Difference between revisions of "Lighting Glossary"

From DIYWiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(more stuff, added links)
m (minor fixes)
 
(12 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
−
'''Lamp''' lightbulb
+
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|+
 +
!Term
 +
!Description
 +
|-
 +
|Ballast
 +
|Current limiting device needed to run fluorescent, CFL and discharge lamps. Usually built into the fitting, or in the case of most CFLs, ballast and lamp are in one lamp-replacement unit.
 +
|-
 +
|BC
 +
|Bayonet cap, a push and twist connection on the base of a lamp. The standard size has a base of 22mm diameter, and these are sometimes known as BC22. See also Small Bayonet Cap / SBC
 +
|-
 +
|Bipin
 +
|2 pin bulb base used on fluorescent tubes and some halogen lamps
 +
|-
 +
|BL / blacklight
 +
|A lamp which produces UVA and blue/violet light
 +
|-
 +
|BLB /  blacklight blue
 +
|Produces UVA only. The dark blue glass filters out nearly all the visible light.
 +
|-
 +
|Cap
 +
|The electrical connection end of a lamp.
 +
|-
 +
|Capacitor Ballast
 +
|A type of ballast used to eliminate strobing in workshops. Capacitor ballasts generally produces shorter tube life in most cases
 +
|-
 +
|Capacitor
 +
|Component used for power factor correction with magnetic ballasts.
 +
|-
 +
|Colour temperature
 +
|Informally a measure of light's perceived warmth or coldness.
  
−
'''Fitting''' the appliance the lamp fits into, often informally called a lamp, eg tablelamp.
+
The temperatures are quoted in Kelvins (a change of 1 Kelvin is the same as a change of 1 degree Celsius, but the 0 point is "absolute zero" or approx -273 °C).  
  
−
'''Luminaire''' same as fitting
+
As the temperature of an object increases, it will radiate electromagnetic energy. The amount of radiation and the frequency of it both increase with temperature. When hot enough it will start radiating energy in the visible light part of the spectrum - starting with a very dim red glow, moving through red hot, white hot, and eventually into a blue plasma phase.
  
−
'''[[Fluorescent Lighting|CRI]]''' Colour rendering index. How well light renders colours. One measure of light quality. 100 is perfect CRI, 50 is poor. CRI is not the only determinant of colour rendition, CCT matters too.
+
Confusingly, higher colour temperatures tend to be thought of as "cooler" light qualities.  
  
