Knowledge base

Ballast

a device working in an electrical circuit with discharge lamps, mainly used to stabilise the discharge current.

Brightness

physical equivalent of luminance; visual impression where the surface appears more or less bright (dark, vivid).

Cap (thread)

is the part of the bulb used to attach it to the casing, the type of cap and the corresponding casing is usually described in one or more letters and a number indicating the approximate size of the cap in millimetres (usually diameter or pin spacing), e.g: E27, E14, GU10. When you buy a new bulb, don't forget to check for which cap the lamp is adapted.

CE

CE marking on a product means that it meets all the requirements of the European Union directives and that it has been subjected to appropriate tests completed with a positive assessment.

Colour rendering index (Ra, CRI)

means the effect of lighting on the perceived colour of objects by comparison with their perceived colour under reference lighting. The higher the ratio, the better the colours are rendered and the more natural the objects are lit. Faithful colour presentation is particularly important in paint shops, showrooms, boutiques and dental practices. It is recommended to use fluorescent lamps with Ra greater than 90.

Colour temperature

the advantage of LED solutions is the ability to choose the colour of light (so called colour temperature expressed in Kelvins [K]). The colour temperature is matched to the place of application, and also according to our tastes. The choice between warm white (WW),                     
neutral white (NW)                                                                                      
and cool white (CW)                                                                                   
opens up new possibilities for creating an interior climate. In rooms such as living rooms and bedrooms, where we want to create a cosy atmosphere, we most often use a source of warm colour, in places where activity is intensified, such as kitchens, workshops or offices, a neutral colour similar to daylight will be ideal
 

Colour temperature Tc [K]

the advantage of LED solutions is the ability to select the light colour (the so-called colour temperature expressed in Kelvin [K]), corresponding to tastes and place of application. The choice between warm white (WW), neutral white (NW) and cool white (CW) opens up new possibilities for creating the interior climate. In rooms such as the living room or bedroom, where we want to create a cosy atmosphere, we will use a source of warm colour. In places of intense activity, such as kitchens, workshops or offices, a neutral colour temperature similar to daylight will be ideal.

Colour uniformity

indicates that there is no difference in the shades of light emitted by the same filament lamp from different production batches.

DALI

is a digital lighting control system, derived from English (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface). DALI allows you to control individual luminaires by using peripherals or a computer with an additional two-wire cable..

Dimmable

means that the value of the luminous flux can be adjusted by means of an external control device (dimmer). In order to be able to control the intensity of lighting in your home, you need luminaires and bulbs that are suitable for this purpose.

Downlight

a luminaire that focuses the light "from above". This type of lighting is very popular in offices and boutiques. They are mounted in the ceiling at several points. Rooms where downlight fittings are used become spacious and thanks to that its appearance become more sophisticated. Downlight luminaires are increasingly being installed in homes and flats.

Durability

generally speaking, it means the luminous duration in hours (under strictly defined conditions). One of the main features of LED sources is a very long service life, which should be an important factor in the choice of lighting. At home, with an average of three hours of operation per day per year, 25,000 hours is more than 20 years of operation without the need to replace sources with new ones.

EAC

The Certificate of Conformity of the Customs Union ensures that the products meet the requirements set out in the technical regulations of the Customs Union (it consists of, among others, Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus).

Energy efficiency class

It determines the degree of energy efficiency of a given light source. The latest energy efficiency classes for lamps are marked with letters from A (most efficient devices) to G (least efficient devices).

The energy efficiency class of lamps is determined by their Energy Efficiency Index (EEI).

The energy efficiency class label on the lamp packaging allows you to easily compare the energy efficiency of different models.For example, an LED source that consumes 4W can give us 800 lumens of light (currently class A), another source that also consumes 4W will give us 250 lumens of light (class G). The higher the class, the more light from less energy the device will give us.

Thanks to the information on the energy efficiency class, customers can consciously choose products that consume less energy, are more environmentally friendly and allow you to save on electricity bills.

