LAMP TYPES

A. INCANDESCENT AND HALOGEN

LAMPS

Tungsten halogen lamps are basically incandescent lamps that operate at

higher pressure and temperature than standard incandescent lamps,
producing a whiter light and longer life. The "tungsten" part of the name
comes from the filament material - tungsten. The halogen part refers to the
type of chemical additive that bestows the lamp with its special properties.
It is an advanced form of incandescent lamp.

PROPERTIES:
The filament is composed of ductile tungsten and located in a gas filled bulb
just like a standard tungsten bulb, however the gas in a halogen bulb is at a
higher pressure (7-8 ATM). The glass bulb is made of fused quartz, high-silica glass or
aluminosilicate. This bulb is stronger than standard glass in order to contain the high pressure.
This lamp has been an industry standard for work lights and film/television lighting due to compact
size and high lumen output. The halogen lamp is being replaced slowly by the white LED array
lamp, miniature HID and fluorescent lamps. Increased efficiency halogens with 30+ lumens per
watt may change sale decline in the future.

INFRARED COATING
The most energy efficient halogen lamp is one with an infrared reflective (IR)
coating. The coating redirects the infrared energy back onto the filament, while
letting the visible energy pass through the coating. The redirected (or recycled)
infrared energy improves the output to approximately 82% infrared heat and 18%
visible light - instead of the 90-10 heat to light ratio of a standard lamp.

ADVANTAGES
a. Halogen Lamps are small, lightweight

DISADVANTAGES
1. Extremely hot (easily capable of causing
severe burns if the lamp is touched).

b.

Low cost to produce

2. The lamp is sensitive to oils left by the human

skin, if you touch the bulb with your bare hands
the oil left behind will heat up once the bulb is
activated, this oil may cause an imbalance and
result
in
a
rupture
of
the
bulb.

c.

Does
not
use
mercury
like
CFLs(fluorescent) or mercury vapor lights

3. Explosion, the bulb is capable of blowing and

sending hot glass shards outward. A screen or

layer of glass on the outside of the lamp can

protect
users.
d.

Better color temperature than standard

tungsten (2800-3400 Kelvin), it is closer to
sunlight than the more "orangy" standard
tungsten.

e.

Longer
life
than
a
conventional
incandescent
Instant on to full brightness, no warm up
time, and it is dimmable

f.

APPLICATIONS:
DRAMA
Low voltage halogen lighting can be used to create dramatic contrast - calling
attention to featured artwork in a space.

RETAIL
highlighting merchandise either from track or recessed luminaries
MUSEUMS
lighting artwork and sculpture
RESIDENTIAL
track lighting, recessed lighting
DECORATIVE
pendant lights over surfaces
TASK LIGHTING
reading and other tasks

B. FLUORESCENT LAMPS
PROPERTIES:
Fluorescent lamps produce light by passing an
electric arc through a mixture of an inert gas (argon
or argon / krypton) and mercury (a tiny amount).
The mercury radiates ultraviolet energy that is
transformed
to
visible
light
by
the
PHOSPHOR coating on the bulb.

Fluorescent lighting is a type of electrical lamp choice that works through the use of mercury
andneon gas, producing a chemical reaction; standard incandescent bulbs, on the other hand,
work by reacting to heat. This type of lighting used to be used only in offices, but is now becoming
more and more popular in homes because of their many advantages. If you are considering it for
your home, here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of this type of lighting to help you
decide if it's right for you.

Fluorescent lamps are more efficient at producing light compared to standard incandescent or even
halogen. In fact, their efficacy is 4-8 times that of the filament sources. Fluorescent lamps have life
ratings from 7,500 hours to 24,000 hours, with a few even beyond that. Life is dependent on many
variables such as lamp type, ballast type, operating environment and how often they are switched on
and off.
There are two general categories of fluorescent lamp:

LINEAR FLUORESCENT

Linear fluorescent lamps come in a range of wattages and

sizes - 4 and 8 foot lamps are most common for commercial
uses such as office buildings and warehouses.

