GLOSSARY

"A" TYPE LAMP - Designation of a light bulb's shape; standard residential incandescent lamps (the type most people use in their homes) are "A" style lamps.

ACCENT LIGHTING (a.k.a. Directional Light) - Light directed to emphasize a particular object or draw attention to part of the field of view.

ALTERNATING CURRENT (AC) - Current that changes its direction of flow through a conductor, first going one way then the other. The usual rate is 60 alterations (60 times each way) per second.

AMALGAM - An additive in compact fluorescent lamps that prevents the lamp from overheating. It is used in CFLs that operate in enclosed fixtures, recessed cans, or in wide temperature ranges. The amalgam also causes the lamp to have a longer warm-up time.

AMBIENT LIGHTING - Lighting throughout an area that produces general illumination.

AMPERE (AMP) - Unit for measuring the rate and flow of an electrical current.

ANSI CODE - ANSI, the American National Standards Institute, offers voluntary standards for the physical, electrical, and performance characteristics of lamps, ballasts, luminaires, and other lighting and electrical equipment.

APPLICATION - Also called "lighting application", it refers to the particular use to which the lamp is being put. (e.g. high-bay industrial application or retail lighting application.)

ARC - A general term for a high intensity electrical discharge occurring between two electrodes in a gaseous medium, usually accompanied by the generation of heat and the emission of light.

ARC LAMP - A light source containing an arc (see above). Also called a discharge lamp, or an arc discharge lamp.

ARC LENGTH - In High Intensity Discharge lamps, this is the distance between the electrode tips, which represents the physical length of the electrical discharge.

ARC TUBE - A quartz tube in which a current traverses a gas between two electrodes.

ARCTIC WHITE TM - LITETRONICS trade name for 5100K, 90 CRI T12 lamps.

ARGON - The gas used in incandescent and fluorescent lamps. In incandescent lamps it helps to slow the evaporation of the tungsten filament.

AVERAGE RATED LAMP LIFE - A median value of life expectancy. The average rated life is determined by burning a group of lamps until 50% are still burning and 50% have burned out.

BAFFLE - An opaque or translucent element that shields a light source from direct view at certain angles or absorbs unwanted light.

BALLAST - A device used with electric-discharge lamps (fluorescent, mercury vapor, sodium vapor, and other HIDs [High Intensity Discharge]) to obtain the necessary circuit conditions (voltage, current, and waveform) by controlling the flow of the electrical current.

BASE - The part of a lamp that serves as a connection to the fixture by being inserted into the socket. There are many different sizes and styles of bases.

BAYONET - A style of bulb base which uses keyways instead of threads to connect the bulb to the fixture base. The bulb is locked in place by pushing it down and turning it clockwise.

BEAM SPREAD (a.k.a. BEAM ANGLE) - For reflector and PAR lamps, the total angle of the beam (in degrees) to where the intensity of the beam falls to 50% of the light value at the center of the beam.

BI-PIN BASE - Any base with two metal pins for electrical contact. This is the typical base for a fluorescent tube of 1 to 4 feet in length. It consists of 2 prong contacts, which connect into the fixture. Medium bi-pins are used with type T-8 and T-12 tubular fluorescent lamps, and miniature bi-pins are used for tubular T-5 fluorescent lamps.

BLACKBODY - A theoretical body used in the lighting industry as a standard for establishing "color" and spectral qualities of lamps. A perfect blackbody, when its temperature has risen to 3500K, would give out light of a certain color, at 4500K it would give a whiter color, and at 5500K still a whiter color. BOWL - An open-top diffusing glass or plastic enclosure used to shield a light source from direct view and to redirect or scatter the light.

BRIGHTNESS - Commonly used as a reference to the degree of apparent lightness of a surface - its brilliancy or concentration of candlepower; from an engineering perspective, brightness is a subjective measurement and should not be used (see luminance).

BULB - The outer jacket or envelope of a lamp.

BULB DARKENING - The darkening of an incandescent bulb caused by small particles of tungsten that evaporate from the filament and deposit on the bulb wall.

BURNING POSITION - The direction in which a lamp must be installed so it will operate properly. Universal Burn means a lamp can be in any position; other burning positions include Base Up, Base Down, or Horizontal.

