Selling LEDs by Wattage VS. Performace — Why Performance Matters

Consumers commonly buy TVs by size (32", 55"), washing machines by capacity (7 kg, 8 kg), and smartphones by screen diagonal — not by how many watts they draw. Yet lighting is still sold and discussed in watts: “100 W LED”, “200 W LED”. At Aeron Luminaries we believe this practice is outdated and misleading. Wattage tells you how much electricity a fixture uses, not how well it lights a space or how long the product will last in real conditions.

This blog explains, thoroughly and practically, why the industry should stop focusing on wattage and start communicating performance and quality metrics — and how Aeron Luminaries puts those values into practice.

Wattage vs. Light Output — two very different things

• Wattage = energy consumed. It’s electrical input.

• Lumen = amount of visible light emitted. It’s the useful output.

• Efficacy (lumens per watt, lm/W) = how efficiently a lamp converts power into visible light.

Selling a lamp as “100 W LED” is like selling a TV as “100 W TV” — a meaningless label for customers. Two different fixtures both labeled 100 W can produce very different brightness levels and visual comfort. One might deliver high lumen output with wide, even distribution; the other might be inefficient, hot-running, glare-prone, or fail early.

Why customers need to look beyond watts (the important spec list)

When choosing lighting, consider measurable, relevant specs:

1. Lumen Output (lm) — How much visible light the fixture produces. This is what determines brightness in a space.

2. Efficacy (lm/W) — Higher is better: more light for each watt consumed.

3. Color Temperature (K) — Warm to cool light (e.g., 2700K–6500K). Affects mood and task suitability.

4. Color Rendering Index (CRI) — How accurately colours appear under the light. 80+ is common; 90+ for high-fidelity needs.

5. Beam Angle / Distribution — Determines how light spreads. Important for task lighting vs area lighting.

6. IP Rating — Ingress Protection for dust and water. Essential for outdoor, wet, or dusty locations (e.g., IP65, IP66).

7. IK Rating — Mechanical impact resistance — important in public or industrial settings.

8. Thermal Design & Build Quality — Good heat dissipation extends LED life and maintains lumen output.

9. Surge Protection / Driver Quality — Impacts reliability in unstable power conditions.

10. Coatings & Special Treatments (e.g., anti-static, anti-corrosive) — Critical in environments with dust, salt, or flammable particles.

11. Rated Life / L70 — The expected time until lumen output drops to 70% of initial; useful lifetime projection.

12. Warranty & Certification — Third-party testing, standards compliance, and warranty terms reflect manufacturer confidence.

Examples where wattage misleads

• Two lamps both called “100 W LED”:

  • Lamp A: 12000 lm, IP66, L70 60,000 hrs, 120 lm/W, robust driver.

  • Lamp B: 8000 lm, IP54, L70 30,000 hrs, 80 lm/W, basic driver.

Which is “better”? Lamp A — yet both are sold as 100 W. The customer who bought Lamp B may be disappointed by dimmer light, early lumen depreciation, and water ingress failures.

Why other products are sold by relevant performance metrics

Compare lighting to everyday examples:

• TVs are sold by screen size, resolution and panel type — not watts. You care how big and how clear the picture is, not the power draw.

• Washing machines are sold by capacity and program features — not watts. You care how much laundry it can handle.

• Refrigerators are often compared by volume and energy rating, not just watts.

Lighting should be treated the same: sold by what the buyer cares about — measurable light output, quality, suitability for the environment, lifecycle cost, and safety.

The total-cost and safety argument — wattage alone hides real costs

• Energy cost: A high-efficacy LED (higher lm/W) delivers more light per rupee spent on electricity. Focusing on lumens and efficacy lets buyers optimize long-term running costs.

• Maintenance & replacement cost: Longer rated life and robust protection (IP, IK, anti-static) means fewer replacements and less downtime.

• Operational safety: The right IP/IK and coatings reduce failures in harsh environments — lowering risk and liability.

• Lighting quality: Good CRI and consistent color temperature improve productivity, visual comfort, and product appearance in commercial applications.