COMPACT FLUORESCENT
operate on the same principle as regular fluorescent, but are more
"compact." CFLs became popular in the mid-to-late 1980's. The
original concept was to provide an energy efficient replacement for
incandescent lamps.
An integrated type of CFL combines the lamp and ballast in one unit,
which can be screwed into a standard incandescent lamp socket.
Some of these are one-piece units while others, where the lamp
and ballast are separate , allow only the lamp to be replaced . They
are meant to be an energy-saving, longer-life alternative to
incandescent lamps. For example, a 60W incandescent with a life of
1000 hours could be replaced with a 15W screw-based CFL having
6-10 times the life. These lamps are available in a myriad of
sizesand shapes to fit many applications - table lamps, recessed
fixtures, wall sconces, pole lights, etc.

Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are available for both interior and exterior use.
Exterior CFLs are specially designed to operate properly in cold ambient
temperatures.

ADVANTAGES:
1.
2.

3.
4.

Fluorescent lighting is 66% cheaper than regular lighting while providing the same
brightness.
Fluorescent bulbs last longer.
They tend to burn less after continuous use, and can be turn on and off without being
afraid of burning it.
The lights do not give off heat, which makes them great for area lightning and for areas
where additional heat can cause equipment to malfunction or bother the users.

DISADVANTAGES:
1.
2.
3.

4.

The initial cost of fluorescent lighting can be up to three times higher than other types of
bulbs.
Some lighting may require professional installation the first time around, as the electrical
connections are more complex.
Some fluorescent bulbs can flicker noticeably and produce an uneven light that may
bother some users. Once the flicking becomes obvious to the eye, there is no choice but
to replace the lamp.
Fluorescent lighting is often less attractive

APPLICATIONS:
Fluorescent sources can be used in a variety of
applications. These louvered systems provide shielding to
reduce glare for both task and general lighting.

C. HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE

PROPERTIES:
HID lamps produce light a different way than the previous lamp types examined. HID light is produced
directly from the arc itself. Due to the high pressure under which these types operate, the arc becomes
extremely intense. Once turned off, it must cool down to reduce the arc tube pressure before the arc
can restrike.
This arc is relatively short (compared to a fluorescent lamp) and therefore it is considered a point
source.

HID lamps are the most powerful of all of the electric light sources. These intense POINT
SOURCES allow a high intensity of light to be projected over long distances. HID is often the
best choice for high ceiling applications and commercial accent lighting, as these lamps can
be focused for accurate placement of light from long distances.
HID also require ballasts, and they take a few seconds to produce light when first turned on
because the ballast needs time to establish the electric arc.

Some HID types have a coating on the inside surface of the

outer bulb to diffuse the light, for applications where a
directed spotlight (produced by a point source) is not
desired. Some coatings are phosphor-based so they can
also change the color of the light along with diffusing it.
Since these sources use an arc, they need a piece of
auxiliary equipment called aBALLAST. Ballast operation
is discussed in another section.

There are three basic types of HID lamps, all operating on the same general principle but
producing dramatically different results:

MERCURY LAMPS

Mercury now has limited use due to its older technology. Most common
application is the familiar "barn light" one can see when traveling country
roads at night. One quirk of these lamps is their survivability - they just
keep going and going, continually losing light output and changing color
toward an unattractive greenish color. The Federal Government has
mandated the limited use of mercury fixtures to special applications only.

METAL HALIDE

Developed around 1960, this technology is a big improvement of the mercury lamp. The color
rendering is greatly improved, with CRI ratings from 65 - 95 and a choice of color temperatures is
available. Common applications include:

HIGH PRESSURE SODIUM (HPS)

This variant was developed in the mid-Sixties and is quite different from the previous two. As the
name implies, it uses sodium (and mercury) to produce light with a characteristic golden yellow
color. If you have ever flown in an airplane over a large city at night, then you have seen HPS in
roadway, parking and other applications.
HPS has the highest EFFICACY of all popular light sources, but still is limited in use due to its poor
color (CRI in the low 20's). Finding your blue car in a parking lot could be a challenge. Not all
applications require good color rendering, so HPS is still quite popular, although as metal halide
continually improves, it is replacing HPS in many applications. Some lamp manufacturers offer
improved HPS lamps that are whiter (less yellow) in color appearance and have higher CRI. They
also, however, carry a higher installed cost than standard HPS.

ADVANTAGES:
1.
2.
3.

Relatively long life (5,000 to 24,000+ hrs)

Relatively high lumen output per watt
Relatively small in physical size

DISADVANTAGES:
1.
2.

