How to know LED bulb equivalences?

LED lighting has transformed the way we grow plants, offering more efficient and long-lasting options compared to traditional incandescent bulbs like halogen or sodium vapor lamps. If you want to know how to compare LED bulbs with other types like incandescent or sodium vapor bulbs, this post explains everything about LED equivalence.

What are LED bulb equivalences?

LED bulb equivalence refers to the comparison between the power of an LED bulb and a traditional one. This helps determine which LED wattage to choose for a similar lighting effect in your grow setup.

When we talk about equivalences, we refer to the amount of light produced by an LED bulb compared to traditional bulbs that consume more energy. For example, a 100W LED bulb can replace a 200W incandescent bulb while using less energy.

Factors to consider

In addition to wattage, you should consider light efficiency, color temperature, and light distribution to ensure optimal performance. Other key factors include:

• Lumens vs. Watts: Lumens indicate the amount of light output, while watts measure energy consumption. Choose based on how much light you need.
• Color temperature: Choose a temperature that suits your grow environment, such as warm light (2700K) for flowering or cool light (6500K) for vegetative growth.

Tips for choosing the right LED Bulb

The first step is to assess the size of your space and the type of cultivation. 100W LED bulbs are very popular due to their energy efficiency, offering good coverage. Therefore, it’s useful to understand how an LED panel works and the purpose of each type.

Besides space, you should also consider factors like the growth stage and light efficiency, which are essential for selecting the ideal LED. A 100W bulb might suffice to replace a 250W incandescent bulb, but you need to ensure it has the proper lumen output.

How to determine LED Bulb equivalence

Here are a few steps to find LED equivalence:

1. Check lumens

Lumens are the measurement of light output from a bulb. To determine LED equivalence, start by comparing the lumens of the LED bulb to the bulb you want to replace.

For example: a 100W incandescent bulb produces around 1600 lumens, which can be matched by a 12-15W LED bulb.

2. Check power (Watts)

Although watts measure energy consumption, they help compare the energy usage across different technologies:

• A 10W-15W LED bulb is typically equivalent to a 100W incandescent bulb.
• To replace a 60W incandescent bulb, an 8W-12W LED should suffice.

3. Consult equivalence charts

There are equivalence charts that indicate which LED bulb corresponds to traditional bulbs. For example:

• 100W LED ≈ 200W Incandescent Bulb
• 150W LED ≈ 300W Sodium Vapor Bulb

4. Additional factors

• Color temperature: Make sure to select the color temperature (measured in Kelvin) that fits your needs (warm light for flowering, cool light for growth).
• Color Rendering Index (CRI): Ensure the LED’s CRI is suitable for your plants or the environment where it will be used.

With this information, you can easily determine the LED equivalence and choose the best option for your lighting needs.

How to create an LED equivalence table

To convert, multiply the LED bulb’s wattage by its efficiency. A 100W LED bulb can replace a 200W or 300W incandescent bulb, depending on the type of grow setup.

LED Bulb equivalence table