−
'''[[Fluorescent Lighting|CCT]]''' Colour temperature. A measure of light's perceived warmth or coldness. 3000K appears warm, 4500K appears cold, containing a higher percentage of blue light.
+
A Colour Temperature of 2700K - 3000K appears warm, 4000K - 5000K appears cold, and > 5000K is very cool or typically described as "daylight". The higher temperatures containing a higher percentage of blue light.
 +
|-
 +
|CFL
 +
|Compact Fluorescent Lamp.
 +
|-
 +
|Choke
 +
|Magnetic ballast used in glowstart fluorescent fittings.
 +
|-
 +
|Cool White
 +
|A lamp with a colour temperature typically in the 4000K to 5000K range - more blue than Warm, but not quite as blue as Daylight
 +
|-
 +
|CRI
 +
|Colour rendering index. How well light renders colours. One measure of light quality. 100 is perfect CRI, 50 is poor. CRI is not the only determinant of colour rendition, colour temperature matters too.
 +
|-
 +
|Daylight
 +
|Used to describe lamps with colour temperatures > 5000K. At very high levels of brightness daylight can create the effect of sunlight. At lower levels of brightness it is "colder" like the light on an overcast day.
 +
|-
 +
|Dimmer
 +
|A device for reducing lamp brightness. Note some lamp types (LED, CFL, Fluorescent) are incompatible with dimmers unless explicitly marked as "Dimmable".
 +
|-
 +
|Downlighter
 +
|fitting sending most light downwards
 +
|-
 +
|E14
 +
|a miniature Edison Screw fitting lamp base with a 14mm diameter
 +
|-
 +
|E27
 +
|The standard Edison Screw base with a 27mm diameter base, aka ES
 +
|-
 +
|E40
 +
|Giant Edison screw base, used with some discharge lamps. 40mm diameter
 +
|-
 +
|Efficacy
 +
|A measure of the output in lumens per watt. From a non-technical point of view can be considered as efficiency, although this is not strictly accurate.
 +
|-
 +
|ES
 +
|Edison screw cap
 +
|-
 +
|Fitting
 +
|The appliance the lamp fits into, often informally called a lamp, eg tablelamp.
 +
|-
 +
|Floodlight
 +
|produces a wide spread of light. Note some floodlights may look like spotlights, with a built in reflector.
 +
|-
 +
|Germicidal lamp
 +
|produces short wavelength germicidal UV. Damaging to eyes, kills bacteria & erases EPROMs. Never use these in insect killers or for parties. See UVC.
 +
|-
 +
|GLS
 +
|General Lighting Service, the traditional filament light bulb.
 +
|-
 +
|Halogen Lamp
 +
|Type of filament lamp with better efficacy than traditional filament lamps. Contains bromine or iodine. Very high capsule temperature.
 +
|-
 +
|Halophosphate
 +
|One of the 2 families of phosphorescent materials used in fluorescent tubes. Light output falls over time.
 +
|-
 +
|HID
 +
|High Intensity Discharge, aka metal halide lamp.
 +
|-
 +
|Lamp
 +
|lightbulb (not light fitting)
 +
|-
 +
|LED
 +
|Light emitting Diode. A small low power solid state light source.
 +
|-
 +
|Lumen
 +
|The SI unit for measuring the total quantity of visible light output from a light source
 +
|-
 +
|Luminaire
 +
|same as fitting
 +
|-
 +
|LV
 +
|Low Voltage - in the context of lighting, this typically refers to lamps run from 12V supplies.
 +
|-
 +
|Mercury Discharge Lamp
 +
|"Ice white" lamps used for street lighting, very energy efficient
 +
|-
 +
|Metal Halide
 +
|Lamp A high efficiency white discharge lamp
 +
|-
 +
|PAR
 +
|Parabolic Aluminised Reflector, a standard shape of spotlight lamp with a reflector built in. (Note LED versions are also now available)
 +
|-
 +
|Phosphor
 +
|Coating inside fluorescent tubes that transforms UV into visible light. See also: halophosphate, triphosphor
 +
|-
 +
|Plaster Uplighter
 +
| Plaster half bowl uplighter. Suffers various design defects.
 +
|-
 +
|Rough service lamp
 +
| Shock and vibration resistant filament lamp
 +
|-
 +
|SES
 +
| small edison screw, a miniature lamp base
 +
|-
 +
|Shelf fitting
 +
|The (normally fluorescent) fitting is mounted on its side on a shelf so the lamp is concealed from view. The fitting however remains visible.
 +
|-
 +
|Sodium lamp
 +
|Yellow lamps used for streetlighting
 +
|-
 +
|Spotlight
 +
| reflector lamp throwing most light out over a limited arc, producing a pool of light
 +
|-
 +
|Starter
 +
| small device that works with a magnetic ballast to start the lamp. Used with fluorescent and some discharge lamps. Starters may be glowstart, electronic, or rarely thermal or a manual switch.
 +
|-
 +
|Suntan Lamp
 +
| Lamp producing high levels of UVA. Protective goggles must be used.
 +
|-
 +
|T8, T12 T8
 +
|Designates the diameter of a tube in 1/8ths of an inch. Therefore T8 are 1" diameter fluorescent tubes, T12 are the older 1.5" diameter ones. T8s have mostly replaced T12s. T8s work happily in older T12 fittings.
 +
|-
 +
|Triphosphor
 +
|The more recent of the 2 families of phosphorescent materials used in fluorescent tubes. Slightly higher efficiency, less fall in light output over time.
 +
|-
 +
|Trough Fitting
 +
| The lamp is partially enclosed in a trough which conceals it from view. The fitting is also concealed.
 +
|-
 +
|Uplighter
 +
|Fitting sending most light upwards
 +
|-
 +
|UVA, UVB, UVC
 +
|The three frequency bands of ultraviolet. UVA is used for suntanning, blacklights and insect killers. Outdoor levels of UVA cause skin wrinkling and some cancers. UVB causes sunburn and cancers. UVC is germicidal and destructive to human tissue, and is not present in sunlight on earth. The wavelengths are approx:
  
