On Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:35:59 -0800 (PST), Andy Dingley wrote:

It is a pity we are 'stuck' with relating brightness to wattage.
If we
used a proper definitive measure of brightness then manufacturers
would
have to be more honest.

Why? Would anyone still understand it? Are such complex topics taught
in school science these days?

The packaging of most (if not all) bulbs these days has a lumen
value. You normally have to look for it though normally on the energy
chart thingy or the bit that tells you the voltage and offcical base
type, B22 etc.

Trouble is I don't know what 600 lumen compared to 700 is really
like, all I can say is that 700 is brighter. You can use the number
to do a better comparison between nominaly the same bulb though, one
"60W equivalent" against another "60W equivalent" CFL for instance.

--
Cheers
Dave.