Difference between revisions of "Lighting Glossary"

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'''Lamp''' the lightbulb itself
+
'''Lamp''' lightbulb (not light fitting)
  
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'''Fitting''' the appliance the lamp fits into, often informally called a lamp.
+
'''Fitting''' the appliance the lamp fits into, often informally called a lamp, eg tablelamp.
  
−
'''CRI''' Colour rendering index. How well light renders colours. One measure of light quality. 100 is perfect CRI, 50 is poor. However CRI is not the only determinant of colour rendition, CCT matters too.
+
'''Luminaire''' same as fitting
  
−
'''CCT''' Colour temperature. A measure of light's perceived warmth or coldness. 3000K appears warm, 4500K appears cold.
+
'''[[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.
  
−
'''LED''' Light emitting Diode. A small low power solid state light source.
+
'''[[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.
 +
 
 +
'''[[LED]]''' Light emitting Diode. A small low power solid state light source.
  
 
'''Lumen''' Quantity of light output
 
'''Lumen''' Quantity of light output
  
−
'''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.
+
'''[[Fluorescent Lighting|Ballast]]''' current control device needed to run fluorescent, [[CFL Lamps|CFL]] and [[Discharge Lighting|discharge lamps]]. Built into the fitting, or in the case of most [[CFL Lamps|CFLs]], ballast and lamp are in one lamp-replacement unit.
  
 
'''Cap''' the electrical connection end of a lamp.
 
'''Cap''' the electrical connection end of a lamp.
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'''Efficacy''' output in lumens per watt. From a non-technical point of view can be considered as efficiency, although this is not strictly accurate.
 
'''Efficacy''' output in lumens per watt. From a non-technical point of view can be considered as efficiency, although this is not strictly accurate.
  
−
'''Bipin''' 2 pin bulb base used on fluorescent tubes and some halogen lamps
+
'''Bipin''' 2 pin bulb base used on [[Fluorescent Lighting|fluorescent tubes]] and some [[Halogen Lighting|halogen lamps]]
  
−
'''Phosphor''' Coating inside fluorescent tubes that transforms UV into visible light
+
'''Phosphor''' Coating inside [[Fluorescent Lighting|fluorescent tubes]] that transforms UV into visible light. See also: [[Fluorescent Lighting|halophosphate]], [[Fluorescent Lighting|triphosphor]]
  
−
'''GLS''' general lighting service, the traditional filament light bulb.
+
'''[[Fluorescent Lighting|Halophosphate]]''' One of the 2 families of phosphorescent materials used in [[Fluorescent Lighting|fluorescent tubes]]. Light output falls over time.
  
−
'''Rough service lamp''' Shock and vibration resistant lamp
+
'''[[Fluorescent Lighting|Triphosphor]]''' The more recent of the 2 families of phosphorescent materials used in [[Fluorescent Lighting|fluorescent tubes]]. Slightly higher efficiency, less fall in light output over time.
  
−
'''CFL''' Compact fluorescent lamp.
+
'''GLS''' General Lighting Service, the traditional filament light bulb.
  
−
'''LV''' low voltage
+
'''Rough service lamp''' Shock and vibration resistant filament lamp
  
−
'''Starter''' small device that works with a magnetic ballast to start the lamp. Used with fluorescent and some discharge lamps.
+
'''[[CFL]]''' Compact Fluorescent Lamp.
  
−
'''BL''' blacklight''' produces UV and violet light
+
'''LV''' Low Voltage
  
−
'''BLB''' blacklight blue''' produces UV only. The blue glass filters out the violet.
+
'''[[Fluorescent Lighting|Starter]]''' small device that works with a [[Fluorescent Lighting|magnetic ballast]] to start the lamp. Used with [[Fluorescent Lighting|fluorescent]] and some [[Discharge Lighting|discharge lamps]]. [[Fluorescent Lighting|Starters]] may be [[Fluorescent Lighting|glowstart]], electronic, or rarely [[Fluorescent Lighting|thermal]] or a manual switch.
  
−
'''Germicidal lamp''' produces short wavelength germicidal UV. Damaging to eyes, kills bacteria & erases eproms.
+
'''BL''' blacklight''' produces UVA and blue/violet light
  
−
'''Uplighter''' Fitting sending most light upwards
+
'''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. Never use these in insect killers or for parties. See UVC.
 +
 
 +
'''[[Uplighters|Uplighter]]''' Fitting sending most light upwards
 +
 
 +
'''[[Uplighters|Plaster Uplighter]]''' Plaster half bowl uplighter. Suffers various design defects.
  
 
'''Downlighter''' fitting sending most light downwards
 
'''Downlighter''' fitting sending most light downwards
  
−
'''Spotlight''' reflector lamp producing pool of light
+
'''Spotlight''' reflector lamp throwing most light out over a limited arc, producing a pool of light
 +
 
 +
'''Floodlight''' produces a wide spread of light. Note some floodlights may look like spotlights, with a built in reflector.
 +
 
 +
'''[[Dimmers & Switchbanks|Dimmer]]''' A device for reducing lamp output. A popular description is 'a device for turning down the efficieny of light bulbs.' Most [[Dimmers & Switchbanks|dimmers]] are incompatible with most types of lighting other than filament & [[Halogen Lighting|mains halogen.]]
  
