Get in Touch with GUANGQI
LED Inground Light — Professional In-Ground Well Lights for Landscape & Architectural Lighting
Why Projects Fail Without Proper Inground Lighting
We have seen about 30% of inground light failures reported by our incoming warranty calls related to these four issues: early stainless steel corrosion from chloride free and chloride congested subgrade, rapid lumen depreciation originating by bad thermals, water intrusion through flawed seals rated below IP67, and inability to build architecturally adaptable fixtures which relegate contractors to a “take it or leave it” beam angle at field installation. Those are not fringe cases-they are the new normal when teams buy inground well lights on lowest price rather than lowest total cost of ownership.
LED inground lighting should be a buried asset, not a disposable item. To do this, the fixture, the thermal conduit, the optical combination, the ingress protection all need to work on a 10yr cycle. When not, you’re replacing ground lights every 18 months -and turning a capital expense into an operations expense.
We built Guangqi’s 6-series inground light offering to avoid those 4 failure modes. Most models feature die-cast aluminum heatsinks rather than stamped steel because thermal efficiency drops under 3C/W – essential to maintain lumen output past 30,000 hours. All their housings are 304 or 316 stainless with tempered glass, and our variable series allows you to adjust beam angles from 10 to 60 after install-so there is no guesswork leading to re-installed fixtures.
Engineering Note
Our local mold shop creates all optical reflectors and heatsink assemblies. This specificity enables us to control the clearance between LED chip and reflector cup to within 0.2mm-a level of precision impacting beam uniformity and candela distribution. Other OEMs co-molded these elements and are content accepting 1mm tolerances-this is why the “hot spot” of inferior inground WELL LIGHTS.
Guangqi LED Inground Light Series — Complete Model Selection
Six series over the entire gamut of inground WELL LIGHT applications-from landscape accents to high power building uplights. Each series is optimized to provide the best solution for its installation circumstances-choose by lumen promise, power allowance and fixed mounting attributes.
Series 1
Standard LED Inground Lights
- Power: 3W – 72W
- Sizes: Ø100 – Ø320mm
- LED: CREE 3535, OSRAM 3030, COB
- Beam: 10°– 60° (lens options)
- Color: 2700K, 3000K, 4000K, 6000K, RGB/RGBW
- Control: DMX512, DALI, 0-10V, PWM
- IP: IP67
Series 2
COB Narrow Beam (24°) Inground Lights
- Power: 12W – 50W
- Sizes: Ø130 – Ø260mm
- LED: COB module
- Beam: 24° fixed narrow
- Color: 3000K, 4000K, 6000K
- Control: On/Off, DALI Dimming
- Material: 304/316 SS + Die-cast Al
Series 3
COB Wide Angle (45°–60°) Inground Lights
- Power: 8W – 35W
- Sizes: Ø100 – Ø200mm
- LED: COB module
- Beam: 45° – 60°
- Color: 3000K, 4000K, 6000K
- Material: 304/316 SS + Die-cast Al
- IP: IP67
Series 4
Adjustable Angle Inground Lights
- Power: 3W – 36W
- Sizes: Ø130 – Ø260mm
- Beam: 10° / 15° / 30° / 45° / 60° (tilt gimbal)
- Color: 3000K, 4000K
- Material: 304 SS + Die-cast Al
- IP: IP67
Series 5
Adjustable COB Inground Lights
- Power: 7W – 35W
- Sizes: Ø130 – Ø200mm
- Beam: 24° narrow + 45°–60° wide variants
- Color: 3000K, 4000K
- Material: 304/316 SS + Die-cast Al
- IP: IP67
Series 6
Mini Decorative Inground Lights
- Power: 0.2W – 1W
- Sizes: Ø10 – Ø62mm
- Voltage: DC12V
- Color: Blue / White (flash mode)
- Material: SS + Tempered Glass
- IP: IP68 (submersible)
Buyer Advisory
Mini integrated LED inground lights (10-25mm) provide purely decorator impact-if you need functional pathway illumination, you will need at least the 100 series in 3W minimum. When combining pathway definition and zone illumination, we build mixes of Series 6 minis with Series 1 or Series 3 fixtures.
