How to Use the Calculator
- Enter the total lumens (lm) emitted by your light source in the first input field.
- Enter the power consumption in watts (W) for the same light source in the second input field.
- Click the "Calculate" button to compute the lumens per watt (lm/W) value.
- The result will show the luminous efficacy of your light source, along with an efficiency classification.
Understanding Lumens per Watt (lm/W)
Lumens per watt is a measure of how efficiently a light source converts electrical power into visible light. It's one of the most important metrics for evaluating the energy efficiency of lighting.
Efficiency Classification
- Low efficiency (<50 lm/W): Traditional incandescent bulbs
- Medium efficiency (50-99 lm/W): Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs)
- High efficiency (100-149 lm/W): LED bulbs, efficient fluorescent tubes
- Very high efficiency (≥150 lm/W): Advanced LED technologies, laser lights
Example Calculation
If a light bulb produces 800 lumens and consumes 10 watts, the calculation would be:
lm/W = 800 lm / 10 W = 80 lm/W (Medium efficiency)
Why is Lumens per Watt Important?
Measuring lm/W helps you:
- Compare the efficiency of different light bulbs
- Save energy costs by choosing more efficient lighting
- Reduce environmental impact through lower energy consumption
- Make informed decisions about lighting upgrades