CANDELA - The international unit (SI) of luminous intensity of a light source in a given direction. A term from the early days of lighting that is still used today, it evaluated the intensity of light sources based on comparison to a standard candle of fixed size and composition.

CANDELABRA BASE - An E12 screw-in style lamp base, 7/16" (12mm) in diameter, that is commonly found on decorative lamps and used in decorative fixtures, such as ceiling fans and chandeliers.

CATHODE - A cathode is an electrode in a linear fluorescent lamp that emits electrons to the cathode at the opposite end of the lamp to create light.

CATHODE GUARD - A shield that goes around the cathode of a fluorescent lamp that reduces end darkening by shielding the evaporation of particles.

CENTER BEAM CANDLE POWER (C.B.C.P) - For reflector lamps, the light intensity (candelas) at the center, or maximum intensity, off the beam.

CENTER POINT DEVIATION - A term used to describe the color shift of LEDs. LED light is meant only to be seen at the focal point of the light source. If one looks at the light from any angle other than at its center point, the color of the light deviates and is not as white as it appears at the center. The color shift can be as great as 500K.

CHANNEL - An enclosure containing the ballast, starter, lamp holders, and wiring for a fluorescent lamp, or a similar enclosure on which filament lamps (usually tubular) are mounted.

COLD CATHODE FLUORESCENT LAMP (CCFL) - Cold cathode fluorescent is similar to normal fluorescent (or "hot cathode) in many respects. Unlike traditional fluorescent lamps, however, cold cathode lamps have the ability to dim fully to 5% of their light output. Cold cathode lamps can operate using as much as 85% less energy than comparable incandescent lamps and can last 20 times longer or more.

COLOR RENDERING INDEX (CRI) - Because colors appear differently under different light sources, the Color Rendering Index (CRI) measures a lamp's ability to render colors most naturally. It measures the degree of color shift objects undergo when illuminated by a light source as compared with those same objects when illuminated by a reference source of comparable color temperature. CRI is measured on a scale of 1 to 100, with daylight being 100. Generally, the higher the CRI, the better the colors appear. The color rendering property of lamps is extremely important to many consumers, especially retail stores, museums, galleries, etc.

COLOR SPECTRUM - All the radiant energy wavelengths that make human sight possible. The visible wavelengths include all colors and are measured in nanometers.

CONTRAST - The difference in brightness (luminance) of an object and its background.

COOL WHITE - A term loosely used to denote a color temperature of around 4100K. The Cook White (CW) designation is used specifically for T12 and other fluorescent lamps using halophosphors and having a CRI of 62. Litetronics Arctic WhiteTM fluorescent lamp is a replacement for cool white fluorescent lighting and offers a crisp, white 5100K light with a CRI of 90.

COOLRAY - LITETRONICS trade name for halogen lamps with a dichroic coating on the reflector that allows heat to escape out from the back of the lamp, while delivering light out from the front. Coolray lamps reduce heat on displayed items by 85%.

CORRELATED COLOR TEMPERATURE (C.C.T.) - Describes the apparent color, or chromoaticity, of a light source measured in degrees Kelvin (K). The higher the color temperature, the visually cooler, or bluer, the light appears. Typical color temperatures are: 2700K (incandescent), 4100K (cool white fluorescent), and 5000K (daylight fluorescent).

COST OF LIGHT - A term typically used to describe the total cost for bringing light to a given area. The Cost of Light includes the cost of the electricity to power the bulb, the labor to change the bulb, and the cost of the bulb itself. On average, electricity makes up 88%, the labor 8%, and the bulb 4% of every dollar spent on lighting.

DAYLIGHT LAMP - A lamp producing a light spectrum distribution close to that of daylight. COLOR-BRITE PLUS T10s and VITAL SPECTRUM T12s are examples of daylight lamps.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE) - U.S. government agency which regulates energy-related issues.

DESCRIPTION - The lamp's identifying description. It typically includes the lamp shape and size.

DICHROIC REFLECTOR - A reflector (or filter) that reflects one region of the spectrum while allowing the other region(s) to pass through. A reflector lamp with dichroic reflector will have a "cool beam" i.e. most of the heat has been removed from the beam by allowing it to pass through the reflector while the light has been reflected.

DIFFUSED LIGHTING - Lighting on a work area or object that does not come from one particular direction.

DIMMER - A device used to control the intensity of light emitted by a luminaire by controlling the voltage or current available to it.

