Lighting Glossary

This special name encoding reference means: Color Temperature of 10000K.

Similar Terms: /10K.

This special name encoding reference means: Color Temperature of 3000K.

Similar Terms: /3K.

This special name encoding reference means: Color Temperature of 4000K.

Similar Terms: /4K.

A unit of current.

1 abampere = 10 amperes

Similar Terms: ABAMPERE

Related Terms: AMP.

Voltage is a unit of Electrical Pressure.

It's the measurement of Electromotive Force of the Pressure of Electricity.

Voltage is the force that pushes Electrical Current though a conductor.

This is loosely analogous to pressure in a water line as in pounds per square inch.

Electrical Pressure is not really a pressure as pressure is commonly understood. Electricity doesn't pour out of a wire onto the ground like a garden hose.

Voltage rating of an incandescent bulb is the voltage that bulb is designed to operate in the circuit measured at the base of the bulb and in which published data for watts, amps, lumens, Color Temperature and Life Hours are measured at.

Incandescent bulbs can be used with AC Voltage or DC Voltage, but DC Voltage produces increased notching on filament which reduces the life quicker than AC Voltage.

In non-incandescent bulbs the voltage may be referred to as either the operating voltage, or, the starting voltage of that bulb.

DC Voltage is direct current type of voltage, where one power terminal is positive "+" and the other terminal is negative "-".

Electrons flow from the positive to negative terminal.

AC Voltage is alternating current type of voltage, were each power terminal takes turns alternating at being positive and negative.

In USA, the frequency standard for AC volt power lines is 60 cycles (times) alternating per second, and averages around 120 volts.

In Europe the frequency standard for AC volt power lines is 50 cycles per second, and averages around 240 volts.

AC is much more efficient at transmitting power over long distances.

Also, higher voltages are more efficient to transmit over long distances.

Electrical Pressure is an energy potential between two conductors of a an Electrical Circuit.

This difference of Electrical Pressure is defined and rated in volts.

To calculate the voltage; if you know the wattage and amperage of the circuit, then voltage equals wattage divided by amperage (volt = watt / amp).

One volt is equal to performing one joule of work to move or separate one coulomb of electrons.

The volt is named after Allesandro Volta, a professor of physics at the university of Pavia in Italy, in year 1800.

Similar Terms: VOLT, AC VOLTAGE, BULB VOLTAGE, DC VOLTAGE, ELECTRICAL PRESSURE, PRESSURE OF ELECTRICITY, VOLTAGE, VOLTS

Related Terms: AMP, BALLAST, BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE, CHARACTERISTIC CURVES, CONVERSION TABLE, DARK-EFFECT, ELECTROMAGNETIC BALLAST, ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE, ELECTROMOTIVE POTENTIAL, FILAMENT, GLOW LAMP, HALOGEN BULB, HOURS, LIGHT LOSS FACTOR, MAINTAINING VOLTAGE, MEAN SPHERICAL CANDLEPOWER, VOLTAGE RATING, WATT.

The overall general lighting in an area or room.

Similar Terms: AMBIENT LIGHTING

Related Terms: COVE LIGHTING.

AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARD INSTITUTE refers to ANSI.

ANSI code is 3 letter bulb code assigned by the American National Standard Institute and is one of the main industry standard bulb codes.

Other important industry standards are LIF and ECE.

Industry standard codes assure mechanical and electrical interchangeability for various manufacturers.

Similar Terms: ANSI, ANSI CODE, AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARD INSTITUTE

Related Terms: ECE, LIF.

Amperage is a unit of electrical flow.

It's the rate of electromotive flow through a conductor (wire).

This is somewhat analogous to the volume quantity flow rate of water through a pipe.

Amperage rating of bulb is measured at bulbs rated voltage.

Published specs for amperage typically have a tolerance of plus or minus 10%.

To calculate the amperage; if you know the voltage and wattage of the circuit, then amperage equals wattage divided by voltage (amp = watt / volt) (example, 5 amps = 60 watts / 12 volts.

1 amperes = 1 coulomb of electrons passing a point of a conductor in one second.

10 amperes = 1 abampere.

The ampere is named after Andre Marie Ampere, a professor of mathematics in the Polytechnic school in Paris in year 1820.

Similar Terms: AMP, AMPERAGE, AMPERE, AMPERES, AMPS, CURRENT, ELECTRICAL CURRENT

Related Terms: ABAMPERE, BALLAST, CHARACTERISTIC CURVES, CONVERSION TABLE, ELECTRIC DISCHARGE LAMP, ELECTROMAGNETIC BALLAST, ELECTRONIC BALLAST, GLOW LAMP, HALOGEN BULB, INCANDESCENT BULB, VOLT, WATT.

A completely sealed quartz or ceramic tube where an electrical arc occurs and generates light.

Similar Terms: ARC TUBE

Related Terms: PAR LAMP, PULSE START, SHROUD.

ARGON LAMP refers to GLOW LAMP.

Glow Lamp is a glass envelope filled with gas which contains two or more electrodes.

Glow lamps are cold-cathode devices which require no heater or filament.

Glow lamps produce a very interesting, mild, beautiful colorful glow.

Color of glow depends on the gas combination used.

Pure neon produces an orange/red glow, pure argon produces a purple glow.

The electrodes are separated by gap of about 1/8th inch inside the gas envelope.

If a variable voltage is applied across the electrodes and increased to about 50 volts, basically no current will flow.

Eventually as voltage is increased, positive ions are attracted to the cathode which has a negative charge.

As voltage increases, electrons are liberated in the generation of positive ions which are attracted to the positive anode.

At a certain voltage (the Breakdown Voltage) enough ion velocity is attained were electrons dislodge increased proportions of ions and as the gas breaks down it conducts electricity (and a corona forms around the cathode) while a current "run-away" or "avalanche" occurs.

This avalanche is self destructive if uncontrolled, so an in-series current-limiting resistor must be used, which are built in to most screw based glow lamps rated for use at specific line voltage, otherwise you'll have to supply the necessary resistor.

Most glow lamps can be used from Breakdown Voltage to 600 volts when you properly select current limiting resistor.

When a Glow Lamp is operated in a completely dark environment, a phenomenon called dark-effect occurs which greatly changes (raises) the break-down voltage.

Gas lamps perform poorly on altitudes over 70,000 feet as low atmospheric pressure encourages outside corona and arcing.

Similar Terms: GLOW LAMP, ARGON LAMP, GAS DIODE, GAS TUBE, GLOW TUBE, NEON LAMP, NEON

Related Terms: BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE, CORONA, DARK-EFFECT, MAINTAINING VOLTAGE.

AXIAL refers to /AX.

Axial Filament. Bulb filament direction is axial.

If base of bulb is down, then axial direction of filament would be perpendicular to the ground.

Similar Terms: /AX, AXIAL, AXIAL FILAMENT.

The measured ability of a particular ballast to produce light from the lamps it powers.

Ballast Factor is derived by dividing the lumen output of a particular lamp/ballast combination by the lumen output of the same lamp on a reference ballast.

Similar Terms: BALLAST FACTOR, BF.

A device used to obtain the necessary circuit conditions (voltage, current and waveform) for starting and operating an electric discharge lamp.

All fluorescent and HID light sources require a ballast for proper operation.

Similar Terms: BALLAST, BF

Related Terms: /BL, BALLAST FACTOR, ELECTRONIC BALLAST, HIGH OUTPUT FLUORESCENT, INSTANT START, LUMINAIRE, PREHEAT, PROGRAMMED START, PULSE START, RAPID START, STARTER, VERY HIGH OUTPUT.

BASE DOWN refers to /BD.

Base Down. Bulb is designed to be operated with Base Down.

Similar Terms: /BD, BASE DOWN.

BASE HORIZONTAL refers to /HOR or /BH.

Base Horizontally. Bulb is designed to be operated with base Horizontal to ground.

Similar Terms: /HOR, BASE HORIZONTAL.

BASE UP refers to /BU.

Base Up. Bulb is designed to be operated with Base Up.

Similar Terms: /BU, BASE UP.

Bulb Base is the part of the bulb which makes physical contact and support between the bulb and socket, lamp holder, or housing.

In addition to structurally holding of the bulb in place; the base also provides the electrical connection of the bulb to the electric circuit.

Similar Terms: BULB BASE, BASE, BASES

Related Terms: /BD, /BU, /MED, COMPACT FLUORESCENT LAMP, DOUBLE-ENDED LAMP, INCANDESCENT BULB, LIGHT CENTER LENGTH, MAXIMUM OVERALL LENGTH, VOLT.

This special name encoding reference means: Bulb base is solid brass.

It can also refer to a Bilirubin Blue fluorescent lamp, which is primarily used to treat neonatal jaundice.

Similar Terms: /BB.

The angle between the two directions for which the intensity (candlepower) is 50 percent of the maximum intensity as measured in a plane through the nominal beam center line.

Similar Terms: BEAM ANGLE

Related Terms: FLOODLIGHT, SPOTLIGHT.

In any plane, the angle between the two directions in the plane in which the candlepower is equal to a stated percent of maximum candlepower in the beam.

Similar Terms: BEAM SPREAD.

BLACK LIGHT refers to /BL.

Ballast (usually). Otherwise, on non-Ballast lamps /BL usually means Blister Pack, but, in some instances on filament bulbs might indicate "blue" light output.

On wide spectrum (unfiltered) UV output fluorescent bulbs /BL means "black-light"; who's bulbs are WHITE color when OFF. Fluorescent UV narrow filtered bulbs which are BLACK (dark purple) when OFF are actually /BLB "black-light blue" bulbs.

Similar Terms: /BL, BLACK-LIGHT, BLACK-LIGHT BLUE, BLACK LIGHT, BLACK LIGHT BLUE

Related Terms: /BLB, ULTRAVIOLET.

BLACK LIGHT BLUE refers to /BLB.

black-light blue. Narrow filtered UV output fluorescent "black-light blue" bulbs which are BLACK (dark purple) color when OFF.

Wide spectrum (unfiltered) UV output fluorescent bulbs are designated /BL "black-light" and are WHITE color when OFF.

Similar Terms: /BLB, BLACK-LIGHT BLUE, BLACK LIGHT BLUE

Related Terms: /BL.

The voltage needed to initially start a Glow Lamp glowing.

Mainly determined by type of gas, electrode spacing, pressure, and external ionizing forces such as light or radiation.

Similar Terms: BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE, BREAKDOWN, FIRING POTENTIAL, IONIZATION VOLTAGE, STRIKING VOLTAGE

Related Terms: DARK-EFFECT, GLOW LAMP, MAINTAINING VOLTAGE.

BROAD SPECTRUM refers to FULL SPECTRUM.

Broad Spectrum light source capable of producing colors thought the entire range of the visible spectrum; simulating actual sunlight.

High CRI output with Kelvin temperatures ranging between 5500K and 5900K.

Similar Terms: FULL SPECTRUM, BROAD SPECTRUM

Related Terms: NEODYMIUM.

This special name encoding reference means: Bulb outputs a yellow color of light which reduces nighttime bulbs to be attracted to this bulb. You MUST use a separate bright white bulb nearby to attract bugs away from the bug-yellow light.

The separate white light bulb must be close enough to attract bugs away from the yellow bulb, but far enough away so that bugs are no longer a nuisance.

Similar Terms: /BUG-YELLOW.

Darkening or discoloration of an incandescent lamp due to tungsten filament particles collecting on the inside of the glass as the filament burns and diminishes over its life.

Similar Terms: BULB DARKENING

Related Terms: LUMEN DEPRECIATION.

BULB LIFE refers to HOURS.

Published data for bulb design life is bulb average life based on testing a large group of one bulb type at one time; and is the amount of time (hours) passed when 50 percent (half) of the group are no longer lit.

Some bulbs in the test group may have gone out quickly while others may have continued to be lit beyond double this figure.

As this measurement is taken under perfect laboratory conditions; real world conditions are expected to be much less, and are likely to be only 50 to 90 percent of rating.

If bulb is subject to voltage higher than rated or vibration or other adverse conditions, then Bulb Life expectancy will even be less.

To increase the life of your bulb; operate bulb at the EXACT voltage that bulb is designed, and protect bulb from vibration, and try to decrease the amount of on/off cycles, and provide good cooling and heat ventilation.

Filament bulbs; Bulb Life is inversely proportional to the 12th power of applied voltage so operating bulb at LESS voltage than design voltage means longer Bulb Life. On those hard to reach/replace bulbs; you can get more life out of your bulbs by using higher voltage rated bulbs, for example if your line voltage is 120 volts then buy 125 or 130 volt rated bulbs, but more energy is wasted as infrared heat (not light), so Lumens Per Watt will go down.

For best efficiency and reasonable amount of hours operate bulb near its rated voltage.

Similar Terms: HOURS, BULB LIFE, DESIGN HOUR, DESIGN HOURS, HOUR, LIFE HOUR, LIFE HOURS

Related Terms: VOLT.

Bulb Socket is the mechanical device that physically holds the light bulb in position, and, provides the electrical connection to the light bulb.

Usually the socket is designed to make a temporary hold on the light bulb to allow for future light bulb replacement.

Make certain the socket contacts and light bulb contacts are clean so they provide solid electrical connection.

Replace socket or bulb if poor connection is made.

Similar Terms: BULB SOCKET, LAMP HOLDER, SOCKET

Related Terms: BULB BASE, ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT.

Light Bulbs are the work portion of the circuit and are often the purpose for the Electrical Circuit.

light bulb is a special sealed glass vessel which converts Electric Energy into light output.

Lamp is the lighting industry term for light bulb, and are synonymous.

Similar Terms: LIGHT BULBS, BULB, BULBS, ELECTRICAL WORK, LAMP, LAMPS, LIGHT BULB, LIGHT SOURCE, LIGHT TUBE, LIGHT TUBES, TUBE, TUBES, WORK

Related Terms: /BL, /DE, /DX, /ES, /GR, /IC, /LU, /M, /MH, /MHC, /MV, /MVSB, /PS, /SE, /U, AMP, ANSI, ARC TUBE, BALLAST FACTOR, BULB BASE, BULB DARKENING, BULB SOCKET, BURN ANGLE, CANDLEPOWER, CATEGORY, CHARACTERISTIC CURVES, COEFFICIENT OF UTILIZATION, COLOR CORRECTED, COLOR RENDERING INDEX, COLOR TEMPERATURE, COMPACT FLUORESCENT LAMP, CONVERSION TABLE, COSINE LAW, DARK-EFFECT, DESIGN END FOOT CANDLES, DICHROIC MIRROR, DOUBLE-ENDED LAMP, ECE, ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, ELECTRIC DISCHARGE LAMP, ELECTROMAGNETIC BALLAST, ELECTROMOTIVE POTENTIAL, ELECTRONIC BALLAST, ELLIPTICAL REFLECTOR, END BLACKENING, ENERGY POLICY ACT, ETCH, FIELD ANGLE, FILAMENT, FIXTURE, FLOODLIGHT, FLUORESCENT LAMP, FOOTCANDLE, FULL SPECTRUM, GETTER, GLARE, GLASS, GLOW LAMP, HALOGEN BULB, HIGH OUTPUT FLUORESCENT, HORIZONTAL DISTRIBUTION, HOURS, INCANDESCENT BULB, INDUCTION LIGHTING, INFRARED, INSTANT START, IONIZATION, KRYPTON, LAW OF INVERSE SQUARES, LIF, LIGHT LOSS FACTOR, LOW PRESSURE SODIUM, LUMEN, LUMENS PER WATT, LUMEN DEPRECIATION, LUMEN MAINTENANCE, LUMINAIRE, MAXIMUM OVERALL LENGTH, MEAN LUMENS, MEAN SPHERICAL CANDLEPOWER, MERCURY VAPOR LAMP, METAL HALIDE LAMP, NEODYMIUM, NOMINAL LENGTH, NOTES, OPERATING POSITION, PAR LAMP, PHOSPHOR, PHOTOMETER, PREHEAT, PROGRAMMED START, PULSE START, QUARTZ GLASS, RAPID START, REFLECTOR LAMP, SHROUD, SPECIAL ORDER, SPECTRAL POWER DISTRIBUTION, SPOTLIGHT, STARTER, TOXICITY CHARACTERISTIC LEACHING PROCEDURE, TRIGGER START, VERY HIGH OUTPUT, VOLT, VOLTAGE RATING, WATT.

Angle of bulb operating position.

Bulbs may be operated in any position unless otherwise noted.

Similar Terms: BURN ANGLE, BURN

Related Terms: /BD, /BU, /U, HALOGEN BULB, INCANDESCENT BULB.

CANDELA refers to CANDLEPOWER.

In order to compare intensities of light from different sources some standard is necessary.

The first of these standards of light consisted of a spermaceti candle of standard dimensions burning at a certain rate, giving off light in one direction.

This was known as a standard candle, and it's light from any one direction was said to have an intensity of one candlepower.

This is also know as one candela.

A candle emits one candlepower.

A 16 candlepower light bulb emits an intensity of light equal to sixteen standard candles.

A 100 watt common incandescent bulb emits about 120 candlepower.

Nowadays, published candlepower ratings for miniature lamps are generally in Mean spherical candlepower (MSCP) unless otherwise stated, which is the total light emitted by a candle from all directions.

MSCP rating is generally used on small and miniature bulbs of low output.

Higher output bulbs are generally rated in lumens.

Similar Terms: CANDLEPOWER, CP, CANDELA, CANDELAS, CANDLE POWER

Related Terms: BEAM ANGLE, BEAM SPREAD, CENTER BEAM CANDLEPOWER, CHARACTERISTIC CURVES, COLOR RENDERING INDEX, COLOR TEMPERATURE, CONVERSION TABLE, HORIZONTAL DISTRIBUTION, LUMEN, LUMINANCE, PHOTOMETER, PHOTOPIC VISION, SCOTOPIC VISION.

Metal band encircling the cathode of a fluorescent lamp, used to collect the evaporating particles from the cathode, greatly reducing end blackening.

Similar Terms: CATHODE GUARD.

Refers to the luminous intensity at the center of the beam of a reflector lamp; measured in candelas.

Similar Terms: CENTER BEAM CANDLEPOWER, CBCP.

Variations in candlepower, current, total watts, and watts per candlepower with variations in voltage of drawn-wire tungsten filament are shown.

Candlepower, current, and total watts increase slightly with an increase in voltage, and watts per candlepower decreases.

In other words, the higher the voltage, the higher will be the current, the candlepower and total watts, and lower will be the watts per candle.

In obtaining values from this chart, it is necessary to go to the VOLTS curve first.

For example to ascertain conditions at 105 percent of normal voltage, the vertical line beginning midway between 100 and 110 at the bottom of chart is followed until it intersects with volts curve.

Then, by following to the left along the horizontal line from point of intersection, CANDLEPOWER of 120 percent is obtained.

The same horizontal line intersects with 90 percent of WATTS PER CANDLE, and AMPERES at 103 percent, with WATTS consumed being 108 percent.

Similar Terms: CHARACTERISTIC CURVES.

The aspect of color that includes consideration of its dominant wavelength and purity.

Similar Terms: CHROMATICITY.

A circuit is the entirety all electrical components needed to make the light bulb operate.

There must be at least 4 parts of a circuit for it to operate; power (electricity), power distribution (conductor), control (switch), and work (light bulb).

This includes the power source (power company, generator, battery) and it's distribution through conductors (wires), control mechanism for turning the power on and off (power switch), the Bulb Socket / lamp holder and the bulb.

Similar Terms: ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, CIRCUIT

Related Terms: AMP, BALLAST, BULB BASE, ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE, ELECTROMOTIVE POTENTIAL, INSTANT START, LIGHT BULBS, PREHEAT, PROGRAMMED START, PULSE START, RAPID START, TRIGGER START, VOLT, WATT.

