Flood
Typically casts a wider beam
than a bullet—40 degrees or
more—and is brighter than a
wash light. A collar minimizes
side glare. Use sparingly to light
up tall trees or wide house
facades.
Shown: CM.895 by CopperMoon
with 20-watt halogen, about
$100; CopperMoon
Should You Pay More for LEDs?
With no filament to break or burn out, LEDs can last 40,000
hours, approximately 20 years of regular use, compared with
just two years for halogen bulbs. LEDs are also extremely
efficient, sipping 1 to 11 watts of power versus 20 to 60 watts
for halogens.
That means lower installation costs due to smaller
transformers and cables, lower operating costs, and reduced
maintenance, for up to a 50-percent savings over halogen
systems in the course of 15 years.
But LEDs have their drawbacks, chiefly their high initial cost—
about $40 per bulb, compared with about $5 for a similar
halogen. Also, many LEDs have a cold blue light with a color
temperature around 6,000 K (kelvins).
Look instead for a warm-color temperature, about 3,000 K.
And don't forget to look at light output, in lumens, to make
sure you're getting enough brightness. LED performance is
improving, but it still lags behind that of halogens. Dismal
output is the biggest knock against solar-powered fixtures,
which all use LEDs. They might have enough glow to define
a garden edge but not to light up your house.
Illustration by Arthur Mount; Photo inset: Andrew McCaul
