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Lighting Glossary |
Accent Lighting
Directional lighting to emphasize a particular object or draw attention to a part of the field of view.
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Back Plate
A covering, usually metal, used to conceal the junction box and wiring on wall braces.
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Ballast
An electrical device used in fluorescent fixtures to supply and regulate the necessary voltage and current to start and operate the lamp.
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Baffle
An opaque shield of metal, wood, or plastic used to shield the view of the light sourcce
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Bobéche
The saucer below the candle cup originally designed to catch the candle drippings.Either metal or glass.
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Candelabra Base Lamps
A smaller base light bulb, especially used in chandeliers. |
Candle
Fiber tube, which covers the sockets of a chandelier and simulates a candle.
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Candlecup
Metal piece between the bobèche and candle that represents the candle holder that was used in candle-burning chandeliers.
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Candlepower
Describes the light intensity of a lamp in a certain direction.
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Canopy
A covering, usually metal or plastic, used to conceal the junction box and wiring at the ceiling line.
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CFL
A compact fluorescent lamp. CFLs differ from other types of fluorescent lamps in shape, size, and electrical contact; they are small, have bent tubes, and all the electrical contacts are at one end.
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Chassis
The reflecting enclosure housing the ballast and lampholders in a fluorescent luminaire.
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Chimney
Glass tubes of various shapes placed around the flame to protect against wind. Today it is used for ornamentation and light diffusion.
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Convenience Receptacle
An electrical outlet built in to a fixture to provide current for other types of electrical devices.
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Cornice Lighting
A system comprising of light sources shielded by a panel parallel to the wall and attached to the ceiling and distributing light over the wall; downlight only.
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Cove Lighting
A system comprising light sources shielded by a ledge or horizontal recesses, and distributing the light over the ceiling and upper wall; up light only.
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Diffuser
A translucent glass or plastic that shields the light source and spreads the light evenly in all directions.
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Directional Lighting
A system in which the work plane or an object is illuminated predominately from a preferred direction
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Downlight
Refers to a hidden light source that directs the light downward towards the surface immediately below the product. Can be used in both practical and dramatic lighting applications.
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Filament
In a light bulb, a thin wire (metal tungsten) which emits light when heated to incandescence by an electric current.
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Finial
The finished ornament at the top of a lamp or, in some cases, at the bottom of the fixture.
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Fixture
Luminaire, as distinguished from a portable lamp in that it is permanently wired in to the building wiring system.
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Flange
Overlapping metal portion of a recessed luminaire at the ceiling line. It serves to cover the ceiling opening around the luminaires
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Fluorescent Lamp
A lamp in which light is produced by the excitation of phosphors that emit light (fluoresce) when subjected to ultra-violet radiation. The ultra-violet radiation results from an electric discharge, i.e., the flow of current through a metallic vapor or gas (usually a combination of mercury and argon). The phosphors form a coating on the inside of the fluorescent tube, surrounding the electric discharge within. Fluorescent lamps come in varying colors, diameters, lengths, and wattages, and are made for various starting and ballasting systems.
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Font
A container at the bottom of an oil lamp used historically to store the fuel. Today it is any bottom section shaped like a font.
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Gallery
An open work or pierced metal border or frame, usually decorative in appearance.
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Globe
A transparent or diffusing material ball-shaped to form a lamp, intended to diffuse and redirect the light or to change the color of the light.
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Hanger
A rounded loop attached to either the canopy of the outlet box from which the chain is hung.
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Harp
The metal frame that holds the shade over the base of the lamp.
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IC Luminaires
Special recessed housing designed for direct contact with insulation.
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Incandescent Lamp
(Also known as a Filament Lamp or "Bulb"). A lamp in which light is produced by a filament heated to incandescence by the flow of electric current through it. The filament is usually of tungsten wire and operates in the range of 4000 degrees fahrenheit. Incandescent lamps come in many sizes, wattages and shapes, in , frosted or white coated bulbs, and are available in many special types for particular applications such as reflectorized lamps (R or PAR types), or silvered bowl lamps.
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Lamp
An artificial light source - a light bulb or tube. |
Louver
A series of vertical baffles designed to cut off light traveling in undesirable directions.
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Medium Base Lamp
Standard light bulb |
MR16 Lamp
The MR16 lamps (also known as Multi-mirror lamps) are halogen-type lamps in an integral multifaceted reflector. They provide exceptional beam control. Because of the highly efficient dichroic reflector and the halogen performance characteristics, the MR16 lamps can provide more lumens per watt than standard incandescents. Operating at 12 volts they come in a variety of wattages and beam spreads.
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Multiplier Trim
A bowl-shaped recess trim usually in a shiny gold, silver, or black specular finish. The light source is located toward the top of the trim well above the ceiling surface so as to provide direct downlighting while offering a glistening metallic aperture.
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Par Lamps
(Parabolic Aluminized Reflector lamp). A sealed-beam lamp with a front of heat-resistant glass. The back section of the lamp is parabolic in cross-section and internally aluminized to reflect and spread a powerful beam of light.
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Refraction
The change of direction a ray of light undergoes in passing obliquely from one medium to another in which its velocity is different. For example, light is refracted when it passes through a piece of glass at an oblique angle, also when it passes through water.
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Shade
An opaque or translucent covering added to fixtures and lamps to enhance the decoration, shield the light source and/or direct the light.
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Soffit
The underneath part or a building, as an overhang of ceiling, staircase or cornice. Normally where recessed lighting is installed.
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Spindle
A turned center body or arm on a fixture. |
Tungsten-Halogen
(Quartz) Special type of incandescent lamp that has its filament in a quartz enclosure which has been filled with halogen gas. Due to a regenerative cycle, the tungsten is removed from the bulb wall and redeposited on the filament. As a result, lamp blackening is eliminated and lamp life is roughly doubled compared to standard incandescent lamps.
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Track
A length of metal rod affixed to the ceiling along with special light fixtures that can be moved and snapped in place.
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Transformers
A device that can transfer current from one circuit to another, usually with either a decrease or increase in voltage. An essential component for any kind of low-voltage lamp installation.
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Troffer
A recessed fluorescent luminaire generally designed to fit exactly into modules of suspended mechanical ceilings. Many troffers are designed to be installed in continuous runs.
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Valance Lighting
A system comprising light sources shielded by a panel parallel to the wall at the top of a window; both up and down light
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Watt
The standard unit of power in the US . Unit of light power equal to 1/746 horsepower.
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Wire Rating
Rated 75 or 90 degree centigrade supply wire. This warning indicates that a fixture so marked must be installed only in dwellings having house wire temperature equal to or greater than the rating (75º or 90ºC) marked on the fixture. Higher temperature house supply wire permits greater fixture wattage and more attractive fixture design.
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