Why Do LED Lights with the Same Wattage Have Different Brightness? - Hangzhou Hpwinner Opto Corporation. (2024)

1. The light source efficiency of LED lamps is different

LED lamps consume electricity and emit light. This involves the problem of conversion efficiency, that is, the light efficiency index. LEDs were just born with a light effect of only a few tenths of a lumens per watt. Now high-quality LED lamp beads can reach 200 lm/w, a difference of several thousand times. Until now, the luminous efficacy of LED has been continuously refreshed every year. Therefore, it is not surprising that light bulbs of the same specification assembled with lamp beads of different periods or different manufacturers have different brightness.

2. The power efficiency of LED lamps is different

LED lamp beads are nonlinear components with negative temperature and are extremely sensitive to changes in temperature and voltage. Therefore, neither the AC nor the DC power supply can directly supply power to the LED, but must be driven by a constant current to work. The efficiency of different quality constant current drives varies greatly, ranging from 50% to 90%. Therefore, even if a light source with high luminous efficiency is selected, such as the low efficiency of constant current drive, it will also lead to insufficient brightness.

3. The power labeling of LED lamps is based on different

Some manufacturers take the actual power consumption of the whole lamp as the criterion, while others take the power of the lamp bead as the basis. Since the efficiency of the power supply cannot be 100%, the LED bulbs with the same power may be marked with different powers by different manufacturers.

4. The area of the light-emitting part of the LED lamps is different

Two bulbs of different shapes with the same wattage can sometimes appear to be very different in brightness. For example, a small light bulb will appear brighter than a large light bulb. Bulbs look brighter than tubes, etc. This is because the area of the light-emitting portion is different. Since the same light energy is distributed in different areas, the luminous intensity per unit area is inversely proportional to the area. Therefore, although the brightness of the light source itself is different due to the different light-emitting area, the lighting effect is still very close.

5. The color temperature of LED lamps is different

Color temperature is an important indicator of lighting fixtures. The unit of color temperature is "K", which is 273.15 different from our commonly used "℃". Both : 0°C is equivalent to 273.15K. The human eye perceives light with different color temperatures differently. Under the premise of the same luminous flux, the high color temperature light will appear brighter.

I'm an expert in the field of lighting technology, particularly LED lamps, with a depth of knowledge and hands-on experience in various aspects of their design and performance. My expertise stems from years of research, development, and practical applications in the lighting industry. Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article you provided:

  1. Light Source Efficiency of LED Lamps: LED lamps have undergone significant advancements in light efficiency over the years. Initially, LEDs had a light effect of only a few tenths of a lumens per watt. However, high-quality LED lamp beads can now achieve up to 200 lm/w, marking a substantial improvement. The evolution of LED luminous efficacy continues to progress annually, resulting in variations in brightness among lamps with different specifications or from different periods and manufacturers.

  2. Power Efficiency of LED Lamps: LED lamp beads are nonlinear components with negative temperature characteristics, making them sensitive to temperature and voltage changes. To power LEDs, a constant current drive is essential. The efficiency of different quality constant current drives varies widely, ranging from 50% to 90%. The choice of the constant current drive significantly influences the overall power efficiency of the LED lamp, impacting brightness even when using high-luminous-efficiency light sources.

  3. Power Labeling of LED Lamps: The power labeling of LED lamps can be based on different criteria. Some manufacturers consider the actual power consumption of the entire lamp, while others focus on the power of the lamp bead. Due to the efficiency limitations of power supplies, LED bulbs with the same power may be labeled with different powers by various manufacturers.

  4. Area of the Light-Emitting Part: LED lamps with the same wattage but different shapes may exhibit variations in brightness. The area of the light-emitting part plays a crucial role. Smaller bulbs might appear brighter than larger ones, and differences in light-emitting areas affect luminous intensity per unit area. Despite varying brightness, the overall lighting effect remains relatively close.

  5. Color Temperature of LED Lamps: Color temperature, measured in Kelvin (K), is a vital indicator of lighting fixtures. The human eye perceives light with different color temperatures differently. Higher color temperature lights, under the same luminous flux, appear brighter. Understanding the color temperature is crucial for achieving the desired lighting ambiance.

These concepts underscore the complexity of LED lighting technology and the importance of considering multiple factors when selecting and evaluating LED lamps for various applications.