DIODE - A device attached to a wire that reduces the influx current.

DIRECT CURRENT (DC) - Electric current that flows continuously in only one direction from positive to negative.

DIRECT LIGHTING - Lighting that distributes 90-100% of the emitted light in the general direction of the surface to be illuminated. The term usually refers to light emitted in a downward direction.

DISTRIBUTOR - A company that sells a particular manufacturer's products to the consuming public.

DOUBLE CONTACT BAYONET BASE (DCB) - A lamp base, commonly used by OEMs, with two side pins that lock the lamp into the fixture.

DOWNLIGHT - A small, direct lighting unit which directs the light downwards and can be recessed, surface mounted, or suspended.

ECONOMIC LIFE - The hours a group of lamps can burn before it is monetarily and aesthetically advisable to group re-lamp.

EFFICACY OR LUMINOUS EFFICACY - A measurement of a lamp's ability to convert electrical power (watts) into visible light (lumens) and is expressed in terms of light output compared to the energy consumed.

EFFICIENCY - An entire lighting system's quality of light output compared to the energy consumed.

ELECTRICAL DISCHARGE - A condition under which a gas becomes electrically conducting and capable of transmitting current, usually accompanied by the emission of radiation. An electric spark in air is an example of an electrical discharge.

ELECTROMAGNETIC BALLAST - a ballast used with discharge lamps that consists primarily of transformer-like copper windings on a steel or iron core.

ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE (EMI) - High frequency electronic ballasts and other electronic devices can produce a small amount of radio waves which can interfere with radio and TV. Federally mandated requirements for EMI levels must be met before an electronic device is considered FCC compliant.

ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM - A continuum of electric and magnetic radiation encompassing all wavelengths: visible, ultra-violet, and infra-red.

ELECTRONIC BALLAST - A short name for a fluorescent high frequency electronic ballast. Electronic ballasts use solid state electronic components and typically operate fluorescent lamps at frequencies in the range of 25-35 kHz. The benefits 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.

ELLIPTICAL REFLECTOR (ER) LAMP - An incandescent lamp with an elliptically-shaped reflector. This shape produces a focal point directly in front of the lamp, which reduces the light lost in deep baffle downlights.

EMISSION COATING - An oxide coating deposited on a cathode that emits electrons when heated.

ENCLOSED-RATED HID - An HID lamp that must be used in enclosed luminaires. These lamps are designated by ANSI as type-E.

END-DARKENING - In linear fluorescent lamps, the evaporation of the tungsten in the cathode caused the end of the lamp to appear darker.

ENERGY AUDIT - A formula which measures the current cost of lighting as compared to the cost of lighting with an upgraded system to show the money saved in energy costs.

ENERGY POLICY ACT (EPACT) - The Energy Policy Act of 1992 mandated efficiency standards for many of the industry's most popular lamp types. It eliminated the production of certain inefficient lamps, established minimum energy efficacy standards, and outlined labeling laws for certain lamps.

ENERGY STAR - Some lamps have earned the ENERGY STAR designation. They meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy.

EXTENDED LIFE / EXTENDED SERVICE LAMPS - Incandescent lamps that have an average rated life of 2,500 hours or more and reduced light output compared to general service lamps of the same wattage. LITETRONICS SUPER SERVICE incandescents are extended-life lamps with 20,000-hour lives.

FILAMENT - The threadlike tungsten wire that lights up when an electric current runs through it. The filament is what makes an incandescent lamp light up. There are different filament types, which are designated by a prefix letter that indicates whether the wire is straight (S), coiled (C), or coiled coil (CC) and a number to indicate the arrangement of the filament on the support.

FILL LIGHT - Supplementary light that reduces shadows and contrast.

FINISH - The color, or finish, on the glass shell or lens of the lamp. Typically clear, white, or frost.

FLICKER - The periodic variation in light level caused by AC operation that can lead to strobe effects.

FLOOD - A designation of a lamp's beam spread. A flood lamp produces a wider beam angle of light to illuminate a larger area. LITETRONICS flood lamp beam spreads are 28o flood, 20o narrow flood, and 50o wide flood.

FLUORESCENCE - The emission of light as the result of the absorption of radiation of shorter wavelengths. Fluorescence occurs only while energy is being absorbed by the fluorescing material.

