Candlepower

Definition and Historical Context

Candlepower was once the principal unit for measuring luminous intensity—the amount of light a source emits in a particular direction. It originated in the 19th century, when the only practical method for comparing the brightness of lamps, gas lights, or early electric bulbs was to judge them against the output of a “standard candle.”

However, “standard candle” meant different things in different countries:

• In Britain, the English candle was a pure spermaceti candle of defined weight and burn rate.
• Germany used the Hefnerkerze (Hefner candle), based on amyl acetate lamps.
• France specified the Carcel lamp, burning colza oil at a standard rate.

Such variability meant that “candlepower” was never truly a universal or scientifically reliable unit. As science and industry globalized, the need for an internationally agreed, reproducible standard led to the adoption of the candela as the SI unit for luminous intensity in 1948—originally defined by a blackbody radiator, and later refined to its current, physics-based definition.

Technical Equivalence: Candlepower and Candela

The candela (cd) is now the official SI unit for luminous intensity. Its definition is:

The luminous intensity, in a given direction, of a source emitting monochromatic radiation of frequency 540 × 10¹² hertz and with a radiant intensity of 1/683 watt per steradian.

Conversion:
1 candlepower ≈ 0.981 candela.

This conversion is essential for interpreting legacy data and ensuring compliance with modern lighting standards.

What Does Luminous Intensity Measure?

Luminous intensity describes the amount of visible light emitted by a source in a specific direction, per unit solid angle (steradian), measured in candelas. It is not the total light output (which is measured in lumens), but the directional “brightness” as perceived by the human eye—a critical metric in applications such as aviation, automotive, and architectural lighting.

Formula:
Luminous Intensity (I) = dΦ / dΩ
Where:

• dΦ = differential luminous flux (lumens)
• dΩ = differential solid angle (steradians)

1 candela = 1 lumen per steradian.

Historical Applications and Limitations of Candlepower

Applications

• Lighthouses: Candlepower ratings (e.g., “1,000,000 candlepower”) conveyed how far a beacon could be seen at sea.
• Automotive Headlights: Early headlamps were regulated and marketed by candlepower values.
• Aviation: Early airport and approach lights often specified intensity in candlepower.
• Public and Street Lighting: Streetlamps and floodlights were described in terms of candlepower.

Measurement Limitations

Candlepower measurements were inherently imprecise:

• The output of “standard” candles varied with fuel type, wick length, and environment.
• No two national standards were exactly alike, causing confusion in international trade and safety standards.
• Measurement techniques using photometers compared test sources to candles, but were subject to human error and physical inconsistencies.

These issues led to significant errors and inconsistent results, motivating the scientific community to adopt the candela.

The Candela: Modern SI Unit

The candela is precisely defined and reproducible, based on fundamental properties of light and human visual sensitivity:

• Definition: Luminous intensity in a given direction of a source emitting monochromatic radiation of 540 × 10¹² hertz, with radiant intensity of 1/683 watt per steradian.
• Advantages: Consistency, international agreement, suitability for advanced photometric instruments.
• Applications: All modern lighting standards (aviation, automotive, architecture, safety) specify luminous intensity in candelas.

Related Photometric Units: Context and Comparison

Practical Examples: Candlepower vs. Candela

• Flashlight:

  • Historical: “20,000 candlepower”
  • Modern: 19,620 candela (20,000 × 0.981)

• Automotive Headlight:

  • Historical: “50,000 candlepower”
  • Modern: 49,050 candela

• Lighthouse:

  • Historical: “1,000,000 candlepower”
  • Modern: 981,000 candela

Refer to these conversions when interpreting legacy or marketing claims.

Use Cases: Then and Now

Historical (Candlepower):

• Lighthouses, street lighting, early automotive/aviation signals, theater/studio spotlights.

Modern (Candela):

• All regulated lighting: LED, automotive headlamps, aviation beacons (ICAO), architectural lighting, safety/emergency lighting.

ICAO Aviation Example:
ICAO Annex 14 mandates minimum candela values for runway and approach lights (e.g., 10,000 cd for high-intensity runway edge lights), ensuring visibility and safety for pilots under all conditions.

Why Candlepower Is Obsolete

• Variability: Candlepower’s reliance on physical candles meant measurement inconsistencies.
• International Standardization: The candela, based on physical constants, offers universal accuracy.
• Technical Advancement: Modern photometry uses precise, calibrated instruments.
• Legal and Regulatory: All major standards (ISO, CIE, ICAO) require the candela.

Legacy References: Where Candlepower Still Appears

• Historical Documents: Manuals, drawings, and literature from the 19th/early 20th centuries.
• Marketing Materials: Some flashlight and spotlight products use “candlepower” for familiarity.
• Collector/Hobbyist Discussions: Vintage lighting equipment often described in candlepower.

Caution: Always convert to candela for technical work and regulatory compliance.

Aviation and ICAO Standards for Luminous Intensity

Luminous intensity is critical for aviation safety, especially in low visibility. ICAO Annex 14 specifies minimum candela requirements for all airfield lighting:

All values are in candelas, per ICAO and CIE standards.

Summary Table: Key Distinctions

References

• International Commission on Illumination (CIE)
• International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
• International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 14
• CGPM (General Conference on Weights and Measures) SI Brochure
• Historical documents on standard candles and photometry

Candlepower is an important historical term for understanding the evolution of lighting measurement, but for all modern, scientific, and regulatory purposes, only the candela should be used.