Back in the day when incandescent lighting was the norm, replacing burnt-out light bulbs was a breeze. Basically, all a person had to do was take a quick look at the wattage of an old bulb and replace it with a new bulb of the same wattage. Today, with the ever-growing incorporation of energy-efficient LED lighting, the task of replacing incandescent and other traditional light bulbs with LEDs is not as simple as matching up the wattages.
Wattage has long been the benchmark for gauging the energy consumption of light bulbs. Watts measure energy output. When you used traditional incandescent light bulbs, the watt was a direct indicator of how bright your bulb would shine. However, this measurement of power only tells part of the story, especially for an LED light bulb.
As we steer away from traditional lighting metrics, lumens emerge as the new luminary in quantifying light output. Lumens measure brightness or the total amount of visible light emitted by a source, providing a more accurate representation of brightness than watts. For LED bulbs, lumens are the key to understanding how bright your light will be.
Lumens are especially relevant when it comes to LED light bulbs because they consume far less power to produce the same amount of brightness as their incandescent counterparts. This means that when you’re comparing LED bulbs, it’s the lumens — not the watts — that you’ll want to pay attention to.
LED watt equivalence refers to the amount of light you can expect from an LED as compared to traditional incandescent bulbs. Historically, we’ve gauged the brightness of a bulb by its wattage — a measure of power consumption. With the advent of LED technology, this measure is no longer applicable because LEDs use much less power to emit the same level of brightness.
Lumens have taken center stage as the go-to metric for measuring light output. When looking for an LED replacement for an incandescent bulb, you’ll need to consider how many lumens the incandescent bulb produces and find an LED with a comparable lumen output. This is LED watt equivalence in action.
It’s essential to clear up a common misconception here: watts do not measure brightness. In the context of LED lighting, watts only indicate energy usage. For example, a traditional 60-watt incandescent bulb can be replaced by an LED bulb using only about 10 watts, yet both can emit roughly the same number of lumens.
Before purchasing LEDs to replace incandescent, compact fluorescent (CFL), or other traditional lighting options, buyers should consider the desired brightness for the light(s) being replaced. For example, a 60-watt incandescent light bulb gives approximately 800 lumens; therefore, to replace a 60-watt incandescent bulb with an LED bulb of the same brightness, one should purchase an LED bulb that also gives 800 lumens. A 60-watt incandescent light bulb can be replaced with a 10-watt LED.
Calculating the LED watt equivalent you need involves understanding the lumens necessary for your specific application. Here’s a straightforward guide to ensure you select LED bulbs that offer the right amount of light:
When selecting your LED lighting, it’s about optimizing your lighting for energy efficiency, comfort, and productivity. With Superior Lighting’s diverse range of LED bulb options, you can easily find bulbs that will suit any environment, ensuring that you make the most out of your lighting upgrade.
Superior Lighting is your ally in adopting efficient LED lighting. We offer high-quality, long-lasting LED solutions that deliver brightness and savings.Choosing Superior Lighting means more than just buying bulbs; it’s upgrading your lighting experience. For expert advice and a selection that meets all your lighting needs, reach out to us. Contact our team today for standout LED solutions.