FLUORESCENT LAMP - A low pressure mercury, electric discharge lamp in which a fluorescing coating (phosphors) transforms some of the ultraviolet energy into light. Fluorescent lighting produces many different color tones, ranging from cool to warm, and is more diffuse than other light sources, making it excellent for general lighting.

FLUX - Continuous flow of luminous energy.

FOOTCANDLE (FC) - The unit of illumination-one footcandle is one lumen per square foot.

FROST PAR - LITETRONICS trade name for halogen lamps with a special frost coating on the lens that diffuses light to eliminate hot spots and striation.

GENERAL LIGHTING - Lighting designed to provide a substantially uniform level of illumination throughout an area.

GENERAL SERVICE LAMPS - "A" or "PS" incandescent lamps with a life rating of less than 2,500 hours.

GETTER - Used by lamp manufacturers to extend lamp life. A getter chemically combines with any free oxygen or water molecules and neutralizes them to remove any impurities from manufacturing.

GLARE - When light is brighter than the light to which the eyes are adapted to, it can cause a glare which is annoying, uncomfortable, and can lower visibility.

GLOBE - A decorative lamp with a ball-shaped bulb that is used primarily in bathroom and kitchen fixtures.

GREEN LIGHT PROGRAM - Initiated by the E.P.A. in 1991 to encourage companies to become Green Light allies by retrofitting their facilities with energy-efficient products. LITETRONICS is a Green Light ally.

GROUP RELAMPING - Replacing an entire group of lamps at a specified time, even if all of them haven't burned out. This is the correct method for replacing HID lamps.

(TUNGSTEN) HALOGEN LAMP - A high pressure gas-filled tungsten incandescent lamp containing a mixture of halogen gases (iodine or bromine), which allows the filament to be operated at higher temperatures. Halogen lamps produce a brighter, whiter light than standard incandescents.

HARD LIGHT - Light that causes an object to cast a sharply defined shadow.

HIGH-BAY LIGHTING - Lighting designed for (typically) industrial locations with a ceiling height of 25 feet and above.

HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) LAMP - A general term for mercury, metal halide, high-pressure sodium, or xenon lamps. HID lamps contain compact arc tubes which enclose various gases and metal salts operating at relatively high pressures and temperatures.

HIGH OUTPUT (HO) - A fluorescent lamp designed for use with an 800 milliampere ballast. These lamps usually operate at low temperatures near zero and still produce high quality light.

HIGH PRESSURE SODIUM (HPS) LAMPS - A clear or coated high-intensity discharge lamp in which light is produced by an electrical discharge through sodium vapor operating at relatively high pressures and temperatures. HPS lamps are highly efficient and produce a warm, golden color. They are commonly used to light large areas such as roadways, offices, shopping malls, reception areas, parks, and commercial and industrial areas.

HIGH VOLTAGE - Voltage of 208 and higher.

HOT RESTART TIME - The amount of time from a momentary power interruption to return to full light output.

HUE - The attribute that determines whether a color is red, yellow, green, blue, etc.

IGNITOR - A device that generates voltage pulses to start discharge lamps without preheating the electrodes.

ILLUMINANCE - The density of light on a surface or lumens/area; measured in footcandles or lux.

INCANDESCENCE - Light emission by a heated filament or coil.

INCANDESCENT FILAMENT LAMP - A lamp that generates light by utilizing a thin filament wire (usually of tungsten) heat to white heat by an electric current passing through it.

INDIRECT LIGHTING - Lighting an area with fixtures that distribute 90-100% of the light upwards.

INFRA-RED - Radiant energy with wavelengths of 770 to 1106 nanometers, which cannot be seen by the human eye but can be felt as heat on the skin. Applications include photography, industrial drying or baking, medical heat therapy, food heating, etc.

INITIAL LUMENS - A measurement of a lamp's lumen output the moment the lamp is burned for the first time.

INSTANT START OR INSTANT RESTRIKE - Refers to fluorescent lamps that start instantly without preheating the cathodes and without the need of starters. "Instant Start" lamps have coiled heat cathodes in contrast to "Cold Cathode" lamps. Both, however, start cold and instantly. A higher voltage ballast is required for instant start lamps than for pre-heat. "Instant Starts" differ from "rapid start" lamps and cannot be used in "rapid start" fixtures.

INTENSITY - A shortening of the terms luminous intensity and radiant intensity. Often mistaken to mean level of illumination.