Fluorescent lamp (fluorescent tube)

a discharge lamp in which light is produced by excitation of a layer of phosphor by means of ultraviolet radiation produced during the discharge. This name is most often used to refer to a low-pressure mercury lamp, commonly known as a glow tube.

Glare effect

this is a state of discomfort or reduced ability to recognize objects as a result of too bright, blinding or tiring light in the field of vision. It may also be caused by an inappropriate distribution of luminance in time or space. The glare effect may be caused by excessively bright, poorly planned or poor quality light sources and other light-reflecting objects. Lighting can vary in severity, from temporary disturbance to temporary blindness. The glare effect can be eliminated or reduced by selecting suitable luminaires and planning lighting points in rooms.

Highlight lighting

means a type of lighting whose light flux is directed to a given location in order to light a selected object or part of a surface. The use of this type of lighting allows you to bring out all the advantages of our interior such as: decorations, paintings, sculptures or architectural details.

IK class

determines the mechanical impact strength. This allows you to determine the degree of protection provided by the housing against external mechanical impacts. The parameter is set on an 11-point scale ("00" - no protection to "10").
The higher the numerical value of the IK parameter, the greater the resistance potential, i.e. mechanical strength.

IK 01 mechanical strength is 0.15 J.
IK 02 mechanical strength is 0.2 J.
IK 03 mechanical strength is 0.35 J.
IK 04 mechanical strength is 0.50 J.
IK 05 mechanical strength is 0.70 J.
IK 06 mechanical strength is 1 J.
IK 07 mechanical strength is 2 J.
IK 08 mechanical strength is 5 J.
IK 09 mechanical strength is 10 J.
IK 10 mechanical strength is 20 J.

This parameter should be taken into consideration when choosing in-ground lighting fittings to be mounted on the driveway, between paving stones or outdoor fixtures, surrounding traffic routes where random people appear, as well as in places exposed to vandalism attacks.

Illumination

a term used to describe the artistic illumination of buildings with artificial light.

Incandescent lamp

an electric light source in which the glowing body is a highly heated current flowing fibre made of difficult-to-melt material (originally graphite, now tungsten). Tungsten wire is placed in a glass bulb filled with a mixture of noble gases (e.g. argon with a 10% nitrogen admixture) or a vacuum.

Incandescent lamp equivalent

approximate equivalent power value of a conventional incandescent lamp emitting the same luminous flux as the LED light source. It is given to facilitate the choice of replacement bulbs in the form of LED bulbs.

IP class

indicates the degree of protection of the equipment or electrical apparatus against external influences. The designation consists of IP letters and two to four characters, the first of which means resistance to the ingress of solids and the second to the ingress of water, e.g. IP54 - grade 5 means protection against the ingress of dust in quantities that interfere with the operation of the device, while grade 4 means protection against drops falling at any angle on all sides (e.g. rain). The higher the IP class, the more resistant the device is to water and solids ingress.

LED lamp

is a light source based on light emitting diodes, placed in a casing which allows them to be used in a luminaire designed for light bulbs. Commonly known as LED bulb, although in Polish these terms are not entirely correct - bulb is a source of light using a filament, i.e. wire of difficult-to-melt metal (currently tungsten). LED lamps (LED light sources) can have different shapes reminiscent of traditional bulbs, halogen spotlight fittings or fluorescent lamps.

Lifetime

an estimate of the period over which the guaranteed lighting parameters will be maintained. The service life is given in an hourly rate.

Light distribution angle (lighting angle)

determines how widely a light bulb shines on the surface where the light is actually effective. A narrower angle indicates a more focused light beam, directed at one place, and a wider angle is the light more scattered on the surface. Different angles of light are the areas that a bulb can light. If you want to light a uniformly selected room, but do not care about the high intensity of light, it is best to choose LEDs with a wide lighting angle from 120°, replacing the traditional bulbs with 40 and 60 W bulbs.

