With so many types of light bulbs available, it’s common to be confused about which type to purchase. Here are the facts you need to know regarding lumens versus watts, and how an electrician in Frederick County can help.
The Difference Between Lumens and Watts
Simply put, lumens equal the amount of brightness a lightbulb provides. Watts are the amount of energy a lightbulb uses. Some rooms in your home or business may require more or less light than others.
Incandescent lightbulbs are more expensive to buy and use than other lightbulbs that are available, which is why a lot of people are interested in switching to a different type of lightbulb. While LED lightbulbs are the most efficient, CFL (compact fluorescent lamp), and halogen lightbulbs are other options that are more efficient than incandescent lighting.
If you’re using 100 W incandescent lighting, you need to find lightbulbs that have 1600 lumens. If you’ve been using 75 W incandescent lighting, you need to find lightbulbs that provide 1100 lumens. A 60 W incandescent light bulb needs a replacement lightbulb of 800 lumens. 40 W incandescent lighting requires a lightbulb that is at least 450 lumens.
So how many lumens are in a watt? When you’re purchasing new lightbulbs, the rule of thumb is to think in terms of lumens (lm) and not watts (W).
- 1600 lm equals up to 22 W for LED lightbulbs, up to 26 W for CFL lighting, and up to 72 W for halogen lightbulbs.
- 1100 lm equals up to 20 W for LED lighting, up to 23 W for CFL lightbulbs, and up to 53 W for halogen lighting.
- 800 lm equals up to 12 W for LED lightbulbs, up to 15 W for CFL lighting, and up to 43 W for halogen lightbulbs.
- 450 lm equals up to 9 W for LED lighting, up to 11 W for CFL lighting, and up to 29 W for halogen lighting.
Hiring an Electrician in Frederick County
When you need an electrician in Frederick County, don’t hesitate to give Tim Kyle Electric, Heating & Cooling a call. No job is too small. We give 100% to every light bulb change, just as we do to a remodeling or rewiring project.