Yoke or knuckle mount for outside floods

[Centex Hokie]

We are building a new house and the electrician put three (3) boxes in the soffits of the house to install floods/security lighting. I have been looking at these

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06ZY3VWV8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

with a yoke mount, but I was wondering whether it would be better to have a knuckle mount and hang the lights upside down. Any advice would be appreciated on the light selection and the type of mounts. Thanks.

 

[Radix2]

I just do this type with white led floods, simple, inexpensive

 

[Centex Hokie]

I just do this type with white led floods, simple, inexpensive

I could do those, but I was hoping for something that will last longer than I have had led's last in those. The lights are about 25' off of the ground, so changing out bulbs or fixtures will be an ordeal.

 

[Radix2]

I could do those, but I was hoping for something that will last longer than I have had led's last in those. The lights are about 25' off of the ground, so changing out bulbs or fixtures will be an ordeal.

One thing to look at is that many "outdoor flood light" bulbs are not actually rated for wet areas. It is crazy, but if you read the fine print, many say "not for wet areas" .

Read the packages carefully and you will find the ones that do say "suitable for wet areas".

Personally I have used both kinds and have not had any failures, but I have deep soffits for protection - this may be an explanation for more exposed areas.

Check the unit from Amazon to see if it is actually wet rated.

 

[Centex Hokie]

The unit is IP66 waterproof which means it is supposed to withstand a direct blast from a hose.

 

[Bert_]

I've put up a couple of those Hyperikon floods in 200W for a customer who bought them himself. The light itself was ok, tons of glare though which is a problem if you will be looking in the direction of the light fixture. The supplied yoke was very flimsy and had to be reinforced otherwise it would bend under the weight of the light, which isn't that heavy.

For small reasonably priced flood I've been going with Cree "C-lite". Much happier with these vs. the hyperikon. They make an 8,000 lumen one that would be close to the 100W you are considering. Little more money at ~$170 but worth it in my opinion.

 

[Centex Hokie]

I've put up a couple of those Hyperikon floods in 200W for a customer who bought them himself. The light itself was ok, tons of glare though which is a problem if you will be looking in the direction of the light fixture. The supplied yoke was very flimsy and had to be reinforced otherwise it would bend under the weight of the light, which isn't that heavy.

For small reasonably priced flood I've been going with Cree "C-lite". Much happier with these vs. the hyperikon. They make an 8,000 lumen one that would be close to the 100W you are considering. Little more money at ~$170 but worth it in my opinion.

Thanks. I will look at those.

 

[MeentSS02]

I went with these many years ago:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000PSA1IS/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I have 7 of them installed around the perimeter of my house under the soffits, all on the same switch. I was going to do PAR38 LEDs in them, but have been using the halogen floods I originally had on hand when I installed them. 6 years later, and I have yet to have a single bulb go out on me, and they get used every single day (when the dog has to go out before bed).

They are easily adjustable, and you can just replace the light bulbs if one ever craps out on you. There are plenty of PAR38 LED options available, and I'm sure there will be for many years to come.

 

[Centex Hokie]

I went with these many years ago:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000PSA1IS/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I have 7 of them installed around the perimeter of my house under the soffits, all on the same switch. I was going to do PAR38 LEDs in them, but have been using the halogen floods I originally had on hand when I installed them. 6 years later, and I have yet to have a single bulb go out on me, and they get used every single day (when the dog has to go out before bed).

They are easily adjustable, and you can just replace the light bulbs if one ever craps out on you. There are plenty of PAR38 LED options available, and I'm sure there will be for many years to come.

Those are our purpose for the lights. I might go that way. Pretty flexible.

 

[Bretny]

I just do this type with white led floods, simple, inexpensive

I use these also. I add a third light socket in the center. Mine are mounted under the eves so stay prety dry. I also have a cheap $20 motion one out in the weather on my garage. For 8 years its had the same hallogen bulbs u til i replaced with LED last year. I like this style because the lamps are changeable. Need less light or a spot not a flood, you can do that. I use the cheap $16 for a pair 120w LED spot lights from home depot.

I even have a tripple bulb setup screwed to a piece of plywood with a plug connected. I use it for a mobile light tower. Thats what the pic is.

The worst flood lights to get are those 100-150w hallogen tube lights. Absolute garbage and have next to no light output.

 

[Centex Hokie]

I ended up going with these

https://www.build.com/progress-lighting-p5203/s638015?uid=357584

Now I just have to figure out which bulbs will give me long lasting performance.

 

[nsula_country]

I ended up going with these

https://www.build.com/progress-lighting-p5203/s638015?uid=357584

Now I just have to figure out which bulbs will give me long lasting performance.

$80 for a 2 lamp fixture! The other post had basically the same style fixture for less than $40.

CT

 

[Centex Hokie]

$80 for a 2 lamp fixture! The other post had basically the same style fixture for less than $40.

CT

First off, "basically the same" is not the same. The light covers the complete light. I really didn't want the light exposed from the fixture. Just my preference. Also, I had some coupons with build.com which reduced the price by 25%. Additionally there is the tax issue from the vendor.

 

[nsula_country]

Cool.

CT

 

[Radix2]

The unit is IP66 waterproof which means it is supposed to withstand a direct blast from a hose.

I was referring to the typical outdoor flood bulbs you find at the store and your complaint about having some LED ones fail.

I was surprised to see many marked not for wet areas and others marked ok - just a suggestion to look close at the packaging - but who knows if that was the issue anyway. Some of these early Led bulbs have been pretty crappy.

 

[Centex Hokie]

I was referring to the typical outdoor flood bulbs you find at the store and your complaint about having some LED ones fail.

I was surprised to see many marked not for wet areas and others marked ok - just a suggestion to look close at the packaging - but who knows if that was the issue anyway. Some of these early Led bulbs have been pretty crappy.

Thanks. I will look for ones that are wet rated. I early adopted LED's and as you said quite a bit of them were crappy.

 

[MeentSS02]

First off, "basically the same" is not the same. The light covers the complete light. I really didn't want the light exposed from the fixture. Just my preference. Also, I had some coupons with build.com which reduced the price by 25%. Additionally there is the tax issue from the vendor.

The ones I linked do not expose the light from the fixture. The PAR38 bulbs in mine are completely covered.

 

[Centex Hokie]

The ones I linked do not expose the light from the fixture. The PAR38 bulbs in mine are completely covered.

Good for others to know.