Leds: What You Need To Know About Outdoor Lighting

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Leds: What You Need To Know About Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor lighting has some more demanding requirements than indoor lighting. Some parameters and conditions must be considered in order to choose the right product. We are going to help you achieve it with everything you need to take into account to buy LED lighting and thus get the most out of it.

First, we need to determine the degree of protection of the product. Not all outdoor lights have the same degree of protection against environmental agents, such as rain, moisture, dust, and insects.

The degree of protection is determined through an IP ("Ingress Protection") and two subsequent numbers. The first number indicates protection from solid external agents, and the highest reference value it can reach is "6". The second number indicates protection against liquids, and the highest mark with which it can be found is "9". The IP65 grade is optimal for outdoors, with the maximum IP67 suitable for immersion in liquids.

Proper protection from external agents ensures the service life of the lighting product. If it is not completely waterproof or has poor protection, it will be greatly damaged at the first rubbing with rainwater or direct contact with elements, which can reach the power supply and generate a short circuit that would permanently damage the luminaire. Depending on the type of electrical installation, it could also harm the rest of the network or other elements installed in it, such as appliances, motors and computing chips.

Be aware: In the market, some products claim to be waterproof but after brief exposures to the elements, the moisture seeps into the internal compartment. Due to the expansion and contraction of the materials produced by the passage of the "on" (heat = expansion) and "off" (cold = contraction) states this poor protection forces moisture into the product. It can usually be seen in the front glass, but it affects the performance of the LED, accelerating its "aging" and subsequent total damage.

Outdoor LED Reflectors

The reflectors have a rear attachment arm to calibrate their orientation once installed. The most common orientation is 180 degrees: up, forward, down, or diagonally.

The type of reflector we choose will depend on the characteristics of the installation. Some products require lighting to be done upwards and others to be downwards. Many times, upward lighting is intended to illuminate a building or highlight the canopy of a tree or column. The effect it produces on vision is to enlarge the illuminated object upwards. It is not a kind of lighting recommended for poor quality reflectors, since the heatsink is against the floor and, if it is also not good, it can burn the reflector in a jiffy.

Another important aspect is the height at which we will install the reflector: the larger, the greater the coverage space and the lower its intensity. If the reflector is placed close to the floor and pointing downwards, the light will be concentrated.

Types of reflectors

Here is a list of reflector models with the detail of the needs it solves. Most of them are available with Zenitron Luminaires.

  • Slim reflector: It is the best-known model. It comes with black housing and COB LED. It maintains an aesthetic similar to conventional reflectors, and that is why it is widely used to replace them, in addition to installations where functionality prevails over aesthetic performance.
  • Slim reflector with sensor: On the same standard format, this model is controlled by two integrated sensors, which allow the regulation of the lighting of the reflector autonomously and independently. The first sensor is a photodetector and is sensitive to ambient lighting. By regulating the sensitivity of this sensor, the lighting can be controlled, for example, based on sunlight, establishing its lighting at nightfall. The second sensor detects motion, and by regulating its sensitivity a sensing area can be established. This system also has a time regulator, which allows you to establish the lighting period that each activation will have, to determine how long we want it to operate. This model of reflectors is widely used in security applications, such as access to private buildings, courtyards or internal gardens, and commercial premises. It also serves spaces of little use that require automation in the lighting of the light, such as parking lots or warehouses.
  • Slim RGB reflector: Identical aesthetics to the Slim COB but with RGB LED, it can be controlled through a remote, with which you can choose a variety of 16 fixed colors. It also gets dimmer, to regulate the intensity of light and 4 direct change effects. It has an average range of 20 meters.
  • Ultra Slim reflector: it is the thinnest model. It comes with an ultra-modern white housing, COB LED, and a diffuser lens. The line has a discreet and white aesthetic, which is why it is chosen for visually exposed luminaires. Due to its dissipation power, it can be placed at any angle: the heat generated will not affect the LED.
  • Nautical Reflector: curved white housing with multi-LED SMD plate, it is the preferred line of shipping companies. Its white, smooth, and curved aesthetic give it a nautical identity. Like the Ultra Slim line, it is used as an exposed luminaire. It is very suitable for private homes and elegant commercial premises.
  • Neo Reflector: Neo-type curved housing, this line of reflectors is the most robust of all. With SMD multi-LED board, its curved format is an ideal alternative to replace the standard line with a modern and novel product. The line is one of the most required, especially because its price barely exceeds that of the Slimline. It is the preferred option of those looking for a touch of distinction at an affordable cost, especially in the context of rising rates.
  • Square Reflector: It has a square housing, a large rear heatsink in sight, and a multi-LED SMD plate. It has an industrial aesthetic: robust and strong, ideal for sheds, warehouses, parking lots, and sports courts.

The reflectors come from different powers, whose choice will depend on the surface to be illuminated and the amount of light required for the space.

Decorative lighting

The most recurrent is outdoor LED lighting that aims to enlighten a garden, a balcony, or a portion of territory exposed to environmental conditions. But many technicians and professionals come to it for decorative purposes: to highlight objects in height, columns, water tanks, side walls of buildings, windows, or the perimeter. With RGB reflectors with multi-color LED lights, countless lighting effects can be achieved.

At Zenitron Luminaires, we recommend you choose a reflector that meets the lighting expectations and also stands out aesthetically: nothing better than finding the balance to meet our needs as well as our tastes.