CLEAR GLASS refers to /CL.

Clear. Glass is clear.

Similar Terms: /CL, CLEAR, CLEAR GLASS

Related Terms: /FR, /HF, /IF, /LF, DICHROIC MIRROR, GLASS, HALOGEN BULB.

This special name encoding reference means: Glass is coated (diffused).

Similar Terms: /C.

The fraction of initial lamp lumens that reach the work plane.

It is a function of luminaire efficiency, room surface reflectance, and room shape.

Similar Terms: COEFFICIENT OF UTILIZATION, CU.

Refers to a lamp with a special phosphor or coating to give it a color rendering profile like natural daylight.

Similar Terms: COLOR CORRECTED, CC.

Color Rendering Index is an industry standard reference to a bulb on how well it renders color of objects it is illuminating.

Codes range is from 0 to 100, the higher the number the more vivid and lively things look under that light.

The lower the CRI rating the more ghostly (faded, dead) objects appear.

Workshops, factories and parking lot night lights might be acceptable for low CRI bulbs, but retail shops, beauty salons and art museums must use bulbs with a high CRI rating.

If you want your items and people to look good, then high CRI is required.

High CRI bulbs generally cost more to buy and cost more to operate as they have low lumens output per watt consumed.

Low CRI bulbs put out low quality light, but are very cheap to operate as they have high lumens output per watt consumed.

There are three main factors in describing the color portion of light, one being the Color Rendering Index (CRI), the 2nd being Color Temperature (or kelvin), and, the third unit, light output intensity (lumens, or, CP) are all important factor in describing light.

The noon day sun is considered to be 100 CRI rating.

Incandescent bulbs are generally near a 100 CRI rating, but of course are very expensive per watt to operate, plus a large portion of their output is in the infrared (heat) range of the spectrum.

For pleasant lighting, I recommend a minimum of 85 CRI rating.

For high quality retail I recommend a minimum of 92 to 95 CRI as the better your goodies look, the better they will sell.

Jewelry stores should use nothing less than 99 CRI (at least at the point of sale counter).

Similar Terms: COLOR RENDERING INDEX, CRI

Related Terms: COLOR TEMPERATURE, FULL SPECTRUM, LUMENS PER WATT.

The visible light spectrum, ranging between 380 (violet) and 770 (red) nanometers in the electromagnetic spectrum.

Similar Terms: COLOR SPECTRUM

Related Terms: VISIBLE SPECTRUM.

Kelvin Color Temperature is typically the industry standard rating for the color of the light produced by the light bulb.

Color Temperature is the actual predominate color of the light.

All light has a color.

There is no such thing as pure white light, only variations.

We consider the typical noon daylight as being 6500K and is the main reference point for all white light color variations, but, as the sky is blue, natural daylight has a bluish hue.

1200K is typical for a candle.

2700K is typical for an incandescent light bulb which is much more yellow light than daylight.

3000K is typical for studio lighting.

The higher the kelvin temperature, the bluer the light.

There are two main units in describing the color portion of light, one being kelvin Color Temperature, the other being the Color Rendering Index (CRI), and, a third unit, light output intensity (lumens, or, CP) is also an important factor in describing light.

Similar Terms: COLOR TEMPERATURE, CCT, COLOR TEMP, CORRELATED COLOR TEMPERATURE, KELVIN

Related Terms: /10K, /3K, /4K, COLOR RENDERING INDEX, CONVERSION TABLE, FULL SPECTRUM, VOLT.

A small fluorescent lamp, often used as an alternative to incandescent lighting, that utilizes small diameter tubes that are bent so that they begin and end in a single base.

The lamp life is about 10 times longer than incandescent lamps and is 3 to 4 times more efficacious.

Similar Terms: COMPACT FLUORESCENT LAMP, COMPACT FLUORESCENT

Related Terms: REFLECTOR LAMP, SPIRAL LAMP.

Conductors are anything in which electricity easily passes, such as copper wire.

Conductors are sort of analogous to garden hoses as they allow you to pipe electricity exactly where you need it. Unfortunately conductors are more like "leaky" garden hoses as they aren't very efficient and leak energy all over the place (in the form of heat).

The colder a conductor, the better it conducts (less energy leaks out). The longer and thinner the conductor, the less efficient. For most efficiency, keep your conducts thick and short.

Most metals are conductors.

Some metals conduct better than others.

Silver is the best conductor, copper is the second best, and gold is the third best.

Gold doesn't tarnish, so it is sometimes thinly plated on connectors to help prevent connectors from corroding, as corroded metal is a very poor conductor.

Wire made up of many small strands, conducts much better than a solid wire of same diameter.

Opposite of a conductor is an insulator.

Similar Terms: CONDUCTORS, CONDUCTOR, WIRE, WIRES

Related Terms: AMP, CHARACTERISTIC CURVES, ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE, ELECTROMOTIVE POTENTIAL, FILAMENT, INCANDESCENT BULB, INSULATOR, MAXIMUM OVERALL LENGTH, VOLT.

One inch = 25.4001 millimeters.

Watts = volts x amps.

Lumens = 12.57 (4 pi) x Mean spherical candlepower (MSCP).

kelvin = Celsius + 273.

Footcandles = candlepower / distance squared (miniature lamps only).

1 footcandle = 10.764 lux

Similar Terms: CONVERSION TABLE, INCH, MM, MILLIMETER, MILLIMETERS

Related Terms: DESIGN END FOOT CANDLES, GLASS, GLOW LAMP, VOLT.

The visible glow of ionized gas surrounding the cathode of a Glow Lamp.

Similar Terms: CORONA

Related Terms: GLOW LAMP.

Cosine Law is the illumination on a plane is proportional to the cosine of the angle that this plane makes with another plane at right angles to the light rays.

In the example it is seen that the same number of rays strike plane #B as are received by plane #A, which is perpendicular to the rays.

But #B surface is larger than #A; therefore the illumination on #B will be less than that on #A, the relative values of illumination vary inversely as the ratio between the areas of planes.

This ratio is equal to the cosine of the angle #a between the planes.

If x1 = illumination on #A, and x2 = illumination on #B, then x2 = x1 cos #a.

Similar Terms: COSINE LAW

Related Terms: EXITANCE, FOOTCANDLE.

One coulomb is 6362.5 (6.25 x 1018 ) electrons.

Similar Terms: COULOMB

Related Terms: AMP, VOLT.

Refers to light sources mounted above a ledge or in a recess that distribute light upward for Ambient Lighting.

Similar Terms: COVE LIGHTING.

CURRENT refers to AMP.

Amperage is a unit of electrical flow.

It's the rate of electromotive flow through a conductor (wire).

This is somewhat analogous to the volume quantity flow rate of water through a pipe.

Amperage rating of bulb is measured at bulbs rated voltage.

Published specs for amperage typically have a tolerance of plus or minus 10%.

To calculate the amperage; if you know the voltage and wattage of the circuit, then amperage equals wattage divided by voltage (amp = watt / volt) (example, 5 amps = 60 watts / 12 volts.

1 amperes = 1 coulomb of electrons passing a point of a conductor in one second.

10 amperes = 1 abampere.

The ampere is named after Andre Marie Ampere, a professor of mathematics in the Polytechnic school in Paris in year 1820.

Similar Terms: AMP, AMPERAGE, AMPERE, AMPERES, AMPS, CURRENT, ELECTRICAL CURRENT

Related Terms: ABAMPERE, BALLAST, CHARACTERISTIC CURVES, CONVERSION TABLE, ELECTRIC DISCHARGE LAMP, ELECTROMAGNETIC BALLAST, ELECTRONIC BALLAST, GLOW LAMP, HALOGEN BULB, INCANDESCENT BULB, VOLT, WATT.

With glow lamps, external ion energy (like light particles) interferes with (lowers) the Breakdown Voltage point, so if the Glow Lamp is energized were no outside ion influence the bulb (like a dark room), much more voltage is then required to hit the Breakdown Voltage point and this phenomena is called dark-effect.

To prevent dark-effect some glow lamps include a small amount of radioactive gas (krypton 85) which stabilizes break-down voltage regardless of external ion influences.

Similar Terms: DARK-EFFECT

Related Terms: GLOW LAMP.

Voltage is a unit of Electrical Pressure.

It's the measurement of Electromotive Force of the Pressure of Electricity.

Voltage is the force that pushes Electrical Current though a conductor.

This is loosely analogous to pressure in a water line as in pounds per square inch.

Electrical Pressure is not really a pressure as pressure is commonly understood. Electricity doesn't pour out of a wire onto the ground like a garden hose.

Voltage rating of an incandescent bulb is the voltage that bulb is designed to operate in the circuit measured at the base of the bulb and in which published data for watts, amps, lumens, Color Temperature and Life Hours are measured at.

Incandescent bulbs can be used with AC Voltage or DC Voltage, but DC Voltage produces increased notching on filament which reduces the life quicker than AC Voltage.

In non-incandescent bulbs the voltage may be referred to as either the operating voltage, or, the starting voltage of that bulb.

DC Voltage is direct current type of voltage, where one power terminal is positive "+" and the other terminal is negative "-".

Electrons flow from the positive to negative terminal.

AC Voltage is alternating current type of voltage, were each power terminal takes turns alternating at being positive and negative.

In USA, the frequency standard for AC volt power lines is 60 cycles (times) alternating per second, and averages around 120 volts.

In Europe the frequency standard for AC volt power lines is 50 cycles per second, and averages around 240 volts.

AC is much more efficient at transmitting power over long distances.

Also, higher voltages are more efficient to transmit over long distances.

Electrical Pressure is an energy potential between two conductors of a an Electrical Circuit.

This difference of Electrical Pressure is defined and rated in volts.

To calculate the voltage; if you know the wattage and amperage of the circuit, then voltage equals wattage divided by amperage (volt = watt / amp).

One volt is equal to performing one joule of work to move or separate one coulomb of electrons.

The volt is named after Allesandro Volta, a professor of physics at the university of Pavia in Italy, in year 1800.

Similar Terms: VOLT, AC VOLTAGE, BULB VOLTAGE, DC VOLTAGE, ELECTRICAL PRESSURE, PRESSURE OF ELECTRICITY, VOLTAGE, VOLTS

Related Terms: AMP, BALLAST, BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE, CHARACTERISTIC CURVES, CONVERSION TABLE, DARK-EFFECT, ELECTROMAGNETIC BALLAST, ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE, ELECTROMOTIVE POTENTIAL, FILAMENT, GLOW LAMP, HALOGEN BULB, HOURS, LIGHT LOSS FACTOR, MAINTAINING VOLTAGE, MEAN SPHERICAL CANDLEPOWER, VOLTAGE RATING, WATT.

The measure of the portion of total light output of a T2 lamp that passes through a .250 inch orifice placed at the end of the lamp

Similar Terms: DESIGN END FOOT CANDLES, DEFC.

Published data for bulb design life is bulb average life based on testing a large group of one bulb type at one time; and is the amount of time (hours) passed when 50 percent (half) of the group are no longer lit.

Some bulbs in the test group may have gone out quickly while others may have continued to be lit beyond double this figure.

As this measurement is taken under perfect laboratory conditions; real world conditions are expected to be much less, and are likely to be only 50 to 90 percent of rating.

If bulb is subject to voltage higher than rated or vibration or other adverse conditions, then Bulb Life expectancy will even be less.

To increase the life of your bulb; operate bulb at the EXACT voltage that bulb is designed, and protect bulb from vibration, and try to decrease the amount of on/off cycles, and provide good cooling and heat ventilation.

Filament bulbs; Bulb Life is inversely proportional to the 12th power of applied voltage so operating bulb at LESS voltage than design voltage means longer Bulb Life. On those hard to reach/replace bulbs; you can get more life out of your bulbs by using higher voltage rated bulbs, for example if your line voltage is 120 volts then buy 125 or 130 volt rated bulbs, but more energy is wasted as infrared heat (not light), so Lumens Per Watt will go down.

For best efficiency and reasonable amount of hours operate bulb near its rated voltage.

Similar Terms: HOURS, BULB LIFE, DESIGN HOUR, DESIGN HOURS, HOUR, LIFE HOUR, LIFE HOURS

Related Terms: VOLT.

light output of a bulb is usually expressed either in units of lumens, or, candlepower (CP).

light output of miniature bulbs is often expressed in candlepower, but, larger bulbs are usually expressed in lumens.

One lumen is equal to the amount of light emitted by one candle that falls on one square foot of surface located one foot away from one candle.

A uniform source of one candlepower placed in a sphere emits 12.57 lumens or mean spherical candela (MSCP) equals 12.57 lumens; meaning that 1 candle has a total output of light (light output in all directions) equalling 12.57 lumens.

A 100 watt common incandescent bulb emits around 1700 lumens.

Lumen rating of a light bulb is a measurement of ALL the light output from that light bulb from all directions.

light output diminishes over the life of the bulb.

Initial Lumens is the lumens rating for a brand new light bulb.

Design Lumens is the rated lumens measured at 40 percent of the bulbs rated life.

For general lighting, bulbs usually need to be replaced when their lumens output drop to around 50% of the Initial Lumens.

halogen bulbs are designed to hold their lumens output very well over their life.

Similar Terms: LUMEN, DESIGN LUMENS, EFFICACY, INITIAL LUMENS, LPW, LIGHT ENERGY, LIGHT OUTPUT, LIGHT, LUMENS OUTPUT PER WATT, LUMENS, POWER FACTOR

Related Terms: /BL, /GR, ARC TUBE, BALLAST, BALLAST FACTOR, BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE, CANDLEPOWER, COEFFICIENT OF UTILIZATION, COLOR RENDERING INDEX, COLOR SPECTRUM, COLOR TEMPERATURE, CONVERSION TABLE, COSINE LAW, COVE LIGHTING, DARK-EFFECT, DESIGN END FOOT CANDLES, DICHROIC MIRROR, DIFFUSION, DISCHARGE LAMP, DOWN LIGHTING, ELECTRIC DISCHARGE LAMP, ELECTRONIC BALLAST, ELLIPTICAL REFLECTOR, EXITANCE, FIELD ANGLE, FILAMENT, FLUORESCENT LAMP, FLUX, FOOTCANDLE, GENERAL LIGHTING, GLASS, HALOGEN BULB, HIGH OUTPUT FLUORESCENT, HIGH PRESSURE SODIUM, HORIZONTAL DISTRIBUTION, HOURS, ILLUMINANCE, ILLUMINATION, INCANDESCENT BULB, INDIRECT LIGHTING, INITIAL MAXIMUM BEAM CANDLEPOWER, INTENSITY, LAW OF INVERSE SQUARES, LENS, LIGHT BULBS, LIGHT CENTER LENGTH, LOUVER, LOW PRESSURE SODIUM, LUMENS PER WATT, LUMEN DEPRECIATION, LUMEN MAINTENANCE, LUMINANCE, LUX, MEAN SPHERICAL CANDLEPOWER, MERCURY VAPOR LAMP, METAL HALIDE LAMP, NEODYMIUM, PAR LAMP, PHOSPHOR, PHOTOMETER, PHOTOMETRY, PHOTON, PREHEAT, RAPID START, REFRACTION, REFRACTOR, SCOTOPIC VISION, ULTRAVIOLET, VISIBLE SPECTRUM, VOLT, WAVELENGTH.

A special mirror which reflects light, but is transparent to heat, allowing visible light to be aimed where needed while allowing infrared heat waves to escape through the backside of the mirror.

The end result is object of illumination will have more light and less heat.

Obviously reducing heat output is important for film lighting or anything else that heat could melt or damage.

To check for Dichroic Mirror; hold mirrored surface up to a bright light source and try to look through the mirror. If mirror is semi-transparent then it is a dichroic coating.

Dichroic coatings are a by-product of the space industry and is a special reflective mirror filter applied to clear glass. Applying a dichroic coating is a very complicated time consuming process. Clear glass object is randomly rotated in a vacuum furnace above minerals of metallic oxides, such as magnesium, silicon, titanium, which are bombarded by an electron beam whose vapors are deposited in thin layers on the glass. Each mineral is in separate crucible. Different oxide vapors produce different reflective wavelengths, so to get a mirror reflection which will evenly reflect all visible light wavelengths is tricky and computer controlled.

Similar Terms: DICHROIC MIRROR, DICHROIC.

The even redirection or spreading of light by a lens or diffuser.

Similar Terms: DIFFUSION.

Illumination on the workplane or on an object predominantly from a single direction.

Similar Terms: DIRECTIONAL LIGHTING.

light producing device that depends on an electric arc, rather than a filament, to create illumination.

Similar Terms: DISCHARGE LAMP.

Divitrification is the deterioration process in which heated quartz glass breaks down and crystallizes in a chain reaction at a point of contamination (often oils left over from fingerprints) along with prolonged heating.

The contamination spot acts as a catalyst.

quartz glass divitrifies becoming opaque, hard, crystalline and brittle.

Crystallization starts at the contamination spot and travels through the glass and slowly continues in all directions over time.

The hotter the glass, the faster the crystallization occurs.

Similar Terms: DIVITRIFICATION

Related Terms: GLASS, QUARTZ GLASS.

DOUBLE ENDED refers to /DE.

Double Ended. Double Ended metal halide lamps

Similar Terms: /DE, DOUBLE ENDED.

Lamps that have two bases or points of electrical connection that provide extra stability in rough service applications.

Similar Terms: DOUBLE-ENDED LAMP.

A direct lighting unit, usually small, that aims the light downward.

Can be recessed, surface mounted or suspended.

Similar Terms: DOWN LIGHTING.

This special name encoding reference means: Double Glass tube envelope.

Outer glass tube provides physical protection in case inner glass tube breaks or explodes.

Also, outer glass tube provides safety burn protection to user as out glass tube is much cooler to touch.

Similar Terms: /DTUBE.

ECE code is an industry standard code system for the European common market and is one of the main industry standard bulb codes for European motor vehicle standards.

Other important industry standards are ANSI and LIF.

Industry standard codes assure mechanical and electrical interchangeability for various manufacturers.

Similar Terms: ECE

Related Terms: ANSI, LIF.

EFFICACY refers to LUMENS PER WATT.

Lumens Per Watt is the measure of efficacy of a light source in terms of how much light (lumens) produced in relationship to how much power (watts) consumed.

For example, a 100 watt incandescent bulb emit 1750 lumens so the bulb's lumens output per watt consumed is 17.5.

It's a trade off... the higher the efficacy usually the lower the Color Rendering Index (CRI) rating, or the shorter the life design of the bulb.

Similar Terms: LUMENS PER WATT, EFFICACY, LPW, LUMENS OUTPUT PER WATT, POWER FACTOR

Related Terms: COLOR RENDERING INDEX, ELECTRONIC BALLAST, HALOGEN BULB, HOURS.

A light source that produces light by passing a current between electrodes through a vapor or gas.

Includes fluorescent and high intensity discharge.

Similar Terms: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE LAMP

Related Terms: BALLAST.

ELECTRIC ENERGY refers to ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE.

Electromotive Force is electricity flowing through a conductor (circuit is turned on).

Any Electric Energy which is available but not in use is called Electric Potential (in which two points of a circuit have a voltage difference).

Similar Terms: ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE, ELECTRIC ENERGY, ELECTRICAL ENERGY

Related Terms: ELECTROMOTIVE POTENTIAL, FILAMENT, LIGHT BULBS, VOLT, WATT.

ELECTRIC POTENTIAL refers to ELECTROMOTIVE POTENTIAL.

Two conductors of a circuit separated by an insulator in which contain a voltage difference.

This Electromotive Potential can be utilized into Electromotive Force by connecting a conductor or Electrical Work between these two points.

Similar Terms: ELECTROMOTIVE POTENTIAL, ELECTRIC POTENTIAL

Related Terms: ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE.

