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. . .which is another way of saying Splain-a-me.

I replaced 3 Kircher low voltage lights with 4 fluorescent lights. The LV lights had 2-18 watt bulbs, 2- 18 watt bulbs and 4-18 watt bulbs. Total wattage is 72. The replacements were 4 15 watt tubes- total wattage 60.

Why is it that the output form the fluorescent tubes is SO much more than the LV bulbs?

Wattage is a electrical power thingey.

Lumens is a light brightness thingey.

With incandescent lamps(light bulbs) the higher wattage ones are brighter. Hence we historically have used the wattage to describe brightness(incorrectly).

Fluorescent lights have always been brighter/watt than tungsten filament lamps.

JPG40504 wrote:Wattage is a electrical power thingey.

Lumens is a light brightness thingey.

With incandescent lamps(light bulbs) the higher wattage ones are brighter. Hence we historically have used the wattage to describe brightness(incorrectly).

Fluorescent lights have always been brighter/watt than tungsten filament lamps.

Ditto JPG.

Per Wikipedia, the efficiency of incandescent lights is about 14 Lumens per Watt. Compact fluorescents are about 63 Lumens/Watt. LEDs are now up to 94 Lumens/Watt, and are still improving rapidly.

So just wear your shades when you fire those babies up .. you'll look cool.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LED_lamp#C ... chnologies