Who This Guide Is For (And Why You Need It)

If you're the person in your company responsible for sourcing flood light security cameras, LED equivalents for old 100W fixtures, or smart lighting that actually works across a campus, this is for you. I'm an office administrator who manages purchasing for a mid-sized company. Processing 60-80 orders annually across 8 vendors means I've made enough mistakes to know what matters.

Below is a 4-step checklist for buying and deploying Feit Electric flood lights and security cameras. Follow it, and you'll save yourself a call from facilities at 2 AM because the lights are flashing blues and reds. Yes, that happened.

Step 1: Verify the Flood Light's Actual Use Case (Outdoor vs. Damp Location)

This sounds basic. It's not.

Feit makes several flood light models labeled "security" or "motion sensor." But not all are rated for direct exposure—think rain, snow, sprinklers. If you're mounting it in an uncovered area (like a parking lot or loading dock), you need a UL-1598 Wet Location rating. The box will say it. If it doesn't, assume it's for covered porches only.

I learned this the hard way. In 2023, I ordered "flood light security camera feit electric" models for an outdoor parking lot installation. Two months later, the camera housing fogged up. The vendor (not Feit; it was a third-party reseller) didn't accept returns on installed electronic fixtures. We ate the cost—about $240 for 4 units plus installation labor.

Checklist item:

  • Location is uncovered? → Wet rated fixture required.
  • Location is under an eave or covered? → Damp rated is fine.
  • Camera integrated? → Confirm the housing is sealed, not just the bulb compartment.

"What was best practice in 2020 may not apply in 2025. Many cheaper flood lights now integrate the camera, but the seals aren't equal. Check the IP rating, not just the 'weatherproof' sticker."

Step 2: The WiFi Setup—What "Compatible" Actually Means

This is the step everyone assumes is plug-and-play. It's not. The keyword "how to connect feit electric to wifi" is searched frequently for a reason.

Here's the reality:

  1. Feit uses the Feit Electric App (not a generic smart home hub). Download it before you power on the light.
  2. 2.4 GHz WiFi only. If your network is set to auto-band (2.4/5 GHz), the light won't connect. You need to separate the bands in your router settings or temporarily disable 5 GHz during setup.
  3. Bluetooth is a fallback, not a primary connection. The app tries to find the light via Bluetooth first, then switches to WiFi. If the Bluetooth pairing fails—and it does, especially on older phones—you get stuck in a loop. Restarting the fixture usually fixes it. Unplug it for 10 seconds.

I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, the app interface is clean and the integration with schedules works well once set. On the other hand, the setup process is fragile. Our IT admin (who handles network security) initially blocked the app's ports. We had to get Feit's tech support involved. That was a 45-minute call.

Tip: If you're ordering more than 5 units, ask the vendor whether they offer on-site setup walkthrough or just a link to the manual. Some resellers will do a group setup session over Zoom. Take it.

Step 3: The 100W Equivalent Trap (And Why Lumens Are What You Want)

The question "what led bulb is equivalent to 100 watt" is a classic trap. Old incandescent 100W bulbs produced about 1600 lumens. But that was in a room. A flood light's beam angle and reflector design mean a 100W-equivalent LED might not produce as much usable light outdoors.

For a flood light security camera to function well at night:

  • Motion sensor activation: needs enough ambient light to trigger. A 100W-equivalent LED (around 1600 lumens) works for distances up to 20-30 feet. Beyond that, you need 2500+ lumens.
  • Camera imaging: The camera sensor needs light. If the LED output is too low, the camera switches to infrared (black and white). Color night vision requires bright LEDs.
  • Feit's specific models: The Feit Electric 90W-equivalent outdoor flood light puts out 1800 lumens. That's enough for a standard driveway. The 180W-equivalent puts out 3500 lumens—better for a parking lot or loading dock.

Checklist item:

  • For motion-triggered security: 1600-1800 lumens minimum.
  • For constant-on perimeter lighting: 2000+ lumens.
  • If the camera is integrated and you want color night vision: 2500+ lumens.

I once ordered a "100W equivalent" because it was cheap. It was too dim for the security camera to see colors. We ended up adding a separate flood light. The original fixture is now sitting in a storage closet. A lesson learned the hard way.

Step 4: Don't Forget the Fixture—Woven Chandelier and Chandelier Lampshade Notes

You're probably thinking: "Wait, we're talking about flood lights for security. Why mention chandeliers?"

Because. Many of you who search for "feit electric" are also managing interior lighting upgrades. And if you're looking at a woven chandelier or chandelier lampshades for a lobby, conference room, or entrance, the same principles apply.

The woven chandelier style is trendy right now. But from a buyer's perspective:

  • Light output is limited. The woven shade diffuses light significantly. A 60W equivalent (800 lumens) may look dim. For a chandelier with 4-6 bulbs, you want at least 60W equivalent per bulb for adequate ambient light.
  • Globe vs. candle bulbs: Feit makes both. For woven shades, globe bulbs distribute light more evenly. Candle bulbs create more glare spots through the weave.
  • Dimmable? If you're installing in a conference room with dimmers, confirm the Feit LED is labeled "dimmable." Not all are. Non-dimmable LEDs on a dimmer will flicker and fail prematurely.

This was true 5 years ago when dimmable LEDs were rarer. Today, most Feit bulbs are dimmable, but the compatibility with older dimmer switches remains hit or miss. Test a single unit before ordering 50.

Common Mistakes I've Made (So You Don't Have To)

  1. Skipping the manual for WiFi setup. I assumed it was like any other smart device. It's not. Read the Feit-specific app guide.
  2. Ordering based on wattage equivalence instead of lumens. Old habits die hard. Look at the lumen number on the box.
  3. Not verifying wet location rating for outdoor cameras. A $50 flood light isn't a bargain if it fails in a season.
  4. Installing woven chandeliers in high-traffic areas without checking cleaning requirements. Dust collects in those weaves. The maintenance cost is real.
"Part of me wants to consolidate to one vendor for simplicity. Another part knows that redundancy saved us during that supply chain crisis. I compromise with a primary + backup system. For flood lights, I keep one spare unit in storage. For chandeliers, I don't. They're too style-dependent."

The Bottom Line

Feit Electric makes solid products for the price point. But like any vendor, they have quirks. Plan for the setup time, double-check the specs, and test before deploying at scale. That's it. Simple.