A circuit is the entirety all electrical components needed to make the light bulb operate.

There must be at least 4 parts of a circuit for it to operate; power (electricity), power distribution (conductor), control (switch), and work (light bulb).

This includes the power source (power company, generator, battery) and it's distribution through conductors (wires), control mechanism for turning the power on and off (power switch), the Bulb Socket / lamp holder and the bulb.

Similar Terms: ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, CIRCUIT

Related Terms: AMP, BALLAST, BULB BASE, ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE, ELECTROMOTIVE POTENTIAL, INSTANT START, LIGHT BULBS, PREHEAT, PROGRAMMED START, PULSE START, RAPID START, TRIGGER START, VOLT, WATT.

ELECTRICAL CURRENT refers to AMP.

Amperage is a unit of electrical flow.

It's the rate of electromotive flow through a conductor (wire).

This is somewhat analogous to the volume quantity flow rate of water through a pipe.

Amperage rating of bulb is measured at bulbs rated voltage.

Published specs for amperage typically have a tolerance of plus or minus 10%.

To calculate the amperage; if you know the voltage and wattage of the circuit, then amperage equals wattage divided by voltage (amp = watt / volt) (example, 5 amps = 60 watts / 12 volts.

1 amperes = 1 coulomb of electrons passing a point of a conductor in one second.

10 amperes = 1 abampere.

The ampere is named after Andre Marie Ampere, a professor of mathematics in the Polytechnic school in Paris in year 1820.

Similar Terms: AMP, AMPERAGE, AMPERE, AMPERES, AMPS, CURRENT, ELECTRICAL CURRENT

Related Terms: ABAMPERE, BALLAST, CHARACTERISTIC CURVES, CONVERSION TABLE, ELECTRIC DISCHARGE LAMP, ELECTROMAGNETIC BALLAST, ELECTRONIC BALLAST, GLOW LAMP, HALOGEN BULB, INCANDESCENT BULB, VOLT, WATT.

ELECTRICAL ENERGY refers to ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE.

Electromotive Force is electricity flowing through a conductor (circuit is turned on).

Any Electric Energy which is available but not in use is called Electric Potential (in which two points of a circuit have a voltage difference).

Similar Terms: ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE, ELECTRIC ENERGY, ELECTRICAL ENERGY

Related Terms: ELECTROMOTIVE POTENTIAL, FILAMENT, LIGHT BULBS, VOLT, WATT.

ELECTRICAL PRESSURE refers to VOLT.

Voltage is a unit of Electrical Pressure.

It's the measurement of Electromotive Force of the Pressure of Electricity.

Voltage is the force that pushes Electrical Current though a conductor.

This is loosely analogous to pressure in a water line as in pounds per square inch.

Electrical Pressure is not really a pressure as pressure is commonly understood. Electricity doesn't pour out of a wire onto the ground like a garden hose.

Voltage rating of an incandescent bulb is the voltage that bulb is designed to operate in the circuit measured at the base of the bulb and in which published data for watts, amps, lumens, Color Temperature and Life Hours are measured at.

Incandescent bulbs can be used with AC Voltage or DC Voltage, but DC Voltage produces increased notching on filament which reduces the life quicker than AC Voltage.

In non-incandescent bulbs the voltage may be referred to as either the operating voltage, or, the starting voltage of that bulb.

DC Voltage is direct current type of voltage, where one power terminal is positive "+" and the other terminal is negative "-".

Electrons flow from the positive to negative terminal.

AC Voltage is alternating current type of voltage, were each power terminal takes turns alternating at being positive and negative.

In USA, the frequency standard for AC volt power lines is 60 cycles (times) alternating per second, and averages around 120 volts.

In Europe the frequency standard for AC volt power lines is 50 cycles per second, and averages around 240 volts.

AC is much more efficient at transmitting power over long distances.

Also, higher voltages are more efficient to transmit over long distances.

Electrical Pressure is an energy potential between two conductors of a an Electrical Circuit.

This difference of Electrical Pressure is defined and rated in volts.

To calculate the voltage; if you know the wattage and amperage of the circuit, then voltage equals wattage divided by amperage (volt = watt / amp).

One volt is equal to performing one joule of work to move or separate one coulomb of electrons.

The volt is named after Allesandro Volta, a professor of physics at the university of Pavia in Italy, in year 1800.

Similar Terms: VOLT, AC VOLTAGE, BULB VOLTAGE, DC VOLTAGE, ELECTRICAL PRESSURE, PRESSURE OF ELECTRICITY, VOLTAGE, VOLTS

Related Terms: AMP, BALLAST, BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE, CHARACTERISTIC CURVES, CONVERSION TABLE, DARK-EFFECT, ELECTROMAGNETIC BALLAST, ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE, ELECTROMOTIVE POTENTIAL, FILAMENT, GLOW LAMP, HALOGEN BULB, HOURS, LIGHT LOSS FACTOR, MAINTAINING VOLTAGE, MEAN SPHERICAL CANDLEPOWER, VOLTAGE RATING, WATT.

ELECTRICAL WORK refers to LIGHT BULBS.

Light Bulbs are the work portion of the circuit and are often the purpose for the Electrical Circuit.

light bulb is a special sealed glass vessel which converts Electric Energy into light output.

Lamp is the lighting industry term for light bulb, and are synonymous.

Similar Terms: LIGHT BULBS, BULB, BULBS, ELECTRICAL WORK, LAMP, LAMPS, LIGHT BULB, LIGHT SOURCE, LIGHT TUBE, LIGHT TUBES, TUBE, TUBES, WORK

Related Terms: /BL, /DE, /DX, /ES, /GR, /IC, /LU, /M, /MH, /MHC, /MV, /MVSB, /PS, /SE, /U, AMP, ANSI, ARC TUBE, BALLAST FACTOR, BULB BASE, BULB DARKENING, BULB SOCKET, BURN ANGLE, CANDLEPOWER, CATEGORY, CHARACTERISTIC CURVES, COEFFICIENT OF UTILIZATION, COLOR CORRECTED, COLOR RENDERING INDEX, COLOR TEMPERATURE, COMPACT FLUORESCENT LAMP, CONVERSION TABLE, COSINE LAW, DARK-EFFECT, DESIGN END FOOT CANDLES, DICHROIC MIRROR, DOUBLE-ENDED LAMP, ECE, ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, ELECTRIC DISCHARGE LAMP, ELECTROMAGNETIC BALLAST, ELECTROMOTIVE POTENTIAL, ELECTRONIC BALLAST, ELLIPTICAL REFLECTOR, END BLACKENING, ENERGY POLICY ACT, ETCH, FIELD ANGLE, FILAMENT, FIXTURE, FLOODLIGHT, FLUORESCENT LAMP, FOOTCANDLE, FULL SPECTRUM, GETTER, GLARE, GLASS, GLOW LAMP, HALOGEN BULB, HIGH OUTPUT FLUORESCENT, HORIZONTAL DISTRIBUTION, HOURS, INCANDESCENT BULB, INDUCTION LIGHTING, INFRARED, INSTANT START, IONIZATION, KRYPTON, LAW OF INVERSE SQUARES, LIF, LIGHT LOSS FACTOR, LOW PRESSURE SODIUM, LUMEN, LUMENS PER WATT, LUMEN DEPRECIATION, LUMEN MAINTENANCE, LUMINAIRE, MAXIMUM OVERALL LENGTH, MEAN LUMENS, MEAN SPHERICAL CANDLEPOWER, MERCURY VAPOR LAMP, METAL HALIDE LAMP, NEODYMIUM, NOMINAL LENGTH, NOTES, OPERATING POSITION, PAR LAMP, PHOSPHOR, PHOTOMETER, PREHEAT, PROGRAMMED START, PULSE START, QUARTZ GLASS, RAPID START, REFLECTOR LAMP, SHROUD, SPECIAL ORDER, SPECTRAL POWER DISTRIBUTION, SPOTLIGHT, STARTER, TOXICITY CHARACTERISTIC LEACHING PROCEDURE, TRIGGER START, VERY HIGH OUTPUT, VOLT, VOLTAGE RATING, WATT.

ELECTRICAL refers to ELECTRICITY.

Electricity is charged particles.

Similar Terms: ELECTRICITY, ELECTRICAL

Related Terms: AMP, ANSI, ARC TUBE, BULB BASE, BULB SOCKET, CONDUCTORS, DOUBLE-ENDED LAMP, ECE, ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE, ENERGY SURVEY, GLOW LAMP, HALOGEN BULB, HIGH PRESSURE SODIUM, INCANDESCENT BULB, INSULATOR, LIF, TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION, VOLT.

Electricity is charged particles.

Similar Terms: ELECTRICITY, ELECTRICAL

Related Terms: AMP, ANSI, ARC TUBE, BULB BASE, BULB SOCKET, CONDUCTORS, DOUBLE-ENDED LAMP, ECE, ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE, ENERGY SURVEY, GLOW LAMP, HALOGEN BULB, HIGH PRESSURE SODIUM, INCANDESCENT BULB, INSULATOR, LIF, TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION, VOLT.

Ballasts that in conjunction with starters preheat the lamp electrodes, supply the ignition voltage and stabilize lamp currents during operation.

Series or parallel capacitors are required to compensate blind current.

Similar Terms: ELECTROMAGNETIC BALLAST.

Electromotive Force is electricity flowing through a conductor (circuit is turned on).

Any Electric Energy which is available but not in use is called Electric Potential (in which two points of a circuit have a voltage difference).

Similar Terms: ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE, ELECTRIC ENERGY, ELECTRICAL ENERGY

Related Terms: ELECTROMOTIVE POTENTIAL, FILAMENT, LIGHT BULBS, VOLT, WATT.

Two conductors of a circuit separated by an insulator in which contain a voltage difference.

This Electromotive Potential can be utilized into Electromotive Force by connecting a conductor or Electrical Work between these two points.

Similar Terms: ELECTROMOTIVE POTENTIAL, ELECTRIC POTENTIAL

Related Terms: ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE.

A ballast that uses semiconductor components to increase the frequency of fluorescent lamp operation (typically in the 20-40 kHz range).

Smaller inductive components provide the lamp current control.

Fluorescent system efficiency is increased due to high frequency lamp operation.

Results are increased lamp efficacy, reduced ballast losses and lighter, smaller ballasts compared to electromagnetic ballasts.

Electronic ballasts may also be used with HID (high intensity discharge) lamps.

Similar Terms: ELECTRONIC BALLAST.

Incandescent lamp with a reflector shell that is elliptically shaped.

Focusses light immediately in front of the lamp, which reduces absorption and increases efficiency.

Similar Terms: ELLIPTICAL REFLECTOR.

Here are some of the old bulb codes for Philips brand bulbs:

/01 = with mirror
/07 = outside frosted (FR)
/15 = RED - fluorescent
/16 = YELLOW - fluorescent
/17 = GREEN - fluorescent
/18 = BLUE - fluorescent
/21 = inside frosted (IF)
/29 = warm white (WW) (530) - fluorescent 3000K at 50+ CRI
/32 = warm white deluxe (WWX) (930) - fluorescent 3000K at 90+ CRI
/33 = white (W43) - fluorescent 4100K at 50+ CRI
/34 = white deluxe (WX) (850) - fluorescent 5000K at 80+ CRI
/54 = cool daylight (DAY) (765) - fluorescent 6500K at 70+ CRI
/55 = daylight (D65) (865) - fluorescent 6500K at 80+ CRI
/57 = abbot gibson - fluorescent 7400K
/60 = DAYLIGHT
/97 = BLUE flash-bulbs
/472 = YELLOW
/475 = AMBER
/476 = RED
/479 = IR-RED
/972 = YELLOW fluorescent coating on neon bulb
/973 = GREEN fluorescent coating on neon bulb
/976 = RED fluorescent coating on neon bulb

Similar Terms: ENCODINGS PHILIPS OLD BULBS.

Darkening around the ends of a fluorescent tube caused by particles evaporating from the cathode and adhering to the glass.

Lamps made with cathode guards greatly reduce this occurrence.

Similar Terms: END BLACKENING

Related Terms: CATHODE GUARD.

Energy legislation passed by USA Congress in 1992 mandating labeling and minimum energy efficiency requirements for many commonly used incandescent and fluorescent lamps.

Similar Terms: ENERGY POLICY ACT, EPACT.

Systematic cost comparison of an existing system to a proposed system, accounting for electrical, material, maintenance and labor costs.

Similar Terms: ENERGY SURVEY.

This special name encoding reference means: Usually means Extra Service (Long Life bulb), or sometimes means Energy Savings designed bulb.

Similar Terms: /ES.

Marking on the glass envelope of shell of a lamp designating product description, logo and/or brand name.

Similar Terms: ETCH.

The total amount of light reflected from a surface.

Exitance is dependent upon surface illuminance and the reflectance of that surface.

Also see Cosine Law.

Similar Terms: EXITANCE.

EXTEND LIFE refers to /LL.

Long life. Bulb designed for Long life.

Long life bulbs are dimmer than standard life bulbs of same design.

Similar Terms: /LL, EXTEND LIFE, EXTRA SERVICE, LONG LIFE

Related Terms: /ES, SPIRAL LAMP.

EXTRA SERVICE refers to /LL.

Long life. Bulb designed for Long life.

Long life bulbs are dimmer than standard life bulbs of same design.

Similar Terms: /LL, EXTEND LIFE, EXTRA SERVICE, LONG LIFE

Related Terms: /ES, SPIRAL LAMP.

Fixture, usually recessed, which can be rotated to point in a desired direction.

Similar Terms: EYEBALL.

The angle of the cone of light from reflector lamps encompassing the central part of the beam out to the angle where the intensity is 10 percent of maximum.

Similar Terms: FIELD ANGLE.

Filament is generally made of tungsten wire.

It's the filament's job to convert Electrical Energy into light output.

Filament is the work part of a light bulb.

Electric Energy heats up the filament until it emits photons.

Bulb Voltage design is directly related to the uncoiled length of the filament.

Due to limited space inside the bulb, tungsten is coiled and mounted into various filament shapes.

Depending on filament length it's often necessary to coil the filament once (coiled) or twice (coiled coil) to fit inside the glass envelope.

Low voltage designed bulbs have short thick filaments where as same wattage higher voltage bulbs have longer thinner filaments.

Filaments designed for higher voltage are more fragile so in more danger of damage from vibration/shock.

Sturdy filaments of lower voltage designed bulbs better resist damage from vibration.

Similar Terms: FILAMENT, FILAMENT BULB, FILAMENT BULBS, FILAMENTS

Related Terms: BULB DARKENING, CHARACTERISTIC CURVES, DISCHARGE LAMP, FLOODLIGHT, GETTER, GLASS, GLOW LAMP, HALOGEN BULB, HORIZONTAL DISTRIBUTION, HOURS, INCANDESCENT, INCANDESCENT BULB, KRYPTON, LIGHT CENTER LENGTH, LUMEN DEPRECIATION, OHMS, PAR LAMP, SPOTLIGHT, VOLT.

FIRING POTENTIAL refers to BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE.

The voltage needed to initially start a Glow Lamp glowing.

Mainly determined by type of gas, electrode spacing, pressure, and external ionizing forces such as light or radiation.

Similar Terms: BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE, BREAKDOWN, FIRING POTENTIAL, IONIZATION VOLTAGE, STRIKING VOLTAGE

Related Terms: DARK-EFFECT, GLOW LAMP, MAINTAINING VOLTAGE.

Luminaire without lamps / bulbs.

Similar Terms: FIXTURE, LIGHTING FIXTURE

Related Terms: EYEBALL, LOUVER, LUMINAIRE, REFRACTOR, TROFFER.

FLOOD refers to /FL.

Flood lamp. Reflector bulb with a FLOOD beam angle, typically a beam angle around 25 to 45 degrees.

Same as /MFL or MEDIUM FLOOD

Similar Terms: /FL, FLOOD

Related Terms: /NFL, /VWFL, /WFL.

A lamp designed to provide common broad lighting over a wide area.

Usually a reflector bulb type with Beam Angle factory preset between 30 and 60 degrees.

May also be a non-reflector lamp which has a large area filament and lamp's main purpose is designed for general space lighting, not designed specifically task lighting. Non-reflector floodlights tend to be less intense and have longer life design than non-reflector spotlights.

Similar Terms: FLOODLIGHT, FLOODLIGHTS

Related Terms: SPOTLIGHT.

A glass tube coated on the inside with a fluorescent substance that gives off light when a stream of electrons from the cathode excites mercury vapor in the tube.

Similar Terms: FLUORESCENT LAMP, FLUORESCENT BULB, FLUORESCENT TUBE

Related Terms: CATHODE GUARD, COMPACT FLUORESCENT LAMP, ELECTRONIC BALLAST, END BLACKENING, NOMINAL LENGTH, RAPID START, TOXICITY CHARACTERISTIC LEACHING PROCEDURE.

The basic measure of light flow that includes only visible light and is weighted to match the response of the human eye; measured in lumens.

Similar Terms: FLUX

Related Terms: LAW OF INVERSE SQUARES.

Footcandle is unit of light density measured over a surface. One footcandle is equal to one lumen per square foot of surface. Measured footcandles are dependent of the measure distance from the light source (see law of inverse squares), and angle at which the light reaches the surface (see Cosine Law).

Similar Terms: FOOTCANDLE

Related Terms: CONVERSION TABLE.

FROSTED GLASS refers to /FR.

Frosted glass. Typically applied to outside of glass, but frost coat could be applied to bulb inside glass.

Also see /IF and /CL

Similar Terms: /FR, FROSTED, FROSTED GLASS

Related Terms: /C, /HF, /IF, /LF, ENCODINGS PHILIPS OLD BULBS.

Broad Spectrum light source capable of producing colors thought the entire range of the visible spectrum; simulating actual sunlight.

High CRI output with Kelvin temperatures ranging between 5500K and 5900K.

Similar Terms: FULL SPECTRUM, BROAD SPECTRUM

Related Terms: NEODYMIUM.

GAS DIODE refers to GLOW LAMP.

Glow Lamp is a glass envelope filled with gas which contains two or more electrodes.

Glow lamps are cold-cathode devices which require no heater or filament.

Glow lamps produce a very interesting, mild, beautiful colorful glow.

Color of glow depends on the gas combination used.

Pure neon produces an orange/red glow, pure argon produces a purple glow.

The electrodes are separated by gap of about 1/8th inch inside the gas envelope.

If a variable voltage is applied across the electrodes and increased to about 50 volts, basically no current will flow.

Eventually as voltage is increased, positive ions are attracted to the cathode which has a negative charge.

As voltage increases, electrons are liberated in the generation of positive ions which are attracted to the positive anode.

At a certain voltage (the Breakdown Voltage) enough ion velocity is attained were electrons dislodge increased proportions of ions and as the gas breaks down it conducts electricity (and a corona forms around the cathode) while a current "run-away" or "avalanche" occurs.

This avalanche is self destructive if uncontrolled, so an in-series current-limiting resistor must be used, which are built in to most screw based glow lamps rated for use at specific line voltage, otherwise you'll have to supply the necessary resistor.

Most glow lamps can be used from Breakdown Voltage to 600 volts when you properly select current limiting resistor.

When a Glow Lamp is operated in a completely dark environment, a phenomenon called dark-effect occurs which greatly changes (raises) the break-down voltage.

Gas lamps perform poorly on altitudes over 70,000 feet as low atmospheric pressure encourages outside corona and arcing.

Similar Terms: GLOW LAMP, ARGON LAMP, GAS DIODE, GAS TUBE, GLOW TUBE, NEON LAMP, NEON

Related Terms: BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE, CORONA, DARK-EFFECT, MAINTAINING VOLTAGE.

GAS TUBE refers to GLOW LAMP.

