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How to Read a Photometric Chart

What are the elements that make up a photometric chart?: Modular International offers a wide variety of LED modules to select from for Modular Multiples®, outdoor lighting and custom engineered lighting fixtures. In this video we will discuss how to read and understand the information displayed on a Photometric chart when selecting the right LED module for your project.

  • Lumens – a measure of the total quantity of visible light emitted by a source per unit of time.
  • Watts – a unit of measurement for power equivalent to one ampere under a pressure of one volt.
  • Degree of Optic or Beam Angle – the angle at which the light is distributed or emitted.
  • Kelvin Temperature – a scale to indicate the intensity of light outputs. Ranging from 1,000°K (Warm) to 10,000°K (Cool).
  • CRI – (Color Rendering Index) – this is a scale between 0 (being the worst) and 100 (being the best) that is used to predict how well a product will produce a true representation of color in its produced light.
  • Foot-candles – a unit of illumination equal to a source of one candela at a distance of one foot.
  • Lux – *Mostly used in Europe* – the SI unit of illuminance, measuring luminous flux per unit area.
  • Beam Width – is the footprint of light emitted by a source. As displayed in the Photometric chart, the greater the distance from the light source, the larger the light footprint – however, the intensity of the light source will decrease.

For each LED module that is offered with our Modular Multiples®, outdoor lighting and custom engineered lighting fixtures, the LED modules are given a product number. These product numbers can be found on the Standard LED Modules list, Overview Brochure and within the Lighting Details sheets available on our website.