A
A-Line Lamp: An indoor lamp regularly used in residential homes.
Accent Lighting: Bright, specifically placed lighting used to accent certain parts of residential homes.
Alternating Current (AC): A current of electricity that changes direction according to frequency.
Alternator: A generator that producing a constant alternating electrical current.
Ambient Lighting: General lighting used in resident and commercial areas.
American Wire Gauge (AWG): A standard measurement system to rate the size of electrical wire.
Ampacity: Maximum amount of current that a conductor can carry continuously.
Ampere: An electrical current that is created when one ohm is applied to one volt.
Analog: The standard unit of measure assessing physical restrictions.
Arc Tube: A clear, glass tube made of quartz that houses an arc stream.
B
Ballast: A limited electrical current device that works to run fluorescent lighting.
Ballast Cycling: When fluorescent lighting cycles on and off to avoid overheating.
Battery: A unit that houses two or more cells that connect to create an electrical current.
Blower Doors: A device used to send a wind current though residential homes and make leaks around doors, windows and other areas become apparent.
Branch Circuit: Circuits that feed devices, appliances and other electrical needs in a residence.
Brownout: A decrease in available power when the generation of electricity cannot keep up with demand.
BTU (British Thermal Unit): Standard unit for measuring heat quantities.
C
Cable Lighting System: A hanging track wiring system of low voltage spot lighting.
Candlepower/Candela: Unit of measure for light intensity.
Capacitor: Electronic component that holds an electrical charge.
Cathode: An electrode that emits electrons out of a device.
Cell: The part of a battery that converts chemical energy into a working electrical current.
Circuit Breaker: A device designed to control electrical currents without ruining the wiring.
Circuit Extensions: An extension to a circuit that provides an additional power source.
Code Corrections: A citation issued to correct wiring that does not meet required safety regulations.
Colored Glass Filter: Color inserted directly into glass during the forming process, instead of coated after the glass has cooled.
Color Temperature: Range of measurement from warm colors to cool colors, used to measure the color appearance of a light source.
Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL): Small, tube shaped fluorescent lighting with a high color illumination.
Constant Wattage (CW) Ballast: Occurs when a primary and secondary coil is isolated in an HID ballast.
Continuous Load: The maximum electrical load current for a whoy is excepted to run a constant 3+ hours.
Contrast: The range of illumination from light and dark.
Controller: The regulator of electricity between the origin of power and the device it is running.
Cornice Lighting: Bar-shaped fixtures that cover ceiling lighting.
Cover Lighting: a ceiling mounted light used to distribute light across an area.
Current: The flow of electricity.
Cut-off Angle: the angle at which the light from a lamp is not visible.
D
Daylight Compensation: A dimming lighting system that dims at the presence of natural daylight.
Diffuse: Disillusion of light so that it’s softened around an area.
Dimmer: Used to vary the light distributed by a lamp.
Diode: Device used to allow electricity to flow in one direction.
Direct Current (DC): Power rating that allows the current to flow in one direction.
Downlight: Light mounted in a ceiling that is used to direct light downwards.
E
Efficacy: Term used to measure light produced vs. energy consumption.
Electroluminescent: A new technology used to provide long lamp life in which consumes very little energy.
Electric Resistance Heating: A heating system the creates heat by passing an electrical current through a conductor.
EMI (Electromagnetic Inference): Interference caused by an electronic component that hinders the operation of electrical equipment.
Emergency Lighting: Lighting that illuminates during a power outage or other emergency.
Energy: A unit of measure for mechanical work, measured in kilo-watt hours.
Energy Efficiency Ration (EER): A ratio comparing the rate at which an air conditioner cools to the total wattage of electrical input.
Energy-Saving Ballast: A efficiently performing magnetic ballast.
F
Fault: A hiccup in an electrical system causing a short circuit.
Filament: The wire within a light bulb that illuminates when electricity is ran through it.
Flexible Track Lighting System: A lighting system on a track that has the ability to be adjusted.