INTERMEDIATE BASE - An E17 screw-in base, measuring 5/8" (17mm) in diameter.

JUNCTION BOX - A metal box in which circuit wiring is spliced to provide power to lighting fixtures, such as the OMNI-LITE, without using an electrical circuit.

KELVIN TEMPERATURE (K) - A unit of temperature starting from absolute zero, parallel to the Celsius (or Centigrade) scale. 0oC is 273oK. Kelvin temperature is used to indicate the comparative color appearance of a light source compared to a theoretical blackbody.

KEY LIGHT - The apparent principal source of directional light falling upon a subject or area.

KILOWATT (KW) - The measure of electrical power equal to 1000 watts.

KILOWATT HOUR (KWH) - The standard measure of electrical energy and the typical billing unit used for electricity use. Example: A 100-watt lamp operated for 10 hours consumes 1000 watt-hours (100 x 10) or one kilowatt-hour. If the utility charges $.10/kWh, then the electricity cost for the 10 hours of operation would be 10 cents (1 x $.10).

KRYPTON - A very heavy, inert gas which permits the filament in an incandescent lamp to glow hotter and brighter, while still providing long life.

LAMP - The term used to refer to the complete light source package, including the inner parts as well as the outer bulb or tube. "Lamp", of course, is also commonly used to refer to a type of small light fixture, such as a table lamp.

LAMP MATERIAL OR COATING - The type of glass (or quartz) used in the glass envelope surrounding the light source. The material can also have coatings applied to achieve particular performances.

LENS - A glass or plastic element used in fixtures and lamps to control the distribution of light rays. The lens is what makes a spot lamp's beam narrower and a flood lamp's beam wider.

LIFE TEST - A test in which lamps are operated under a specified length of time for the purpose of obtaining information on lamp life.

LIGHT - Radiant energy that can be sensed or seen by the human eye. Visible light is measured in lumens.

LIGHT CENTER (L.C.) - The center of the smallest sphere that would completely contain the light emitting element of the lamp.

LIGHT CENTER LENGTH (L.C.L.) - The distance between the center of the filament, or arc tube, and a reference plane - usually the bottom of the lamp base.

LIGHT EMITTING DIODE (LED) - A semiconductor diode that emits light when a voltage is applied to it and that is used especially in electronic devices.

LIGHT LOSS FACTOR (FORMERLY CALLED MAINTENANCE FACTOR) - The ratio of illuminance for a given area to the value that would occur if lamps operated at their initial lumen output and if no system variation or depreciation has occurred.

LIGHT SOURCE COLOR - The color of the light emitted by a source.

LITETRONICS EXCLUSIVE - Products that are only available through LITETRONICS.

LITETRONICS WHITE - LITETRONICS name for the 2250K color of MICRO-BRITE lamps.

LOCK-OUT BASE - A compact fluorescent lamp base that has a small peg protruding from the end of it. Lock-out bases can work in standard fixtures and sockets; however, they are primarily used in sockets that have had a lock-out disk inserted into them.

LOCK-OUT DISK - A small plastic disk that is inserted into sockets that will have lamps with lock-out bases inserted into them. The lock-out disk permanently converts sockets to work only with energy efficient CFLs.

LONG NECK - Extended neck to allow PAR lamps to fit into recessed cans that require a long neck to screw into the socket.

LOUVER - A frame fitted with slats or cross pieces (baffles) that covers an opening of a light fixture. The baffles can act to reduce glare from exposed lamps, shield the light source from view at certain angles, or reflect and direct light. They may also improve appearance of fixtures, although they sometimes reduce light output.

LOW PRESSURE SODIUM - A discharge lamp in which light is produced by radiation from sodium vapor operating at a partial pressure of 0.1 to 1.5 Pa.

LUMEN (LM) - The amount of light that is spread over a square foot of the surface by one candle when all parts of the surface are exactly one foot from the one-candle light source.

LUMEN DEPRECIATION - As a lamp burns, the amount of light (lumens) produced slowly decreases. For example, in incandescent lamps, the evaporating tungsten gathers on the inside of the bulb wall, causing it to darken. This lets less light through, causing lumen depreciation.

LUMEN MAINTENANCE - A measure of how well a lamp maintains its light output over time.