Application Decision Matrix — Which Series Fits Your Project?
| Application | Recommended Series | Power Range | Beam Angle | Key Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driveway / Walkway Pathway | Series 3 (COB Wide) | 8W – 20W | 45° – 60° | Wide flood pattern, flush recessed mounting |
| Architectural Facade Uplighting | Series 2 (COB Narrow) | 20W – 50W | 24° | Concentrated beam for tall building wash |
| Tree / Sculpture Spotlight | Series 4 (Adjustable) | 9W – 24W | 10° – 30° | Gimbal tilt directs light at off-center targets |
| Garden Lawn Area Wash | Series 1 (Standard) | 6W – 18W | 45° – 60° | Widest model range, RGB/RGBW available |
| Plaza / Stage RGB Effects | Series 1 (Standard RGBW) | 12W – 48W | 15° – 60° | DMX512 addressable, full color mixing |
| Fountain / Pond Edge | Series 6 (Mini IP68) | 0.2W – 1W | Wide | Submersible IP68, ultra-compact form factor |
| High-CRI Commercial Display | Series 5 (Adjustable COB) | 7W – 35W | 24° – 60° | COB uniformity + directional control |
Field Experience Tip
For tree uplighting, generally we recommend the 24 narrow beam COB at 12W-20W- wider angles apportion too many lumens at mounting depths below 300mm- if you’re lighting mature trees with canopies that begin at 4+ meters, go to 30-35W. Our Series 4 adjustable gimbal adds about 15% to the cost of each unit, but you’ll avoid re-digging and re-lighting trees as the canopy lines grow upward.
LED Inground Light vs Halogen & Solar Ground Lights — Performance Data
Comparing LED inground to halogen or solar ground lights is not only about efficiency but also about reliability and thus life cycle maintenance, color uniformity, and overall project cost over 10 years to help inform your B2B decision-making.
LED vs Halogen In-Ground Well Lights
| Metric | LED Inground (Guangqi) | Halogen Ground Light |
|---|---|---|
| Luminous Efficacy | 100–140 lm/W | 15–25 lm/W |
| Lifespan | 50,000 hours | 2,000–4,000 hours |
| Color Temperature | 2700K–6000K + RGB/RGBW | 2800K–3200K only |
| CRI | ≥80 (≥90 optional) | ~100 |
| Heat Radiation at Lens | <45°C surface | 150–250°C surface |
| Bulb Replacement (10yr) | 0 replacements | 8–10 replacements |
| Energy Cost (18W equiv, 10yr) | ~$95 | ~$475 (75W halogen) |
| Dimming Options | DMX512, DALI, 0-10V, PWM | Transformer-based only |
The one thing halogen has over LED is its CRI – a halogen lamp will give close to perfect color-rendering at CRI ~100. In the vast majority of landscape and architectural lighting LED at CRI 80 (or even up to 90 upgrade) presents hardly any different perception compared to the halogen lamp at the viewing distance at night time. With about 5:1 lumen-per-watt advantage, LED puts the energy argument in LED’s corner for any installation used over 4 hours on any given night.
LED vs Solar In-Ground Lights
| Metric | LED Inground (Wired) | Solar Ground Light |
|---|---|---|
| Light Output Consistency | Constant across all hours | Diminishes through night |
| Brightness (lumen output) | 100–6,000+ lumens | 10–50 lumens typical |
| Color Temp Accuracy | ±50K tolerance | ±300K+ drift as battery depletes |
| IP Rating (typical) | IP67 / IP68 | IP44 – IP65 |
| Reliability (Overcast) | Unaffected | 50–70% output loss |
| Drive-Over Rated | Yes (proper housing) | Rarely — plastic housings |
| Installation Cost | Higher (wiring required) | Lower (no wiring) |
Honest Trade-Off
Solar ground lights make sense for one use case: temporary decorating with pathway delineation in houses, where running low voltage wire is not viable. For any B2B work–hotel property–commercial plazas–municipal walkways, the wide variation in output and low IP ratings of solar models lead to maintenance and liability issues that eliminate the wiring savings. Most landscape contractors such as RestorPro like DC24V over AC220V for retrofit projects–the low voltage wiring does not need to be installed by a licensed electrician in most areas.
