Recently, there has been a lot of conjecture over the move to LED light bulbs, particularly in regards to brightness and power equivalents. One common query is, "Can I obtain more light from my fixture by using an LED with a greater wattage equivalent than the bulb I am replacing, such as a 100-Watt equivalent LED bulb in a 60-Watt rated socket?" Indeed, in short order, provided that it still uses less watts than the fixture is designed for.
For safety purposes, light fixtures like ceiling fans, lamps, and basic overhead lighting have wattage ratings to protect light bulbs—mostly incandescents, which produce a lot of heat—from harming the fixtures or bulbs. LEDs are able to convert a lot more of the energy they are given into useable light than incandescent bulbs can, instead of just turning it into heat. In actuality, it's the primary factor in their effectiveness. The phrase "60-Watt equal" has nothing to do with any link between wattages; a 60W equal LED might run on as low as 8 Watts. That simply indicates that the light output of the bulb, whether CFL or LED, is equivalent to a 60-Watt incandescent.
While the basic rule of thumb with incandescent bulbs is that the greater the wattage, the brighter the light, you should be paying attention to lumens instead with energy-efficient bulbs (which all use very little electricity). Unlike watts, which measure power consumption, lumens are a direct measurement of brightness. The light output of LED bulbs that produce 800 lm is regarded as being equivalent to that of conventional 60W lamps. Look at the graph below to understand the typical lumen output for well-known incandescent lights.
The last word? You may safely substitute 75W, 100W, or even 125W equal bulbs (which all use less than 50 Watts of electricity) in place of a fixture that can only handle 60 Watts. Be aware that 100W and 125W equal LEDs are normally produced in a slightly bigger A21 size, so be sure your fixture can handle the greater dimensions—and that you really want the extra brightness!
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