LUMINAIRE - A complete lighting unit consisting of a lamp(s), ballast(s), and the fixture as required together with the parts designed to distribute the light, position and protect the lamps, and connect them to power supply.

LUMINAIRE EFFICIENCY - The ratio of total lumens emitted by a luminaire to those emitted by the lamp(s) used.

LUMINANCE - A complicated mathematical definition of photometric brightness involving the intensity and direction of light. Simply, luminance is the amount of light reflected or transmitted by an object.

LUX - The SI unit of illuminance. One lux is one lumen per square meter (lm/m2)

MAINTENANCE FACTOR - A factor used to calculate illuminance after a given period of time and under given conditions. It takes into account temperature and voltage variations, dirt accumulation o luminaire and room surfaces, lamp depreciation, maintenance procedures, and atmospheric conditions.

MAXIMUM OVERALL DIAMETER (M.O.D.) - The width of a lamp at its widest point. Most lamp shapes denote the the lamp's M.O.D., such as PAR38 in eighths of an inch. A PAR38 is 38 eighths of an inch long at its widest point. Spiral-shaped CFLs do not denote the lamp's M.O.D. in the lamp shape; therefore the M.O.D. must be listed separately.

MAXIMUM OVERALL LENGTH (M.O.L.) - The length of a lamp from the top of the bulb to the bottom of the base.

MEAN LUMENS - The average light output of a lamp over its rated life.

MEDIUM BASE - A screw-in base, often referred to as a standard base because it is the most common. This is an E26 base, measuring 1" (26mm) in diameter.

MEDIUM BI-PIN BASE - A linear fluorescent lamp base characterized by a two-pin connection.

MERCURY VAPOR - An HID lamp operating at a relatively high pressure and temperature in which the major portion of the light is produced by radiation from excited mercury vapor. Includes clear, phosphor-coated, and self-ballasted lamps. Phosphor-coated lamps add additional light and improve color rendering. Mercury lamps are the oldest of the HID family, and while not as energy efficient as other HID lamps, are commonly used where color rendering is not critical, especially in parking lot, roadway, security, and landscape lighting.

METAL HALIDE - An HID light source in which the major portion of the light is produced by the radiation from mercury plus halides of metals such as sodium, scandium, indium, and dysprosium. Metal halide lamps tend to be very efficient and produce a crisp, white light with excellent color-rendering properties. They are commonly used in outdoor lighting installations such as flood-lighting and sports stadium lighting, as well as indoors in retail stores, lobbies, and other commercial and public spaces.

METRIC CONVERSION - To convert inches to millimeters use the formula: inches X 25.4001=millimeters.

MICRO-BRITE - LITETRONICS trade name for a family of cold cathode compact fluorescent lamps.

MOGUL BASE - An E39 screw base, 11/2" (39mm) in diameter used on larger lamps.

MR16 - A line of low voltage compact reflector lamps used for accent and spot lighting. The 16 refers to the 16 eighths of an inch diameter.

NANOMETER (NM) - A unit of wavelength equal to 10-9m.

NEODYMIUM - A bright, silvery, rare-earth metal element used for coloring glass and for doping some glass lasers.

NEOLITE - LITETRONICS trade name for T2 compact fluorescent lamps with only one milligram of mercury.

OBJECT COLOR - The color of the light reflected or transmitted by an object when illuminated by a standard light source.

O.E.M. - Standard term for an Original Equipment Manufacturer. LITETRONICS has many O.E.M. customers who purchase our lamps to use as part of complete lighting systems that they manufacture.

OPEN-RATED HID - An HID lamp that can be operated in open or enclosed luminaires. these lamps are designated by ANSI as type-O.

OPERATING CURRENT - Current, in amps, consumed by a lamp at rated watts.

OPERATING TEMPERATURE - Refers to the temperature of the environment around a lamp that may affect the operation of the lamp.

OPERATING VOLTAGE - Voltage at rated watts after the lamp warms.

ORDERING CODE - It is important to use this code when ordering to ensure that you receive the exact product you require.

PAR LAMP - PAR is an acronym for parabolic aluminized reflector. The reflector, in a parabola shape, is aluminized to reflect the light and then covered with a lens to control the light beam. PAR lamps offer excellent beam control, come in a variety of beam patterns from narrow spot to wide flood, and can be used outdoors unprotected because they are made of "hard" glass that can withstand adverse weather.