Fluorescent Lamps: Lights that produce light when electricity is passed through gas rather than a wire.
Foot-Candle: A unit of measurement used to measure the amount of light reaching an object.
Four-Way Switch: Three light switches all wired to control a single lighting system.
Frequency: Rate in which a current changes it’s direction.
G
Generator: Rotating copper wheel that generates electricity.
Glare: An effect caused by direct light entering the eye.
Grid: A network of wires used to distribute electricity.
Ground: Used to direct electricity to a safe location.
H
Halogen Lamp: A bulb that contains halogen gases to slow the evaporation of the filament.
Hard Wired: A permanent connection to an electrical source.
Hertz: Measurement of frequency.
HID Lamp: High Intensity lamps with an extensive lifespan.
High Bay: Ceiling lighting where the ceiling exceeds a height of 20 feet.
High Output (HO): A lighting system designed to function with higher currents to put out more light.
High-Tech Troubleshooting: A testing system to identify and wiring system issues or failures.
Horsepower: A unit of power that is equivalent to 746 watts.
Hot Restart/Hot Restrike: The action of a HID light source automatically restarting following a loss in power.
I
Illuminance (Light Level): The amount of light in a particular room or on an object or surface.
Impulse: A temporary electrical current surge.
Incandescent Light Bulbs: Light bulbs specially made to run electricity through a thin layer.
Infared Cameras: Cameras that pick up on any heat source.
Infared Radiation: An invisible radiation that has extended wavelengths.
Instant Start: Fluorescent lamps that function without requiring preheating.
Insulation: Materials used to resist electrical currents.
Inverter: A device that converts an direct electrical current into an alternative one.
Ion: A molecule or atom that is either positively or negatively charged.
J
Joule: Unit of measure for potential electrical current equal to 1,000 volts.
K
Kilovolt (kV): A unit of electrical current equal to 1,000 volts.
Kilowatt (kW): Power delivered in a load.
Kilowatt-hour: Measurement comparison for a unit to energy to one kilowatt for one hour.
L
Layers: The layers of illumination created by multiple light sources.
LED: An energy-efficient light that has an extremely extensive lifespan.
Light Loss Factor (LLF): An allowance that lets lighting systems in less than ideal conditions.
Light Trespass/Spill Light: The lighting of an unintended area.
Life Cycle Cost: The overall cost of buy and operating a total system over the total lifespan.
Limit Switch: A switch that causes an alteration to an electrical current.
Liquid-Filled Transformer: A liquid that cools and insulates a submerged transformer.
Live Parts: Components of electrical wiring that are exposed and deemed dangerous.
Load: The power supplied by an electrical device.
Loadbreak: The successful avoidance of disengaging a load with damaging it’s components.
Load Center: The power center that distributes power to an entire structure.
Load Curve: Electronic demand vs. Time.
Load Factor: A unit of measure for an electrical system’s capacity and efficiency.
Load Switching: Taking one load and transferring it from one source to another.
Louver: A opaque screen created to minimize glare.
Low Voltage: A wiring system that provides electricity to a device under 100 volts.
Lumen: Unit of measure that indicates the amount of light emitted from a light source.
Luminaire: A light system or single fixture.
M
Mercury Vapor Lamp: A lamp in which light is produced from the radiation of mercury vapor.
Metal Enclosed/Metalclad: A metal casing that surrounds a device.
Metal Halide: A lamp in which light is produced by the radiation of metal halide.
Motors: The device that moves or runs a system.
N
National Electrical Code: The code of requirements for proper electrical practices and procedures.
Neodymium: A metal used to create a purple-hued glass for certain light bulbs, goggles, filters and lenses.
O
Occupancy Sensor: An motion sensor light switch system.
Ohm: Unit of measure to properly measure resistance.
Opaque: A material that does not allow light to pass through at all.
Outlet: A current that is borrowed to supply electricity to somewhere outside of the orginally intended power grid.
Overload: An excessive amount of stress on a particular circuit.
Overvoltage: A voltage that is above the recommend capacity.