Glow Lamp is a glass envelope filled with gas which contains two or more electrodes.

Glow lamps are cold-cathode devices which require no heater or filament.

Glow lamps produce a very interesting, mild, beautiful colorful glow.

Color of glow depends on the gas combination used.

Pure neon produces an orange/red glow, pure argon produces a purple glow.

The electrodes are separated by gap of about 1/8th inch inside the gas envelope.

If a variable voltage is applied across the electrodes and increased to about 50 volts, basically no current will flow.

Eventually as voltage is increased, positive ions are attracted to the cathode which has a negative charge.

As voltage increases, electrons are liberated in the generation of positive ions which are attracted to the positive anode.

At a certain voltage (the Breakdown Voltage) enough ion velocity is attained were electrons dislodge increased proportions of ions and as the gas breaks down it conducts electricity (and a corona forms around the cathode) while a current "run-away" or "avalanche" occurs.

This avalanche is self destructive if uncontrolled, so an in-series current-limiting resistor must be used, which are built in to most screw based glow lamps rated for use at specific line voltage, otherwise you'll have to supply the necessary resistor.

Most glow lamps can be used from Breakdown Voltage to 600 volts when you properly select current limiting resistor.

When a Glow Lamp is operated in a completely dark environment, a phenomenon called dark-effect occurs which greatly changes (raises) the break-down voltage.

Gas lamps perform poorly on altitudes over 70,000 feet as low atmospheric pressure encourages outside corona and arcing.

Similar Terms: GLOW LAMP, ARGON LAMP, GAS DIODE, GAS TUBE, GLOW TUBE, NEON LAMP, NEON

Related Terms: BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE, CORONA, DARK-EFFECT, MAINTAINING VOLTAGE.

Uniform light throughout an area, with no special provisions for task lighting or accent lighting.

Similar Terms: GENERAL LIGHTING

Related Terms: AMBIENT LIGHTING, LUMEN, SPOTLIGHT.

Getter is a chemical (usually red phosphorus) which is introduced into a bulb and designed to chemically react with stray oxygen rending stray oxygen harmless.

Using mechanical devices such as vacuum pumps is never 100% successful in removing all oxygen, so getter is introduced to finish the job chemically.

Getter can not remove large amounts of oxygen, so most oxygen does have to be mechanically removed before bulb is sealed.

The filament is usually coated with phosphorus, then after bulb is sealed the filament is electrically energized to high incandescence at which time a blue glow appears in the bulb for a second or two. After which the blue glow disappears and the "clean-up" is associated with a pressure drop (vacuum), and the bulb then is ready for use.

Similar Terms: GETTER

Related Terms: INCANDESCENT BULB.

An interference with visual perception caused by an uncomfortably bright light source or reflection within one's field of view.

Similar Terms: GLARE

Related Terms: LOUVER.

Glass is the portion of the light bulb where light energy escapes.

Glass on common household bulbs is typically colored a soft-white coating.

Otherwise, incandescent bulb glass is usually clear unless noted elsewhere.

Glass for most Incandescent bulbs is common soft glass, but halogen bulbs have their glass near the filament so glass becomes much hotter and to prevent soft glass from melting; special high temperature quartz (fused silica) glass is used.

On quartz glass bulbs you must wipe all fingerprints and contaminants from glass before using or glass upon heating and over time will chemically react (divitrification) becoming foggy and brittle (bulb could explode).

Letters which precede number are industry codes for glass shape.

Number that follow indicate glass size diameter in eighth inches unless millimeters are specifically indicated.

For example; if the proceeding number is 12, then 12/8th inches would indicate glass portion to be 1.5 inches in diameter.

Number 3.25 would indicate glass is 3.25/8 th or 13/32 th (0.41) inch diameter.

Of course if the number was 40mm, then the glass diameter would be 40 millimeters.

Glass is also an insulator.

Similar Terms: GLASS

Related Terms: /C, /CL, /UVS, BULB DARKENING, DICHROIC MIRROR, DIVITRIFICATION, END BLACKENING, ETCH, FILAMENT, FLUORESCENT LAMP, GLOW LAMP, HALOGEN BULB, INCANDESCENT BULB, INSULATOR, LENS, LIGHT BULBS, NEODYMIUM, PAR LAMP, PHOSPHOR, QUARTZ GLASS, REFLECTOR LAMP, SHROUD.

Glow Lamp is a glass envelope filled with gas which contains two or more electrodes.

Glow lamps are cold-cathode devices which require no heater or filament.

Glow lamps produce a very interesting, mild, beautiful colorful glow.

Color of glow depends on the gas combination used.

Pure neon produces an orange/red glow, pure argon produces a purple glow.

The electrodes are separated by gap of about 1/8th inch inside the gas envelope.

If a variable voltage is applied across the electrodes and increased to about 50 volts, basically no current will flow.

Eventually as voltage is increased, positive ions are attracted to the cathode which has a negative charge.

As voltage increases, electrons are liberated in the generation of positive ions which are attracted to the positive anode.

At a certain voltage (the Breakdown Voltage) enough ion velocity is attained were electrons dislodge increased proportions of ions and as the gas breaks down it conducts electricity (and a corona forms around the cathode) while a current "run-away" or "avalanche" occurs.

This avalanche is self destructive if uncontrolled, so an in-series current-limiting resistor must be used, which are built in to most screw based glow lamps rated for use at specific line voltage, otherwise you'll have to supply the necessary resistor.

Most glow lamps can be used from Breakdown Voltage to 600 volts when you properly select current limiting resistor.

When a Glow Lamp is operated in a completely dark environment, a phenomenon called dark-effect occurs which greatly changes (raises) the break-down voltage.

Gas lamps perform poorly on altitudes over 70,000 feet as low atmospheric pressure encourages outside corona and arcing.

Similar Terms: GLOW LAMP, ARGON LAMP, GAS DIODE, GAS TUBE, GLOW TUBE, NEON LAMP, NEON

Related Terms: BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE, CORONA, DARK-EFFECT, MAINTAINING VOLTAGE.

GROUP REPLACEMENT refers to /GR.

Group Replacement (usually).

But sometimes means lamp has "green" light output.

Rarely, but might also refer to grow lamp.

Similar Terms: /GR, GROUP REPLACEMENT, GROW, PLANT

Related Terms: /GROW.

Grow. Designed primarily as a plant grow lamp.

Similar Terms: /GROW, GROW, PLANT

Related Terms: /GR.

Tungsten halogen cycle bulbs have tungsten filaments and are halogen gas filled, and require high temperature quartz glass.

These specially designed bulbs exhibit unique traits over standard Incandescent bulbs.

Directly summed up; glass remains clear (doesn't darken) and filament life is doubled.

What this really means, is lumen output over the life of the bulb remains high (brighter) so that the Lumens Per Watt (efficiency) remains high and the color of light remains and stays whiter.

Also, bulb lasting twice the life is an obvious benefit.

Halogen is the main family element name which include iodine, bromine, chlorine, fluorine and astatine.

These days, bromine is now the most commonly used halogen element in Tungsten halogen cycle bulbs.

The Tungsten halogen cycle is as follows...

Tungsten metal filament is heated by electricity to point of incandescence (emitting photons).

A few tungsten particles evaporate (boil off) from the filament and are carried away by convection current where they combine with bromide vapor forming tungsten bromide.

If the glass (quartz) wall is above 250 degrees centigrade, then tungsten bromide particles will not adhere to glass.

They continue to circulate in the hot gas envelope by convection current and when they come back close to the hot filament the particles reduce back to tungsten metal which is randomly re-deposited back onto the filament thereby releasing the bromide vapor, and the whole process then repeats itself.

If every tungsten particles happened by chance to land back exactly where it came off, the filament could last forever.

But, they don't and eventually some parts of the filament get thinner and eventually burn out, so good news is filament life usually is double over common incandescent bulb.

For the Tungsten halogen cycle to work, the bulb has to be on long enough to heat up completely and keep the glass at over 250 degree centigrade. To make this happen, manufactures design their bulbs positioning high temperature quartz glass as close to the filament as possible (but far enough away so that the glass doesn't melt) and designing the entire gas envelope so that the coolest area's are at least 250 degrees centigrade. Any area inside the glass envelope which is lower than 250 degrees will attract tungsten bromide particles and the tungsten molecule will revert and cling tightly to the cool areas on the glass and cool internal supports thereby causing the Tungsten halogen cycle to fail.

Obviously short cycling the bulb or using a dimmer switch on the bulb (running the bulb at lower than design voltage) will keep the bulb from fully heating up causing the cycle to fail; where then bulb will then give only the same service as a common inexpensive incandescent bulb. Even drafts or too much forced cooling can prevent the cycle.

An interesting fact is that if the bulb's glass at a later time gets heated to the point of re-vaporizing the tungsten soot build-up, then the tungsten vapor will re-combine with the bromine molecules and the tungsten bromine particle will be carried off again by the convection current to be re-deposited back on the tungsten filament, thereby eventually completing the cycle.

Tungsten halogen cycle bulbs make no sense for use as automobile brake light or turn signals as they would never be on long enough to heat up to cycle temperatures.

Not all halogen bulbs are designed to take advantage of the Tungsten halogen cycle. Some deceitful manufactures advertise halogen bulbs by putting halogen gas in otherwise standard Incandescent bulbs, which serves no benefit other than confusing you into buying a common incandescent bulb at premium price.

Similar Terms: HALOGEN BULB, HALOGEN BULBS, HALOGEN, QUARTZ HALOGEN, TUNGSTEN HALOGEN CYCLE, TUNGSTEN HALOGEN

Related Terms: GLASS, INCANDESCENT BULB, LUMEN, PAR LAMP.

Luminaire for track-lighting system.

Similar Terms: HEAD.

HEAVY DUTY refers to /HD.

Heavy Duty. Bulb is designed to be Heavy Duty.

Typically vibration resistant.

Especially desirable for mining operations.

Similar Terms: /HD, HEAVY DUTY, RS, ROUGH SERVICE, VIBRATION RESISTANT

Related Terms: DOUBLE-ENDED LAMP.

HEAVY FROSTED refers to /HF.

Heavy Frosted glass..

Also see /FR and /CL and /LF

Similar Terms: /HF, HEAVY FROSTED.

A unit of frequency equal to one cycle per second.

A Kilohertz (kHz) is 1000 cycles per second.

Similar Terms: HERTZ, HZ, KHZ, KILOHERTZ

Related Terms: ELECTRONIC BALLAST.

Metal Halide, High Pressure Sodium, Low Pressure Sodium and Mercury Vapor lamp types.

Similar Terms: HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE, HID

Related Terms: /M, BALLAST, ELECTRIC DISCHARGE LAMP, ELECTRONIC BALLAST, HIGH PRESSURE SODIUM, LOW PRESSURE SODIUM, MERCURY VAPOR LAMP, PAR LAMP, REFLECTOR LAMP.

HIGH OUTPUT refers to /HO.

High Output.

High brightness, lumen output.

Trade off is High Output bulbs usually have a very short bulb life.

Similar Terms: /HO, BASE HORIZONTAL, HIGH-OUTPUT, HIGH OUTPUT

Related Terms: /HOR, /OT.

Fluorescent lamps designed to be used with an 800 milliampere ballast.

Able to operate at low temperatures (down to 0 degree Fahrenheit) and still produce high light levels.

Similar Terms: HIGH OUTPUT FLUORESCENT, HO.

high intensity discharge light sources which produce light by an electrical discharge through sodium vapor operating at relatively high pressures and temperatures.

Similar Terms: HIGH PRESSURE SODIUM, HPS, SON

Related Terms: /LU, HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE.

Voltages that are considered 208 or higher.

Similar Terms: HIGH VOLTAGE.

HOLDING VOLTAGE refers to MAINTAINING VOLTAGE.

The voltage required to keep a Glow Lamp lit after it has been lit.

Less voltage is needed to keep (maintain) a Glow Lamp lit, than voltage (Breakdown Voltage) to start the glow.

Similar Terms: MAINTAINING VOLTAGE, HOLDING VOLTAGE.

Owing to the shape of filaments the greatest part of light from most filament lamps is given sideways (perpendicular to the filament).

The light will have different intensities (candlepower) in different horizontal directions.

The average of intensities from all horizontal directions is called the MEAN HORIZONTAL CANDLEPOWER of the bulb.

When referring to the candlepower of an incandescent lamp, the MEAN HORIZONTAL CANDLEPOWER is meant, unless otherwise specified.

Similar Terms: HORIZONTAL DISTRIBUTION, MHC, MEAN HORIZONTAL CANDLEPOWER.

Published data for bulb design life is bulb average life based on testing a large group of one bulb type at one time; and is the amount of time (hours) passed when 50 percent (half) of the group are no longer lit.

Some bulbs in the test group may have gone out quickly while others may have continued to be lit beyond double this figure.

As this measurement is taken under perfect laboratory conditions; real world conditions are expected to be much less, and are likely to be only 50 to 90 percent of rating.

If bulb is subject to voltage higher than rated or vibration or other adverse conditions, then Bulb Life expectancy will even be less.

To increase the life of your bulb; operate bulb at the EXACT voltage that bulb is designed, and protect bulb from vibration, and try to decrease the amount of on/off cycles, and provide good cooling and heat ventilation.

Filament bulbs; Bulb Life is inversely proportional to the 12th power of applied voltage so operating bulb at LESS voltage than design voltage means longer Bulb Life. On those hard to reach/replace bulbs; you can get more life out of your bulbs by using higher voltage rated bulbs, for example if your line voltage is 120 volts then buy 125 or 130 volt rated bulbs, but more energy is wasted as infrared heat (not light), so Lumens Per Watt will go down.

For best efficiency and reasonable amount of hours operate bulb near its rated voltage.

Similar Terms: HOURS, BULB LIFE, DESIGN HOUR, DESIGN HOURS, HOUR, LIFE HOUR, LIFE HOURS

Related Terms: VOLT.

This special name encoding reference means: Industrial / Commercial lamp.

Similar Terms: /IC.

Light arriving at a surface, expressed in lumens per unit area.

Similar Terms: ILLUMINANCE

Related Terms: EXITANCE, LUX, PHOTOPIC VISION.

The result of the use of light.

Similar Terms: ILLUMINATION

Related Terms: COSINE LAW, DICHROIC MIRROR, DIRECTIONAL LIGHTING, DISCHARGE LAMP, LAW OF INVERSE SQUARES, TASK LIGHTING.

Incandescence is when a black body (like a filament) is heated to point of emitting visible photons.

Also see incandescent bulb.

Similar Terms: INCANDESCENT, INCANDESCENCE, INCANDESCENT BULBS

Related Terms: BULB DARKENING, COLOR RENDERING INDEX, COLOR TEMPERATURE, COMPACT FLUORESCENT LAMP, ELLIPTICAL REFLECTOR, ENERGY POLICY ACT, GETTER, GLASS, HALOGEN BULB, HORIZONTAL DISTRIBUTION, INCANDESCENT BULB, INDUCTION LIGHTING, KRYPTON, NEODYMIUM, PAR LAMP, REFLECTOR LAMP, VOLT.

An incandescent bulb is any electric light bulb that directly emits light (photons) by means of heating a filament to the point of incandescence. Confusingly, it is now generally accepted in the lighting industry that Incandescent bulbs are specifically vacuum Filament bulbs or inert gas Filament bulbs EXCEPT for halogen gas bulbs and xenon gas bulbs.

Typical parts of an incandescent bulb are; glass, filament, base, exhaust tube, stem press, lead-in wires, fuse, heat-deflecting disc, button, support wires.

All oxygen gas must be removed from the bulb or it will quickly burn out. Either air is removed by vacuum then bulb is sealed where bulb is under vacuum it's entire life, or all oxygen is replaced by an inert gas (argon/nitrogen mixture is commonly used). To remove the rest of the oxygen a "getter" is used. Inert gas is used on nearly all bulbs 40 watts and over.

When a filament is heated, a small amount of tungsten metal particles boils off which condense as black soot on glass areas and internal supports which are cooler.

Over time the light output of the bulb is reduced because of the dark sooty build-up of tungsten particles on the glass partially blocking light from escaping the glass envelope. An interesting fact is that light output actually increases a little during the first part of bulbs life (before the soot build-up).

In vacuum bulbs, there isn't any convection current so bulb sooting is more evenly dispersed.

In inert gas filled bulbs, a convention current takes place and the majority of soot condenses directly above the heated filament.

On bulbs that are designed for use in any burn position, when operated "base-up" position, convection current will deposit a majority of the soot in the neck, leaving the main bulb chamber much clearer.

Some gas filled bulb include metal screens or grids placed directly above the filament designed for capturing soot so the glass stays clearer.

Some specialty bulbs purposely include the addition of tungsten granules allowing the user the ability to physically shake the bulb clean by mechanically cleaning (sanding) away most of the soot (powdered soot and tungsten granules lay at the bottom harmlessly.

As tungsten metal boils off, the filament gets thinner and an effect called "notching" occurs.

The filament doesn't randomly get thinner. Tungsten vapor boils off more rapidly from the hottest sections of the filament thereby causing those areas to get thinner quicker, which then causes those sections to raise in temperature. In other words, the thinnest parts of a filament are the sections that keep getting thinner the quickest.

As the filament gets thinner, it eventually burns out.

Also, it should be obvious that the thinner a filament gets, the more fragile and susceptible to physical (and electrical) shock which may cause the ruin of the bulb prematurely.

Tungsten Filament bulbs can be specially designed to take advantage of some special physical and chemical reactions with halogen (Tungsten halogen cycle, or Halogen Bulb) or xenon gas (xenon bulb) to improve performance in certain applications.

Similar Terms: INCANDESCENT BULB, INCANDESCENT BULBS

Related Terms: CANDLEPOWER, COLOR RENDERING INDEX, GLASS, HALOGEN BULB, INCANDESCENT, LUMEN, LUMENS PER WATT, VOLT.

Luminaires that distribute 90 to 100 percent of their light upward to be reflected by the ceiling.

Similar Terms: INDIRECT LIGHTING.

A means of lighting, which uses Radio-Frequency (RF) induction of radio waves or microwaves to produce luminescence.

Induction lamps have no electrodes inside the chamber and generally, therefore, have longer life than standard incandescent lamps.

Similar Terms: INDUCTION LIGHTING.

INFRA RED refers to /IR.

High Infrared output.

Primary function of bulb is to produce heat output.

Usually also outputs visible warm/yellow white color light.

Similar Terms: /IR, IR, INFRA-RED, INFRA RED

Related Terms: ENCODINGS PHILIPS OLD BULBS.

Radiant energy in the wavelength range of about 770 to 1100 nanometers (nm).

Energy in this range is not visible to the naked eye, but can be sensed by eh skin.

Applications include heat lamps, photography, medical therapy, and industry.

Similar Terms: INFRARED, IR

Related Terms: COLOR RENDERING INDEX, DICHROIC MIRROR, HOURS.

light output of a bulb is usually expressed either in units of lumens, or, candlepower (CP).

light output of miniature bulbs is often expressed in candlepower, but, larger bulbs are usually expressed in lumens.

One lumen is equal to the amount of light emitted by one candle that falls on one square foot of surface located one foot away from one candle.

A uniform source of one candlepower placed in a sphere emits 12.57 lumens or mean spherical candela (MSCP) equals 12.57 lumens; meaning that 1 candle has a total output of light (light output in all directions) equalling 12.57 lumens.

A 100 watt common incandescent bulb emits around 1700 lumens.

Lumen rating of a light bulb is a measurement of ALL the light output from that light bulb from all directions.

light output diminishes over the life of the bulb.

Initial Lumens is the lumens rating for a brand new light bulb.

Design Lumens is the rated lumens measured at 40 percent of the bulbs rated life.

