Mercury Vapor is a type of high pressure or HID lighting mainly used for outdoor street lights and floodlights. However, in recent years there has been wide debate about replacing them with outdoor LED lights. Due to their higher efficiency, overall cost savings and materials.

What Are Mercury Vapor Lights?

Mercury vapor lights are high intensity discharge lamps. They have long lifespans and produce very clear white light. In recent years they were the most popular type of outdoor street light and floodlight application. The light mercury vapor lights produce is great for the outdoors and they can run for a long time. Despite their clear beams and long lifespan, they do have some cons.

Mercury Vapor Cons

Warm up: One of the most obvious issues with mercury vapor lights is their warm-up time. Sometimes even taking up to 4-7 minutes to full warm up. For outdoor lighting solutions and especially security lighting this can be an issue.

Mercury: Mercury is not an environmentally friendly substance. End users have to follow strict protocol when disposing of mercury vapor lamps.

Blue/Green Light: Due to the chemicals used in these types of lights their beam has a blue/green tinge. Due to their lower CRI and odd coloring they’re better for outdoor applications. Making them not totally applicable for every scenario.

LED Lights

LED lights are the most recent energy efficient lighting solutions on the market. Their beams come from LED chips. Their use of LED chips make them more energy efficient, run at lower temperatures and be more adaptable than their previous lighting counterparts. LED lights can come in the form strips or LED lights meaning they’re suitable for any scenario. Unlike Mercury Vapor lights. They also produce less heat and can produce light beams with high CRI up to 95+.

LED Cons

Higher initial cost: In comparison to mercury vapor lights, LED light do have a much higher cost.

Good Heat Dissipation: LEDs effective heat dissipation from their heat sinks in order to work their full life time. Some LED lights on the market have expensive and correct LED chips with lower quality heat sinks. Overall reducing their life and performance.

Outdoor Floodlights vs Security lights

Outdoor floodlights have do provide some security benefits. D2D outdoor floodlights provide wide and bright general illumination for the exterior of your home. They will come on when it’s dark and switch off when it becomes light. Making them practical for commercial and residential properties. Their large wide-reaching beams are great for illuminating yards, driveways etc. However, they do have some drawbacks. Floodlights in comparison to security lights are usually larger rectangular shaped outdoor lights. Meaning they aren’t as versatile to be installed all around the home or under eaves. Large rectangular frames can bring some installation problems. Outdoor Floodlights can actually be too bright, creating darker larger shadows making your home less safe. Security lights can have twin heads that are adjustable and be installed in smaller locations. As long as you buy a bright enough security light with enough smart controls, your safest bet for security would be an intelligent security light. Outdoor LED security lights now have various working modes including, D2D, auto or On-time mode. LED motion sensor lights can be reactionary lights that protect your home throughout the night. With their adjustable heads and various modes, they may be able to produce the same beam as a floodlight with the added security.

Mercury Vapor Floodlights Vs LED Security Lights

Mercury vapor floodlights have a lower cost and do have long lifespans. However, overall, their cons in comparison to LED security lights outweigh the positives. Motion activated security lights, currently, seem like the right way to go. They produce incredibly bright beams at clearer daylight white temperatures. They conserve more energy, easier to recycle and more effective beams. Their one downside is their higher initial cost. If you believe in paying more to get more this shouldn’t be too much of an issue as the price of LEDs are decreasing. Overall LEDs now seem like the best choice for the exterior of your home.

Purchasing Outdoor LED Security Lights

There are a wide range of outdoor LED security lights to purchase in Home Deport or on Amazon. However, you still need to look for the most cost-effective product. Look for a light with effective heat sinks and heat dissipation. This will ensure the lifetime of the light and allow the beam quality to stay consistent for as long as possible.

SGLEDs 36W Security Light is a great outdoor security option. They use ceramic heat sinks in order to promote heat dissipation while providing 5000K daylight outdoor beams. They’ve been researched and developed to be one of the most efficient durable security lights on the market. They combine hollow frames with ceramic heat sinks to promote heat dissipation and air convection. SGLEDS outdoor security lights are energy efficient, durable and have various working modes that create security around your home. They can cover all areas with their wide dual heads and they can sense and react to discrete motion from up to 15m away.

If you want added security to your home and some better outdoor general illumination, SGLEDs 36W Outdoor Security Light will be the way to go! Take a look on Amazon!