PHOSPHOR - An inorganic chemical compound processed into a powder and deposited on the inner glass surface of fluorescent tubes and some mercury and metal-halide lamp bulbs. Phosphors absorb short wavelength ultraviolet radiation and transform it into visible light.

PHOTOCELL - An electronic device that uses light to regulate the flow of current in automatic control systems. When the photocell detects light, current is not allowed to flow and the lamp remains off. When the photocell does not detect light, current is allowed through and the lamp is turned on. Some photocells work as dimmers; the photocell will allow a variable amount of current to flow depending on how much light is detected. Other photocells work as total on/off switches.

PHOTOMETRY - The measurement of quantities associated with light.

PHOTOPIC VISION - One of the two types of vision utilized by the human eye. Photopic vision detects color and is used when the eye is exposed to light.

POWER FACTOR (PF) - A measure of the phase difference between voltage and current drawn by an electrical device, such as a ballast or motor. Power factors can range from 0 to 1.0, with 1.0 being ideal. Power factor is sometimes expressed as a percent. Incandescent lamps have power factors close to 1.0 because they are simple "resistive" loads. The power factor of a fluorescent and HID lamp system is determined by the ballast used. "High" power factor usually means a rating of 0.9 or greater. A high power factor means an electrical system or device is utilizing power efficiently.

PREHEAT - A fluorescent system that requires starters. With this type of system, several seconds of heating time is necessary between the time the circuit is turned on and the time the lamp produces light.

PULSE START - An HID ballast with a high voltage igniter to start the lamp.

PURE WHITE - LITETRONICS name for the 2850K color of MICRO-BRITE lamps.

QUALITY OF LIGHT - Favorable distribution of light in a visual environment. It is determined by measuring visual performance, visual comfort, ease of seeing, safety, and aesthetics for the specific visual tasks involved.

QUANTITY PER CASE - Number of product units packed in a master case.

R WARNING - A federally mandated (Federal Standard 21 CFR 1040.3) warning which must be printed on all metal halide and mercury lamp packaging and catalogs because both lamps produce enough ultraviolet radiation to cause negative biological effects.

RADIANT ENERGY - Energy traveling in the form of electromagnetic waves. It is measured in units of energy such as joules, ergs or kilowatt hours.

RAPID START CIRCUIT - A fluorescent system that does not require starters and usually requires 1 to 2 seconds to start. Current flows continuously through the electrodes, keeping them hot and electrons emissive.

RATED LAMP LIFE - The point, in hours, where 50% of the lamps initially started will still be operating. Life may also be based on the average time before the lamp produces a certain amount of light.

RECESSED LIGHTING - A fixture that has been built into the ceiling so that the bottom edge of the fixture is flush to the ceiling.

REFLECTION - Light striking a surface is either absorbed, transmitted, or reflected. Reflected light bounces off of a surface. Specular reflection means that the rays strike and leave the surface at equal angles. Diffuse reflection leaves a surface in all directions.

REFLECTOR LAMP - A light source with a built-in reflecting surface. Sometimes, the term is used to refer specifically to blown bulbs like the R and ER lamps; at other times, it includes all reflectorized lamps like PAR and MR.

RESTRIKE TIME - Time needed to turn a lamp back on after the power fails.

RETROFITTING - Upgrading a lighting system by replacing old fixtures, ballasts, and lamps with current and/or more efficient technology.

SCOTOPIC VISION - One of the two types of vision utilized by the human eye. Scotopic vision is adapted to the dark and does not detect differenct colors; it merely detects different light levels. Scotopic vision is also more sensitive to bluish light sources, such as 5000K, which explains why light sources with high Kelvin temperatures appear brighter to the human eye than light sources with lower Kelvin temperatures.

SELF-BALLASTED LAMPS - A lamp in which the current-limiting device is built-in.

SIGN WHITE - LITETRONICS name for the 2700K color of MICRO-BRITE lamps.

SOFT LIGHT - Diffuse illumination that produces soft-edged, poorly defined shadows.

SPECTRAL POWER DISTRIBUTION (SPD) - A graph of the radiant power emitted by a light source as a function of a wavelength.

SPEED OF LIGHT - The speed of all radiant energy, including light: approximately 186,000 miles per second.