HID lamps require time to warm up. It varies from lamp to lamp, but the average warm-up
time is two to six minutes.
HID lamps have a "restrike" time, meaning a momentary interruption of current or a voltage
drop too low to maintain the arc will extinguish the lamp.

APPLICATIONS:
Indoor Applications

Retail stores

Atriums

Warehouses and Industrial facilities

Airport terminals

Outdoor Applications

Street lighting

Area Lighting

Sports stadiums

Parking garages and lots

Building faade lighting

Bridges, Tunnels

Airport exterior gate areas

HID lamps are ideal for high ceiling applications, such as the metal halide used at the
Seattle US Bank Centre.

HID lamps brightly illuminate the city

streets of the Ginza district, Tokyo,
Japan.

D. LED LIGHTS
PROPERTIES:
LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, are electronic light sources. An
LED is a semiconductor device that emits visible light of a
certain color. LED lighting is fundamentally different from
conventional light sources such as incandescent, fluorescent,
and gas-discharge lamps. An LED uses no mercury, no lead,
no gas or filament, it has no fragile glass bulb, and it has no
failure-prone moving parts.
An LED is a type of solid-state diode that emits light when voltage is applied. LEDs become illuminated
by the movement of electrons through a semiconductor material.

LED lighting is more efficient, durable, versatile and longer lasting than incandescent lighting. Another
benefit is that LEDs emit light in a specific direction, whereas a fluorescent lamp is "diffuse" and emits
light and heat in all directions. LED lighting uses both light and energy more efficiently.

ADVANTAGES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Energy efficient - LEDs are now capable of outputting 135 lumens/watt

Long Lifetime - 50,000 hours or more if properly engineered
Rugged - LEDs are also called Solid State Lighting (SSL) as they are made of solid material
with no filament or tube or bulb to break
No warm-up period - LEDs light instantly in nanoseconds
Not affected by cold temperatures - LEDs like low temperatures and will startup even in
subzero weather
Directional - With LEDs you can direct the light where you want it, thus no light is wasted
Excellent Color Rendering - LEDs do not wash out colors like other light sources such as
fluorescents, making them perfect for displays and retail applications
Environmentally friendly - LEDs contain no mercury or other hazardous substances
Controllable - LEDs can be controlled for brightness and color

DISADVANTAGES
1.
2.

3.
4.

LEDs are currently more expensive, price per lumen, on an initial capital cost basis, than more
conventional lighting technologies.
LED performance largely depends on correctly engineering the fixture to manage the heat
generated by the LED, which causes deterioration of the LED chip itself. Over-driving the LED
or not engineering the product to manage heat in high ambient temperatures may result in
overheating of the LED package, eventually leading to device failure.
LEDs must be supplied with the correct voltage and current at a constant flow. This requires
some electronics expertise to design the electronic drivers.
LEDs can shift color due to age and temperature. Also two different white LED will have two
different color characteristics, which affect how the light is perceived.

APPLICATIONS:
LED lighting is often used for to provide white lighting but can also add
color and interest to a space.

LUMINAIRES
A. INDOOR AND RESIDENTIAL
PROPERTIES:
A LUMINAIRE is defined as a device to produce, control, and distribute light.
A complete lighting unit consists of the following components: one or more lamps, optical
devices designed to distribute light, sockets to position and protect the lamps to a supply of
electric power, and the mechanical components required to support or attach the housing.
LUMINAIRES come in many shapes and sizes. They are usually classified according to source,
mounting, construction, application and/or by photometric characteristics.
TYPES:

SURFACE MOUNTED

These luminaires can provide general or ambient lighting

with the added feature that some of the light can be
emitted upward to produce some ceiling brightness,
making the space look more open and larger. Lamps are
often concealed behind glass or plasticDIFFUSERS or
other types of lenses which help to reduce glare and
distribute the light into the space below.

RECESSED DOWNLIGHTS

Recessed downlights are almost entirely hidden in the ceiling. The

electrical components are contained in "housings" which conceal
mechanical parts above the ceiling or behind the wall. A discrete
aperture attaches to the housing, from which the light is directed
into the room below. Recessed downlights often provide general
or ambient lighting, but are also available as adjustable luminaires
which may be used to deliver intense beams for accent lighting.

