Candlepower and Lumens?

[GLP Standard]

Just wondering if someone can tell me, what is the difference between Candlepower and Lumens? Im assuming that they are just different scales of measurement, kind of like Standard and Metric, but Im not sure.

[oldbillthundercheif]

It's complicated, but take a run at it if you feel ambitious:

http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives...3940.Ph.r.html

[oldbillthundercheif]

a candle power (CP) = one lumen per
3,282.81 square degrees or inversely , 304.6 x 10^-6 (0.0003046)lumen per
square degree per candlepower

-From the link.

[GLP Standard]

uhh...I dont think complicated is the word for it. Ill tackle that link a little later when Ive rested for atleast 10 hours. I'm almost sorry I asked...

[woodland]

a candle power (CP) = one lumen per
3,282.81 square degrees or inversely , 304.6 x 10^-6 (0.0003046)lumen per
square degree per candlepower

HOLY CRAP!!!!

[Martyn4802]

I guess there are some questions in life that should remain unanswered...LOL

Martyn

[black bear 84]

GLP,
What you should know, is that the candlepower and lumens don't compare.

Candlepower is the measure of intensity at the center of beam (the hot spot) concentrating light there score high, like the BIG spotlight reflectors cloking 2 or more million candlepower.

Lumens is the measure of total tight emited by the source. It include the side spill or flood.
Very useful in flashlights as we use the entire light output out of them.

Some flashllights will give you the two measurements.

The Magcharger is 40,000 candlepower, 200 lumens



The Ultra Stinger is 75,000 candlepower and 295 lumens




The Borealis is 1.050 lumens, two million candlepower



Here are some of the lights the shoot out:

The Maglite 3 D (39) lumens, Magcharger (200 lumens) Ultra Stinger (295 lumens)
the Surefire M-6 (500 lumens) and the Borealis, rechargeable (in red)1050 lumens.



Cheers
Black Bear

[GLP Standard]

Good info Black Bear. So would I be right in assuming then that the Candlepower rating doesnt determine the Lumens? Or even though theyre not really related, do they pretty much rise according to one another? I had no idea my 3D maglight had such a small Lumens rating. I definately need a new flashlight

A guy at work has the Stringer rechargable. Not sure he would part with it, but how does everyone feel about them? Not sure which one exactly, but I know he has the larger head on it too

[black bear 84]

I can have a light with 1050 lumens doing two million candlepower, and make it a two million and a half, just by putting in the same light, a bigger head, with a reflector that concentrate all those lumens in a tighter spot.

Borealis two million candlepower



Borealis two and a half million





The two (2') and two and a half (3") million heads



The Borealis with the 3" head




And a very small reflector can have the opposite effect, I just bought a small light with a Rebel 200 lumens module that can barely illuminate a target 26 yards distant, just because the small reflector spread the lumens all over the place in a big flood.

Cheers
Black Bear

[jeff6strings]

The following link may help:

http://www.onlineconversion.com/illuminance.htm