Flood lights ?
Discussion
Just finishing off our house and need some flood lights / security lights. We have the full electric gates / alarm etc etc and have some very average flood lights at the moment .
Are there any really good ones that last for a while and are really good quality ?
Are there any really good ones that last for a while and are really good quality ?
Edited by phib on Tuesday 8th December 17:42
I only ask as I have one alloy type one ( that I assume was a little bit more expensive) that has never had an issue in the last 5 years and only needed one bulb.
The slightly never ones ( of which we have four) seem to be replaced every year or so and the bulbs seems to blow every 6 to 9 months.
Just really fed up of seemingly constantly replacing the cheap ones, they always seem to blow just when you need them !!
Just wondering what the options were.
Phib
The slightly never ones ( of which we have four) seem to be replaced every year or so and the bulbs seems to blow every 6 to 9 months.
Just really fed up of seemingly constantly replacing the cheap ones, they always seem to blow just when you need them !!
Just wondering what the options were.
Phib
It's really important when installing lamps in the floodlights that use the typical 300W or 500W halogen lamps that you do not touch the glass of the lamp with your bare skin. A small amount of oil transferred from the skin causes the lamp to overheat and shortens it's life considerably.
Usually the lamps are supplied in a cardboard box with the lamp itself in a plastic bag or bubble wrap. Remove the lamp without touching the glass (the ceramic connectors at the ends are fine to touch) and install using the plastic bag / bubble wrap to hold the bulb. Also, try to keep the glass fronts of the housings clean. Dirt can act as an insulator causing the lamp to overheat and shorten it's life.
Essentially, any floodlamp using these type of 'bar' lamps is as good as the next one provided it's watertight. They are pretty crude devices when all said and done, so just buy cheapie alloy ones and ditch them when they get knacked.
Usually the lamps are supplied in a cardboard box with the lamp itself in a plastic bag or bubble wrap. Remove the lamp without touching the glass (the ceramic connectors at the ends are fine to touch) and install using the plastic bag / bubble wrap to hold the bulb. Also, try to keep the glass fronts of the housings clean. Dirt can act as an insulator causing the lamp to overheat and shorten it's life.
Essentially, any floodlamp using these type of 'bar' lamps is as good as the next one provided it's watertight. They are pretty crude devices when all said and done, so just buy cheapie alloy ones and ditch them when they get knacked.
Unfortunately lamp life on linear halogen lamps is pretty poor, and other light sources that'll give you the same level of light tend to be discharge, halide, fluorescent all of which won't give full brightness immediately.
Steinel make some better than average quality floodlights and also some LED ones that look interesting, if they're as bright as claimed, which I'll believe when I see it.
I did a big house recently where the 4 500w floods went on a 2kW dimmer- the soft starting and running of them at 80-90% of full voltage should double if not treble lamp life. bit overkill for most people though.
Steinel make some better than average quality floodlights and also some LED ones that look interesting, if they're as bright as claimed, which I'll believe when I see it.
I did a big house recently where the 4 500w floods went on a 2kW dimmer- the soft starting and running of them at 80-90% of full voltage should double if not treble lamp life. bit overkill for most people though.
We live out in the country and dont really have any neighbours to speak of. Our main concern is security and as much light as possible.
At the moment we have 3 500w's on the front one on the back and one on the side as well as 2 on the garage. So we are quite keen on them !!
Always have changed the bulb without touching the bulb but doesent seem to make any difference.
Thanks for the info so far
Phib
At the moment we have 3 500w's on the front one on the back and one on the side as well as 2 on the garage. So we are quite keen on them !!
Always have changed the bulb without touching the bulb but doesent seem to make any difference.
Thanks for the info so far
Phib
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