28 Aug Which NEMA distribution is right for your project?
Are you working on a commercial LED lighting project that requires directional lighting? Then you will need to select the lights that produce the optimal light output for your specific application. Directional fixtures, such as flood lights and sports lights, are manufactured with a wide variety of beam spreads and projection distances. To make sure that a directional fixture will work for your project, you will need to look at its NEMA light distribution pattern.
The NEMA light distribution classification system was developed by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association to provide a consistent standard of comparison for beam measurement of directional fixtures, even across different manufacturers. A NEMA light distribution is indicated by two numbers that correspond to the horizontal and vertical light spread of a fixture. It indicates the two planes of light where the light intensity is at least 10% of the maximum light intensity of the fixture (sometimes also referred to as the “field angle”). If only one number is given, it means the fixture has a symmetrical beam spread and the horizontal and vertical beam angles are the same.
A NEMA light distribution is indicated using the following format: NEMA XH x XV. H indicates the horizontal angle, and V indicates the vertical angle. For example, a NEMA 2H x 3V distribution indicates a beam angle that is 18° – 29° horizontally and 29° – 46° vertically.
The ideal NEMA light distribution for your project will be determined by the distance between where the light will be mounted and the area you want to illuminate. A wider beam will work best for a closer distance, whereas a longer distance will require a narrower beam. To illuminate a larger area of light, it is advisable to install fixtures so that there is overlap between the beams, since the beam of a directional fixture gets less intense the further away it is from the center.
Our Series GKOFD08 Flood Lights are available in the following NEMA distributions:
NEMA 4Hx4V (135W and up) – A tight and symmetrical focused beam ideal for illuminating facades and landscape features from further away.
NEMA 7Hx6V (All wattages) – A wide asymmetrical beam ideal for illuminating billboards, landscape features, and large facades from a shorter distance.
