What is Candlepower
Candlepower measures the luminous intensity of a light source in a specific direction. It originated from the common and uniform output of light from when the candle was the main source of light. Candlepower specifically refers to the amount of light that is emitted in a particular direction, particularly the brightest central location of a focused beam.
In the past, candlepower was the primary unit of measure for describing the intensity of a light source in a specific direction. However, it has been replaced by the candela, which is the current standard unit of measurement for luminous intensity. One candlepower is equal to one candela.
Candlepower is still colloquially used by flashlight and torch manufacturers to describe the brightness of their products. However, in official standards, the term “candela” is used.