LED Flood Lights: What Separates the Best From…Everything Else

Whether or not an LED flood light has been properly tested can have a huge impact on the way it performs.

After all, business owners depend on the reliability of flood lights for added security and protection at night. One that fails without warning can have a huge impact on a bottom line, deterring potential customers from becoming, well, customers.

And – most importantly – not deterring thieves from having a field day. Not to mention, the amount of time and money you’ll spend replacing fixtures that don’t work as promised.

There’s a solution to this madness, and it comes in the form of quality testing.

You might be aware of certain quality tests already. Whenever a product bears one of these certifications, you’ll find these logos branded onto its packaging or website. That’s your first green light.

4 Outdoor LED Flood Light Certifications You Should Always Look For

• One of the most recognized independent leaders in quality testing in the world
• Tests for the risk of fire, shock, and falling, ensuring that your fixture is safe to use

• One of the fastest growing certifications, now found on tons of products.
• Tests to UL standards, to make sure products stay within the range of widely accepted safety guidelines.

• Nonprofit organization that promotes high quality, energy efficient lighting
• Requires a fixture to have a 5-year warranty in order to even be considered for this certification. Translation: DLC means business. Not literally, though.

• Regulates “interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable in all 50 states.”
• Electromagnetic interference testing to make sure levels stay within safe limits
• Most LED’s use an electronic driver that operates in radio frequencies that are similar to electronic devices. Which is why they’re subject to the same regulations.

In order to get these certifications, a flood light fixture has to go through a series of tests.

4 Tests The Best Flood Lights Should Pass

• Thermal management is the most important factor when determining successful performance of an LED.
• Outdoor luminaires must operate in a wide range of temperatures. Which is exactly why we test to make sure it can withstand all levels of heat
• In this type of test, the product is rotated into two different temperature extremes (scorching and freezing). Over and over. What we’re looking for is that all the components keep their robustness and survive. This way, you can feel confident that they’ll perform just as well, if not better, under normal operating conditions.

• Maybe your lighting’s survived heat, freezing cold, and rain, but can it survive the perilous journey from our warehouse to your front door? That’s where the drop test comes in. It ensures that once you get the package, it’s in ready-to-install condition.

• Typically used for outdoor fixtures.
• Makes sure that your luminaire stays on its pole without any problems after it’s been exposed to movement or vibrations.

• Makes sure products are sealed tightly enough that no water can seep inside.
• Ensures it can withstand the elements.

Frequently Asked Questions About LED Flood Lights

How long should a quality tested flood light last?

As far as lumen depreciation of your average LED’s, we’re talking 30,000 to 50,000 hours of life. Guess what? Ours aren’t average; they last anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 hours of life. Meaning, if you operate it at an average of 12 hours/night, that comes to anywhere from 12 to 22 years.

Which is potentially longer than it takes for your kids to finally move out of the house.

Not a bad deal, huh?

What should I look for when buying an exterior LED flood light?

First, you want to look for a reputable retailer with a proven track record of providing high quality products. Visit their website. Look up reviews. Do your homework. You’ll save so much time and money in the end, rather than choosing a pop-up, fly-by-night retailer selling subpar products. And trust us, there are many.

Second, certifications, of course. They should be on the packaging. Look for the ones we listed earlier in this article, to name a few. (For those who don’t like to scroll: UL, DLC, & FCC.)

Third, you’ll want to look for something that’s robust and durable enough to withstand different weather patterns – anything from flaming heat to freezing. (Ideally, you’re somewhere in between, but we’re not judging.)

Since options are great, flood lights come in many different light pattern choices, making them a highly flexible form of outdoor lighting. Whether it’s a parking lot, walkway, or building facades.

Choose your beam angle wisely.

Maybe you need a narrower beam if you’re lighting something smaller from a far distance. Or maybe a wider beam is more your speed, if you’re trying to generally light a ground area.

So? Convinced yet that quality testing an LED flood light is the way to go?

Think of it this way:

You either buy the cheapest flood light fixture money can buy—or, heck, even an expensive one, thinking you’re paying for quality—when, really, neither has been third-party certified. Meaning, it’s only a matter of time before you need to replace it.

Good news:

Better news:

Have more questions? Or just need help picking the perfect lighting for your next application? We have people for that. More specifically, lighting experts standing by to help with anything from layout to installation troubleshooting.

Give them a call at 1-888-243-9445.

Best news:

You’ve got the great prices; you’ve got the certifications; you’ve got the free lighting experts. Did we mention the warranties? Many of our flood light fixtures come backed by a 5-year warranty. Which means you’ll never have to worry about it again. Problem down the road? Unlikely.

But, just in case, know we’ve got you covered.

Article Written by Eddie A.

Eddie is a Product Marketing Manager. His goal is to get reliable and safe products into the hands of customers—all at an affordable price. His client-focused initiatives bring high-quality products to market that exceed consumer expectations while fulfilling the purpose they were designed to achieve.