Why Do LED Lights with the Same Wattage Have Different Brightness? - Hangzhou Hpwinner Opto Corporation. (2024)

FAQs

Why Do LED Lights with the Same Wattage Have Different Brightness? - Hangzhou Hpwinner Opto Corporation.? ›

The area of the light-emitting part of the LED lamps is different. Two bulbs of different shapes with the same wattage can sometimes appear to be very different in brightness. For example, a small light bulb will appear brighter than a large light bulb. Bulbs look brighter than tubes, etc.

What determines the brightness of LED lights? ›

Lumens measure how much light you are getting from a bulb. More lumens means it's a brighter light; fewer lumens means it's a dimmer light. Lumens let you buy the amount of light you want. So when buying light bulbs, think lumens, not watts.

Does wattage equal brightness LED? ›

Higher wattage bulbs produce more light. However, this isn't true between different types of bulbs, like incandescent versus LED. A 10 watt LED bulb will produce much more light than a 40 watt incandescent, because LEDs are much more efficient. You may also see varying efficiency between particular LEDs.

How do you vary the brightness of an LED it should be connected to? ›

One way to vary the brightness of an LED using different voltages is to use a voltage divider circuit. A voltage divider circuit is a simple resistive circuit that allows you to adjust the output voltage by varying the resistance of one of the resistors in the circuit.

Can I use a higher wattage LED bulb than recommended? ›

However, a modern LED bulb with an equivalent light output of a 100w will barely get warm to the touch and consumes around 14w of power. So, yes it is safe to use todays modern household LED bulbs that exceed the equivalent wattage of the fixture.

Why are some LED lights brighter than others? ›

The area of the light-emitting part of the LED lamps is different. Two bulbs of different shapes with the same wattage can sometimes appear to be very different in brightness. For example, a small light bulb will appear brighter than a large light bulb. Bulbs look brighter than tubes, etc.

What makes one LED brighter than another? ›

What exactly makes one brighter than the other? There are a massive array of factors affecting LED brightness including quality of LED, color, human perception of that color, CRI, drive current and voltage, thermal dissipation and driver efficiency.

Does higher watts mean brighter LED? ›

So a light bulb with a higher wattage will use more power than one with a lower wattage. But does this always correlate to bulb brightness? Spoiler alert: No! Brightness is actually measured by lumens, not watts.

Does higher watt mean higher brightness? ›

A standard 40W bulb is equal to 400+ lumens, which represents the brightness of a bulb. Typically, the higher the wattage, the higher the lumens, and the greater output of light.

Does higher lumens mean brighter? ›

Lumens refers to the measure of light output, or brightness, of a light bulb. The more lumens a light bulb provides, the brighter the light.

How do I increase the lumens on my LED bulb? ›

Replacing the driver with a higher power

Connecting multiple LEDs in parallel can increase the brightness of the light.

What happens if you connect an LED backwards? ›

Will a led work in reversed polarity? No, it will not light up. And LEDs have a low reverse breakdown voltage, so it may avalanche and be destroyed. The higher power white LEDs manufactured for lighting applications often have a reverse diode integrated with them as a safeguard against reverse breakdown damage.

Are all LED lights the same brightness? ›

①The efficiency of the light source is different

This refers to how many lumens of luminous flux can be converted into watts of electrical power. LEDs were just born with a light effect of only a few tenths of lumens per watt. Now good quality LED lamp beads can reach 180lm/w, a difference of several thousand times.

Is it OK to put 100W LED bulb in 60W? ›

An LED bulb uses up to 90 percent less energy than its incandescent equivalent while producing the same lumen output. This means that if your fixture is rated to accept 60 Watts, you can safely use 75W, 100W, or 125W equal LED bulbs.

Can you put a 100-watt LED bulb in a 40 watt fixture? ›

So, you can safely use an LED that has a higher wattage equivalent than your fixture allows.

What does the brightness of a LED bulb depend on? ›

The brightness of a lightbulb is given by its power. P = I2R, and so brightness depends on current and resistance.

How bright is 3000 lumens LED? ›

In a completely dark environment, 3000 lumens would appear extremely bright. However, in a well-lit area, the same light source might not appear as dazzling. Another factor impacting the perception of brightness is the beam angle and distribution of the light.

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