Lighting is a crucial part of any environment, both at home and in the workplace, so of course it’s important to understand the terminology and definitions associated with lighting in order to choose with confidence, buy and install with confidence.
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Driver power factor is a measure of the efficiency of a lighting system. It is calculated by dividing the power input of the system by its total power output, and is usually expressed as a ratio. The higher the power factor, the more efficient the system will be, meaning it will consume less energy and result in lower power bills.
IP rating stands for ingress protection. It is used to measure the level of protection that a lighting system has against outside elements such as dust, moisture, and dirt. It is measured on a scale from 1-10, with 10 being the highest level of protection.
Chip on board (COB) is a type of lighting technology that uses multiple LED chips mounted on a single board. COB technology allows for more efficient and intense lighting, making it ideal for use in commercial and industrial lighting applications.
Color rendering is a measure of how accurately a light source can reproduce colors. It is expressed on a scale from 0-100, with 100 being the highest level of accuracy. Good color rendering is important for applications such as photography and filmmaking, as it ensures accurate color reproduction.
IP classification is a measure of the level of protection a lighting system has against dust, water, and other outside elements. It is measured on a scale from 1-6, with 6 being the highest level of protection. IP classification is important to consider when selecting lighting for outdoor applications.
Luminous flux is a measure of the total amount of visible light emitted by a light source. It is expressed in lumens and is important to consider when selecting lighting, as it affects the brightness of the light.
Efficacy is the measure of how much light is produced for each watt of energy used. This is an important measure as it determines how much energy is used for a given amount of light output. The higher the efficacy, the more efficient the lighting will be.
Inrush current is the surge of current that is drawn when a lamp is first turned on. This can cause a voltage drop in the circuit and can cause the light to flicker until the voltage is stabilized.
Dimming range is the range of light output that is available when using a dimming system. The range is measured in lumens and is defined as the minimum and maximum levels of light that can be achieved.
Candela is the measurement of the intensity of light in a given direction. It is measured in terms of the amount of light that is emitted from a single source in a specified direction.
Illuminance is the measure of how much light is incident on a surface area. It is measured in lux, and is the amount of light that is incident on an area of one square meter.
Luminance is the measure of light in a given area, and is expressed in terms of the amount and direction of light that is reflected from a surface. It is measured in candelas per square meter, and is used to assess the brightness of a surface.
Beam angle is the amount of light that is spread out by a given light source. It is usually measured in angles and is important in determining the range and spread of the light. As a rule of thumb, the higher the angle, the wider the light coverage.
Power factor is the ratio of the power of a driver to the actual power of the LED. It is a measure of how efficient the LED driver is, with a higher power factor meaning more efficient drivers.
Junction temperature is the temperature of the LED junction, and is important for determining the lifetime of the LED. It is measured in Celsius, and can be affected by the power factor of the driver, as well as the ambient temperature.
LED lifetime is the amount of time an LED will remain functional before it becomes unusable. It is usually measured in hours, and is determined by factors such as junction temperature and driver power factor. It should have a good mix of short and long sentences..
This is a mathematical tool used to assess the colour of light sources like LEDs. Developed by colorimetrician David MacAdam in 1942, this is a colour-difference diagram that can help to determine how accurately a light source reproduces colours.
Color consistency is a measure of how accurately a light source reproduces the same colour over time. A light source with good color consistency will maintain the same colour temperatures over time, even when switched on and off multiple times. LED lighting is known for its excellent color consistency.
The input voltage is the voltage at which the light source needs to be powered up to function. LED lighting is known for its low power requirements, usually ranging from 120V to 277V.
This is a type of dimming control for LED lighting. It involves providing a 0-10V control signal to the LED driver, which then adjusts the light output from the LED fixture.
This is another type of dimming control for LED lighting. It requires a 1-10V control signal to be provided to the LED driver, which then adjusts the output from the LED fixture.
DALI stands for Digital Addressable Lighting Interface. This is a type of dimming control for LED lighting that allows the user to control multiple lights from a single controller.
Smart lighting is a type of lighting that can be controlled using a smartphone, tablet or other device. Smart lighting systems are becoming increasingly popular, as they allow users to control the lights in their homes or offices remotely.
System power is the total wattage used to power a group of lights in a single lighting system. The wattage of the lights in a system will be added together to calculate the system power.
Non-dimmable lighting refers to lighting fixtures that can not be dimmed, or changed in intensity. Non-dimmable lighting is usually connected to a wall switch, and cannot be adjusted in any way.
W/m stands for watts per metre. It is used to measure the power of a light along a particular length of wire. W/m is calculated as the wattage of the light divided by the length of the wire.
A non-maintained emergency light is a type of lighting fixture that will only turn on when the power fails. Non-maintained emergency lights are typically used in commercial and public buildings, to provide a safe exit in the case of a power outage.
Maintained emergency lights are a type of lighting fixture that will remain on at all times. They are typically used in commercial and public buildings, to provide safe exit in the case of an emergency. The lights will typically have a switch to manually turn them off in non-emergency situations.
GU10 is a type of small halogen lamp that is used as an alternative to a standard 50mm halogen bulb. It has a two-pin base, which is connected to a mains voltage, and a two-pronged bulb which are used for mounting. These bulbs are commonly used for illuminating smaller areas or for decorative lighting.
Bezel is a term used to describe a decorative trim which is used to finish off the edges of a light fixture or lamp. It can be made from a variety of materials including plastic, metal or glass. It provides a neat, finished look to the light fixture and can also be used to cover up any exposed wiring.
Baffle is a type of material which is used to focus the light which is emitted from a light fixture to reduce glare, and is often used in recessed lighting to reduce the amount of light spillage.
Trimless refers to a type of light fixture which does not have a visible frame or trim. These types of light fixtures are designed to be integrated into the ceiling or wall, creating a seamless look.
Cut-out is a term which refers to the size of the hole that is needed in order to install a light fixture or lamp. The size of the cut-out will vary depending on the type of light fixture and the size of the area that it needs to fit into.
A driver is a type of component which is used in LED lighting fixtures. It is responsible for converting the mains voltage into a lower voltage which is suitable for powering the LED bulbs. Drivers are usually housed in the same unit as the LED bulbs, however, in some cases they may be separate units.
Color Tunable is a term which refers to a type of LED lighting fixture which can be adjusted to emit different colors of light. This is usually achieved by using a remote control or smartphone app which allows the user to select different colors. This type of lighting is often used to create different moods or ambiances in certain spaces.
Fire-rated is a term which refers to a type of light fixture which has been tested to meet certain safety standards. These fixtures are designed to contain a fire or slow its spread in the event of a fire, and must meet certain minimum standards in order for them to be certified as fire-rated.
SELV stands for Separated Extra Low Voltage or Safety Extra Low Voltage and is a safety standard in electrical systems, particularly relevant for LED lighting.
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