Aeron Luminaries’ stance — what we promise and why

At Aeron Luminaries, our product philosophy is simple:

1. Transparency first — we publish lumen output, efficacy, IP/IK ratings, CRI, beam angles, driver details, L70 rated life and test certificates alongside basic power consumption.

2. Performance-led design — thermal engineering, quality drivers, and coatings (anti-static, anti-corrosion where required) are integral — not optional extras.

3. Application-matching — we recommend fixtures by the task (street lighting, factory, cold storage, wash-down area), not by a watt number.

4. Lifecycle thinking — low energy use is good, but long life, lower maintenance and reduced replacement frequency deliver the true value.

5. Compliance & testing — products are tested to relevant industry standards and accompanied by clear warranty terms.

We stand behind our products because we design them to perform in the real world — not just to look good on a spec sheet.

How to choose the right light — a practical Aeron checklist

When you evaluate a lighting product, use this quick checklist:

• What is the lumen output (lm)? Does it meet the required lux for the space?

• What is the efficacy (lm/W)? Higher efficacy reduces running cost.

• What is the color temperature and CRI? Is it right for the activity?

• What is the IP and IK rating? Does it suit the environment (outdoor, wet, corrosive)?

• Does it have anti-static / anti-corrosive coating or other special protections if the environment requires it?

• What is the L70 rated life and warranty term?

• Is the driver specified and is surge protection included?

• Are there third-party test reports / certifications available?

• Ask: what is the expected maintenance schedule and replacement cost over 5–10 years?

A quick buyer’s example (illustrative — not actual product data)

If you need to light a 10 m × 10 m warehouse work area, don’t ask for “100 W LEDs”. Instead ask:

• Required average lux (e.g., 200 lux for general tasks).

• Desired color temperature and CRI (e.g., 4000K, CRI ≥ 80).

• Environment: dusty, humid, or chemical exposure? If yes, require IP65/IP66 and anti-corrosion treatment.

• Preferred maintenance interval and lifetime budget (L70 ≥ 50,000 hrs, 5-year warranty).

Aeron Luminaries will size the lamps by lumen output, beam distribution and mounting to meet your lux target, specify IP/IK and coatings, and propose a solution with lifecycle cost estimates.

Common pushbacks — answered

“But customers understand watts; it’s simple.”True — watts are simple. That’s precisely the problem. Simplicity that hides meaning leads to poor choices. Our job is to translate technical specs into simple, useful guidance: “This fixture delivers X lumens (Y lux at mounting), IP66, 110 lm/W, CRI 80+, 60,000 hr L70.”

“Isn’t lumen confusing?”Not if it’s contextualized. People understand TV size because retailers show measurements and pictures. For lighting, we show lumen values, expected lux at mounting heights, and photometric layouts that make the result clear.

“Won’t this increase cost?”Upfront cost can be slightly higher for high-quality fixtures, but total cost of ownership typically falls due to energy savings, fewer replacements, and lower maintenance.

How Aeron Luminaries helps buyers and specifiers

• Photometric layouts & lux reports for projects so customers see real-world performance before purchase.

• Product datasheets with all relevant specs: lm, lm/W, CCT, CRI, IP/IK, L70, driver details, special coatings and mounting options.

• Application guides that translate specs into recommendations (street, high-bay, coastal, food-processing, hazardous areas).

• Lifecycle cost calculators to compare real-world costs, not just sticker prices.

• Warranties and after-sales support that align with product robustness.
  

Conclusion — move from watts to outcomes

Wattage is an electrical input — useful for electricians and energy bills — but it is a poor proxy for lighting quality and value. For true, long-lasting, and safe lighting solutions, buyers should focus on lumen output, efficacy, environmental protection (IP/IK), build and driver quality, lifetime metrics and fit-for-purpose coatings like anti-static or anti-corrosive finishes.

At Aeron Luminaries we design, test and document products the way professionals and informed consumers deserve — with transparency and measurable performance. If you want lighting that performs in the real world (and a partner who explains exactly how it will behave), we’re ready to help.