For general lighting, bulbs usually need to be replaced when their lumens output drop to around 50% of the Initial Lumens.

halogen bulbs are designed to hold their lumens output very well over their life.

Similar Terms: LUMEN, DESIGN LUMENS, EFFICACY, INITIAL LUMENS, LPW, LIGHT ENERGY, LIGHT OUTPUT, LIGHT, LUMENS OUTPUT PER WATT, LUMENS, POWER FACTOR

Related Terms: /BL, /GR, ARC TUBE, BALLAST, BALLAST FACTOR, BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE, CANDLEPOWER, COEFFICIENT OF UTILIZATION, COLOR RENDERING INDEX, COLOR SPECTRUM, COLOR TEMPERATURE, CONVERSION TABLE, COSINE LAW, COVE LIGHTING, DARK-EFFECT, DESIGN END FOOT CANDLES, DICHROIC MIRROR, DIFFUSION, DISCHARGE LAMP, DOWN LIGHTING, ELECTRIC DISCHARGE LAMP, ELECTRONIC BALLAST, ELLIPTICAL REFLECTOR, EXITANCE, FIELD ANGLE, FILAMENT, FLUORESCENT LAMP, FLUX, FOOTCANDLE, GENERAL LIGHTING, GLASS, HALOGEN BULB, HIGH OUTPUT FLUORESCENT, HIGH PRESSURE SODIUM, HORIZONTAL DISTRIBUTION, HOURS, ILLUMINANCE, ILLUMINATION, INCANDESCENT BULB, INDIRECT LIGHTING, INITIAL MAXIMUM BEAM CANDLEPOWER, INTENSITY, LAW OF INVERSE SQUARES, LENS, LIGHT BULBS, LIGHT CENTER LENGTH, LOUVER, LOW PRESSURE SODIUM, LUMENS PER WATT, LUMEN DEPRECIATION, LUMEN MAINTENANCE, LUMINANCE, LUX, MEAN SPHERICAL CANDLEPOWER, MERCURY VAPOR LAMP, METAL HALIDE LAMP, NEODYMIUM, PAR LAMP, PHOSPHOR, PHOTOMETER, PHOTOMETRY, PHOTON, PREHEAT, RAPID START, REFRACTION, REFRACTOR, SCOTOPIC VISION, ULTRAVIOLET, VISIBLE SPECTRUM, VOLT, WAVELENGTH.

The maximum light intensity at a point in the beam.

Similar Terms: INITIAL MAXIMUM BEAM CANDLEPOWER, IMBC.

A type of fluorescent lamp-ballast circuit designed to start fluorescent lamps as soon as the power is applied.

Originally, instant-start circuits were developed to eliminate separate mechanical starter devices.

Slimline fluorescent lamps operate only on Instant Start circuits.

Similar Terms: INSTANT START.

Insulators are anything in which electricity won't easily pass.

Good insulators are glass, ceramic, rubber.

Even air is a fairly good insulator.

Opposite of an insulator is a conductor.

Similar Terms: INSULATOR, INSULATORS

Related Terms: CONDUCTORS, ELECTROMOTIVE POTENTIAL, GLASS.

The light emitted from a source.

Intensity varies given the direction at which one views the source.

Intensity does not vary with distance.

Similar Terms: INTENSITY

Related Terms: BEAM ANGLE, CANDLEPOWER, CENTER BEAM CANDLEPOWER, COLOR RENDERING INDEX, COLOR TEMPERATURE, FIELD ANGLE, INITIAL MAXIMUM BEAM CANDLEPOWER, LOUVER, LUMINANCE, METAL HALIDE LAMP.

INTERNALLY FROSTED refers to /IF.

Internally Frosted glass.

Frosting coated is applied to the inside of the glass.

Also see /FR and /CL

Similar Terms: /IF, INTERNALLY FROSTED

Related Terms: /FR.

An atom with an excess or deficiency of electrons.

Similar Terms: ION

Related Terms: DARK-EFFECT, GLOW LAMP.

IONIZATION VOLTAGE refers to BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE.

The voltage needed to initially start a Glow Lamp glowing.

Mainly determined by type of gas, electrode spacing, pressure, and external ionizing forces such as light or radiation.

Similar Terms: BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE, BREAKDOWN, FIRING POTENTIAL, IONIZATION VOLTAGE, STRIKING VOLTAGE

Related Terms: DARK-EFFECT, GLOW LAMP, MAINTAINING VOLTAGE.

In glow lamps, the process of separating an electron from an atom, creating a positive charge and a free electron.

Similar Terms: IONIZATION.

KELVIN refers to COLOR TEMPERATURE.

Kelvin Color Temperature is typically the industry standard rating for the color of the light produced by the light bulb.

Color Temperature is the actual predominate color of the light.

All light has a color.

There is no such thing as pure white light, only variations.

We consider the typical noon daylight as being 6500K and is the main reference point for all white light color variations, but, as the sky is blue, natural daylight has a bluish hue.

1200K is typical for a candle.

2700K is typical for an incandescent light bulb which is much more yellow light than daylight.

3000K is typical for studio lighting.

The higher the kelvin temperature, the bluer the light.

There are two main units in describing the color portion of light, one being kelvin Color Temperature, the other being the Color Rendering Index (CRI), and, a third unit, light output intensity (lumens, or, CP) is also an important factor in describing light.

Similar Terms: COLOR TEMPERATURE, CCT, COLOR TEMP, CORRELATED COLOR TEMPERATURE, KELVIN

Related Terms: /10K, /3K, /4K, COLOR RENDERING INDEX, CONVERSION TABLE, FULL SPECTRUM, VOLT.

A unit of frequency equal to one cycle per second.

A Kilohertz (kHz) is 1000 cycles per second.

Similar Terms: HERTZ, HZ, KHZ, KILOHERTZ

Related Terms: ELECTRONIC BALLAST.

Wattage is a unit of Electrical Work (power).

It's the amount of Electrical Energy removed from the circuit and consumed by the bulb.

Wattage is the rating unit used to measure total power consumption of bulb at a given voltage and amperage.

As wattage is directly related to voltage and amperage; a somewhat analogous description would be if a pipe containing water was connected to a water wheel, then the speed (pressure) of the water moving in the pipe would be the voltage, the volume (mass) of water moving through the pipe would be the amperage, and the total energy contained in the flow which turns the water wheel would be the wattage.

Published bulbs wattage rating is measured at the bulb's rated voltage.

Published specs for wattage typically have a tolerance of plus or minus 10%.

To calculate the wattage; if you know the voltage and amperage of the circuit, then wattage equals voltage times amperage (watt = volt x amp).

One Kilowatt is 1000 watts.

Similar Terms: WATT, KILOWATT, WATTAGE, WATTS

Related Terms: AMP, CANDLEPOWER, CHARACTERISTIC CURVES, COLOR RENDERING INDEX, CONVERSION TABLE, FILAMENT, INCANDESCENT BULB, LUMEN, LUMENS PER WATT, VOLT, VOLT AMP WATT ANIMATIONS.

A heavy inert gas used in incandescent lamps which allows the filament to glow hotter and brighter and last longer.

Similar Terms: KRYPTON

Related Terms: DARK-EFFECT.

LAMP HOLDER refers to BULB SOCKET.

Bulb Socket is the mechanical device that physically holds the light bulb in position, and, provides the electrical connection to the light bulb.

Usually the socket is designed to make a temporary hold on the light bulb to allow for future light bulb replacement.

Make certain the socket contacts and light bulb contacts are clean so they provide solid electrical connection.

Replace socket or bulb if poor connection is made.

Similar Terms: BULB SOCKET, LAMP HOLDER, SOCKET

Related Terms: BULB BASE, ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT.

LAMP refers to LIGHT BULBS.

Light Bulbs are the work portion of the circuit and are often the purpose for the Electrical Circuit.

light bulb is a special sealed glass vessel which converts Electric Energy into light output.

Lamp is the lighting industry term for light bulb, and are synonymous.

Similar Terms: LIGHT BULBS, BULB, BULBS, ELECTRICAL WORK, LAMP, LAMPS, LIGHT BULB, LIGHT SOURCE, LIGHT TUBE, LIGHT TUBES, TUBE, TUBES, WORK

Related Terms: /BL, /DE, /DX, /ES, /GR, /IC, /LU, /M, /MH, /MHC, /MV, /MVSB, /PS, /SE, /U, AMP, ANSI, ARC TUBE, BALLAST FACTOR, BULB BASE, BULB DARKENING, BULB SOCKET, BURN ANGLE, CANDLEPOWER, CATEGORY, CHARACTERISTIC CURVES, COEFFICIENT OF UTILIZATION, COLOR CORRECTED, COLOR RENDERING INDEX, COLOR TEMPERATURE, COMPACT FLUORESCENT LAMP, CONVERSION TABLE, COSINE LAW, DARK-EFFECT, DESIGN END FOOT CANDLES, DICHROIC MIRROR, DOUBLE-ENDED LAMP, ECE, ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, ELECTRIC DISCHARGE LAMP, ELECTROMAGNETIC BALLAST, ELECTROMOTIVE POTENTIAL, ELECTRONIC BALLAST, ELLIPTICAL REFLECTOR, END BLACKENING, ENERGY POLICY ACT, ETCH, FIELD ANGLE, FILAMENT, FIXTURE, FLOODLIGHT, FLUORESCENT LAMP, FOOTCANDLE, FULL SPECTRUM, GETTER, GLARE, GLASS, GLOW LAMP, HALOGEN BULB, HIGH OUTPUT FLUORESCENT, HORIZONTAL DISTRIBUTION, HOURS, INCANDESCENT BULB, INDUCTION LIGHTING, INFRARED, INSTANT START, IONIZATION, KRYPTON, LAW OF INVERSE SQUARES, LIF, LIGHT LOSS FACTOR, LOW PRESSURE SODIUM, LUMEN, LUMENS PER WATT, LUMEN DEPRECIATION, LUMEN MAINTENANCE, LUMINAIRE, MAXIMUM OVERALL LENGTH, MEAN LUMENS, MEAN SPHERICAL CANDLEPOWER, MERCURY VAPOR LAMP, METAL HALIDE LAMP, NEODYMIUM, NOMINAL LENGTH, NOTES, OPERATING POSITION, PAR LAMP, PHOSPHOR, PHOTOMETER, PREHEAT, PROGRAMMED START, PULSE START, QUARTZ GLASS, RAPID START, REFLECTOR LAMP, SHROUD, SPECIAL ORDER, SPECTRAL POWER DISTRIBUTION, SPOTLIGHT, STARTER, TOXICITY CHARACTERISTIC LEACHING PROCEDURE, TRIGGER START, VERY HIGH OUTPUT, VOLT, VOLTAGE RATING, WATT.

Suppose a candle is placed at #A with a screen at #B at a distance of two feet.

The screen shown is bent to represent part of a spherical surface with a candle at center.

Light passing through an open area #abcd will fall on area #a'b'c'd' on a screen in position #C four feet from the candle.

Since similar dimensions of the two areas are proportional to distances of the screens from the candle, area #a'b'c'd' is four times the area #abcd; hence since the number of rays of light to both surfaces is the same, the illumination on #a'b'c'd' is only one fourth that on #abcd.

Doubling the distance from screen from the candle reduced the illumination to one-fourth its former value.

From these and similar reasoning may be deduced the law of inverse squares: The illumination, or flux of light per unit area, produced on an object by a source of light so small as to be essentially a point varies inversely as the square of distance of the object from the source.

Similar Terms: LAW OF INVERSE SQUARES, LIS, LOIS

Related Terms: FOOTCANDLE.

A glass or plastic element used in luminaires to change the direction and control the distribution of light rays.

Similar Terms: LENS

Related Terms: DIFFUSION, LUMINAIRE, PAR LAMP, REFRACTOR.

Published data for bulb design life is bulb average life based on testing a large group of one bulb type at one time; and is the amount of time (hours) passed when 50 percent (half) of the group are no longer lit.

Some bulbs in the test group may have gone out quickly while others may have continued to be lit beyond double this figure.

As this measurement is taken under perfect laboratory conditions; real world conditions are expected to be much less, and are likely to be only 50 to 90 percent of rating.

If bulb is subject to voltage higher than rated or vibration or other adverse conditions, then Bulb Life expectancy will even be less.

To increase the life of your bulb; operate bulb at the EXACT voltage that bulb is designed, and protect bulb from vibration, and try to decrease the amount of on/off cycles, and provide good cooling and heat ventilation.

Filament bulbs; Bulb Life is inversely proportional to the 12th power of applied voltage so operating bulb at LESS voltage than design voltage means longer Bulb Life. On those hard to reach/replace bulbs; you can get more life out of your bulbs by using higher voltage rated bulbs, for example if your line voltage is 120 volts then buy 125 or 130 volt rated bulbs, but more energy is wasted as infrared heat (not light), so Lumens Per Watt will go down.

For best efficiency and reasonable amount of hours operate bulb near its rated voltage.

Similar Terms: HOURS, BULB LIFE, DESIGN HOUR, DESIGN HOURS, HOUR, LIFE HOUR, LIFE HOURS

Related Terms: VOLT.

Light Bulbs are the work portion of the circuit and are often the purpose for the Electrical Circuit.

light bulb is a special sealed glass vessel which converts Electric Energy into light output.

Lamp is the lighting industry term for light bulb, and are synonymous.

Similar Terms: LIGHT BULBS, BULB, BULBS, ELECTRICAL WORK, LAMP, LAMPS, LIGHT BULB, LIGHT SOURCE, LIGHT TUBE, LIGHT TUBES, TUBE, TUBES, WORK

Related Terms: /BL, /DE, /DX, /ES, /GR, /IC, /LU, /M, /MH, /MHC, /MV, /MVSB, /PS, /SE, /U, AMP, ANSI, ARC TUBE, BALLAST FACTOR, BULB BASE, BULB DARKENING, BULB SOCKET, BURN ANGLE, CANDLEPOWER, CATEGORY, CHARACTERISTIC CURVES, COEFFICIENT OF UTILIZATION, COLOR CORRECTED, COLOR RENDERING INDEX, COLOR TEMPERATURE, COMPACT FLUORESCENT LAMP, CONVERSION TABLE, COSINE LAW, DARK-EFFECT, DESIGN END FOOT CANDLES, DICHROIC MIRROR, DOUBLE-ENDED LAMP, ECE, ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, ELECTRIC DISCHARGE LAMP, ELECTROMAGNETIC BALLAST, ELECTROMOTIVE POTENTIAL, ELECTRONIC BALLAST, ELLIPTICAL REFLECTOR, END BLACKENING, ENERGY POLICY ACT, ETCH, FIELD ANGLE, FILAMENT, FIXTURE, FLOODLIGHT, FLUORESCENT LAMP, FOOTCANDLE, FULL SPECTRUM, GETTER, GLARE, GLASS, GLOW LAMP, HALOGEN BULB, HIGH OUTPUT FLUORESCENT, HORIZONTAL DISTRIBUTION, HOURS, INCANDESCENT BULB, INDUCTION LIGHTING, INFRARED, INSTANT START, IONIZATION, KRYPTON, LAW OF INVERSE SQUARES, LIF, LIGHT LOSS FACTOR, LOW PRESSURE SODIUM, LUMEN, LUMENS PER WATT, LUMEN DEPRECIATION, LUMEN MAINTENANCE, LUMINAIRE, MAXIMUM OVERALL LENGTH, MEAN LUMENS, MEAN SPHERICAL CANDLEPOWER, MERCURY VAPOR LAMP, METAL HALIDE LAMP, NEODYMIUM, NOMINAL LENGTH, NOTES, OPERATING POSITION, PAR LAMP, PHOSPHOR, PHOTOMETER, PREHEAT, PROGRAMMED START, PULSE START, QUARTZ GLASS, RAPID START, REFLECTOR LAMP, SHROUD, SPECIAL ORDER, SPECTRAL POWER DISTRIBUTION, SPOTLIGHT, STARTER, TOXICITY CHARACTERISTIC LEACHING PROCEDURE, TRIGGER START, VERY HIGH OUTPUT, VOLT, VOLTAGE RATING, WATT.

LCL is Light Center Length.

LCL is the measurement from the base plane to the middle of the filament (or light field if not a Filament bulb).

Base plane depends on base type.

Refer to Bulb Base photos on my website for LCL measure from points.

Similar Terms: LIGHT CENTER LENGTH, LCL.

LIGHT ENERGY refers to LUMEN.

light output of a bulb is usually expressed either in units of lumens, or, candlepower (CP).

light output of miniature bulbs is often expressed in candlepower, but, larger bulbs are usually expressed in lumens.

One lumen is equal to the amount of light emitted by one candle that falls on one square foot of surface located one foot away from one candle.

A uniform source of one candlepower placed in a sphere emits 12.57 lumens or mean spherical candela (MSCP) equals 12.57 lumens; meaning that 1 candle has a total output of light (light output in all directions) equalling 12.57 lumens.

A 100 watt common incandescent bulb emits around 1700 lumens.

Lumen rating of a light bulb is a measurement of ALL the light output from that light bulb from all directions.

light output diminishes over the life of the bulb.

Initial Lumens is the lumens rating for a brand new light bulb.

Design Lumens is the rated lumens measured at 40 percent of the bulbs rated life.

For general lighting, bulbs usually need to be replaced when their lumens output drop to around 50% of the Initial Lumens.

halogen bulbs are designed to hold their lumens output very well over their life.

Similar Terms: LUMEN, DESIGN LUMENS, EFFICACY, INITIAL LUMENS, LPW, LIGHT ENERGY, LIGHT OUTPUT, LIGHT, LUMENS OUTPUT PER WATT, LUMENS, POWER FACTOR

Related Terms: /BL, /GR, ARC TUBE, BALLAST, BALLAST FACTOR, BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE, CANDLEPOWER, COEFFICIENT OF UTILIZATION, COLOR RENDERING INDEX, COLOR SPECTRUM, COLOR TEMPERATURE, CONVERSION TABLE, COSINE LAW, COVE LIGHTING, DARK-EFFECT, DESIGN END FOOT CANDLES, DICHROIC MIRROR, DIFFUSION, DISCHARGE LAMP, DOWN LIGHTING, ELECTRIC DISCHARGE LAMP, ELECTRONIC BALLAST, ELLIPTICAL REFLECTOR, EXITANCE, FIELD ANGLE, FILAMENT, FLUORESCENT LAMP, FLUX, FOOTCANDLE, GENERAL LIGHTING, GLASS, HALOGEN BULB, HIGH OUTPUT FLUORESCENT, HIGH PRESSURE SODIUM, HORIZONTAL DISTRIBUTION, HOURS, ILLUMINANCE, ILLUMINATION, INCANDESCENT BULB, INDIRECT LIGHTING, INITIAL MAXIMUM BEAM CANDLEPOWER, INTENSITY, LAW OF INVERSE SQUARES, LENS, LIGHT BULBS, LIGHT CENTER LENGTH, LOUVER, LOW PRESSURE SODIUM, LUMENS PER WATT, LUMEN DEPRECIATION, LUMEN MAINTENANCE, LUMINANCE, LUX, MEAN SPHERICAL CANDLEPOWER, MERCURY VAPOR LAMP, METAL HALIDE LAMP, NEODYMIUM, PAR LAMP, PHOSPHOR, PHOTOMETER, PHOTOMETRY, PHOTON, PREHEAT, RAPID START, REFRACTION, REFRACTOR, SCOTOPIC VISION, ULTRAVIOLET, VISIBLE SPECTRUM, VOLT, WAVELENGTH.

Used to calculate or project rather performance of a lighting system after a given period of time under certain conditions; includes environmental conditions, such as temperature, voltage, dust and or dirt and lamp depreciation.

Similar Terms: LIGHT LOSS FACTOR.

