Archive for April, 2012

Over the past few weeks we’ve taught you about need-to-know lighting definitions, such as downlight, floodlight, louver and many others. This week we’re going to continue on our bright journey and teach you about lighting terms M through P.

Mounting Height – The measured distance between the workplace and the bottom of the luminaire.

Motion Detector - A control that uses passive infrared or ultrasonic detection to sense when someone is moving around the light or not, and to turn the light on when someone is. Motion lights are often used outdoors, to illuminate porches and driveways.

MR Lamp – A multi-facet reflector lamp, such as a MR16, which surrounds a halogen capsule.

National Electrical Code – The organization that sets the standards for wiring electrical fixtures and devices.

NEMA – The National Electrical Manufacturers Association.

Nominal Watts – The power rating of a lamp, which is designated by the lamp’s manufacturer.

Outdoor Lighting – A hard-wired, low-voltage, or solar powered lighting system that is used outdoors, usually to brighten a porch, deck, walkway, garage, etc.

Outlet Box – Often called a junction box, this is an enclosure that protects wires and supports surface light fixtures.

Over Voltage – When an incandescent lamp is operated above its recommended voltage it has a shorter life.

Photocell – Light-sensitive fixtures and devices, which operate according to the amount of daylight available at a certain time.

Photometric Report – A report that explains the output characteristics of a lighting fixture or luminaire

Power Feed – The point that connects electricity to track lighting and other types of lights.

Are there any lighting terms that you’d like us to define? Challenge us and let us know with a comment. Please join us next week, as we continue our bright lessons in lighting.

From the bedroom to the front porch, lighting is all around us, which is why it’s important to educate yourself on some of the most basic lighting terms and definitions. Over the past few weeks we’ve discussed lighting terms beginning with A through F. This week we’ll teach you about lighting terms I through L.

Illumination – The density of light flow on a surface.

Indirect Light - Light that is cast upwards from a light fixture and then bounced downwards to provide light with a minimal amount of glare.

Initial Lumens – The lumens produced by a lamp after the initial burn period is completed.

Input Watts – The total number of watts required by the ballast and the lamp in the luminaire.

Kelvin Temperature – A scale used to describe the color of light.

Kilowatt – 1000 watts

Kilowatt Hour – The work of one kilowatt of electric power performed in one hour.

Lamp – Often referred to as the light bulb, the lamp is the source of light in a fixture.

LED (light-emitting diode) – The electric semiconductor, which emits light when an electric current is passing through it; LED light bulbs are much more eco-friendly than incandescent light bulbs.

Louver - Baffles that are used to absorb unwanted light.

Lumens- The unit measure of light.

Luminaire – A complete lighting fixture or unit. This includes the housing, wiring, electrical sockets, lens, louvers, and lamps.

Luminaire Efficiency – The number of lumens leaving the opening of a light fixture divided by the lumens produced by the lamp

Luminance – The amount of light that leaves a surface in a certain direction.

Lux - A unit of illuminance.

As you continue to learn more about lighting it will be easier to know what types of lights you should be using in different areas of your home. Please join us next week as we help improve your knowledge of lighting.