Light beam
- Updated:
- By: Kevin van Mierlo
Contents
What is a light beam?
Definition
A light beam is the beam of light emitted by a light in a specific direction. The shape and beam angle determine how wide and how far the light reaches. In vehicle lighting, this determines what you can illuminate with a light: the immediate surroundings of the vehicle or, conversely, a point in the distance.
For manufacturers of work vehicles, the light beam is one of the most important factors when choosing a work light. Two lights with the same light output can produce very different results depending on their beam pattern. The beam pattern itself is not the same as the light distribution pattern, which describes how the light is distributed across the road surface or the ground.
What types of light beams are there?
Based on the pattern of the light beams, we distinguish between three types:
- Divergent light beam: the rays diverge. The light spreads over an increasingly larger area. This is the beam pattern of a flood beam.
- Parallel light beam: the rays run parallel to one another. The beam remains roughly the same width over distance and therefore has a long reach.
- Convergent light beam: the beams converge at a single point and then diverge again.
The wider the beam angle, the larger the illuminated area and the shorter the range. A narrow beam has the opposite effect.
How do you choose the right light beam?
That depends on the application. If you’re looking at work lights around the vehicle, a wide beam is suitable. If you need range, a narrow beam is suitable. You can read about how flood, spot and combo beams compare in our article ‘Beam Patterns Compared’. Or, if you’re looking for a light with specific requirements, take a look at our LED work lights and use the filters to select your desired lighting.
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Author
Kevin van Mierlo
Lighting expert at TRALERT® - Kevin tests lighting and finds out everything about legislation. He can tell you all about it.
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