SPOT - A reflector lamp with a tight light beam. LITETRONICS spot lamp beam spreads are 10o spot and 8o narrow spot.

STARTER - A starting switch needed for preheat fluorescent fixtures to "start" or light a lamp. It preheats the lamp cathodes and also provides a powerful electrical "kick" to jump the current through the lamp from cathode to cathode.

SUPER SAFE-TTM - A proprietary coating on the outside of certain LITETRONICS lamps and lenses that prevents lamp shattering and effectively contains shattered glass particles if the lamp is broken. Such protection is essential in many industries, e.g. food packaging.

SUPER SERVICETM - LITETRONICS trade name for incandescent lamps with a 20,000-hour average rated life.

SURFACE MOUNTED - A type of fixture that is mounted on some type of surface, such as a wall or under a cabinet.

SUSPENDED - Fixture that hangs down from the ceiling to bring the actual lamp part of the fixture closer to the surface to be illuminated.

TASK LIGHTING - Lighting directed to a specific surface or area that provides illumination for visual tasks.

TCLP TEST - Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure test, specified in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1990, is used to characterize fluorescent lamp waste as hazardous or non-hazardous waste. The TCLP test measures the ability of the mercury and/or lead in a lamp to leach from a landfill into groundwater.

TORCHERE - An indirect floor lamp that sends all or nearly all of its light upward.

TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION (THD) - A measure of the distortion caused by ballasts and other inductive loads of the input current on alternating current (AC) power systems caused by higher order harmonics of the fundamental frequency (60Hz in North America) THD is expressed in percent and may refer to individual electrical loads (such as ballast) or total electrical circuit or system in a building. ANSI C82.77 recommends THD not exceed 32% for individual commercial electronic ballasts. although some electrical utilities may require lower THDs on some systems. Excessive THDs on electrical systems can cause efficiency losses, as well as overheating and deterioration of system components.

TROFFER - A long, recessed lighting unit, usually installed in an opening in the ceiling.

TUNGSTEN - A hard, brittle, corrosion-resistant, gray to white metallic element having the highest melting point and lowers vapor pressure of any metal. Tungsten and its alloys are used in high-temperature structural materials; in electrical elements, notably lamp filaments; and in instruments requiring thermally compatible glass-to-metal seals.

ULTRAVIOLET (UV) RADIATION - Radiant energy of wavelengths shorter than the wavelengths of visible light. "Ultra" means beyond, so ultraviolet rays are beyond the violet end of the spectrum and, thus, beyond the range of sight. On the electromagnetic spectrum, UV radiation is within the wavelength range of 10-380.

UNDERWRITERS LABORATORIES (UL) - A private organization which tests and lists electrical equipment for electrical and fire safety according to recognized UL and other standards.

UNIVERSAL BURN - A notation indicating that a lamp can be burned base-up, base-down, or horizontally.

VALANCE LIGHTING - Lighting from light sources on a wall typically above eye level, shielded by horizontal panels. The light may be upward or downward directed.

VITAL SPECTRUM - LITETRONICS trade name for 5600K, 92 CRI T12 lamps.

VOLT - A measure of "electrical pressure" between two points. The higher the voltage, the more current will be pushed through a resistor connected across the points. The volt specification of an incandescent lamp is the electrical "pressure" required to drive it at its designed point. The "voltage" of a ballast (e.g. 277 V) refers to the line voltage it must be connected to.

VOLTAGE - A measurement of the electromotive force in an electrical circuit or device expressed in volts. Voltage can be thought of as being analogous to the pressure in a waterline. Standard voltage in the U.S. is 110-120 (130 in some northwestern states) Standard voltage in Europe is 230-240.

WARM UP TIME - The amount of time from turn-on to 90% light output.

WATT - The unit of electrical power used by an electrical device during its operation. Lamps are rated in watts to indicate their power consumption; power consumed over time equals the electrical energy used. It is related to volts and amps by the following formula: watts = volts X amps.

WAVELENGTH - Commonly measured in units of micrometers, nanometers, or angstroms. It is the distance between two successive points of a periodic wave, in the direction of propagation, at which the oscillation has the same phase.

XTREME WHITE - LITETRONICS trade name for halogen lamps with a neodymium-infused lens that reduces the yellow color that causes colors to blend together. Xtreme White lamps have a 3500K color that emphasizes true colors and textures and eliminates color mixing problems.