The instrument facilitates the conversion between candlepower, an older unit of luminous intensity, and lumens, the standard unit of luminous flux. As an example, a light source measured at a specific candlepower can have its total light output quantified in lumens using this conversion tool. This allows for direct comparisons between light sources specified using different metrics.
The significance of such a conversion tool lies in bridging historical lighting measurements with modern standards. Prior to standardized units like lumens, candlepower was commonly used to describe the brightness of light sources. Utilizing this conversion enables a more objective assessment of older lighting technologies relative to contemporary ones, simplifying the process of understanding historical lighting data and comparing it to current specifications.