LIGHT OUTPUT refers to LUMEN.

light output of a bulb is usually expressed either in units of lumens, or, candlepower (CP).

light output of miniature bulbs is often expressed in candlepower, but, larger bulbs are usually expressed in lumens.

One lumen is equal to the amount of light emitted by one candle that falls on one square foot of surface located one foot away from one candle.

A uniform source of one candlepower placed in a sphere emits 12.57 lumens or mean spherical candela (MSCP) equals 12.57 lumens; meaning that 1 candle has a total output of light (light output in all directions) equalling 12.57 lumens.

A 100 watt common incandescent bulb emits around 1700 lumens.

Lumen rating of a light bulb is a measurement of ALL the light output from that light bulb from all directions.

light output diminishes over the life of the bulb.

Initial Lumens is the lumens rating for a brand new light bulb.

Design Lumens is the rated lumens measured at 40 percent of the bulbs rated life.

For general lighting, bulbs usually need to be replaced when their lumens output drop to around 50% of the Initial Lumens.

halogen bulbs are designed to hold their lumens output very well over their life.

Similar Terms: LUMEN, DESIGN LUMENS, EFFICACY, INITIAL LUMENS, LPW, LIGHT ENERGY, LIGHT OUTPUT, LIGHT, LUMENS OUTPUT PER WATT, LUMENS, POWER FACTOR

Related Terms: /BL, /GR, ARC TUBE, BALLAST, BALLAST FACTOR, BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE, CANDLEPOWER, COEFFICIENT OF UTILIZATION, COLOR RENDERING INDEX, COLOR SPECTRUM, COLOR TEMPERATURE, CONVERSION TABLE, COSINE LAW, COVE LIGHTING, DARK-EFFECT, DESIGN END FOOT CANDLES, DICHROIC MIRROR, DIFFUSION, DISCHARGE LAMP, DOWN LIGHTING, ELECTRIC DISCHARGE LAMP, ELECTRONIC BALLAST, ELLIPTICAL REFLECTOR, EXITANCE, FIELD ANGLE, FILAMENT, FLUORESCENT LAMP, FLUX, FOOTCANDLE, GENERAL LIGHTING, GLASS, HALOGEN BULB, HIGH OUTPUT FLUORESCENT, HIGH PRESSURE SODIUM, HORIZONTAL DISTRIBUTION, HOURS, ILLUMINANCE, ILLUMINATION, INCANDESCENT BULB, INDIRECT LIGHTING, INITIAL MAXIMUM BEAM CANDLEPOWER, INTENSITY, LAW OF INVERSE SQUARES, LENS, LIGHT BULBS, LIGHT CENTER LENGTH, LOUVER, LOW PRESSURE SODIUM, LUMENS PER WATT, LUMEN DEPRECIATION, LUMEN MAINTENANCE, LUMINANCE, LUX, MEAN SPHERICAL CANDLEPOWER, MERCURY VAPOR LAMP, METAL HALIDE LAMP, NEODYMIUM, PAR LAMP, PHOSPHOR, PHOTOMETER, PHOTOMETRY, PHOTON, PREHEAT, RAPID START, REFRACTION, REFRACTOR, SCOTOPIC VISION, ULTRAVIOLET, VISIBLE SPECTRUM, VOLT, WAVELENGTH.

LIGHT SOURCE refers to LIGHT BULBS.

Light Bulbs are the work portion of the circuit and are often the purpose for the Electrical Circuit.

light bulb is a special sealed glass vessel which converts Electric Energy into light output.

Lamp is the lighting industry term for light bulb, and are synonymous.

Similar Terms: LIGHT BULBS, BULB, BULBS, ELECTRICAL WORK, LAMP, LAMPS, LIGHT BULB, LIGHT SOURCE, LIGHT TUBE, LIGHT TUBES, TUBE, TUBES, WORK

Related Terms: /BL, /DE, /DX, /ES, /GR, /IC, /LU, /M, /MH, /MHC, /MV, /MVSB, /PS, /SE, /U, AMP, ANSI, ARC TUBE, BALLAST FACTOR, BULB BASE, BULB DARKENING, BULB SOCKET, BURN ANGLE, CANDLEPOWER, CATEGORY, CHARACTERISTIC CURVES, COEFFICIENT OF UTILIZATION, COLOR CORRECTED, COLOR RENDERING INDEX, COLOR TEMPERATURE, COMPACT FLUORESCENT LAMP, CONVERSION TABLE, COSINE LAW, DARK-EFFECT, DESIGN END FOOT CANDLES, DICHROIC MIRROR, DOUBLE-ENDED LAMP, ECE, ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, ELECTRIC DISCHARGE LAMP, ELECTROMAGNETIC BALLAST, ELECTROMOTIVE POTENTIAL, ELECTRONIC BALLAST, ELLIPTICAL REFLECTOR, END BLACKENING, ENERGY POLICY ACT, ETCH, FIELD ANGLE, FILAMENT, FIXTURE, FLOODLIGHT, FLUORESCENT LAMP, FOOTCANDLE, FULL SPECTRUM, GETTER, GLARE, GLASS, GLOW LAMP, HALOGEN BULB, HIGH OUTPUT FLUORESCENT, HORIZONTAL DISTRIBUTION, HOURS, INCANDESCENT BULB, INDUCTION LIGHTING, INFRARED, INSTANT START, IONIZATION, KRYPTON, LAW OF INVERSE SQUARES, LIF, LIGHT LOSS FACTOR, LOW PRESSURE SODIUM, LUMEN, LUMENS PER WATT, LUMEN DEPRECIATION, LUMEN MAINTENANCE, LUMINAIRE, MAXIMUM OVERALL LENGTH, MEAN LUMENS, MEAN SPHERICAL CANDLEPOWER, MERCURY VAPOR LAMP, METAL HALIDE LAMP, NEODYMIUM, NOMINAL LENGTH, NOTES, OPERATING POSITION, PAR LAMP, PHOSPHOR, PHOTOMETER, PREHEAT, PROGRAMMED START, PULSE START, QUARTZ GLASS, RAPID START, REFLECTOR LAMP, SHROUD, SPECIAL ORDER, SPECTRAL POWER DISTRIBUTION, SPOTLIGHT, STARTER, TOXICITY CHARACTERISTIC LEACHING PROCEDURE, TRIGGER START, VERY HIGH OUTPUT, VOLT, VOLTAGE RATING, WATT.

LIGHT refers to LUMEN.

light output of a bulb is usually expressed either in units of lumens, or, candlepower (CP).

light output of miniature bulbs is often expressed in candlepower, but, larger bulbs are usually expressed in lumens.

One lumen is equal to the amount of light emitted by one candle that falls on one square foot of surface located one foot away from one candle.

A uniform source of one candlepower placed in a sphere emits 12.57 lumens or mean spherical candela (MSCP) equals 12.57 lumens; meaning that 1 candle has a total output of light (light output in all directions) equalling 12.57 lumens.

A 100 watt common incandescent bulb emits around 1700 lumens.

Lumen rating of a light bulb is a measurement of ALL the light output from that light bulb from all directions.

light output diminishes over the life of the bulb.

Initial Lumens is the lumens rating for a brand new light bulb.

Design Lumens is the rated lumens measured at 40 percent of the bulbs rated life.

For general lighting, bulbs usually need to be replaced when their lumens output drop to around 50% of the Initial Lumens.

halogen bulbs are designed to hold their lumens output very well over their life.

Similar Terms: LUMEN, DESIGN LUMENS, EFFICACY, INITIAL LUMENS, LPW, LIGHT ENERGY, LIGHT OUTPUT, LIGHT, LUMENS OUTPUT PER WATT, LUMENS, POWER FACTOR

Related Terms: /BL, /GR, ARC TUBE, BALLAST, BALLAST FACTOR, BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE, CANDLEPOWER, COEFFICIENT OF UTILIZATION, COLOR RENDERING INDEX, COLOR SPECTRUM, COLOR TEMPERATURE, CONVERSION TABLE, COSINE LAW, COVE LIGHTING, DARK-EFFECT, DESIGN END FOOT CANDLES, DICHROIC MIRROR, DIFFUSION, DISCHARGE LAMP, DOWN LIGHTING, ELECTRIC DISCHARGE LAMP, ELECTRONIC BALLAST, ELLIPTICAL REFLECTOR, EXITANCE, FIELD ANGLE, FILAMENT, FLUORESCENT LAMP, FLUX, FOOTCANDLE, GENERAL LIGHTING, GLASS, HALOGEN BULB, HIGH OUTPUT FLUORESCENT, HIGH PRESSURE SODIUM, HORIZONTAL DISTRIBUTION, HOURS, ILLUMINANCE, ILLUMINATION, INCANDESCENT BULB, INDIRECT LIGHTING, INITIAL MAXIMUM BEAM CANDLEPOWER, INTENSITY, LAW OF INVERSE SQUARES, LENS, LIGHT BULBS, LIGHT CENTER LENGTH, LOUVER, LOW PRESSURE SODIUM, LUMENS PER WATT, LUMEN DEPRECIATION, LUMEN MAINTENANCE, LUMINANCE, LUX, MEAN SPHERICAL CANDLEPOWER, MERCURY VAPOR LAMP, METAL HALIDE LAMP, NEODYMIUM, PAR LAMP, PHOSPHOR, PHOTOMETER, PHOTOMETRY, PHOTON, PREHEAT, RAPID START, REFRACTION, REFRACTOR, SCOTOPIC VISION, ULTRAVIOLET, VISIBLE SPECTRUM, VOLT, WAVELENGTH.

LIGHTING FEDERATION refers to LIF.

LIF code is an industry standard code system for the Lighting Federation of London, United Kingdom and is one of the main industry standard bulb codes.

Other important industry standards are ANSI and ECE.

Industry standard codes assure mechanical and electrical interchangeability for various manufacturers.

Similar Terms: LIF, LIGHTING FEDERATION

Related Terms: ANSI, ECE.

Luminaire without lamps / bulbs.

Similar Terms: FIXTURE, LIGHTING FIXTURE

Related Terms: EYEBALL, LOUVER, LUMINAIRE, REFRACTOR, TROFFER.

LIGHTLY FROSTED GLASS refers to /LF.

Lightly Frosted glass.

Lightly frosted to reduce glare.

Also see /FR and /CL and /LF

Similar Terms: /LF, LIGHTLY FROSTED GLASS, LIGHTLY FROSTED

Related Terms: /HF.

LONG LENGTH BULB refers to /LONG.

Long length version of this bulb.

Bulb's glass is typically longer than standard length of this bulb.

Similar Terms: /LONG, LONG BULB, LONG LENGTH BULB.

LONG LIFE refers to /LL.

Long life. Bulb designed for Long life.

Long life bulbs are dimmer than standard life bulbs of same design.

Similar Terms: /LL, EXTEND LIFE, EXTRA SERVICE, LONG LIFE

Related Terms: /ES, SPIRAL LAMP.

An assembly of slats or cross-pieces in a Lighting Fixture, used to control light intensity and glare.

Similar Terms: LOUVER.

high intensity discharge lamp that uses pressurized sodium vapor to produce light.

Similar Terms: LOW PRESSURE SODIUM, SOX

Related Terms: HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE.

The gradual decline in light output from a light source over time; due to filament deterioration and Bulb Darkening.

Similar Terms: LUMEN DEPRECIATION.

A measurement of how a lamp maintains its light output over time.

Similar Terms: LUMEN MAINTENANCE.

Lumens Per Watt is the measure of efficacy of a light source in terms of how much light (lumens) produced in relationship to how much power (watts) consumed.

For example, a 100 watt incandescent bulb emit 1750 lumens so the bulb's lumens output per watt consumed is 17.5.

It's a trade off... the higher the efficacy usually the lower the Color Rendering Index (CRI) rating, or the shorter the life design of the bulb.

Similar Terms: LUMENS PER WATT, EFFICACY, LPW, LUMENS OUTPUT PER WATT, POWER FACTOR

Related Terms: COLOR RENDERING INDEX, ELECTRONIC BALLAST, HALOGEN BULB, HOURS.

light output of a bulb is usually expressed either in units of lumens, or, candlepower (CP).

light output of miniature bulbs is often expressed in candlepower, but, larger bulbs are usually expressed in lumens.

One lumen is equal to the amount of light emitted by one candle that falls on one square foot of surface located one foot away from one candle.

A uniform source of one candlepower placed in a sphere emits 12.57 lumens or mean spherical candela (MSCP) equals 12.57 lumens; meaning that 1 candle has a total output of light (light output in all directions) equalling 12.57 lumens.

A 100 watt common incandescent bulb emits around 1700 lumens.

Lumen rating of a light bulb is a measurement of ALL the light output from that light bulb from all directions.

light output diminishes over the life of the bulb.

Initial Lumens is the lumens rating for a brand new light bulb.

Design Lumens is the rated lumens measured at 40 percent of the bulbs rated life.

For general lighting, bulbs usually need to be replaced when their lumens output drop to around 50% of the Initial Lumens.

halogen bulbs are designed to hold their lumens output very well over their life.

Similar Terms: LUMEN, DESIGN LUMENS, EFFICACY, INITIAL LUMENS, LPW, LIGHT ENERGY, LIGHT OUTPUT, LIGHT, LUMENS OUTPUT PER WATT, LUMENS, POWER FACTOR

Related Terms: /BL, /GR, ARC TUBE, BALLAST, BALLAST FACTOR, BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE, CANDLEPOWER, COEFFICIENT OF UTILIZATION, COLOR RENDERING INDEX, COLOR SPECTRUM, COLOR TEMPERATURE, CONVERSION TABLE, COSINE LAW, COVE LIGHTING, DARK-EFFECT, DESIGN END FOOT CANDLES, DICHROIC MIRROR, DIFFUSION, DISCHARGE LAMP, DOWN LIGHTING, ELECTRIC DISCHARGE LAMP, ELECTRONIC BALLAST, ELLIPTICAL REFLECTOR, EXITANCE, FIELD ANGLE, FILAMENT, FLUORESCENT LAMP, FLUX, FOOTCANDLE, GENERAL LIGHTING, GLASS, HALOGEN BULB, HIGH OUTPUT FLUORESCENT, HIGH PRESSURE SODIUM, HORIZONTAL DISTRIBUTION, HOURS, ILLUMINANCE, ILLUMINATION, INCANDESCENT BULB, INDIRECT LIGHTING, INITIAL MAXIMUM BEAM CANDLEPOWER, INTENSITY, LAW OF INVERSE SQUARES, LENS, LIGHT BULBS, LIGHT CENTER LENGTH, LOUVER, LOW PRESSURE SODIUM, LUMENS PER WATT, LUMEN DEPRECIATION, LUMEN MAINTENANCE, LUMINANCE, LUX, MEAN SPHERICAL CANDLEPOWER, MERCURY VAPOR LAMP, METAL HALIDE LAMP, NEODYMIUM, PAR LAMP, PHOSPHOR, PHOTOMETER, PHOTOMETRY, PHOTON, PREHEAT, RAPID START, REFRACTION, REFRACTOR, SCOTOPIC VISION, ULTRAVIOLET, VISIBLE SPECTRUM, VOLT, WAVELENGTH.

A complete lighting unit including lamps, housing, lens and ballast if required.

All the necessary components to make what we commonly refer to as a "fixture.

Similar Terms: LUMINAIRE

Related Terms: COEFFICIENT OF UTILIZATION, FIXTURE, HEAD, NOMINAL LENGTH.

Light reflected in a particular direction; the photometric quantity most closely associated with brightness perception, measured in units of luminous intensity (candelas) per unit area (square feet or square meters).

Similar Terms: LUMINANCE.

Lux is a unit of illuminance equal to one lumen per square meter.

Similar Terms: LUX

Related Terms: CONVERSION TABLE.

This special name encoding reference means: Major HID lamp

Similar Terms: /M.

The voltage required to keep a Glow Lamp lit after it has been lit.

Less voltage is needed to keep (maintain) a Glow Lamp lit, than voltage (Breakdown Voltage) to start the glow.

Similar Terms: MAINTAINING VOLTAGE, HOLDING VOLTAGE.

MOL is Maximum Overall length measurement.

MOL of bulb is measured from top of bulb to bottom of Bulb Base (or bottom of pins.) Exception is if bulb has flexible wire leads, then measurement does NOT include the length of the wires.

Actual bulb is likely shorter than the MOL industry standard specification.

Similar Terms: MAXIMUM OVERALL LENGTH, MOL.

MEAN HORIZONTAL CANDLEPOWER refers to HORIZONTAL DISTRIBUTION.

Owing to the shape of filaments the greatest part of light from most filament lamps is given sideways (perpendicular to the filament).

The light will have different intensities (candlepower) in different horizontal directions.

The average of intensities from all horizontal directions is called the MEAN HORIZONTAL CANDLEPOWER of the bulb.

When referring to the candlepower of an incandescent lamp, the MEAN HORIZONTAL CANDLEPOWER is meant, unless otherwise specified.

Similar Terms: HORIZONTAL DISTRIBUTION, MHC, MEAN HORIZONTAL CANDLEPOWER.

The measured output of light source at 40 percent of lamp life.

Similar Terms: MEAN LUMENS.

Mean spherical candlepower (MSCP) rating is measured at the design voltage and is the total amount of light given off from a light source in ALL directions.

One MSCP is equivalent to all the light emitted from all directions of one standard spermaceti candle.

Mean spherical candlepower is the generally accepted method of rating the total light output of miniature lamps.

1 MSCP equals 12.57 (4 pi) lumens

Similar Terms: MEAN SPHERICAL CANDLEPOWER, MSCP, MEAN SPHERICAL CANDELA

Related Terms: CANDLEPOWER, CONVERSION TABLE, LUMEN.

MEDIUM BASE refers to /MED.

Medium Base type E26 USA (or E27 Europe).

Similar Terms: /MED, MEDIUM BASE.

A high intensity discharge light source operating at a relatively high pressure (about 1 atmosphere) and temperature in which most of the light is produced by radiation from excited mercury vapor.

Phosphor coatings on some lamp types add additional light and improve color rendering.

Similar Terms: MERCURY VAPOR LAMP

Related Terms: HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE.

A high intensity light source in which the light is produced by the radiation from mercury, plus halides or metals such as sodium, scandium, indium and dysprosium.

Some lamp types may also utilize phosphor coatings.

Similar Terms: METAL HALIDE LAMP

Related Terms: /BDX, /GDX, /MDX.

This special name encoding reference means: Ceramic Metal Halide lamps.

HID type.

Similar Terms: /MHC.

This special name encoding reference means: Self-Ballasted Mercury Vapor lamps.

Similar Terms: /MVSB.

A unit of length equal to 1e-9 meters; commonly used as a unit of wavelength.

Similar Terms: NANOMETER.

NARROW FLOOD refers to /NFL.

Narrow Flood. Reflector bulb with a Narrow Flood beam angle, typically a beam angle around 20 to 30 degrees

Similar Terms: /NFL, NARROW FLOOD.

NARROW SPOT refers to /NSP.

Narrow Spot. Reflector bulb with a Narrow Spot beam angle, typically a beam angle around 8 to 12 degrees

Similar Terms: /NSP, NARROW SPOT.

A rare earth element used to produce Full Spectrum incandescent lamps; also known as daylight or natural light.

They use a colored glass shell to filter out the yellow light produced by standard incandescent lamps.

Similar Terms: NEODYMIUM.

NEON LAMP refers to GLOW LAMP.

Glow Lamp is a glass envelope filled with gas which contains two or more electrodes.

Glow lamps are cold-cathode devices which require no heater or filament.

Glow lamps produce a very interesting, mild, beautiful colorful glow.

Color of glow depends on the gas combination used.

Pure neon produces an orange/red glow, pure argon produces a purple glow.

