Outdoor flood lights can be purchased in a huge array of sizes, styles, and intensity. One may see an outdoor flood light at a movie premier or grand opening, blasting a high intensity beam into the night sky. At a large sporting event, arrays of these lights, with power usage measured in the hundreds of thousands of watts, will light the seating areas and playing fields. On the other hand, a small flood light might be used to highlight a garden fountain or bed of flowers.
As most people would have little use for illuminating a 90,000 seat stadium, the vast majority of outdoor flood lights are geared towards home or business use. Far and way the most prevalent purpose of these lights is for security. Sometimes one needs a flood light that will completely eliminate dark shadows. At other times, only a moderate glow is needed.
Several varieties of energy-efficient outdoor flood lights are currently on the market. Solar powered flood lights do not throw out a huge beam, however they will provide enough light to detect intruders on a property. After the initial purchase of unit and bulb, solar flood lights entail zero energy cost. They are totally powered by the rays of the sun, with energy stored in batteries.
Light Emitting Diode (LED) flood lights are also an efficient choice. Though their power level is generally only between 40 and 70 watts, some LED models of over 100 watts are available. One of the primary advantages of LED flood lights is that they use approximately 60 percent less energy than their electric counterparts.
Compact fluorescent flood lights (CFL) are not extremely popular, but they can be a good choice when a low intensity light source is required. They often range from approximately 10 to 40 watts. One will often install a CFL over a garage door or home entryway. In addition, outdoor flood lights that are seen most every evening, and rarely noticed because of their prevalence, are mercury vapor lamps (MVL). Most people would know these by their more common name of “street lights.”
By far the most popular models of outdoor flood lights are high power, electrically powered, quartz halogen lights. These lights often throw out a brilliant beam in the hundreds, or even thousands, of watts. Often, they are equipped with motion sensors, turning on automatically if an unwanted visitor enters a restricted perimeter, Quartz halogen bulbs are the ultimate in security flood lights, useful for homes, business property, and even for illuminating park playgrounds and tennis courts.