A
Accent Lighting: Focusing light on a particular space or object. Intended to create visual interest in an area or object.
Alternating Current (AC): Electric Current in which the flow of electric charge reverses direction at regular intervals.
Amps (A): Standard Unit of Measurement of electric current.
B
Ballast: A device used to regulate current and voltage to start and operate a lamp. Ballasts are used with HID and Fluorescent light sources.
Ballast Factor: Indicates the percentage of rated light output and power that can be expected of a lamp.
C
Candela (cd): Measurement of luminous intensity of a source in a given direction.
Center Beam Candle Power (CBCP): Luminous intensity at the center of a light source beam
Color Rendering Index (CRI): A Measure of a light sources ability to show colors accurately. The Scale is from 1 to 100. The sun is considered 100.
Color Temperature: Correlated Color Temperature (CCT). A measurement of hue of the light produced by a source.
D
Diffuser: A device used to alter light by scattering it in order to create softer light with minimal glare
Dimmer: A device used to control the light output of a light source.
Direct Current: Electrical current that flows in only one direction without cycling. DC current is most commonly used with batteries and PV cells.
Direct Replacement: it’s as simple as Plug-N-Play! Direct replacement LED lamps from OEO screw into your existing fixture without the need to rewire or upgrade while helping to save you up to 84% on energy costs.
Driver: Electrical or electronic circuit that controls other components. In LED Lighting Systems, the driver regulates the power to the LEDs.
E
Efficacy: Lumens per Watt of a light source
Electromagnetic Interference: Disruption of an electronic device by an external source by electromagnetic induction, electrostatic coupling, or conduction.
Electronic Ballast: Ballast composed of electronic components instead of the core-and-coil transformer. Electronic ballasts do not experience as much power loss as magnetic ballast.
F
Fluorescent Lamp: Low Pressure Mercury-Vapor-Gas-Discharge Lamp that uses fluorescence to produce visible light. Fluorescent lamps require a ballast for current and voltage regulation.
G
Glare: Glare is a visual sensation caused by excessive brightness. It can be discomforting or disabling.
H
Halogen Lamp: Halogen Lamp is a type of incandescent lamp that incorporates halogen in order to increase the average life and light output of the light source.
Heat Sink: Device incorporated in LED Lighting Systems to disperse heat away from the LED diode.
Hertz (Hz): The standard unit of measurement for frequency. One Hz equals one cycle per second.
High Bay: Type of Light Fixture typically used for commercial and industrial applications with high ceilings (>20 ft).
High Intensity Discharge Lamp: HID Lamps. Family of electrical gas-discharge lamps that produce light by means of electrical arc.
High Pressure Sodium Lamp (HPS): Type of High Intensity Discharge Lamp. Frequently used in street and outdoor lighting applications.
I
Illuminance: Measured in Lux or Footcandles, Illuminance is the total luminous flux on a surface.
Initial Lumens: Total luminous flux of a light source at the beginning of its life.
K
Kelvin Temperature (K): Unit of measurement of the Correlated Color Temperature of a light source.
L
Lamp Base: The Portion of a lamp that connects to the luminaire socket and power.
Light Emitting Diode (LED): A semiconductor device that emits light as electrical current passes through it. Light-emitting diodes are more efficient than other light sources and offer exceptionally long life
Lumen: Standard unit of measurement of luminous flux. Used to measure the total quantity of visible light emitted by a light source.
Luminaire: Light Fixture. A complete unit consisting of lamp, ballast, reflectors, lens, and other parts.
M
Magnetic Ballast: Often Called “Core-and-Coil” ballast. Magnetic ballasts contain a magnetic core with copper windings. Magnetic ballast typically have greater power losses than electronic ballasts.
Mean Lumens: Average luminous flux produced by a light source over the duration of its rated life.
Metal Halide Lamp: High intensity discharge lamp that generates light by passing an electric arc through a mixture of mercury and metal halide gases.
N
O
P
Photocell: Light Control that turns a light source on/off depending on daylight
Power Factor: The ratio of real to apparent power supplied to a circuit. Power factor can range from 0 to 1.
Q
R
Reflection: Light bouncing off a Medium.
Refraction: Bending of light as it passes through a medium. The bending in light is a result of the change of speed as it passes from one medium to the next.
Restrike Time: The time it takes for a lamp to reach full brightness after being turned off and back on.
Retrofit: Upgrading old and inefficient technology with new equipment to improve the efficiency of a light system
S
T
U
V
Voltage: Potential Difference in charge between two points in an electrical field. Measured in Volts (V).
Voltage Drop: Loss of voltage caused by resistance. Voltage Drops can be created by too long or too think wire.
W
Wall Pack: The most widely used commercial outdoor lighting fixtures used today. Wall packs are powerful light fixtures that are installed in outdoor locations of commercial buildings.
Watt: Standard unit of measurement for power. One Watt Equals one Volt-Amp.
X
Y
Z
