element and a domed transparent plastic housing attached to the base and covering the light element such an led produces a bright band of light at the apex of its plastic housing because of total internal reflection inside the plastic this light is generally wasted fig1 prior art illustrates the light generated by a typical led reflector 1 has a highly reflecting inside surface preferably the reflector is a cone with about a 70 u00b0 angle this configuration redirects the sideband light from led 3 forward reflector 1 can be metal or plastic with a polished reflecting surface if made of plastic a metallic coating needs to be applied to the inside surface when placed about the led it redirects side band light in a forward direction a bright shaped oval of light at the apex of led 3 39 s plastic housing is produced by total internal reflection inside the plastic the light emitted from this bright spot exits the led nearly perpendicular to the normal forward going light the side band light has between 10 and 20 of the light output power of the forward going light if no reflector is used this light is wasted returning to fig2 conical reflector 1 preferably has about a 70 degree cone angle to redirect the side band light forward through lens 3 the axial position of diode 3 inside.