COB vs SMD LED Chips — In-Ground Light Performance
| Parameter | COB (Chip-on-Board) | SMD (CREE 3535 / OSRAM 3030) |
|---|---|---|
| Beam Uniformity | Single-source, no multi-shadow | Multiple point sources, potential scalloping |
| CRI Potential | ≥90 standard | ≥80 standard, ≥90 optional |
| Maximum Power (single) | Up to 50W | Up to 72W |
| Color Mixing (RGB) | Not available | RGB/RGBW supported |
| Cost per Lumen | Moderate | Lower at high volumes |
| Best Application | Architectural uplighting, high-CRI display | General landscape, color-changing, large arrays |
Housing Material Comparison — 304 SS vs 316 SS vs Brass
| Material | Corrosion Resistance | Cost Index | Best Environment | Structural Load Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 304 Stainless Steel | Good — inland, standard soil | 1.0× (baseline) | Gardens, plazas, driveways (inland) | High — drive-over capable |
| 316 Stainless Steel | Excellent — coastal, chloride soil | 1.4× | Coastal projects, pool decks, fountain areas | High — drive-over capable |
| Brass | Very Good — develops patina | 1.8× | Heritage sites, warm-tone landscape designs | Moderate — pedestrian traffic |
| Die-cast Aluminum | Moderate — needs coating | 0.7× | Internal heatsink use (not exposed housing) | Low — not for exposed use |
Material Selection Note
We employ die-cast aluminum internally for the heatsink structure, and do not incorporate it in the now exposed housing. Aluminum will not tolerate immersion in soil for any great length of time without corrosion: 2-3years of exposure in most outdoors conditions will see pitting even in a powder coated one. When a 304 stainless steel outer housing/Die-cast aluminum inner heatsink combination is used for your product, you get the best of both worlds… corrosion resistant “outside,” and well; efficient heatsinking on the inside.
Project Results — Real-World LED Inground Lighting Applications
Three true application examples confirm how wise selection of fixtures translates to value over the long haul and total cost of ownership. Each of these projects implemented a different fixture combination from the six-series catalogue as dictated by the beam, power and environmental conditions.
Commercial Office Park Driveway — Shenzhen, China
Challenge
A 1,200 meter professional drive way with flush-mounted ground lights that can sustain light vehicle traffic such (light cars; delivery vans) and nonetheless maintain flat 3000K warm white light along both sides. The existing PAR36 halogen bulbs it had to have replaced every three months it—meaning 40 fixtures called per year about a hundred and sixty service calls.
Solution
40x Series 3 COB CEIG ring (60) inground well lamps- 15W, 150mm-304 stainless steel Low voltage DC24 V system—centralized transformers—4 distribution points.
Results & ROI
- Zero fixture replacements in 36 months of operation
- Power use: 600W total (vs 3,000W for the halogen array)
- Annual energy savings: approximately $1,050
- Cost reduction by minimizing maintenance: as we plan the give-away 100% reduction in quarterly bulb service calls shall be achieved
- TCO 3 år: $4,200 (LED) vs. $14,800 (Halogen- inkl. pærer, arbeid og energi)
Hotel Architectural Facade — Guangzhou, China
Challenge
5-story hotel architecture had to meet facade uplighting needs by evenly illuminating a 20-meter high exterior wall while avoiding visible hot spots at ground level. EC Architects demanded 4000K neutral white with CRI 90 to reflect the natural stone cladding at night. Fixtures had to be concealed by day, fully recessed with stainless trim flush to the building facade.
Solution
24 Series 2 COB narrow beam (24) fixtures, 30-35W each, used on the main hotel facade columns. 12 Series 5 adjustable COB, 18W each, used on landscape trees to maintain even light distribution. All fixtures are 316 stainless, due to close proximity to the hotel’s fountain features and frequent landscape irrigation.
Results & ROI
- Ensured even page wash on hotel facade, from ground to roofline, and avoided scalloping of light distribution
- CRI 92 measured on-site, ensuring natural reflection of natural stone colours at night time
- Adjustable tree fixtures were re-aimed twice in first year to address mature landscape conditions
- Fixture investment:~Gfkebza | Estimated 10-year energy expenditure:~Ltnsqmmo
- Night time photographs of hotel facade, published as marketing collateral
Municipal Plaza Pathway — Dongguan, China
Challenge
A 3,500 m municipal space requires simple functional pathway lighting, decorative ground accents in proximity to a dry fountain, and DMX-controllable RGBW effects used for seasonal park events. Budget constraint: $35,000 allocated for entire lighting installation.
Solution
60 Series 1 Standard RGBW, 12W (120mm) fixtures with DMX512 control, for the main plaza grid. 120 Series 6 mini IP68 decorative inground lights (32mm, 1W) surrounding the fountain edge. 8 Series 2 narrow beam COB, 40-50W fixtures for landmark plaza centre monument lighting.