TRACK

Track lighting refers to a system that includes luminaires (track

heads) and a track or rail that is designed to provide mounting
and deliver power. Track systems can be used in homes or in a
range of commercial applications. These adjustable luminaires
can be moved anywhere along the track system. This provides
the flexibility required for lighting dynamic displays in galleries,
museums and retail
Stores.

WALLWASHERS

Wallwash luminaires are used to produce a

distribution of light that changes gradually from
high levels at the top of the wall to lower levels
at the bottom of the wall. Wall washers can be
recessed, track mounted or surface mounted
and are a common luminaire choice for
perimeter lighting. These are very common in
retail and other light commercial applications,
as well as some residential applications.
Luminaire manufacturers generally provide
spacing criteria required for the even distribution of light along the length of a wall or large vertical
surface.

DECORATIVE (ACCENT) LUMINAIRES

These luminaires are either themselves ornamental or are designed

to produce patterns of light that are ornamental. They can be ceiling
recessed, surface mounted or wall mounted, with lamps that are
adjustable or fixed.

INDIRECT

Common in office environments, indirect luminaires can use diffuse or point sources to provide virtually
shadow-free general or ambient lighting. Fluorescent is the most common light source for these types of
luminaires.
REFLECTORS are used to help them produce a wide distribution of light, typical in office environments.
Pendants or cables usually suspend them from the ceiling, but some types are post-mounted from the
floor. Direct-Indirect luminaires are similar to the suspended indirect but provide some downward

directed light.

COVE

These luminaires are designed to be placed in an

architectural cove or to have a shape such that when
mounted on a wall they look like a COVE, producing a
similar lighting effect. The simplest form of this luminaire is a
fluorescent strip, but more elaborate forms provide
reflectors to control near-wall and ceiling brightness.
LEDs lamps are another common choice for cove lighting
because of their long life. Changing lamps in a cove
application can be a difficult and expensive maintenance
procedure.

STAGE

Stage luminaires are common in theaters and television studios for

lighting stage sets and people, and are designed to provide tight optical
control and maximum mounting flexibility. Stage lighting may look
similar to commercial track lighting used in high-end retail and museum
applications, but are not always illuminated to a "track" or electrical
raceway. Because of their large size and weight, they are often
individually electrified and secured to pipe sections with a strong clamp.

ADVANTAGES:

Good balance between ambient illumination of the room and accent lighting.
Relatively good energy efficiency even in large spaces.
The smaller direct component required makes it easier to control reflective glare in
computer screens.
Renders three dimensional objects well without harsh shadows.

Disadvantages:

Relatively high installation and maintenance costs.

Users often need instruction on how to use the system effectively.

APPLICATIONS:
PENDANT LIGHTS
Decorative pendants can provide
ambient and task lighting,
while also contributing to the color
and dcor in any room.

SCONCE LIGHT

MOUNTED LIGHTS

RECESSED LUMINAIRES

Recessed luminaires can be used to add subtle accent lighting

while adding warm and dimension to living spaces.

B. COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL

PROPERTIES:
Luminaires that are designed for outdoor,
industrial and demanding commercial
applications
have
more
complex
performance requirements. Lamp and
ballast operation under a wide range of
conditions such as cold temperatures, long
hours
of
operation
and DIRT
DEPRECIATION are important aspects of
their construction.
MAIN CATEGORIES

HIGH BAY

High bay luminaires (as seen above) typically use High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps to
provide general lighting for industrial areas. They can be pendant or surface-mounted and
use reflectors and refractors to produce a wide variety of lighting distribution options for high
ceilings and mounting heights.

L ow B a y

Low bay luminaires are similar, but usually have wider distributions for areas with lower ceiling
heights. Light sources are typically HID or high wattage compact fluorescents.

ADVANTAGES:

Good balance between ambient illumination of the room and accent lighting.
Relatively good energy efficiency even in large spaces.
The smaller direct component required makes it easier to control reflective glare in
computer screens.
Renders three dimensional objects well without harsh shadows.

Disadvantages:

Relatively high installation and maintenance costs.

Users often need instruction on how to use the system effectively.

APPLICATIONS:
STRIP OR INDUSTRIAL
These luminaires are often designed forHIGH-OUTPUT (HO)
FLUORESCENT LAMPSand are typically found in warehouses
or factories. "Industrials" are practical and economical
luminaires, which usually have a simple reflector attached to the
ballast housing.

