Lumens = light output ??

[Burl]

I've been trying to compare T8 bulbs for my ship, I've got some GE bulbs that are 5200 lumens, and they're nice and bright, but expensive. Some other brand bulbs are 5000 lumens, and just a shade over 1/2 the price. Should there be THAT much difference?

 

[Charles (in GA)]

4ft T8 lamps should be in the 2500 to 3000 lumen range. It sounds like you are quoting the "temperature" rating of the bulbs. Soft white are about 4100K, bright white are 5000K and daylight are 6500K bulbs. I just changed the two four tube fixtures in my kitchen to T8's with GE electronic ballasts yesterday evening. I used the daylight bulbs as they yield the best color rendition of what you are looking at. Probably was a mistake. The light starts out bluish, then goes nearly white as the bulbs warm up, but way too bright, even for my very dark kitchen (all wood, in a log house).

For a shop, 6500K bulbs would be great however.

Charles

 

[Cryptic1911]

the above is correct, but if color rendition is important, look at the bulbs "CRI" rating. The closer to 100, the more accurate the colors will be, which is important if you are doing any painting. You can get 85CRI bulbs which are good for just about anything for reasonable money, but go much above that and the prices triple

 

[Number22]

For a shop, 6500K bulbs would be great however.

Seems like most here prefered the 4100 or 5000k when I asked about it a few days ago. I have a couple 6500k tubes and they seem kind of like the blue ricer headlights to me.

 

[Shocker]

Agreed. I don't like the 6500k. I went with the 5000k. More natural.

 

[Kevin54]

LUMENS http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumen_(unit)

 

[WinFred]

hope this helps...

http://www.theledlight.com/lumens.html

http://www.ndlight.com.au/lighting_calculations.htm

http://www.3drender.com/glossary/colortemp.htm

 

[Burl]

Also, should a 500K bulb that is rated at 32 watts put out the same light as a less expensive one of the same specs?

 

[Shocker]

Not necessarily. My 5000k bulb is rated for 2700 lumens. I have seen some 5000k bulbs at 1900 lumens and some at 3000 lumens.