TECHNICAL REFERENCE

Understanding Light Intensity Specifications

for Flashing Signal Lights

GENERAL

The purpose of this reference section is to promote understanding of light intensity specifications for
flashing signal lights.

The term "Effective Intensity" or "Candela Effective" is used by signal engineers to describe a flashing
signal light which has the same signaling effectiveness as an equivalent steady burning light.

The method of calculating the Effective Intensity of flashing signal lights discussed herein has been
taken from the IES Guide for "Calculating The Effective Intensity of Flashing Signal Lights, Section 4.3
Condenser–Discharge Lights" and is used by agencies of the Federal Government to specify strobe
beacon Light requirements.

XENON STROBE FORMULAS BASIC PHOTOMETRIC FORMULAS

Electrical Relationships Q = J x ϕLumen Seconds
P = Power in watts HCPS =
J = Joules (Also known as wattseconds)
BCPS = M x HCPS(candela)
F = Flashes per second
(flash frequency) eff = 5 x BCPS (candela)
I

C = Capacitance in microfarads I
eff = (6.37Lb + 18.60)d2x10–7
V = Voltage in kilovolts (candela)

d =
Basic Electrical Formulas
J=
P=JxF
PHOTOMETRIC RELATIONSHIPS
I
eff = Effective intensity (Also known
as candela effective)
HCPS = Horizontal Candlepower
seconds
BCPS = Beam Candlepower seconds
M = Lens or reflector amplification
factor
ϕ = Efficiency of flashtube in lumen
seconds/watt seconds
Q = Light output of flashtube in lumen
seconds (empirically derived for
helix flashtubes)
Lb = Foot–Lamberts background
illuminance
d = Distance in feet that a light
intensity can be seen

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 PEAK CANDLEPOWER, CANDELA SECONDS AND CANDELA EFFECTIVE
When comparing two different warning lights, the first question usually asked is how bright are these lights and how do they
compare to one another? This can be a complicated question when one is comparing very different light sources such as rotating
incandescent lights and xenon strobe lights. Let’s briefly discuss three different commonly specified “intensity” ratings:

1) PEAK CANDELA or PEAK CANDLEPOWER –This quantity is the maximum light intensity generated by a flashing light
during its light pulse. It indicates NOTHING ABOUT HOW BRIGHT THE LIGHT APPEARS TO THE HUMAN EYE. Peak
candela alone cannot be used to directly compare two warning lights. In addition there is no set multiplication factor for
converting peak candela, a unit of luminous intensity, to either candela seconds or effective candela, both units of luminous
energy. Tomar Electronics Inc. strongly discourages the use of peak candela ratings when comparing warning lights.

2 CANDELA SECONDS or CANDLEPOWER SECONDS – This quantity is the actual light energy contained in a pulse of light.
Candela seconds is used by the Society of Automotive Engineers and the California Highway Patrol to specify the minimum
requirements for light output from a flashing light because flash energy has been shown to be a relatively accurate and fair
way of comparing radically different types of lights such as incandescent rotators and xenon strobe lights. Candela seconds
is merely a relative measure of how bright a flash of light will appear to a human eye. A light with a higher candela second
rating will appear brighter than a light with a lower candela second rating even if the lower rated light has a much higher
peak candela rating.

3) CANDELA EFFECTIVE or EFFECTIVE CANDLEPOWER – Candela effective is based on candela seconds and attempts
to equate the brightness of a flashing light source to the brightness of a steady burning source. If a flashing light has a
candela effective rating of 100 then it will be visible at the same distance as a 100 candela steady burning source. The
National Bureau of Standards, the FAA, and the Illuminating Engineering Society use candela effective in specifying
intensities of flashing light source because this rating is the most meaningful when it becomes necessary to predict the
visible range of flashing warning lights versus steady burning light sources.

Tomar Electronics uses only candela effective as measured using the technique outlined in the
IES GUIDE FOR CALCULATING THE EFFECTIVE INTENSITY OF FLASHING SIGNAL LIGHTS using visible light only. We recommend
only the use of candela effective or candela seconds when comparing any two flashing warning lights.