P
PAR Lamp: An aluminium reflector lamp.
Pendant: A glare-deflecting shade for ceiling-mounted lamps.
Phase: An AC circuit classification.
Photocell: Device that senses light and controls the lighting system accordingly.
Power: The unit of measure for energy transferred.
Power Outlet: A device intended to distribute power temporarily to other equipment.
Preheat: The heating up of a fluorescent lamp before the use of high voltage.
Puncture: A discharge that temporarily disrupts a solid dielectric.
R
Radio Frequency Inference (RFI): The disruption of a radio frequency band by another frequency band nearby.
Rapid Start: A fluorescent lighting system that goes to high voltage quickly without warming up first.
Rated Life: Half the expected lifespan of a particular kind of lamp.
Reactive Power: The voltage and current taken up by reactive loads.
Real (Active) Power: The measurment in watts or kilowatts measuring the rate at which energy is transferred.
Receptacles: Power sources within a structure.
Reflector/Refractor: A light fixture’s part that redirects a light’s path.
Regulation: The ability a ballast has to uphold fluctuations in voltage.
Relay: A device used to turn a load on or off during electrical current changes.
Resistor: Any limitation on a current’s flow.
Retrofit: Upgrading a feature based on previous installations.
S
Sconce: Lighting fixtures that attached to the wall.
Semi-spectacular: Characteristics of a material that creates light reflection.
Service: Materials used to deliver electric energy from a utility into a wiring system.
Series Gap: Areas in the internal system in which voltage is suppose to appear.
Series/Multiple: Two coils wound together to create a series of operating systems.
Service Cable: Cables used to transfer conductors.
Spacing Criterion: The maximum spacing requirement for interior lighting systems for appropriate light.
Specular: A surface that is polished or mirror.
Starter: A device that is used to start a fluorescent lamp.
Stroboscopic Effect: An effect that is created when machinery is rotating, but appears to be standing still.
Switchboard: An assembly of panels that are mounted with protective devices.
Switches: A interruption to a circuit that controls the flow of electricity.
Symmetric: The natural flow of a electrical current.
Systems Capacity: The maximum allowance of electricity allowed for one system.
T
Tap: Connections made from an outside wiring system.
Tandem Wiring: A ballast shared by two or more luminaries for heightened efficiency.
Task Lighting: Lighting that is installed in particular areas where tasks are performed.
Three-Way Switch: A switch allowing two switches to control a single lighting system.
Track and Accent Lighting: Lighting used to highlight certain areas or walls in residential homes and businesses.
Transfer Switch: A device that can connect to different sources.
Transformer: A device that lets electromagnetic energy transfer from one circuit to another.
Transient: A amplitude that is overlaid onto normal voltage.
Translucent: Any material that allows light to pass directly through with a small amount of distortion.
Transparent: Any material that allows light to pass directly through with little or no distortion.
Troffer: A recessed light fixture that is built in the ceiling.
Turn Ratio: The turn count of a high voltage winding vs. low voltage winding.
U
UL (Underwriters Laboratories Inc.): A non-profit safety organization.
Uninterruptible Power Supply: A device that constantly puts out a current, even with interruption.
Uplight: Light that is directed at or about 90 degress.
UV Radiation: Invisible light rays
V
Vandal-resistant: Fixtures that resist breaking or tampering
Vapor-Tight Luminaire: A lighting fixture that is protected against water vapor and gas
VCP (Visual Comfort Probability): A system used to rate the output of direct glare.
Very High Output (VHO): A fluorescent lamp that operates at a high current and thus puts off more light.
Volt: An flow of electricity that carries one ampere.
Voltage Drop: A drop in voltage due to an electrical resistance or failure.
W
Wall Grazing: Light and shadow effects on a surface.
Wall Washing: A lighting method that produces a constant level of light to reduce surface texture.
Watt: A unit of electricity that is equal to one ampere.
Wiring: The system of wires that distributes electricity throughout the entirety of a building.
Whole-House Fan: A fan that runs ventilation for an entire building.