EMERGENCY AND EXIT

Emergency lighting luminaires are designed to provide enough light for

egress in emergency situations. These luminaires are usually on an
electrical circuit that has backup power in the event the main power
fails. Since emergency lights must turn on instantly, not all HID lamps
can be used for this application.
Exit luminaires help direct building occupants to a fire exit. Long life
sources such as LEDs and compact fluorescents are preferred since
these luminaires are energized 24/7.

FLOODLIGHTS
Floodlight luminaires are frequently used for building
faade lighting and general area lighting. Exterior building
lighting can require luminaires with either narrow or wide
distribution, depending on the mounting height and area to
be lighted.
Column lighting, accent lighting and distant mounting
locations require narrow distributions. Sports lighting
luminaires are notable for precise beam control and sharp
cut-off angles - necessary for controlling LIGHT TRESPASS, minimizing glare, and ensuring observer
and player comfort.

PATHWAY AND LANDSCAPE

Lighting for walkways and the grounds of commercial
buildings is often accomplished with bollards for
localized lighting. Post-top luminaires are also used for
path lighting as well as surface mounted and recessed
step lights. Other accent-type luminaires can be used
to mimic moonlighting effects, highlighting trees,
shrubbery and other landscaping. These are similar in

appearance to adjustable low voltage track lighting, but are made of tougher, waterproof construction.
Pathway lighting allows safe egress on the grounds of hotels and other commercial buildings during the evening
hours, and can also provide guests with a sense of safety and security.
STREETS AND ROADWAYS

These luminaires are usually mounted on arms on a pole or post-top mounted, and designed to produce
reasonably uniform lighting. These cobra-head-looking luminaires, for instance, provide wide
distributions to permit extended pole spacing.
Well-shielded luminaires are also available from most roadway lighting manufacturers for applications
where a more controlled distribution is needed to minimize glare and light trespass.

LIGHTING BALLAST
Ballasts are buried deep within a luminaire,
and insure the lamp receives the correct
amount of electricity for starting, and then
the correct amount once it is operating.
There are two basic categories of ballasts
- electronic andelectromagnetic (or simply
magnetic.)
The electromagnetic ballast was the
original type introduced along with the first
fluorescent lamp. Since then, electronic
versions were developed to replace and
improve upon the older technology.
The electromagnetic ballast was the original type introduced along with the first fluorescent
lamp. Since then, electronic versions were developed to replace and improve upon the older
technology.

Electromagnetic
ballasts
are
basically
transformers made with a steel core that is
wrapped with wire and placed in a metal can. The
core is made up of stacked steel laminations.
Insulated wire, made of copper or aluminum, is
coiled around the core (see above.) These
components act as a current-limiting choke. They
also produce heat.
The components are encased in a potting material,
which is normally asphalt, which conducts the heat away from the coils to prevent early failure and to
lessen noise.

ELECTRONIC BALLAST

Electronic ballasts, while a little more costly than

electromagnetic, bring additional benefits that usually justify their
higher price. This is not to say that electromagnetic ballasts are
no longer around. Quite the contrary - they are still quite popular
for many outdoor fluorescent applications like sign lighting and
for most HID lamps (there are electronic ballasts for some low
wattage - 150W and below - HID lamps).
Electronic ballasts are designed using solid-state circuitry. The
current through the lamp operates at a much higher frequency
and produces less audible noise. They also operate cooler and
are more flexible. For example, fluorescent electronic ballasts for
T8 lamps are available in 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-lamp versions. Any
one of those can operate multiple lamp lengths from 2-foot through 5-foot types. You can even mix
lengths on the same ballast.

ADVANTAGES:

provide necessary electrical conditions to start and operate lamps.

Two general categories - electromagnetic (or just "magnetic") and electronic.

Almost all new fluorescent luminaires today use electronic ballasts.

Lamps and ballasts are generally matched to ensure electrical compatibility.

DISADVANTAGES:

Increased cost
Unproven reliability
Increased ballast case size and weight
Variations in ballast factor for different lamp types
Lower efficacy

APPLICATIONS

Ballasts can be installed and wired to control two or four lamps in a typical
fluorescent four-lamp troffer, allowing 50% of the light to be switched off for
energy savings. Dimming ballasts are also available which provide additional
control and efficiency.