A lot of time we are asked what is the equivalent LED product to convert from Metal Halide, High Pressure Sodium or Mercury Vapor. And a lot of time, we have a product in mind that works based on past experience. But how did we come up with that product, and how did we make the original decision on what was the proper replacement?

There’s a lot of science that goes into light, color, quality, and each light had it’s own characteristics. For example, it takes less LED to replace High Pressure Sodium than it takes to replace Metal Halide. And we are talking a lot more than just lumens. We are talking about color temperature, quality of light and something called photopic / scotopic lumens.

In the world of lighting, we measure foot candles with a light meter, this is called a photopic measurement. The light meter picks up everything, including spectrum’s that are invisible to us. Now, we humans see things to, and this is called scotopic lumens. Our rods and cones read and interpret light. And it does so differently than what a light meter does. So it is not uncommon when we demo a LED Light against a HPS light or Metal Halide, we first ask “Which is brighter” before we show the light meter reading. It leaves a few people scratching their heads. Well, that’s the science of of it all, and fortunately there is some handy tables called SP ratios that allow us to take the lumens of a particular light (photopic lumens) and multiply it by the S/P ratio to get the scotopic lumens equivalent.

For example, the S/P ratio for High Pressure Sodium is 0.40. The S/P ratio for LED at 5000K is 1.8. So if you take 40,000 lumens of HPS and multiply it 0.4, the effective scotopic lumens is 16,000. To get the same amount of lumens from LED, take the 16,000 and divide it by the S/P ratio and you get 8888 lumens. So the 8888 lumens of LED is the photopic measurement, the 16,000 LED lumens is the scotopic lumens measurement. So in an nutshell, you need 8,888 lumens of LED to replace 40,000 lumens of HPS from a scotopic point of view.

Here is a handy chart of common lights and ratios for you to use.

By Clarissa Allison | April 29th, 2016

If you want to update your home to create an appeal of freshness and light, there’s no better color to use in your decorating scheme than white. Whether pure white, off white or cream – despite what you may initially think, white can add drama to your home. Read on for tips and product suggestions that will transform your abode into your own personal white palace.

The key with using white in your space is to soften your chosen items by making sure that everything isn’t overly match-y and austere. Choose distressed finishes for your furniture and items that exhibit a bit of texture and softness. In this way you will avoid severity and “coldness” while adding familiarity and comfort to your space. George Nelson  at the end of the Second World War.

reflective glare. The sculptural qualities of this lamp are truly amazing.

Having access to a 24/7 emergency electrical service is a necessity, not a luxury. There’s no telling when something in your house’s electrical system might malfunction, and a quick response is crucial. At the same time, you might feel tempted to try your hand at fixing the problem yourself to save time and cut back on expenses. This is a big mistake, one that can jeopardize your safety while also costing you more money and time than you were hoping to save in the first place. Getting help from the professionals is by far the best way to handle electrical problems safely and effectively.

Of all the reasons you shouldn’t try to perform electrical repairs yourself, the most important is the very real risk of hurting yourself. Electrical work can be dangerous, which is why experts go through so much training to do their job. Remember that every electrical system packs a huge punch of power, and a shock could be enough to injure or kill.

Even if you think you’re knowledgeable enough to do the job yourself, there is always a chance of running into complications that only a professional can handle. Calling for 24/7 emergency electrical service is the right choice — your safety is too important to gamble with for the sake of saving money.

If you’ve fallen victim to a serious electrical issue, trying to get the problem resolved quickly can backfire if it ends up being more serious than you suspected. A minor repair that seems to help the problem at first could be covering up a more critical issue, which could become a costly problem later on.