Hi guys,

I'm looking at front bike lights and some I have seen say the following: -

"Ultra bright 12,000 mcd LED's"

The question is how does this relate lumens?

Thanks
Bryan

There's no direct relationship, they don't really measure the same thing (well, they're both related to brightness but they're measured in different enough ways that it's almost impossible to directly convert).

My basic rule is that, these days, if they list the brightness in candlepower, it means it's not very bright. All the actually bright systems use lumens.

This is a 12,000 mcd light, probably putting out in the 20-30 lumen range. Not even enough to be seen. When vendors use mcd's to impress you, the light probably sucks..

https://www.ledwholesalers.com/store/...&productId=110

Thanks guys, appreciate the replies

As you say it does sound impressive and to those not in the know (like me) VERY impressive.........they'll go on the back burner and we'll look for lights that talk lumens.

Thanks again
Bryan

I think that 12,000 mcd is 12 candle power. I may be wrong.

No, you are basically correct.

Note that a candle isn't very bright, and "candela" and "lumens" measure different things.

As others have said, stick to lights that give lumens. If they only give candlepower or candela, the light is probably not very good.