LENS PLASTIC TYPE AND COLOR

TOMAR uses only the finest optical grade plastics available. All lenses are molded from GE LEXAN® which is listed in the AAMVA
publication entitled “Listing of Acceptable Plastics for Optical Lenses and Reflectors Used on Motor Vehicles” and meet SAE
Color Specification J578d.

(LEXAN is a trademark of The General Electric Co.)

D56 TOMAR Electronics, Inc. 2100 W. Obispo Ave. Gilbert, AZ 85233 USA (800) 338-3133 tel (800) 688-6627 fax www.tomar.com
 TECHNICAL REFERENCE

SAMPLE CALCULATION SIGNAL LIGHT

LUMINOUS RANGE CALCULATION
OF STROBE LIGHT INTENSITY
Calculate the Effective Intensity of a typical Strobe Warning The fundamental quantative specifications needed for warning
light as follows: lights is intensity. This is not a simple matter. The brightness
Suppose we consider a TOMAR Model 804 Single Flash Strobe required for “adequate” warning depends upon the individual’s
Light which operates at a lamp voltage of 400 Volts with a 150 physical and emotional characteristics, the ambient light level,
MFD capacitor. Let’s also assume a flash rate of 85 flashes per and the entire visual context. This problem has been studied by
minute. others, and the results of studies by Cole and Brown for traffic
signals in general are shown here to provide a useful guide to
The input energy of the flashlamp is… determine the viewing distance of a light with known intensity.

Their basic finding is that the source intensity I eff (candela)

appropriate to a viewing distance d (ft), with ambient
illuminance Lb (ft–Lamberts), is given by the expression
and the average power is…
P = J x F = 12 x 1.4 = 16.8 Watts input to lamp Ieff = (6.37 Lb + 18.60)d2 x 10–7 (Candela)
Next, the total spherical light output “Q” of the flash tube can
As an example, “Normal daytime conditions”
be estimated (by assuming a conversion efficiency of 35 Lumen
seconds/watt seconds) to be… (Lb = 2919 ft – L) imply I eff ≈ 200 candela to be necessary
Q=Jxϕ for a viewing distance of 330 feet . Background illuminance
Q = 12 x 35 lumen seconds/watt second can, at times, reach three to four times this value. Further, the
intensity required if one seeks to alert as well as inform can
Q = 420 lumen seconds increase this value. However, this equation provides a useful
Next, convert total spherical light output to “HCPS” Horizontal starting point, and is readily modified if necessary.
Candle Power Seconds to depict the intensity seen by a distant
observer

2000
S
ITION

This is the intensity of the lamp without the outer lens. Next
EFFECTIVE INTENSITY

add the effect of the lens by computing the Beam Candle 1500
ND

Power Seconds NS
(Candela eff)

IO
E CO

IT

BCPS = m x HCPS = 2.0 X 42

ND

1000
YTIM

CO

BCPS = 84
E
DA

Last compute the Effective Intensity…

M
TI
TE
AL

500 I
Ieff = 5 x BCPS = 5 x 84 = 420 Candela Effective N
RM

AL
RM
NO

Please note that the actual light output of a typical commercial

NO
strobe warning light depends on a number of factors which 100
can vary the light output by a factor of 10 or more for a given
amount of Joules per flash, some of these factors are:
•Color of lens 100 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
•Size and efficiency of lens
•Physical shape of strobe lamp and arrangement LUMINOUS RANGE IN FEET
within lens (optical coupling) NOTE: THESE CURVES ARE BASED ON NORMAL VISIBILITY
•Efficiency of strobelamp itself
Therefore, Tomar Electronics recommends that only certified
light output in candelas effective, or candela seconds including
visible radiation only, be used when comparing the intensity
of various lights, and Joules per flash times flash frequency be
used to determine the capability of the power supply only.

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