How can you determine the brightness of an high bay LED light?
How do we know when we have enough light? The question is quite difficult, but when you have to calculate how much LED lighting is needed to crate a well-lit space, it can be a little more complicated.
Whether architectural LED lighting used in commercial or residential locations, here we will show you how to know how bright a light it can be and how to determine how many LED lumens you will need to adequately illuminate your environments.
Lumens
Measurement of the light emitted by a source, whether LED, fluorescent, halogen or incandescent. This is also known as “brightness” or “light output.” Your benchmark: A standard 100-watt incandescent light produces about 1,500 to 1,700 lumens. Lumens equal brightness. And watts do not. Not that watts are bad, but they measure energy use, not light output. With new, energy-efficient LED Technology, we can no longer rely upon wattage indicate how bright a light is. See how measure lumens below:
How do I read the light label?
Changes in lighting regulations and technologies mean that there are new lighting terms to learn. Newer LED High Bay Lights have a lighting Facts Label that will give you all the details of a particular light.
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Brightness: This is measured in lumens on the label. For example, 1100 lumens have brightness equivalent to a 75-watt LED light. This label is showing 820 lumens for a 60-watt incandescent light.
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Estimated yearly cost: This is based on a set rate of usage each day. While your actual use may vary, the dollar amount noted will give you a good baseline.
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Lifespan: The overall expected life of the light, often in years. This is also based on estimated daily usage.
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Light appearance: Also know as color temperature, ranging from warm/yellow light to cool/blue light. (our UFO lights can come in 4000k and 5000k color temperature).
Watts
It is not measure of brightness; but measure of how much electricity (or energy) a light consumes to achieve its brightness. Each type of light source, LED, fluorescent, halogen or incandescent has a different lumen per watt ratio. Next, we are going to use lumens as a measurement to ensure we have enough light for a space.
Power equivalence
Since we have combined watts and lumens, it is easier to talk about Led High Bay Lights in term of watts. So, if a 100-watt incandescent lamp produces 1,500 lumens and a 1-watt LED does the same, the 10-watt LED may say “100-watt equivalent” on its label.
Efficiency
The number of lumens a High Bay LED Light generates for each watt it consumes. The higher the number, the more efficient the light. For example, lighting products that have earned the Energy Star label are highly efficient, meaning they offer the same features while consuming less energy.
But: How much light is enough?
Determine the area of the room
Multiply the length by the width of the room to get the area. For example, if the room is 10 feet wide and 10 feet long, the square footage will be 100 square feet.
Determine the foot candles by type or use of the room
The unit of illuminance measurement foot candle refers to how bright a light is one foot from its source. Lighting requirements/needs vary depending on the type of room being lit. For example, a bathroom or kitchen will require more candles than a living room or bedroom.
Determine the lumens needed
A lumen is a unit of measurement for light. To determine the necessary lumens, the area of the room must be multiplied according to the need required for its use. For example, a 100 square foot (approx. 9m²) living room, which needs 10–20-foot candles, will need 1,000-2,000 lumens. A 100 square foot (approx. 9m²) dining room, which needs 30–40-foot candles, will need 3,000-4,000 lumens.
For an average space of 250 square feet (approx. 23m²), you will need approximately 5,000 lumens as your main light source (20 lumens x 250 square feet). In the dining room, you’ll want about 30 lumens per square foot at the table (you’ll want to see the food, but not examine it), so if your table is 6x3 feet (2m x 1m), that’s 540 lumens.
Keep in mind, however, that these numbers are for typical conditions. If you have very dark walls and furniture or are using fixtures with shades, you will need approximately 10 additional lumens per square foot. Ultimately, personal preferences will play the most in the decision. If you like the room to be especially bright, you can add an additional 10 to 20% to the recommended. In fact, the best approach for most spaces is to oversize and install dimmers to reduce the brightness.
If you're still unsure about picking the right led shop lights, feel free to get in touch with our team. We offer a free lighting simulation service. Contact us via email at sales@hi-hyperlite.com or give us a call at +1(855) 688 7879.