The electrodes are separated by gap of about 1/8th inch inside the gas envelope.

If a variable voltage is applied across the electrodes and increased to about 50 volts, basically no current will flow.

Eventually as voltage is increased, positive ions are attracted to the cathode which has a negative charge.

As voltage increases, electrons are liberated in the generation of positive ions which are attracted to the positive anode.

At a certain voltage (the Breakdown Voltage) enough ion velocity is attained were electrons dislodge increased proportions of ions and as the gas breaks down it conducts electricity (and a corona forms around the cathode) while a current "run-away" or "avalanche" occurs.

This avalanche is self destructive if uncontrolled, so an in-series current-limiting resistor must be used, which are built in to most screw based glow lamps rated for use at specific line voltage, otherwise you'll have to supply the necessary resistor.

Most glow lamps can be used from Breakdown Voltage to 600 volts when you properly select current limiting resistor.

When a Glow Lamp is operated in a completely dark environment, a phenomenon called dark-effect occurs which greatly changes (raises) the break-down voltage.

Gas lamps perform poorly on altitudes over 70,000 feet as low atmospheric pressure encourages outside corona and arcing.

Similar Terms: GLOW LAMP, ARGON LAMP, GAS DIODE, GAS TUBE, GLOW TUBE, NEON LAMP, NEON

Related Terms: BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE, CORONA, DARK-EFFECT, MAINTAINING VOLTAGE.

A measurement for fluorescent lamp length based on the length of the lamp plus an allowance for the luminaire's lamp holders.

Similar Terms: NOMINAL LENGTH.

The amount of resistance of a filament.

The thinner and longer a filament, the more resistant (the higher the ohm value).

Short thick filaments have very low resistance.

Tungsten filaments gain resistance the hotter they get.

Cold filaments have low resistance.

The ohm is named after Georg Simon Ohm, a high school teacher in Cologne, in year 1825.

Similar Terms: OHMS, OHM, RESISTANCE.

OPAQUE TOP refers to /OT.

Opaque Top.

Top of bulb has been painted an opaque color to reduce heat and light output through top of bulb which improves efficiency of some bulbs; especially High Output projector bulbs.

Similar Terms: /OT, OPAQUE TOP.

Lamps may be operated in any position unless otherwise noted.

Similar Terms: OPERATING POSITION

Related Terms: /U, BURN ANGLE.

Oven. Bulb is designed to be used in OVENS or other high-temperature environments.

Similar Terms: /OVEN, OVEN.

PARABOLIC ALUMINIZED REFLECTOR refers to PAR LAMP.

PAR is an acronym for parabolic aluminized reflector.

A PAR Lamp which may utilize either an incandescent filament, a halogen filament tube or an HID Arc Tube, is a precision pressed-glass reflector lamp.

PAR lamps rely on both the internal reflector and prisms in the lens for the control of the light beam.

Similar Terms: PAR LAMP, PAR, PARABOLIC ALUMINIZED REFLECTOR.

An inorganic chemical compound processed into a powder and deposited on the inner glass surface of fluorescent tubes and some mercury and metal-halide lamps.

Phosphors are designed to absorb short wavelength ultraviolet radiation and to transform and emit it as visible light

Similar Terms: PHOSPHOR

Related Terms: COLOR CORRECTED, MERCURY VAPOR LAMP, METAL HALIDE LAMP.

A photometer is a device for measuring or comparing intensities of light.

Here is a basic photometer.

The standard candle or lamp #A, and the electric lamp #B under test, with the screen #C and scale #S between them are placed in a dark room so that one side of the screen may be illuminated by the candle alone and the other side by the lamp alone.

By moving the screen, a position can be found were both sides will be equally illuminated.

Suppose that such a position has been found and that distance d1 and d2 have been read from scale #S.

If B1 is the candlepower of #A, and B2 is the candlepower of #B, then formula as follows is true.

Similar Terms: PHOTOMETER, ELEMENTARY PHOTOMETER.

The science of measuring visible light in units that are weighted according to the sensitivity of the human eye to certain wavelengths of light.

Similar Terms: PHOTOMETRY.

Particles of light wave, traveling in a straight line at speed of light.

Similar Terms: PHOTON, PHOTONS

Related Terms: FILAMENT, HALOGEN BULB, INCANDESCENT, INCANDESCENT BULB.

Refers tot vision involving the cone of the eye; used in reference to the adaptation of the eye to illuminance of more than 3.4 candelas per square meter.

Similar Terms: PHOTOPIC VISION.

PLANT refers to /GROW.

Grow. Designed primarily as a plant grow lamp.

Similar Terms: /GROW, GROW, PLANT

Related Terms: /GR.

POWER FACTOR refers to LUMENS PER WATT.

Lumens Per Watt is the measure of efficacy of a light source in terms of how much light (lumens) produced in relationship to how much power (watts) consumed.

For example, a 100 watt incandescent bulb emit 1750 lumens so the bulb's lumens output per watt consumed is 17.5.

It's a trade off... the higher the efficacy usually the lower the Color Rendering Index (CRI) rating, or the shorter the life design of the bulb.

Similar Terms: LUMENS PER WATT, EFFICACY, LPW, LUMENS OUTPUT PER WATT, POWER FACTOR

Related Terms: COLOR RENDERING INDEX, ELECTRONIC BALLAST, HALOGEN BULB, HOURS.

A fluorescent lamp-ballast circuit where the electrodes are heated or warmed by an auxiliary switch or starter before the lamps light up.

Similar Terms: PREHEAT

Related Terms: ELECTROMAGNETIC BALLAST, STARTER, TRIGGER START.

PRESSURE OF ELECTRICITY refers to VOLT.

Voltage is a unit of Electrical Pressure.

It's the measurement of Electromotive Force of the Pressure of Electricity.

Voltage is the force that pushes Electrical Current though a conductor.

This is loosely analogous to pressure in a water line as in pounds per square inch.

Electrical Pressure is not really a pressure as pressure is commonly understood. Electricity doesn't pour out of a wire onto the ground like a garden hose.

Voltage rating of an incandescent bulb is the voltage that bulb is designed to operate in the circuit measured at the base of the bulb and in which published data for watts, amps, lumens, Color Temperature and Life Hours are measured at.

Incandescent bulbs can be used with AC Voltage or DC Voltage, but DC Voltage produces increased notching on filament which reduces the life quicker than AC Voltage.

In non-incandescent bulbs the voltage may be referred to as either the operating voltage, or, the starting voltage of that bulb.

DC Voltage is direct current type of voltage, where one power terminal is positive "+" and the other terminal is negative "-".

Electrons flow from the positive to negative terminal.

AC Voltage is alternating current type of voltage, were each power terminal takes turns alternating at being positive and negative.

In USA, the frequency standard for AC volt power lines is 60 cycles (times) alternating per second, and averages around 120 volts.

In Europe the frequency standard for AC volt power lines is 50 cycles per second, and averages around 240 volts.

AC is much more efficient at transmitting power over long distances.

Also, higher voltages are more efficient to transmit over long distances.

Electrical Pressure is an energy potential between two conductors of a an Electrical Circuit.

This difference of Electrical Pressure is defined and rated in volts.

To calculate the voltage; if you know the wattage and amperage of the circuit, then voltage equals wattage divided by amperage (volt = watt / amp).

One volt is equal to performing one joule of work to move or separate one coulomb of electrons.

The volt is named after Allesandro Volta, a professor of physics at the university of Pavia in Italy, in year 1800.

Similar Terms: VOLT, AC VOLTAGE, BULB VOLTAGE, DC VOLTAGE, ELECTRICAL PRESSURE, PRESSURE OF ELECTRICITY, VOLTAGE, VOLTS

Related Terms: AMP, BALLAST, BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE, CHARACTERISTIC CURVES, CONVERSION TABLE, DARK-EFFECT, ELECTROMAGNETIC BALLAST, ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE, ELECTROMOTIVE POTENTIAL, FILAMENT, GLOW LAMP, HALOGEN BULB, HOURS, LIGHT LOSS FACTOR, MAINTAINING VOLTAGE, MEAN SPHERICAL CANDLEPOWER, VOLTAGE RATING, WATT.

A fluorescent lamp-ballast circuit that uses a custom integrated circuit (IC), which monitors lamp and ballast conditions to ensure optimal system lighting performance.

PS ballasts heat the lamp cathodes to 700 degree Celsius prior to lamp ignition.

This puts the least amount of stress on the lamp electrodes, resulting in maximum lamp life regardless of the number of lamp starts.

Programmed-start ballasts are typically wired in series.

Similar Terms: PROGRAMMED START.

A fluorescent lamp-ballast circuit that is designed with an ignitor to ignite the Arc Tube.

Due to this, bulbs have no need for the starter electrode.

Similar Terms: PULSE START

Related Terms: /PS.

QUARTZ HALOGEN refers to HALOGEN BULB.

Tungsten halogen cycle bulbs have tungsten filaments and are halogen gas filled, and require high temperature quartz glass.

These specially designed bulbs exhibit unique traits over standard Incandescent bulbs.

Directly summed up; glass remains clear (doesn't darken) and filament life is doubled.

What this really means, is lumen output over the life of the bulb remains high (brighter) so that the Lumens Per Watt (efficiency) remains high and the color of light remains and stays whiter.

Also, bulb lasting twice the life is an obvious benefit.

Halogen is the main family element name which include iodine, bromine, chlorine, fluorine and astatine.

These days, bromine is now the most commonly used halogen element in Tungsten halogen cycle bulbs.

The Tungsten halogen cycle is as follows...

Tungsten metal filament is heated by electricity to point of incandescence (emitting photons).

A few tungsten particles evaporate (boil off) from the filament and are carried away by convection current where they combine with bromide vapor forming tungsten bromide.

If the glass (quartz) wall is above 250 degrees centigrade, then tungsten bromide particles will not adhere to glass.

They continue to circulate in the hot gas envelope by convection current and when they come back close to the hot filament the particles reduce back to tungsten metal which is randomly re-deposited back onto the filament thereby releasing the bromide vapor, and the whole process then repeats itself.

If every tungsten particles happened by chance to land back exactly where it came off, the filament could last forever.

But, they don't and eventually some parts of the filament get thinner and eventually burn out, so good news is filament life usually is double over common incandescent bulb.

For the Tungsten halogen cycle to work, the bulb has to be on long enough to heat up completely and keep the glass at over 250 degree centigrade. To make this happen, manufactures design their bulbs positioning high temperature quartz glass as close to the filament as possible (but far enough away so that the glass doesn't melt) and designing the entire gas envelope so that the coolest area's are at least 250 degrees centigrade. Any area inside the glass envelope which is lower than 250 degrees will attract tungsten bromide particles and the tungsten molecule will revert and cling tightly to the cool areas on the glass and cool internal supports thereby causing the Tungsten halogen cycle to fail.

Obviously short cycling the bulb or using a dimmer switch on the bulb (running the bulb at lower than design voltage) will keep the bulb from fully heating up causing the cycle to fail; where then bulb will then give only the same service as a common inexpensive incandescent bulb. Even drafts or too much forced cooling can prevent the cycle.

An interesting fact is that if the bulb's glass at a later time gets heated to the point of re-vaporizing the tungsten soot build-up, then the tungsten vapor will re-combine with the bromine molecules and the tungsten bromine particle will be carried off again by the convection current to be re-deposited back on the tungsten filament, thereby eventually completing the cycle.

Tungsten halogen cycle bulbs make no sense for use as automobile brake light or turn signals as they would never be on long enough to heat up to cycle temperatures.

Not all halogen bulbs are designed to take advantage of the Tungsten halogen cycle. Some deceitful manufactures advertise halogen bulbs by putting halogen gas in otherwise standard Incandescent bulbs, which serves no benefit other than confusing you into buying a common incandescent bulb at premium price.

Similar Terms: HALOGEN BULB, HALOGEN BULBS, HALOGEN, QUARTZ HALOGEN, TUNGSTEN HALOGEN CYCLE, TUNGSTEN HALOGEN

Related Terms: GLASS, INCANDESCENT BULB, LUMEN, PAR LAMP.

Also see glass.

Quartz is found as colorless transparent crystals which are practically pure silica. It is both difficult and expensive to produce in any form. It has good mechanical strength and almost perfect elasticity. Because its coefficient of expansion and contraction is near zero, it can be processed into some of the finest optical devices available. Quartz bulbs can be used continuously at 900 degrees Celsius, and intermittently to 1200 degrees Celsius provided it is not in contact with contaminating materials which can cause the onset of divitrification.

Similar Terms: QUARTZ GLASS, QUARTZ

Related Terms: ARC TUBE, DIVITRIFICATION, GLASS, HALOGEN BULB.

The science of measuring radiant energy, especially radiant energy in that portion of the total electromagnetic spectrum lying adjacent to the visible region.

Similar Terms: RADIOMETRY.

A fluorescent lamp-ballast circuit which utilizes continuous cathode heating, while the system is energized to start and maintain lamp light output at efficient levels.

Rapid Start ballasts may be either electromagnetic, electronic or of hybrid designs.

Full-range fluorescent lamp dimming is only possible with Rapid Start systems.

Similar Terms: RAPID START.

Re-rating the specifications of a filament bulb by changing circuit voltage.

Also see CHARACTERISTIC CURVES.

Any filament bulb (incandescent, halogen, etc...) can be re-rated by changing it's circuit voltage.

By applying a bulb voltage different from factory design, the characteristics of a bulb will change.

CAUTION: Just because you CAN apply any voltage, doesn't mean that it's safe to do so. Over-volting a bulb can be dangerous and cause physical bulb failure because of actual bulb construction; which electrically can't be calculated by re-rating formulas. Don't over-volt any bulb unless you know what you are doing, you take full precautions, and you accept full responsibility. Over volting up to 5% is fairly commonly done and typically within many factory tolerances. But, much more than that will certainly create issues that you will need to engineer around.

Applying a lower voltage will require less current (and use less watt energy), light output will be decreased, and bulb life will be increased. Less heat will be produced. Lumens per watt will be reduced. The output color becomes more yellow (kelvins lower). Additional safety concerns are typically not an issue when using bulb at lower than rated voltage assuming situation is fully safe when operated at full voltage. Keep in mind halogen bulb types will stop their halogen cycle if bulb glass cools too much.

Inversely, applying a higher voltage than bulb rating will use more current (and use more watt energy), increase the light output and decrease the bulb life. Lumens per watt will increase. Output color becomes whiter (higher kelvins) being less yellow. More heat and infrared will be produced. You will have to cool the bulb properly (typically air cooling or forced air cooling) and keep the glass temp (and base, contacts and socket temps) within safe temperature levels. If you are using halogen bulb types make sure you don't cool glass to much. You will have to take every safety precaution into account when increasing voltage beyond factory specifications. This includes but is not limited to all heat dissipations. And increased electrical load and heat of feeds, connections, switches, wires, and sockets.

CRI and Kelvins goes up when voltage increases, CRI and Kelvins goes down when voltage drops. I haven't taken the time yet to research the mathematical formula for these characteristics. If YOU know the formula please email it to me.

General lighting bulbs off-the-shelf are typically 10% plus/minus of their rated specs. Keep in mind the further you push voltage from rated specs error rate on re-rating will magnify tremendously. In special cases you might have to test measure and hand pick bulbs out of a grouping to find bulbs that match a specific desired characteristic trait.

Re-rating formula is based on typical average for many different filament bulb types, and is provided only as a basic guideline and starting point for your own research. For more accuracy, you'll have to take actual real world measurements.

Re-rating Formulas:

V = Application VoltageV1 = Design Voltage

Re-rated MSCP = (V/V1)**3.5 x MSCP at Design Volts

Re-rated LUMENS = (V/V1)**3.5 x MSCP at Design Volts x 12.57

Re-rated HOURS = (V1/V)**12 x HOURS at Design Volts

Re-rated AMPS = (V/V1)**0.55 x AMPS at Design Volts

Similar Terms: RE-RATE, RE-RATE AMP, RE-RATE AMPS, RE-RATE HOUR, RE-RATE VOLT, RE-RATE VOLTAGE, RE-RATE VOLTS, RE-RATE WATT, RE-RATE WATTS, RE-RATING

Related Terms: CHARACTERISTIC CURVES.

An incandescent, Compact Fluorescent or HID lamp with a built-in reflecting surface.

Incandescent and HID versions are made from a single piece of blow-molded soft or hard glass.

Similar Terms: REFLECTOR LAMP

Related Terms: CENTER BEAM CANDLEPOWER, PAR LAMP.

The bending of light rays.

Similar Terms: REFRACTION.

A translucent fixture covering, such as a lens or diffuser that refracts or bends light rays.

Similar Terms: REFRACTOR.

RESISTANCE refers to OHMS.

The amount of resistance of a filament.

The thinner and longer a filament, the more resistant (the higher the ohm value).

Short thick filaments have very low resistance.

Tungsten filaments gain resistance the hotter they get.

Cold filaments have low resistance.

The ohm is named after Georg Simon Ohm, a high school teacher in Cologne, in year 1825.

Similar Terms: OHMS, OHM, RESISTANCE.

ROUGH SERVICE refers to /HD.

Heavy Duty. Bulb is designed to be Heavy Duty.

Typically vibration resistant.

Especially desirable for mining operations.

Similar Terms: /HD, HEAVY DUTY, RS, ROUGH SERVICE, VIBRATION RESISTANT

Related Terms: DOUBLE-ENDED LAMP.

Sight involving the eye's rods, which respond to low levels of light, below .034 candelas per square meter

Similar Terms: SCOTOPIC VISION.

SELF-BALLASTED refers to /SB.

Silver Bowl.

Top portion of bulb is a mirror reflector (usually coated on internal bulb glass).

This provides for no glare output, only back-light reflected output.

Otherwise, on HID bulb types, this usually means "self-ballasted"; ballast is built into bulb. No external ballast necessary.

Similar Terms: /SB, SELF-BALLASTED, SELF BALLASTED, SILVER BOWL

Related Terms: /MVSB.

SHORT LENGTH BULB refers to /SHORT.

Short length version of this bulb.

Bulb's glass is typically shorter than standard length of this bulb.

Similar Terms: /SHORT, SHORT BULB, SHORT LENGTH BULB

Related Terms: /HO.

A glass cylinder surrounding the Arc Tube in metal halide lamps to protect against the hot Arc Tube from breaking the glass bulb if an Arc Tube rupture occurs.

It reduces the risk when using metal halide lamps in open fixtures.

Similar Terms: SHROUD.

SILVER BOWL refers to /SB.

Silver Bowl.

Top portion of bulb is a mirror reflector (usually coated on internal bulb glass).

This provides for no glare output, only back-light reflected output.

Otherwise, on HID bulb types, this usually means "self-ballasted"; ballast is built into bulb. No external ballast necessary.

Similar Terms: /SB, SELF-BALLASTED, SELF BALLASTED, SILVER BOWL

Related Terms: /MVSB.

SINGLE ENDED refers to /SE.

Single Ended.

Usually found on Metal Halide type lamps.

Similar Terms: /SE, SINGLE ENDED.

Bulb Socket is the mechanical device that physically holds the light bulb in position, and, provides the electrical connection to the light bulb.

Usually the socket is designed to make a temporary hold on the light bulb to allow for future light bulb replacement.

Make certain the socket contacts and light bulb contacts are clean so they provide solid electrical connection.

Replace socket or bulb if poor connection is made.

Similar Terms: BULB SOCKET, LAMP HOLDER, SOCKET

Related Terms: BULB BASE, ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT.

A graph of the radiant power emitted by a light source as a function of wavelength.

SPD's provide a visual profile of the color characteristics of the light source throughout the visible part of the spectrum.

Similar Terms: SPECTRAL POWER DISTRIBUTION, SPD.

A helical-shaped long life Compact Fluorescent Lamp.