Results & ROI
- Full RGBW color-changing capability across 60 individually addressable fixtures
- Zero IP69 failures on fountain-adjacent IP68 mini inground fixtures, after 18 months
- DMX system supports 12 pre-programmed seasonal color scenes
- Total project budget: $31,200 (within budget), including transformer boxes and DMX controls
- Maintenance: 2 fixtures cleaned (debris accumulated in recessed trim), 0 replacements as yet
Certifications, Standards & IP Rating Explained
All of our LED inground lights, of any model, are supplied with accreditation documents that prove compliance with the key standards required for international B2B procurement. Here’s what they cover and why they matter to your project.
EN 60598-2-13
Hazardous Substances
Immersion (1m/30min)
Submersion (>1m)
Understanding IP Code Ratings for In-Ground Well Lights
According to IEC 60529, the IP (Ingress Protection) rating of a fixture has two numbers. The first indicates the protection degree to solid objects (6 = dust proof). The second number indicates the waterproof protection grade – and for your fixture specification, this is the number that distinguishes IP67 fixtures from IP68 fixtures.
IP67
Temporary Immersion
Fulfils water immersion for a distance of 1 meter deep and for duration of 30 minutes. Application suitable for: landscaped well in-ground fixtures, walkway path lights, driveway inground fixtures, garden lawn lights. Represents 90%+ of all outdoor in-ground applications where fixtures can be subject to rain water accumulation or temporary flooding.
IP68
Continuous Submersion
Able to endure continuous operation while underwater exceeding 1 meter DWT (specified by provider). Application suitable for: fountains, a road pond edge, water feature lighting, pool support inground lighting. Our Series 6 mini decorative inground fixtures have IP68 ratings for sub-globe use.
IP Testing Protocol
Our IP67 fixtures are regularly tested in a pressure water tank at 1 meter for 60 minutes (twice the IEC 60529 standard requirement of 30 minutes). After the test, the fixtures are powered up again and checked for moisture traces within the optical chamber. IP68 mini series fixtures are tested at 2 meters continuous submersion for 72 hours. We test at these margins because in the field, extreme conditions such as thermal cycling, installation loads on seals, soil pressures, produce ingress vectors not duplicated in lab conditions.
Material & Component Certifications
- 304 / 316 Stainless Steel: Certified to ASTM A240 / A276 as a raw material mill certificates available on request
- Tempered Glass: 8mm with 12150-1 acceptance, thermal shock from 40C to +200C
- LED Chips: CREE (CR series and ME series), OSRAM (Prevailed series) and Philips chips with manufacturer datasheet. All LEDs measured following IES LM-80 for lumen maintenance data
- LED Drivers: CE/ UL listed constant-current driver with over-voltage, over-current, short-circuit protection
- Water resistance: Cable entries and connectors (IP68 rated) on all models
Specification Tip
When writing project specifications, remember to always list the IP testing standard (IEC 60529) by number, not « IP67 ». This will guarantee the supplier to give fixtures tested to actual standard and not just self-declared ingression ratings. We include IEC 60529 test report references on each bulk shipment. Also ask for IES LM-80 data of the LED chips. This is the universal lumen depreciation testing that supports the 50,000 hour lifespan claim. Any company that cannot provide LM-80 data is most probably just estimating life expectancy and not testing it.
Procurement Guide — Pricing, MOQ, Lead Time & After-Sales Support
Factory direct pricing from Guangqi requires no distributor mark-up (that in most cases adds 40-60% on landedcost). The below shows our buying set-up for B2B buyers, landscape contractors and lighting distributors.
Price Range by Series & Power
| Category | Power Range | Unit Price (FOB) | Volume Break (100+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini Decorative (Series 6) | 0.2W – 1W | $8 – $15 | $6 – $12 |
| Standard Entry (Series 1/3) | 3W – 12W | $25 – $55 | $20 – $45 |
| Mid-Power (Series 1/2/4/5) | 13W – 36W | $60 – $120 | $50 – $100 |
| High-Power (Series 1/2) | 40W – 72W | $130 – $250+ | $110 – $210+ |
| RGBW / DMX Add-on | Any | +15% – 25% | +12% – 20% |
| 316 SS Upgrade | Any | +30% – 40% | +25% – 35% |
Pricing FOB Guangzhou/Shenzhen is only indicative. Quotations vary based upon details such as specification, quantity and customization. Please contact us directly with your project requirements.