−
'''[[LEDs|LED]]''' Light emitting Diode. A small low power solid state light source.
+
UVA: 320-400nm
  
−
'''Lumen''' Quantity of light output
+
UVB: 290-320nm
  
−
'''[[Fluorescent Lighting|Ballast]]''' current control device needed to run fluorescent, CFL and discharge lamps. Built into the fitting, or in the case of most CFLs, ballast and lamp are in one lamp-replacement unit.
+
UVC: 200-290nm
  
−
'''Cap''' the electrical connection end of a lamp.
+
Around 2/3 of melanomas and 90% of basal and squamous cell skin cancers are currently attributed to UV exposure.
 +
|-
 +
|Warm White
 +
|Any lamp with a coulour temperature of around 2700K - intended to mimic the colour temperature of an incandescent lamp.  
 +
|
 +
|}
  
−
'''BC''' Bayonet cap, push and twist connection
 
  
−
'''ES''' Edison screw cap
+
==See Also==
−
 
+
* [[Lighting]]
−
'''Efficacy''' output in lumens per watt. From a non-technical point of view can be considered as efficiency, although this is not strictly accurate.
+
* [[Fluorescent Lighting]]
−
 
+
* [[LEDs]]
−
'''Bipin''' 2 pin bulb base used on [[Fluorescent Lighting|fluorescent tubes]] and some [[Halogen Lighting|halogen lamps]]
+
* [[Halogen Lighting]]
−
 
+
* [[Rewiring Tips]]
−
'''Phosphor''' Coating inside [[Fluorescent Lighting|fluorescent tubes]] that transforms UV into visible light
 
−
 
 
−
'''GLS''' General Lighting Service, the traditional filament light bulb.
 
−
 
 
−
'''Rough service lamp''' Shock and vibration resistant filament lamp
 
−
 
 
−
'''[[CFL]]''' Compact fluorescent lamp.
 
−
 
 
−
'''LV''' low voltage
 
−
 
 
−
'''[[Fluorescent Lighting|Starter]]''' small device that works with a magnetic [[Fluorescent Lighting|ballast]] to start the lamp. Used with [[Fluorescent Lighting|fluorescent]] and some discharge lamps. [[Fluorescent Lighting|Starters]] may be [[Fluorescent Lighting|glowstart]], electronic, or rarely [[Fluorescent Lighting|thermal]] or a manual switch.
 
−
 
 
−
'''BL''' blacklight''' produces UVA and blue/violet light
 
−
 
 
−
'''BLB''' blacklight blue. Produces UVA only. The dark blue glass filters out nearly all the visible light.
 
−
 
 
−
'''Germicidal lamp''' produces short wavelength germicidal UV. Damaging to eyes, kills bacteria & erases eproms. See UVC.
 
−
 
 
−
'''Uplighter''' Fitting sending most light upwards
 
−
 
 
−
'''Plaster Uplighter''' Plaster half bowl uplighter. Suffers various design defects.
 
−
 
 
−
'''Downlighter''' fitting sending most light downwards
 
−
 
 
−
'''Spotlight''' reflector lamp producing pool of light
 
−
 
 
−
'''Floodlight''' produces a wide spread of light. Note some floodlights can look quite like spotlights
 
−
 
 
−
'''PAR''' aluminium reflector lamp, spotlight
 
−
 
 
−
'''[[Fluorescent Lighting|Shelf fitting]]''' The (normally [[Fluorescent Lighting|fluorescent]]) fitting is mounted on its side on a shelf so the lamp is concealed from view. The fitting however remains visible.
 
−
 
 
−
'''[[Fluorescent Lighting|Trough Fitting]]''' The lamp is partially enclosed in a trough which conceals it from view. The fitting is also concealed.
 
−
 
 
−
'''Choke''' [[Fluorescent Lighting|Magnetic ballast]] used in [[Fluorescent Lighting|glowstart fluorescent fittings]].
 
−
 
 
−
'''Capacitor''' Component used for power factor correction with [[Fluorescent Lighting|magnetic ballasts]].
 