Light-emitting diode

a light emitting diode, more commonly known as an LED, is a direct conversion of electricity into light through the phenomenon of electroluminescence.

Louvre

special protection of light sources used in luminaires. Its task is to evenly illuminate the room and eliminate the effects of reflection and refraction.

Luminous efficiency

determines the efficiency of the lamp, namely the quotient of the emitted light output and the power consumed by the lamp (unit: lm/W). The more lumens a watt emits from a light source, the greater the light efficiency of the light source.

Luminous flux

determines the amount of light emitted by the light source. The unit of measure of the luminous flux is the lumen. More lumens means a light source that gives more light. LED sources already provide such high luminous fluxes, that they can easily replace all conventional incandescent bulbs, even the most powerful ones. When buying an LED it is worth paying special attention to the value of this parameter.

Luminous flux pulsation

high-frequency flickering of the light due to natural (i.e. undisturbed) variation of the alternating voltage that supplies the light source. The reason for the pulsation is insufficient inertia of the light production process in the lamp. The effect is not visible to the human eye because of its high frequency, but it is considered to be a nuisance, adversely affecting the mood. When choosing a light source, it is worth paying attention to the information concerning luminous flux pulsation, at reputable manufacturers, this effect is minimized or eliminated in order not to tire the eyes.

Luminous-flux-retention factor (LLMF)

means the ratio of the luminous flux emitted by a lamp at a given point in its life to its initial luminous flux.

Metal-halide lamp

a high-pressure discharge lamp in which light is produced by an electrical discharge in a mixture of mercury vapour, argon and metal halides (sometimes also other noble gases and bromine or iodine). These gases are under high pressure hence the term high-pressure lamp.

On/off cycle

means the sequence of switching the lamp on and off, it shall be tested to determine its potential durability.

Operating temperature

the temperature range within which the luminaire can operate.

Rated (nominal) power

determines the power consumed by the filament lamp when supplied with its rated voltage. The unit is WAT [W].

Rated value

means the value set for a given product under specified operating conditions, stating whether or not it is operating in accordance with the standards or recommendations of the manufacturer. Exceeding the rated value can cause malfunction, change of parameters or damage.

Reflector

a device in which the phenomenon of reflection is used to modify the spatial distribution of the luminous flux from the light source.

Replaceable light source / replaceable bulb

Determines the type of light source. In the non-replaceable version, the light source means that the lamps with LEDs are permanently integrated into the luminaire structure. The light source cannot be replaced after the lamp has worn out and stops working. Lamps with a replaceable light source have a different construction than a luminaire adapted to the specific thread. In this variant we have the freedom to choose the power and colour temperature of the light bulb. The bulb must be purchased separately in this variant.

Self-shielding lamp

the type of halogen lamp or metal halide lamp for which it is not necessary to use a protective screen against UV radiation or splashing of the lamp in the lighting fixture.

Spotlight

the type of luminaire is characterized by the concentration of light in a strictly defined area, usually with an angle of no more than 45 degrees. This type of luminaires is most often used in interior lighting to expose selected elements in a room.

Starter

is the common name for a fluorescent lamp starting switch.

Starter (starting switch)

a device for igniting the discharge lamps by heating the electrodes or by overvoltage in the circuit with the ballast.

Supply voltage

means the supply voltage specified by the manufacturer for a given light source (lamp, luminaire, etc.) in order for the device to function (light) correctly.

Thermal resistance (Rth)

the physical quantity representing the resistance that a given matter puts to the transfer of heat (thermal energy) between two points. It is important in electronic circuits (also in LED lamps), where heat dissipation is crucial to prevent overheating.

UGR

(English Unified Glare Rating) is a unified glare indicator, one of the methods of glare assessment recommended by the International Lighting Committee. The value of the indicator is calculated on the basis of appropriate measurements.