At AboutMechanics, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.
What is Candlepower?
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Candlepower is an obsolete term that was once used to express the intensity of light at the source. Today, the term has been replaced by "candela," but many people continue to use the original word. This term is in especially common use on the packaging for flashlights. It is applied inconsistently, however, so a term like "200 candlepower" may not be very helpful for determining how bright something is at the source.
Like other measurements, candlepower revolves around a standardized and easily replicated base. When people were originally standardizing the term, they used a basic candle as the basis for measurements. Over time, the standard base was adjusted several times to different light sources. In 1948, this unit of measurement was abandoned in favor of the candela. The candela is based on a physical process and can be precisely calibrated.
Expressing intensity in this unit of measurement is designed to convey how many candles would be required to generate light of the same intensity. As science and technology progressed, one of the things that developed was increasingly powerful and flexible lighting technology. This provided access to sources of illumination significantly brighter than candles, in addition to also being safer because they did not require open flames to function.
When measured by the last standard used, one candlepower is equal to .981 candela. Some people and manufacturers use the terms "candela" and "candlepower" interchangeably, however, giving candlepower a slight upgrade. This can create confusion when comparing the intensity of light sources. It also makes it difficult to convert between this and other measures, as formulas used for converting do not work when people do not know which version of candlepower is being referred to.
Products advertised in terms of candlepower may have additional information about the intensity of their light, such as a measure in candelas that will provide a more accurate description. If consumers are not sure about how bright a given product is, they can contact the manufacturer for more information. Staff at stores where lighting products are sold may also know how manufacturers of specific products measure brightness and are usually happy to offer assistance when asked.
It is important to know that candlepower is an expression of intensity of light at the source. It does not provide information about how strong the light is at a distance or how much light is perceived by the human eye. This measurement also cannot be used to determine how much electricity a given light source uses.
Mary McMahon
Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a AboutMechanics researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.
Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a AboutMechanics researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.
Learn more...AS FEATURED ON:
AS FEATURED ON:
-
![Candlepower is an obsolete term that was used to describe the intensity of a light source.]()
By: DeshaCAMCandlepower is an obsolete term that was used to describe the intensity of a light source. -
![Candlepower is often denoted on the packaging for flashlights.]()
By: SensayCandlepower is often denoted on the packaging for flashlights.
Discussion Comments
Like many people, I delivered pizza when I was younger, and I relied on my incredibly bright spotlight to help me find addresses quickly at night.
This was a cheap 5 million candlepower spotlight that I bought at K Mart or Wal-Mart or some other mart, and the thing lit up a neighborhood like the Sun. It was incredibly bright. Plugged into the cigarette lighter of the car, because batteries would have lasted about a minute and a half in this thing.
If you shined it right up in the sky it looked like the Bat Signal. You could see it from a long way away. I loved that light.
I still call it candlepower. Using a word like "candela" just sounds wimpy to me. Especially since I like really bright flashlights. Mostly I like shining them in people's eyes when they aren't expecting it.
It may be a dumb thing to do, but it's a prank my friends play on each other quite regularly. In fact, I had never heard the word candela until today, and I wish I hadn't heard it still.
Post your comments