−
 
 
−
'''Capacitor Ballast''' Use of capacitor ballasts produces short tube life in most cases, but with at least one exception
 
−
 
 
−
'''Halogen Lamp''' Type of filament lamp with better efficacy than traditional filament lamps. Contains bromine or iodine. Very high capsule temperature.
 
−
 
 
−
'''[[Discharge Lighting|Sodium lamp]]''' Yellow lamps used for streetlighting
 
−
 
 
−
'''[[Discharge Lighting|Mercury Discharge Lamp]]''' Icy white lamps used for [[Discharge Lighting|street lighting]], very energy efficient
 
−
 
 
−
'''SES''' small edison screw, a miniature lamp base
 
−
 
 
−
'''E14''' a miniature screw fitting lamp base
 
−
 
 
−
'''Suntan Lamp''' Lamp producing high levels of UVA. Protective goggles must be used.
 
−
 
 
−
'''UVA, UVB, UVC''' The three frequency bands of ultraviolet. UVA is used for suntanning, blacklights and insect killers. Outdoor levels of UVA cause skin wrinkling and some cancers. UVB causes sunburn and cancers. UVC is germicidal and destructive to human tissue, and is not present in sunlight on earth.
 
−
The wavelengths are approx:
 
−
* UVA: 320-400nm
 
−
* UVB: 290-320nm
 
−
* UVC: 200-290nm
 
−
* Around 2/3 of melanomas and 90% of basal and squamous cell skin cancers are currently attributed to UV exposure.
 
−
 
 
−
'''[[Fluorescent Lighting|Daylight]]'''
 
−
 
 
−
'''[[Fluorescent Lighting|Warm White]]''' 2700K
 
−
 
 
−
'''[[Fluorescent Lighting|Cool White]]'''
 
−
 
 
−
 
 
−
=See Also=
 
−
[[Fluorescent Lighting]]
 
−
[[LEDs]]
 
−
[[Halogen Lighting]]
 
−
[[Rewiring Tips]]
 
  
  
 
[[Category:Lighting]]
 
[[Category:Lighting]]
 
[[Category:Glossary]]
 
[[Category:Glossary]]

Latest revision as of 00:55, 2 March 2023

Term Description
Ballast Current limiting device needed to run fluorescent, CFL and discharge lamps. Usually built into the fitting, or in the case of most CFLs, ballast and lamp are in one lamp-replacement unit.
BC Bayonet cap, a push and twist connection on the base of a lamp. The standard size has a base of 22mm diameter, and these are sometimes known as BC22. See also Small Bayonet Cap / SBC
Bipin 2 pin bulb base used on fluorescent tubes and some halogen lamps
BL / blacklight A lamp which produces UVA and blue/violet light
BLB / blacklight blue Produces UVA only. The dark blue glass filters out nearly all the visible light.
Cap The electrical connection end of a lamp.
Capacitor Ballast A type of ballast used to eliminate strobing in workshops. Capacitor ballasts generally produces shorter tube life in most cases
Capacitor Component used for power factor correction with magnetic ballasts.
Colour temperature Informally a measure of light's perceived warmth or coldness.

The temperatures are quoted in Kelvins (a change of 1 Kelvin is the same as a change of 1 degree Celsius, but the 0 point is "absolute zero" or approx -273 °C).

As the temperature of an object increases, it will radiate electromagnetic energy. The amount of radiation and the frequency of it both increase with temperature. When hot enough it will start radiating energy in the visible light part of the spectrum - starting with a very dim red glow, moving through red hot, white hot, and eventually into a blue plasma phase.

Confusingly, higher colour temperatures tend to be thought of as "cooler" light qualities.

A Colour Temperature of 2700K - 3000K appears warm, 4000K - 5000K appears cold, and > 5000K is very cool or typically described as "daylight". The higher temperatures containing a higher percentage of blue light.

