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Three Access Fixtures LED bollard lights have the same 15w LED array, the same Samsung LEDs, and the same driver, and use the same amount of energy, but the amount and distribution of the emitted light differs.

Why? The answer: Optics.

The light produced by a bollard is always affected by the location of the light source, the variety of reflectors, and the physical build of the bollard housing.

For instance, while the three bollard lights employ the same 15w LED array, one emits 1,022 lumens while another throws 2,089 lumens—more than twice as many.

Let’s get into the purpose of each specific reflector and the net effect of its optics.

A good place to start is to view all the LED bollard lights with the same 15w LED array, click here.

A Means of Comparison

We will present the three different bollard optics in the same way:

  1. First is an image of false color rendering. It shows the amount of light emitted, in color and with footcandle readings. The darker the color, the less light is emitted. Each number on the image represents the footcandles at a specific distance away from the bollard. This provides a visual overview of light in a defined area. The area shown in the false rendering images is 20’ x 20’.
  2. Each reflector also has a graph that shows the delivered footcandles at various distances from the bollard lights. While the graphs are more precise than the false-color renderings, they do not provide as vivid a graphic.
  3. You will also see light source lumens and delivered lumens for each type of bollard light optic. Light source lumens will be the same for each of the three bollards. Delivered lumens represent the total light emitted by the bollard light with that optic. The last data point we will provide is the farthest distance from each bollard that is still lit with .5 footcandles, or 0.5 fc.

Louvered LED Bollard Light Optics

Louvered LED bollard lights are designed to direct the light down to reduce glare and light trespass.

Louvers significantly cut back emitted light as well as the distance that light can travel.

Consequently, louvers emit the least amount of light and have limited light distribution.

Maintaining a minimum of .5 footcandles between two of these louvered bollard lights would require spacing of nine feet or less.

  • Array lumens: 2,089
  • Delivered lumens: 371
  • Generates .5 footcandles at approximately five feet
Chart of light emitted by a 15w LED bollard light with louvers

Chart of light emitted by a 15w LED bollard light with louvers

Chart of 20’ x 20’ area illuminated by a 15w LED bollard light with louvers

Chart of 20’ x 20’ area illuminated by a 15w LED bollard light with louvers

Type V LED Bollard Light Optics

Type V LED bollard lights are designed to distribute the light out and all around the bollard.

With the LED array mounted beneath the top of the unit, the only limit to the light is the clear, prismatic, IES-type V borosilicate glass refractor, which reduces glare.

While the refractor reduces glare and doesn’t restrict the light, the amount of light emitted is slightly reduced if compared to the specialized aluminum cone reflector.

However, the distribution of light is broader than that of a bollard with an aluminum cone reflector, so deciding between the two is a matter of personal preference.

Maintaining a minimum of .5 footcandles between two of these type V optics bollard lights would require spacing of seventeen feet or less.

  • Array lumens: 2,089
  • Delivered lumens: 1,022
  • Generates .5 footcandles at approximately nine feet
Chart of light emitted by a 15w LED bollard light with Type V glass

Chart of light emitted by a 15w LED bollard light with Type V glass

Chart of 20’ x 20’ area illuminated by a 15w LED bollard light with Type V glass

Chart of 20’ x 20’ area illuminated by a 15w LED bollard light with Type V glass

Aluminum Cone Reflector LED Bollard Light Optics

Aluminum cone reflector LED bollard lights are designed to direct the light down and out.

The intensity of the light is increased by the aluminum cone reflector.

As with the other two 15w LED bollard lights, the LED array on this bollard is mounted on the top.

While the aluminum cone reflector increases the amount of light, it doesn’t necessarily increase light distribution.

If compared with type V optics, choosing between aluminum cone reflector optics and type V optics is a matter of personal preference.

Maintaining a minimum of .5 footcandles between two of these type V optics bollard lights would require spacing of fourteen feet or less.

  • Array lumens: 2,089
  • Delivered lumens: 1,384
  • Generates .5 footcandles at approximately 7.5 feet
Chart of 20’ x 20’ area illuminated by a 15w LED bollard light with an aluminum cone reflector

Chart of 20’ x 20’ area illuminated by a 15w LED bollard light with an aluminum
cone reflector

Chart of light emitted by a 15w LED bollard light with an aluminum cone reflector

Chart of light emitted by a 15w LED bollard light with an aluminum cone
reflector

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