Order & Delivery Framework
| Parameter | Standard Orders | OEM/ODM Orders |
|---|---|---|
| MOQ | 50 pieces per SKU | 200+ pieces per SKU |
| Sample Order | 1–5 units (sample pricing applies) | 1–5 units (tooling review first) |
| Lead Time | 7–15 business days | 20–30 business days |
| Payment | 30% deposit, 70% before shipment | 40% deposit, 60% before shipment |
| Shipping | FOB / CIF / DDP available | FOB / CIF / DDP available |
OEM & ODM Customization
OEM and ODM requirements are available with our own mold shop, optics laboratory and thermal simulation devices. Typical modification requests are:
- Custom beam angles: private reflector profiles engineered for particular buildings
- Non-standard color temperatures: CCT tuning from 1800K (amber) to 6500K (day light) at specified K points
- Custom house finishing: black anodized, bronze PVD or RAL color specified by the client on trim ring
- Private labeling: your brand on product, packaging, and documentation
- Modified mounting depth: adjusted housing height for specific installation sleeves or retrofit scenarios
- Integrated smart controls: Bluetooth mesh, Zigbee, or WiFi modules for IoT landscape management
Warranty & After-Sales
Standard: 3-year warranty covering LED driver failure, lumen depreciation beyond L70 threshold, and housing seal integrity failure. Extended: 5-year warranty available for orders above 500 units. Coverage includes free replacement parts (shipping at buyer’s cost during standard warranty; full coverage under extended). Technical support: remote troubleshooting within 24 hours; on-site support available for installations exceeding 2,000 fixtures within mainland China. International projects are supported through regional service agents in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
FAQ — LED Inground Lights
Yes. Our standard and COB series use 304 stainless steel for the housing with 8mm tempered glass lens and are rated for pedestrian and light vehicle passage (passenger cars, delivery vans). For heavy commercial/industrial driveways with truck traffic, we suggest the 160mm + units with a 316 stainless steel upgrade and an engineered concrete mounting sleeve. The in-ground load rating depends on both the construction of the fixture and the method of installation—a concrete mounting sleeve supports even load transfer to the surrounding foundation.
For classic building up-lighting, 10-15 beam angle with 18W-36W power provides the wall-washing column like illumination architects often specify. To achieve a more evenly lit mass facade at closer mountings (< 1.5 meters from the wall), Series 2's 24 COB variants provide more uniform, fill light without hot spots. Series 4's adjustable angle allows fine-tuning between 10 and 60 degrees after installation, ideal where the mounting distance has yet to be finalized.
Yes—Series 1 supports DMX512, DALI, 0-10V, PWM, and TTL. RGBW versions cover 120mm-320mm; select DMX512 when each luminaire needs a unique address; use DALI when connected to a BMS.
Quantity per part number: 50 pieces for standard catalog items. OEM or ODM orders with customization require 200+. Sample quantities (1-5 units) ship within 5-7 business days.
Our LED in-floor fixtures are rated at 50,000 hours to the L70 lumen depreciation point, confirmed by IES LM-80 aging data at the chip level. In real world use (12 hours daily), that means approximately 11.4 years—longer than the typical lifespan of halogen ground lights—minus bulb replacements (MR16 or PAR36) every year or two and the labor and disposal burdens such replacements entail.
Factory-direct pricing is about $8-$15 for mini decorative units (0.2-1W), $25-$55 for standard 3W-12W fixtures, $60-$120 for mid-power 18W-36W fixtures, and $130-$250+ for high-power 48W-72W fixtures with CREE LED chips (volume savings (100+) is about 15-20%). Double or triple the single color price for DMX512 or RGBW capabilities; the high-power (48-72W) fixtures with CREE chips and satin-polished 316 stainless steel (for coastal or high-moisture environment) are 15-25% higher.
Our IP67 fixtures are designed to withstand periodic flooding and high water tables without allowing water penetration. For permanently wet soils or locations subject to immersion or extended areas of ponding we suggest our IP68 mini series, or IP68 upgrades to our standard series fixtures utilizing silicone potting and 316 stainless steel housings. Through all IP ratings even with the best installation practices any fixture with a water-tight installation sleeve should have drainage gravel packed around the mounting sleeve to insure no water will be ponded directly against the fixture seals for extended periods of time. An installed drain channel immediately beneath the sleeve will extend seal life considerably.
Standard 3-year warranty on failure of driver, lumen aging past L70, and seal. 5-year extended warranty available for orders greater than 500 units. Includes no charge replacement parts and remote 24 hour troubleshooting.