CFL Compact Fluorescent Lamp.
Choke Magnetic ballast used in glowstart fluorescent fittings.
Cool White A lamp with a colour temperature typically in the 4000K to 5000K range - more blue than Warm, but not quite as blue as Daylight
CRI Colour rendering index. How well light renders colours. One measure of light quality. 100 is perfect CRI, 50 is poor. CRI is not the only determinant of colour rendition, colour temperature matters too.
Daylight Used to describe lamps with colour temperatures > 5000K. At very high levels of brightness daylight can create the effect of sunlight. At lower levels of brightness it is "colder" like the light on an overcast day.
Dimmer A device for reducing lamp brightness. Note some lamp types (LED, CFL, Fluorescent) are incompatible with dimmers unless explicitly marked as "Dimmable".
Downlighter fitting sending most light downwards
E14 a miniature Edison Screw fitting lamp base with a 14mm diameter
E27 The standard Edison Screw base with a 27mm diameter base, aka ES
E40 Giant Edison screw base, used with some discharge lamps. 40mm diameter
Efficacy A measure of the output in lumens per watt. From a non-technical point of view can be considered as efficiency, although this is not strictly accurate.
ES Edison screw cap
Fitting The appliance the lamp fits into, often informally called a lamp, eg tablelamp.
Floodlight produces a wide spread of light. Note some floodlights may look like spotlights, with a built in reflector.
Germicidal lamp produces short wavelength germicidal UV. Damaging to eyes, kills bacteria & erases EPROMs. Never use these in insect killers or for parties. See UVC.
GLS General Lighting Service, the traditional filament light bulb.
Halogen Lamp Type of filament lamp with better efficacy than traditional filament lamps. Contains bromine or iodine. Very high capsule temperature.
Halophosphate One of the 2 families of phosphorescent materials used in fluorescent tubes. Light output falls over time.
HID High Intensity Discharge, aka metal halide lamp.
Lamp lightbulb (not light fitting)
LED Light emitting Diode. A small low power solid state light source.
Lumen The SI unit for measuring the total quantity of visible light output from a light source
Luminaire same as fitting
LV Low Voltage - in the context of lighting, this typically refers to lamps run from 12V supplies.
Mercury Discharge Lamp "Ice white" lamps used for street lighting, very energy efficient
Metal Halide Lamp A high efficiency white discharge lamp
PAR Parabolic Aluminised Reflector, a standard shape of spotlight lamp with a reflector built in. (Note LED versions are also now available)
Phosphor Coating inside fluorescent tubes that transforms UV into visible light. See also: halophosphate, triphosphor
Plaster Uplighter Plaster half bowl uplighter. Suffers various design defects.
Rough service lamp Shock and vibration resistant filament lamp
SES small edison screw, a miniature lamp base
Shelf fitting The (normally fluorescent) fitting is mounted on its side on a shelf so the lamp is concealed from view. The fitting however remains visible.
Sodium lamp Yellow lamps used for streetlighting
Spotlight reflector lamp throwing most light out over a limited arc, producing a pool of light
Starter small device that works with a magnetic ballast to start the lamp. Used with fluorescent and some discharge lamps. Starters may be glowstart, electronic, or rarely thermal or a manual switch.
Suntan Lamp Lamp producing high levels of UVA. Protective goggles must be used.
T8, T12 T8 Designates the diameter of a tube in 1/8ths of an inch. Therefore T8 are 1" diameter fluorescent tubes, T12 are the older 1.5" diameter ones. T8s have mostly replaced T12s. T8s work happily in older T12 fittings.
Triphosphor The more recent of the 2 families of phosphorescent materials used in fluorescent tubes. Slightly higher efficiency, less fall in light output over time.
Trough Fitting The lamp is partially enclosed in a trough which conceals it from view. The fitting is also concealed.
Uplighter Fitting sending most light upwards
UVA, UVB, UVC The three frequency bands of ultraviolet. UVA is used for suntanning, blacklights and insect killers. Outdoor levels of UVA cause skin wrinkling and some cancers. UVB causes sunburn and cancers. UVC is germicidal and destructive to human tissue, and is not present in sunlight on earth. The wavelengths are approx:

UVA: 320-400nm

UVB: 290-320nm

UVC: 200-290nm

Around 2/3 of melanomas and 90% of basal and squamous cell skin cancers are currently attributed to UV exposure.

Warm White Any lamp with a coulour temperature of around 2700K - intended to mimic the colour temperature of an incandescent lamp.


See Also

Retrieved from "https://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?title=Lighting_Glossary&oldid=23586"