Specialty and Architectural Lighting

Learn what the American National Standards Institute has to do with the funny codes on older light bulbs. ANSI standards for light bulbs determine the technical specifications of lamps, and both help and mystify consumers trying to find the right light bulb to replace one that's burned out.

LED downlight modules provide both an easy upgrade solution for existing incandescent or halogen downlight and an all-in-one package that makes for a seamless looking new downlight. The downlight module includes a non-replaceable LED array or light engine (not a bulb), an LED driver, a diffuser and the trim that sits flush to the ceiling. Advantages of LED Increased rated life is the main advantage of an LED downlight retrofit compared to replacing the existing...

It's not uncommon today for an incandescent, halogen or fluorescent light source to be replaced with an LED light source. Many LEDs are made to be direct replacements for traditional light bulbs and fixtures. In some cases, those traditional light sources have been controlled by photocells that are still in place. When this is the case, it usually results in an LED that does not respond to the photocell. Traditionally, photocontrol manufacturers only had to...

Should water used by the public be disinfected with chlorine or ultraviolet germicidal light? This post looks at the pros and cons for each approach. Whether it’s water used in food processing or water that comes out of a faucet for drinking or water in a municipal swimming pool, elimination of harmful bacteria and other pathogens is a principal safety concern both for government and business entities as well as the general public. For years...

The Philips MSD Platinum 5R lamp has dramatically enhanced the flexibility and power of moving head stage lighting. With output comparable to 575W fixture, the lamp offers a flat, even spot field with significant color saturation. The Platinum 5R features 189W discharge technology, 8000K color temperature and a 3000 hour rated life. The integrated reflector has a very small arc gap of 1mm. These lamp specifications not only optimize the quality of illumination but also...

Extending lamp life by smart operator use of features provided in the projector settings, can reduce the frequency of buying replacement lamps  - saving on both the purchase price of the new lamp and the staff time and hassle factor of replacement. The major lamp manufacturers - Philips, Osram, Ushio, Panasonic, Iwasaki, Phoenix - have improved the lamp technology such that new lamps can now deliver 4000 hours or more even when operated at full power 100% of the time....

Projector replacement lamp marketing is a circus of confusion for the customer. Sellers of projector lamps stretch the limits of language to present their lamps in the best possible light. "Genuine original lamp" "High quality lamp" "Compatible replacement lamp" "Original lamp inside" "OEM compatible" "High quality bulb inside" "Made from original parts" "OEM lamp" "OEM lamp module" "Factory original module" Each of these phrases may accurately describe what the customer is buying. The problem for...

Ultra-high-performance projection lamps are more than just another component in today’s LCD / DLP digital projector universe. These high pressure lamps, the original invented by Philips in 1994, are the critical factor in the quality of image projected for the viewer. Whether it’s video or data, without a quality lamp, images intended to teach, sell or motivate will fall short - no matter how many bells and whistles come with the projector. Projector manufacturers work...

The language being used to describe the replacement light source for digital projectors is a case study in sales talk often meant to confuse rather than clarify. Here is an example from the web site of a reseller: “We carry 4 versions of the Optoma EW531 Lamp. There are 3 OEM versions: the OEM lamp directly from the bulb manufacturer of the original lamp included with this projector, the same OEM lamp sold by Optoma,...

Learn the top four considerations for setting a romantic mood with lighting. With the revolution in LED lighting, this is both easier and more complicated to achieve, but knowing them can help you buy or set up the right types of lights for Valentine's Day and other special occasions.