When buying another light source, almost everyone asks the standard question: "How many watts?" Many simply think that the "strength" of the lamp depends on the number of watts, its ability to better illuminate the surrounding space. But this is not so, even more - this is a serious mistake based on ignorance of two important quantities - power consumption and luminous flux.
What is luminous flux and how is it measured
The light source, in this case a light bulb, is a converter of electrical energy into a luminous flux. This very luminous flux belongs to the list of physical quantities, just like voltage, current strength, inductance, etc. The luminous flux is measured in lumens.
To make it easier to navigate the strength of the lumens, you need to give an example based on the values gleaned from the table on the Internet. A standard 60 W incandescent lamp is capable of producing a luminous flux of 730 lm. At the same time, such a degree of illumination can be classified as "dull". But is it a lot or a little? Let's consider this issue in more detail.
Dependence of luminous flux on power consumption
Is there a dependence of the luminous flux on the power consumption and is it constant?
No, it is not constant at all, and there are several examples of this:
- Incandescent lamp - 730 lm @ 60 W.
- Fluorescent lamp - 5200 lm @ 58 W.
- 220 V halogen lamp - 1650 lm @ 100 W.
- 12 V halogen lamp (automotive) - 1040 lm @ 50 W.
- LED lamp - 1250 lm @ 11 W.
It is clear from the above list that LED lamps have the most effective light output. With a power consumption of only 11 W they are capable of producing a luminous flux of 1250 lm. The second place is honorably occupied by fluorescent light sources, but with a reading of 5200 lm at 58 W, it is better to use them in utility or industrial premises, since the strength of such a luminous flux will be too much for a room in an apartment or private house.
They try to make high light transmission in automobile lamps, since on the road it is important how far the headlights are able to illuminate the path. But one should not forget about power either - not any generator and wiring can withstand even an additional 50 watts.
What to look for when choosing a lamp
Depending on the purpose for which the lamp is purchased. If you need to take a light source with a minimum energy consumption, then a 5 W LED lamp with a luminous flux of 400 lm will be enough.
But if you need high-quality lighting of a certain space, for example, at home, where the child does lessons, then you should look more at the number of lumens and not pay too much attention to power. But it should be said right away that incandescent lamps have long been an overabundance of the past, and modern lighting sources are an obligatory combination of practicality and low energy consumption.
It should also be remembered that low consumption of LED products has a very important side effect - excessive flicker, which is very detrimental to human vision.