installation site and structural requirements, such as ceiling, deck, floor, or pole mounts.
3. Secure Wiring: Connect the flood lights to a power source using weatherproof wiring, ensuring proper grounding and insulation to prevent electrical hazards.
4. Adjust Beam Angle: Adjust the beam angle of the flood lights to achieve optimal coverage and illumination for the intended area. I would recommend getting a flood light with a knuckle mount base so you can move the head around, not all flood lights have an adjustable base.
5. Test and Adjust: Test the flood lights to ensure proper operation and alignment, making any necessary adjustments to optimize brightness, coverage, and directionality.

What Is The Best LED Outdoor Flood Light?

I would steer clear of buying a flood light that lacks any of these features. The features below are industry standard and anything short of that is not a good LED flood light. 

• Adjustable Knuckle Mount: Look for flood lights with adjustable knuckle mounts that offer flexibility in positioning and aiming the light beam.
• Color Temperature Options: Only choose flood lights with selectable color temperature options, such as warm white, cool white, and daylight, to customize the lighting ambiance for different outdoor settings.
• IP65 Waterproof Rating: Ensure that the flood lights have a high waterproof rating, such as IP65, to withstand exposure to rain, snow, ice, and thick humidity without compromising performance.
• High Lumen Output: Select flood lights with a high lumen output to provide bright, uniform illumination across large outdoor areas, ensuring maximum visibility and security. And I would consider a high lumen output to be in the range of 2100-12600 Lumens. If you are unsure about lumens, read the article we wrote about Lumens and common lighting terms.
• Universal Voltage Range: Almost the most important feature for flood lights is a universal voltage range of 120 to 277 Volts. This is crucial for compatibility with different electrical systems. Ensure your flood light has a 120-277 voltage range to prevent big installation problems or having to return your flood light fixture for a refund.

Common LED Outdoor Flood Lights FAQ

How Do You Position And Aim Flood Lights?

To position and aim flood lights, mount them high up using the correct mounting bracket and angle them downward using an adjustable knuckle mount arm. You can also find adjustable mounting brackets for even more flexibility. Use both positions of your flood light head.

Are Flood Lights Water Resistant Or Waterproof?

Flood lights can be water-resistant or waterproof, with their level of protection indicated by their IP (Ingress Protection) rating. Flood lights with an IP65 rating are considered waterproof, but this does not mean you can submerge your flood light in a tank of water. Technically waterproofed products can be completely submerged in water for long periods of time. All LED lighting experts all agree any flood light with an IP65 rating is in fact waterproof against heavy rain and snow. Technically it can't be underwater but the industry has unanimously considered an IP65 light fixture safe to use in heavy rainy conditions all year round.

How Do I Choose Brightness And Color Temperature Of Flood Lights?

To choose the brightness and color temperature of flood lights, consider the lumens for brightness (with higher lumens indicating more light output) and Kelvin for color temperature (lower Kelvin for warmer, yellowish light and higher Kelvin for cooler, bluish light), based on the desired visibility and ambiance.

How Many Lumens For Outdoor Security Light?

For outdoor security lights, around 2100 to 12600 lumens is typically sufficient. Large space should get 7050 lumens or more.

How Many Lumens For Backyard Flood Light?

Use 2100 lumens for a small backyard, and anything from 7050 above for large backyards.

What Wattage For Outdoor Lights?

15 to 90 watts is the standard.

What Is The Brightest Outdoor Led Flood Light?

The brightest outdoor LED flood lights can range upwards of 12600 lumens, with some high-performance models offering even greater brightness for special applications.

How Many Lumens For Outdoor Flood Light?

Aim for around 2100 to 12600 lumens. That's a range most top rated flood lights use.

What Are The Benefits Of Using Led Flood Lights For Outdoor Security?

Flood lights are the go to choice for security lighting, and nothing comes close. LED flood lights offer a more intense bright light than other types of outdoor lights while having a lower energy consumption, longer lifespan, and the ability to operate in a wide range of harsh conditions without decreased performance.

Conclusion

In conclusion, LED outdoor flood lights offer a versatile and efficient lighting solution for a wide range of residential and commercial applications. With their powerful illumination, energy-efficient performance, and durable construction, these lights provide enhanced safety, security, and functionality in outdoor spaces. Whether used for security lighting, landscape lighting, or garden lighting, LED flood lights are an indispensable asset for businesses and homeowners, due to its affordability, waterproof durability, flexible mounting options, and ultra bright lumen output.

Shop NuWatt’s selection of durable, high quality LED Outdoor Floodlights today!