What exactly does beam angle mean and how does it affect my choices in LED light bulbs?
It’s not exactly what you may think and the value designations such as WF and VWF (wide flood and very wide flood) change according to bulb type. The brightest light emitted from a LED light source is directly below it. As the light spreads, the intensity decreases. The beam angle is measured at the points where the light is emitting 50% of the brightest reading. This can be illustrated in a cone shape as shown in the diagram. LED light bulbs with the tightest concentration of light are called spots. Those with a wider light spread are called floods. There are several designations as described below. As you can see , the widest flood (FL) is 60 degrees + in an MR16 and 160 degrees + in a PAR lamp. This will make a very large difference in the lamp you should choose for your particular application. VNSP – Very Narrow Spot MR16: Less than 7 degrees PAR: Less than 15 degrees NSP – Narrow Spot MR16: 8 to 15 degrees PAR: 16 to 30 degrees SP – Spot MR16: 16 to 22 degrees PAR: 31 to 60 degrees NFL – Narrow Flood MR16: 23 to 35 degrees PAR: 61 to 90 degree FL – Flood MR16: 36 to 45 degrees PAR: 91 to 120 degree WFL – Wide Flood MR16: 46 to 59 degrees PAR: 121 to 160 degree VWFL – Very Wide Flood MR16: Greater than
60 degrees PAR: Greater than 160 degree LED MR16 Bulbs
LED MR16 bulbs are frequently found in track lighting and are typically 12VDC. There are also MR16 bulbs with a GU10 base which operate directly at 120VAC. These small, compact lamps are great for accent lighting. Track heads and fixtures are in many cases much smaller than a fixture for a PAR or R type lamp. These are intended to cover a smaller area than a PAR or R lamp. Be guided accordingly. LED PAR bulbs are also found in track lighting, frequently in exposed lamp gimbal rings. They are also frequently seen in recessed ceiling fixtures, and are used as spotlights and floodlights indoors and outdoors. The available beam spread is much wider, offering you much more coverage. In a future article, we’ll discuss lumen output and other considerations for choosing the correct LED light bulbs for the job. Keep in mind that lumen output in most cases is also measured ‘at the source’. That means you can use the image first above in order to understand that. Lumen output is not measured in the areas where light output begins to decrease. Do you need help selecting the right LED products for your lighting project? There is no such thing as a stupid question, so don’t hesitate to ask for help. That’s why we’re here. Contact us now for personal, complete service.
By: Mary Wecker