−
'''Floodlight''' produces a wide spread of light
+
'''[[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.
−
nb some floodlights can look quite like spotlights
 
  
−
'''PAR''' aluminium reflector lamp, spotlight
+
'''[[Fluorescent Lighting|Trough Fitting]]''' The lamp is partially enclosed in a trough which conceals it from view. The fitting is also concealed.
  
−
'''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.
+
'''Choke''' [[Fluorescent Lighting|Magnetic ballast]] used in [[Fluorescent Lighting|glowstart fluorescent fittings]].
  
−
'''Trough Fitting''' The lamp is partially enclosed in a trough which conceals it from view. The fitting is also concealed.
+
'''Capacitor''' Component used for power factor correction with [[Fluorescent Lighting|magnetic ballasts]].
  
−
'''Choke''' Magnetic ballast used in glowstart fluorescent fittings.
+
'''Capacitor Ballast''' A type of ballast used to eliminate strobing in workshops. Capacitor ballasts generally produces shorter tube life in most cases
  
−
'''Halogen''' Type of filament lamp with better efficacy than traditional filament lamps. Contains bromine or iodine. Very high capsule temperature.
+
'''[[Halogen Lighting|Halogen Lamp]]''' Type of filament lamp with better efficacy than traditional filament lamps. Contains bromine or iodine. Very high capsule temperature.
  
−
'''Sodium lamp''' Yellow lamps used for streetlighting
+
'''[[Discharge Lighting|Sodium lamp]]''' Yellow lamps used for streetlighting
  
−
'''Mercury Discharge Lamp''' Icy white lamps used for streetlighting
+
'''[[Discharge Lighting|Mercury Discharge Lamp]]''' Ice white lamps used for [[Discharge Lighting|street lighting]], very energy efficient
 +
 
 +
'''[[Discharge Lighting|Metal Halide Lamp]]''' A high efficiency white [[Discharge Lighting|discharge lamp]]
  
 
'''SES''' small edison screw, a miniature lamp base
 
'''SES''' small edison screw, a miniature lamp base
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'''E14''' a miniature screw fitting lamp base
 
'''E14''' a miniature screw fitting lamp base
  
 +
'''E27''' 27mm Screw in base, aka ES
 +
 +
'''E40''' Giant screw base, used with some [[Discharge Lighting|discharge lamps]]
 +
 +
'''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]]'''
 +
 +
'''T8, T12''' T8 are 1" diameter [[Fluorescent Lighting|fluorescent tubes]], T12 are the older 1.5" diameter ones. T8s have mostly replaced T12s. T8s work happily in older T12 fittings.
 +
 +
'''PAR''' Parabolic Aluminised Reflector, spotlight.
 +
 +
'''HID''' High Intensity Discharge, aka [[Discharge Lighting|metal halide lamp]].
 +
 +
 +
 +
==See Also==
 +
* [[Lighting]]
 +
* [[Fluorescent Lighting]]
 +
* [[LEDs]]
 +
* [[Halogen Lighting]]
 +
* [[Rewiring Tips]]
  
  
 
[[Category:Lighting]]
 
[[Category:Lighting]]
 
[[Category:Glossary]]
 
[[Category:Glossary]]

Revision as of 16:15, 18 March 2012

Lamp lightbulb (not light fitting)

Fitting the appliance the lamp fits into, often informally called a lamp, eg tablelamp.

Luminaire same as fitting

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.

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.

LED Light emitting Diode. A small low power solid state light source.

Lumen Quantity of light output

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.

Cap the electrical connection end of a lamp.

BC Bayonet cap, push and twist connection

ES Edison screw cap

Efficacy output in lumens per watt. From a non-technical point of view can be considered as efficiency, although this is not strictly accurate.

Bipin 2 pin bulb base used on fluorescent tubes and some halogen lamps

Phosphor Coating inside fluorescent tubes that transforms UV into visible light. See also: halophosphate, triphosphor

Halophosphate One of the 2 families of phosphorescent materials used in fluorescent tubes. Light output falls over time.

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.

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

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.

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. Never use these in insect killers or for parties. 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 throwing most light out over a limited arc, producing a pool of light

Floodlight produces a wide spread of light. Note some floodlights may look like spotlights, with a built in reflector.

Dimmer A device for reducing lamp output. A popular description is 'a device for turning down the efficieny of light bulbs.' Most dimmers are incompatible with most types of lighting other than filament & mains halogen.

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.

Trough Fitting The lamp is partially enclosed in a trough which conceals it from view. The fitting is also concealed.

Choke Magnetic ballast used in glowstart fluorescent fittings.

Capacitor Component used for power factor correction with magnetic ballasts.

Capacitor Ballast A type of ballast used to eliminate strobing in workshops. Capacitor ballasts generally produces shorter tube life in most cases

Halogen Lamp Type of filament lamp with better efficacy than traditional filament lamps. Contains bromine or iodine. Very high capsule temperature.

Sodium lamp Yellow lamps used for streetlighting

Mercury Discharge Lamp Ice white lamps used for street lighting, very energy efficient

Metal Halide Lamp A high efficiency white discharge lamp

SES small edison screw, a miniature lamp base

E14 a miniature screw fitting lamp base

E27 27mm Screw in base, aka ES

E40 Giant screw base, used with some discharge lamps

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.

Daylight

Warm White 2700K

Cool White

T8, T12 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.

PAR Parabolic Aluminised Reflector, spotlight.

HID High Intensity Discharge, aka metal halide lamp.


See Also

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