Similar Terms: SPIRAL LAMP.

SPOT refers to /SP.

SPOT. Reflector bulb with a SPOT beam angle, typically a beam angle around 10 to 20 degrees

Similar Terms: /SP, SPOT

Related Terms: /NSP, /VNSP, /WSP, DIVITRIFICATION.

A lamp designed to produce a narrow Beam Angle to illuminate a specifically defined area.

Usually a reflector bulb type with Beam Angle factory preset between 10 and 30 degrees.

May also be a non-reflector lamp which has a small area filament and lamp's main purpose is designed for specific area lighting, not designed specifically general lighting. Non-reflector spotlights tend to be very intense and have shorter life design than non-reflector floodlights.

Similar Terms: SPOTLIGHT, SPOTLIGHTS

Related Terms: FLOODLIGHT.

A device used in conjunction with a ballast to start preheat fluorescent lamps.

Similar Terms: STARTER

Related Terms: INSTANT START, PREHEAT, PULSE START, TRIGGER START.

STRIKING VOLTAGE refers to BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE.

The voltage needed to initially start a Glow Lamp glowing.

Mainly determined by type of gas, electrode spacing, pressure, and external ionizing forces such as light or radiation.

Similar Terms: BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE, BREAKDOWN, FIRING POTENTIAL, IONIZATION VOLTAGE, STRIKING VOLTAGE

Related Terms: DARK-EFFECT, GLOW LAMP, MAINTAINING VOLTAGE.

Lighting directed to a specific surface or area that provides illumination for specific tasks.

Similar Terms: TASK LIGHTING

Related Terms: FLOODLIGHT, GENERAL LIGHTING.

TEFLON COAT refers to /TC.

Tough Coated glass.

Shatter proof.

Sometimes known as Teflon Coated.

Similar Terms: /TC, TEFLON COAT, TUFF COAT.

A measure of the distortion of an electrical wave form.

Excessive THD may cause adverse effects to the electrical system.

Similar Terms: TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION, THD.

The Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) test, specified in the USA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1990, is used to characterized fluorescent lamp waste a as hazardous or non-hazardous waste.

The TCLP Test measures the ability of mercury in a lamp to leach from a landfill into ground water under very aggressive and reactive conditions.

Similar Terms: TOXICITY CHARACTERISTIC LEACHING PROCEDURE, TCLP TEST.

A circuit that eliminates the starter and allows for instant starting of preheat lamps.

Similar Terms: TRIGGER START.

A long recessed Lighting Fixture usually installed flush with the ceiling.

Similar Terms: TROFFER.

TUBE refers to LIGHT BULBS.

Light Bulbs are the work portion of the circuit and are often the purpose for the Electrical Circuit.

light bulb is a special sealed glass vessel which converts Electric Energy into light output.

Lamp is the lighting industry term for light bulb, and are synonymous.

Similar Terms: LIGHT BULBS, BULB, BULBS, ELECTRICAL WORK, LAMP, LAMPS, LIGHT BULB, LIGHT SOURCE, LIGHT TUBE, LIGHT TUBES, TUBE, TUBES, WORK

Related Terms: /BL, /DE, /DX, /ES, /GR, /IC, /LU, /M, /MH, /MHC, /MV, /MVSB, /PS, /SE, /U, AMP, ANSI, ARC TUBE, BALLAST FACTOR, BULB BASE, BULB DARKENING, BULB SOCKET, BURN ANGLE, CANDLEPOWER, CATEGORY, CHARACTERISTIC CURVES, COEFFICIENT OF UTILIZATION, COLOR CORRECTED, COLOR RENDERING INDEX, COLOR TEMPERATURE, COMPACT FLUORESCENT LAMP, CONVERSION TABLE, COSINE LAW, DARK-EFFECT, DESIGN END FOOT CANDLES, DICHROIC MIRROR, DOUBLE-ENDED LAMP, ECE, ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, ELECTRIC DISCHARGE LAMP, ELECTROMAGNETIC BALLAST, ELECTROMOTIVE POTENTIAL, ELECTRONIC BALLAST, ELLIPTICAL REFLECTOR, END BLACKENING, ENERGY POLICY ACT, ETCH, FIELD ANGLE, FILAMENT, FIXTURE, FLOODLIGHT, FLUORESCENT LAMP, FOOTCANDLE, FULL SPECTRUM, GETTER, GLARE, GLASS, GLOW LAMP, HALOGEN BULB, HIGH OUTPUT FLUORESCENT, HORIZONTAL DISTRIBUTION, HOURS, INCANDESCENT BULB, INDUCTION LIGHTING, INFRARED, INSTANT START, IONIZATION, KRYPTON, LAW OF INVERSE SQUARES, LIF, LIGHT LOSS FACTOR, LOW PRESSURE SODIUM, LUMEN, LUMENS PER WATT, LUMEN DEPRECIATION, LUMEN MAINTENANCE, LUMINAIRE, MAXIMUM OVERALL LENGTH, MEAN LUMENS, MEAN SPHERICAL CANDLEPOWER, MERCURY VAPOR LAMP, METAL HALIDE LAMP, NEODYMIUM, NOMINAL LENGTH, NOTES, OPERATING POSITION, PAR LAMP, PHOSPHOR, PHOTOMETER, PREHEAT, PROGRAMMED START, PULSE START, QUARTZ GLASS, RAPID START, REFLECTOR LAMP, SHROUD, SPECIAL ORDER, SPECTRAL POWER DISTRIBUTION, SPOTLIGHT, STARTER, TOXICITY CHARACTERISTIC LEACHING PROCEDURE, TRIGGER START, VERY HIGH OUTPUT, VOLT, VOLTAGE RATING, WATT.

TUNGSTEN HALOGEN refers to HALOGEN BULB.

Tungsten halogen cycle bulbs have tungsten filaments and are halogen gas filled, and require high temperature quartz glass.

These specially designed bulbs exhibit unique traits over standard Incandescent bulbs.

Directly summed up; glass remains clear (doesn't darken) and filament life is doubled.

What this really means, is lumen output over the life of the bulb remains high (brighter) so that the Lumens Per Watt (efficiency) remains high and the color of light remains and stays whiter.

Also, bulb lasting twice the life is an obvious benefit.

Halogen is the main family element name which include iodine, bromine, chlorine, fluorine and astatine.

These days, bromine is now the most commonly used halogen element in Tungsten halogen cycle bulbs.

The Tungsten halogen cycle is as follows...

Tungsten metal filament is heated by electricity to point of incandescence (emitting photons).

A few tungsten particles evaporate (boil off) from the filament and are carried away by convection current where they combine with bromide vapor forming tungsten bromide.

If the glass (quartz) wall is above 250 degrees centigrade, then tungsten bromide particles will not adhere to glass.

They continue to circulate in the hot gas envelope by convection current and when they come back close to the hot filament the particles reduce back to tungsten metal which is randomly re-deposited back onto the filament thereby releasing the bromide vapor, and the whole process then repeats itself.

If every tungsten particles happened by chance to land back exactly where it came off, the filament could last forever.

But, they don't and eventually some parts of the filament get thinner and eventually burn out, so good news is filament life usually is double over common incandescent bulb.

For the Tungsten halogen cycle to work, the bulb has to be on long enough to heat up completely and keep the glass at over 250 degree centigrade. To make this happen, manufactures design their bulbs positioning high temperature quartz glass as close to the filament as possible (but far enough away so that the glass doesn't melt) and designing the entire gas envelope so that the coolest area's are at least 250 degrees centigrade. Any area inside the glass envelope which is lower than 250 degrees will attract tungsten bromide particles and the tungsten molecule will revert and cling tightly to the cool areas on the glass and cool internal supports thereby causing the Tungsten halogen cycle to fail.

Obviously short cycling the bulb or using a dimmer switch on the bulb (running the bulb at lower than design voltage) will keep the bulb from fully heating up causing the cycle to fail; where then bulb will then give only the same service as a common inexpensive incandescent bulb. Even drafts or too much forced cooling can prevent the cycle.

An interesting fact is that if the bulb's glass at a later time gets heated to the point of re-vaporizing the tungsten soot build-up, then the tungsten vapor will re-combine with the bromine molecules and the tungsten bromine particle will be carried off again by the convection current to be re-deposited back on the tungsten filament, thereby eventually completing the cycle.

Tungsten halogen cycle bulbs make no sense for use as automobile brake light or turn signals as they would never be on long enough to heat up to cycle temperatures.

Not all halogen bulbs are designed to take advantage of the Tungsten halogen cycle. Some deceitful manufactures advertise halogen bulbs by putting halogen gas in otherwise standard Incandescent bulbs, which serves no benefit other than confusing you into buying a common incandescent bulb at premium price.

Similar Terms: HALOGEN BULB, HALOGEN BULBS, HALOGEN, QUARTZ HALOGEN, TUNGSTEN HALOGEN CYCLE, TUNGSTEN HALOGEN

Related Terms: GLASS, INCANDESCENT BULB, LUMEN, PAR LAMP.

ULTRA-VIOLET STOP refers to /UVS.

Ultra-Violet STOP. Glass is coated with a UV stop filter coating.

Similar Terms: /UVS, UVS, ULTRA-VIOLET STOP.

Radiant energy in the wavelength range of about 100 to 380 nanometers (nm).

This light is invisible to the naked eye and is also know as black light. Applications include;Blacklight --- 320 - 400nm.Germicidal --- 220 - 300nm.Ozone-producing --- 180 - 220 nm.

Similar Terms: ULTRAVIOLET

Related Terms: PHOSPHOR.

UNIVERSAL refers to /U.

Universal burn position. On Metal Halide lamps, means universal operating position (burn any position).

Otherwise, on halogen bulbs, "U" is the base type.

Similar Terms: /U, UVS, ULTRA-VIOLET STOP, UNIVERSAL, UNIVERSAL BURN, UNIVERSAL POSITION

Related Terms: /UVS.

Fluorescent lamps designed to be used with a 1500 milliampere ballast.

Similar Terms: VERY HIGH OUTPUT, VHO.

VERY NARROW SPOT refers to /VNSP.

Very Narrow Spot. Reflector bulb with a Very Narrow Spot beam angle, typically a beam angle around 6 to 8 degrees

Similar Terms: /VNSP, VERY NARROW SPOT.

VERY WIDE FLOOD refers to /VWFL.

Very Wide Flood. Reflector bulb with a Very Wide Flood beam angle, typically a beam angle at least 60 degrees

Similar Terms: /VWFL, VERY WIDE FLOOD.

VIBRATION RESISTANT refers to /HD.

Heavy Duty. Bulb is designed to be Heavy Duty.

Typically vibration resistant.

Especially desirable for mining operations.

Similar Terms: /HD, HEAVY DUTY, RS, ROUGH SERVICE, VIBRATION RESISTANT

Related Terms: DOUBLE-ENDED LAMP.

Radiant energy in the wavelength range of about 380 to 770 nanometers (nm).

The light that can be seen by the human eye and produces what we also call the "Color Spectrum.

Similar Terms: VISIBLE SPECTRUM

Related Terms: FULL SPECTRUM.

The recommended operating voltage for a lamp.

Similar Terms: VOLTAGE RATING

Related Terms: VOLT.

Voltage is a unit of Electrical Pressure.

It's the measurement of Electromotive Force of the Pressure of Electricity.

Voltage is the force that pushes Electrical Current though a conductor.

This is loosely analogous to pressure in a water line as in pounds per square inch.

Electrical Pressure is not really a pressure as pressure is commonly understood. Electricity doesn't pour out of a wire onto the ground like a garden hose.

Voltage rating of an incandescent bulb is the voltage that bulb is designed to operate in the circuit measured at the base of the bulb and in which published data for watts, amps, lumens, Color Temperature and Life Hours are measured at.

Incandescent bulbs can be used with AC Voltage or DC Voltage, but DC Voltage produces increased notching on filament which reduces the life quicker than AC Voltage.

In non-incandescent bulbs the voltage may be referred to as either the operating voltage, or, the starting voltage of that bulb.

DC Voltage is direct current type of voltage, where one power terminal is positive "+" and the other terminal is negative "-".

Electrons flow from the positive to negative terminal.

AC Voltage is alternating current type of voltage, were each power terminal takes turns alternating at being positive and negative.

In USA, the frequency standard for AC volt power lines is 60 cycles (times) alternating per second, and averages around 120 volts.

In Europe the frequency standard for AC volt power lines is 50 cycles per second, and averages around 240 volts.

AC is much more efficient at transmitting power over long distances.

Also, higher voltages are more efficient to transmit over long distances.

Electrical Pressure is an energy potential between two conductors of a an Electrical Circuit.

This difference of Electrical Pressure is defined and rated in volts.

To calculate the voltage; if you know the wattage and amperage of the circuit, then voltage equals wattage divided by amperage (volt = watt / amp).

One volt is equal to performing one joule of work to move or separate one coulomb of electrons.

The volt is named after Allesandro Volta, a professor of physics at the university of Pavia in Italy, in year 1800.

Similar Terms: VOLT, AC VOLTAGE, BULB VOLTAGE, DC VOLTAGE, ELECTRICAL PRESSURE, PRESSURE OF ELECTRICITY, VOLTAGE, VOLTS

Related Terms: AMP, BALLAST, BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE, CHARACTERISTIC CURVES, CONVERSION TABLE, DARK-EFFECT, ELECTROMAGNETIC BALLAST, ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE, ELECTROMOTIVE POTENTIAL, FILAMENT, GLOW LAMP, HALOGEN BULB, HOURS, LIGHT LOSS FACTOR, MAINTAINING VOLTAGE, MEAN SPHERICAL CANDLEPOWER, VOLTAGE RATING, WATT.

Wattage is a unit of Electrical Work (power).

It's the amount of Electrical Energy removed from the circuit and consumed by the bulb.

Wattage is the rating unit used to measure total power consumption of bulb at a given voltage and amperage.

As wattage is directly related to voltage and amperage; a somewhat analogous description would be if a pipe containing water was connected to a water wheel, then the speed (pressure) of the water moving in the pipe would be the voltage, the volume (mass) of water moving through the pipe would be the amperage, and the total energy contained in the flow which turns the water wheel would be the wattage.

Published bulbs wattage rating is measured at the bulb's rated voltage.

Published specs for wattage typically have a tolerance of plus or minus 10%.

To calculate the wattage; if you know the voltage and amperage of the circuit, then wattage equals voltage times amperage (watt = volt x amp).

One Kilowatt is 1000 watts.

Similar Terms: WATT, KILOWATT, WATTAGE, WATTS

Related Terms: AMP, CANDLEPOWER, CHARACTERISTIC CURVES, COLOR RENDERING INDEX, CONVERSION TABLE, FILAMENT, INCANDESCENT BULB, LUMEN, LUMENS PER WATT, VOLT, VOLT AMP WATT ANIMATIONS.

Distance between two successive points of a periodic wave: The wavelengths of light are expressed in nanometers (nm).

Similar Terms: WAVELENGTH

Related Terms: CHROMATICITY, INFRARED, NANOMETER, PHOSPHOR, SPECTRAL POWER DISTRIBUTION, ULTRAVIOLET, VISIBLE SPECTRUM.

WIDE FLOOD refers to /WFL.

Wide Flood. Reflector bulb with a Wide Flood beam angle, typically a beam angle around 40 to 65 degrees

Similar Terms: /WFL, WIDE FLOOD.

WIDE SPOT refers to /WSP.

Wide Spot. Reflector bulb with a Wide Spot beam angle, typically a beam angle around 15 to 25 degrees

Similar Terms: /WSP, WIDE SPOT.

WIRE refers to CONDUCTORS.

Conductors are anything in which electricity easily passes, such as copper wire.

Conductors are sort of analogous to garden hoses as they allow you to pipe electricity exactly where you need it. Unfortunately conductors are more like "leaky" garden hoses as they aren't very efficient and leak energy all over the place (in the form of heat).

The colder a conductor, the better it conducts (less energy leaks out). The longer and thinner the conductor, the less efficient. For most efficiency, keep your conducts thick and short.

Most metals are conductors.

Some metals conduct better than others.

Silver is the best conductor, copper is the second best, and gold is the third best.

Gold doesn't tarnish, so it is sometimes thinly plated on connectors to help prevent connectors from corroding, as corroded metal is a very poor conductor.

Wire made up of many small strands, conducts much better than a solid wire of same diameter.

Opposite of a conductor is an insulator.

Similar Terms: CONDUCTORS, CONDUCTOR, WIRE, WIRES

Related Terms: AMP, CHARACTERISTIC CURVES, ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE, ELECTROMOTIVE POTENTIAL, FILAMENT, INCANDESCENT BULB, INSULATOR, MAXIMUM OVERALL LENGTH, VOLT.

WORK refers to LIGHT BULBS.

Light Bulbs are the work portion of the circuit and are often the purpose for the Electrical Circuit.

light bulb is a special sealed glass vessel which converts Electric Energy into light output.

Lamp is the lighting industry term for light bulb, and are synonymous.

Similar Terms: LIGHT BULBS, BULB, BULBS, ELECTRICAL WORK, LAMP, LAMPS, LIGHT BULB, LIGHT SOURCE, LIGHT TUBE, LIGHT TUBES, TUBE, TUBES, WORK

Related Terms: /BL, /DE, /DX, /ES, /GR, /IC, /LU, /M, /MH, /MHC, /MV, /MVSB, /PS, /SE, /U, AMP, ANSI, ARC TUBE, BALLAST FACTOR, BULB BASE, BULB DARKENING, BULB SOCKET, BURN ANGLE, CANDLEPOWER, CATEGORY, CHARACTERISTIC CURVES, COEFFICIENT OF UTILIZATION, COLOR CORRECTED, COLOR RENDERING INDEX, COLOR TEMPERATURE, COMPACT FLUORESCENT LAMP, CONVERSION TABLE, COSINE LAW, DARK-EFFECT, DESIGN END FOOT CANDLES, DICHROIC MIRROR, DOUBLE-ENDED LAMP, ECE, ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, ELECTRIC DISCHARGE LAMP, ELECTROMAGNETIC BALLAST, ELECTROMOTIVE POTENTIAL, ELECTRONIC BALLAST, ELLIPTICAL REFLECTOR, END BLACKENING, ENERGY POLICY ACT, ETCH, FIELD ANGLE, FILAMENT, FIXTURE, FLOODLIGHT, FLUORESCENT LAMP, FOOTCANDLE, FULL SPECTRUM, GETTER, GLARE, GLASS, GLOW LAMP, HALOGEN BULB, HIGH OUTPUT FLUORESCENT, HORIZONTAL DISTRIBUTION, HOURS, INCANDESCENT BULB, INDUCTION LIGHTING, INFRARED, INSTANT START, IONIZATION, KRYPTON, LAW OF INVERSE SQUARES, LIF, LIGHT LOSS FACTOR, LOW PRESSURE SODIUM, LUMEN, LUMENS PER WATT, LUMEN DEPRECIATION, LUMEN MAINTENANCE, LUMINAIRE, MAXIMUM OVERALL LENGTH, MEAN LUMENS, MEAN SPHERICAL CANDLEPOWER, MERCURY VAPOR LAMP, METAL HALIDE LAMP, NEODYMIUM, NOMINAL LENGTH, NOTES, OPERATING POSITION, PAR LAMP, PHOSPHOR, PHOTOMETER, PREHEAT, PROGRAMMED START, PULSE START, QUARTZ GLASS, RAPID START, REFLECTOR LAMP, SHROUD, SPECIAL ORDER, SPECTRAL POWER DISTRIBUTION, SPOTLIGHT, STARTER, TOXICITY CHARACTERISTIC LEACHING PROCEDURE, TRIGGER START, VERY HIGH OUTPUT, VOLT, VOLTAGE RATING, WATT.