LED outdoor spotlights: Now it's really bright - where it's needed
All-round light, as with ceiling lights, makes little sense outdoors (except perhaps on a cosy patio). Because where the ceiling and walls reflect the light in the living room, creating a beautiful basic brightness, outside there is ... nothing. For this reason, direct light outdoors is the only way to get enough light where it is needed, for example at the entrance to a garage. A bright option for this: **LED outdoor spotlights.
How are LED outdoor spotlights connected?
From the electrician! At least if it is a luminaire to be wired. The electrician takes a look at the enclosed installation instructions to ensure that everything runs smoothly and safely, installs the part for you and you can enjoy the best light without any worries.
Installation is much less complicated with ground spike lights, most of which work via a plug (or no longer need a cable at all thanks to solar technology). You can also plug, unplug and try out as much as you like with a clear conscience. After all, ground spike lights are designed to remain flexible in terms of location. As long as the earthy surface yields to the ground spike, your flowerbed, the structured façade or the brand-new garden gnome will be illuminated.
You can, for example, plug the plugs of these lights into path lights that are equipped with additional sockets, which saves you having to plug the extension cable into the nearest socket (which, in the worst case, is somewhere in the living room).
Then lay the cables in such a way that nobody trips over them or drives over them with their car.
How many watts does an outdoor LED spotlight need?
This is due to the product and is not directly related to brightness** (and that's exactly what you want to know, isn't it?). The reason why watts do not equal brightness is that the luminous efficacy of LEDs differs significantly. For example, some high-quality LED outdoor spotlights have a power consumption of 48 watts for a brightness of over 4,000 lumens. However, other LED outdoor spotlights can consume significantly more power and generate less brightness. The quality of the LEDs is decisive.
By contrast, LEDs are always superior to halogen lamps: a halogen lamp with a power consumption of 48 watts only produces 700 lumens. In this example, the luminous efficacy of LEDs is around six times higher and the saving effect six times greater.
The power consumption for an LED outdoor spotlight with 2,000 lumen brightness is around 20 watts, but this also varies depending on the model and quality of the LEDs.
If you want to know how bright _an LED outdoor spotlight is, use the "luminous flux (in lumen)" value, which you will find on every LED product, whether lamp or luminaire, in the shop.
What protection rating does an outdoor LED spotlight need?
Most LED outdoor spotlights for mounting on the wall (the brightness dispensers for courtyards, driveways etc.) have protection class IP44. This indicates protection against foreign bodies >= 1mm and against splash water.
However, the degree of protection must always be selected according to the place of use. For example, spotlights near ponds must have IP67 (protected against temporary submersion). Even IP68 for constant contact with water.
As you will be employing an electrician to install the product anyway, he will be able to tell you exactly whether your product is suitable.
If you - understandably - want to know more about this before you buy, ask our specialist advisors. You will find the contact form below._
How bright should an outdoor LED spotlight be?
This is decided by the place of use. Because it makes a difference whether you want to illuminate a single tree or a small flower bed in your garden, the entrance to the carport at your beautiful country cottage - or the entire car park of a company site (for which you definitely need more than a single luminaire).
The selection of products is correspondingly varied in terms of brightness. From 12-lumen LED spotlights for the flower bed to high-performance spotlights with 4,000 lumens or more, everything is available.
For a standard garage entrance (for which most people use an outdoor spotlight), outdoor LED spotlights with 700 to 1,600 lumens are used. These values are achieved, for example, by the high-quality LED outdoor spotlight series XLED from Steinel.
Outdoor spotlights with LED or halogen: Which is better?
Modern outdoor spotlights work with LED. The high light output of halogen can now be achieved with LEDs. In addition, LEDs offer the possibility of further light customisation, as is also used in the smart home (assuming appropriate smart home products). Halogen lights simply cannot do this.
LEDs are summarised as follows:
- More environmentally friendly thanks to high luminous efficacy
- Largely maintenance-free thanks to long service life
- Suitable for motion detectors, as 100 % brightness is achieved immediately
- due to its switching resistance insensitive to frequent switching in areas with high footfall and with automatic light routines in smart homes
Are there LED outdoor spotlights with continuous light?
If the outdoor spotlight does not permanently illuminate the company sign in the dark or the ground spike spotlight only illuminates the flower bed from time to time, the judgement is probably: "Sit, 6!" or "Missed the point!" Because such areas should be permanently illuminated. Most ground or ground spike spotlights provide constant light. This is no different for LED outdoor spotlights without motion detectors.
However, if a built-in motion detector comes into play, e.g. to illuminate the driveway, then the lights are designed for maximum energy-efficient use and switch light (only) as required.
But who needs permanent lighting for garage entrances? After all, the garage is only half as interesting if your new sports car isn't parked in front of it.
Our tip: Consciously opt for a light with continuous light or with automatic switching in the form of a motion detector _.
Which materials are of particularly high quality for LED outdoor spotlights?
An outdoor LED spotlight like this has to be able to withstand a lot, because it is exposed to all weathers all year round. As with other outdoor lights, a light made of stainless steel is always very robust. But this also applies to high-quality processed plastics and other metals. With brands such as Ledvance, Brennenstuhl or STEINEL, you can expect the best quality regardless of the material.
Which LED outdoor spotlights can do even more?
When it comes to LED outdoor spotlights for garage entrances, one thing is certain: the luminaire must be able to illuminate the garage entrance safely. Because this task is the most important for your safety. The same applies to LED outdoor spotlights for other areas, e.g. the house entrance. Always tick the most important task that your new spotlight should fulfil first. Then nothing speaks against a few extras:
- Change the colour of the light by remote control: possible without WLAN e.g. with the products from iDual
- Programming light routines and thus creating a presence simulation: possible with smart home solutions for outdoor use, e.g. PHILIPS Hue
- Always know what's happening outside the front door: with the camera lights from Lutec or STEINEL - intercom system included
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