Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

BUILDING GLOSSARY > ELECTRICAL GLOSSARY > Flashcards

ELECTRICAL GLOSSARY Flashcards

1
Q

Accent Lighting

A

Used to target decorative features of the interior for visual effect.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Alternating Current (AC)

A

An electric current that reverses its direction many times a
second at regular intervals, typically used in power supplies.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Ambient Lighting

A

Refers to a softer amount of light that is indirect in nature. It provides overall illumination and is meant to create a general and uniform lighting level. It’s the first layer of lighting and sets the tone of a space.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Amperes

A

Amps. A measurement of electrical current. The current is measured in ampere (A or mA) and denotes the electric current that the lamp requires to operate.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Ballast

A

Electrical or electronic component required to start and operate fluorescent lamps.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Bayonet

A

A kind of bulb or globe that connects and locks to the base by pushing and turning clockwise. It requires a ‘push and twist’ action to secure into the lamp holder. Also known as BC and B22.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Beam

A

A cone of light generated by the lighting fixture. This is controlled by a reflector that sits behind the light source to direct the light in a specific direction.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Beam Angle

A

The beam angle is the angle (expressed in degrees) showing how broadly the light is distributed from a light source. The wider the beam angle, the more the light is spread out. The narrower the beam, the more intense the light is.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

BLT

A

The distance from ballast-to-lamp.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Bollard

A

A vertical post light that sits above ground. Often used outdoors alongside paths
and walkways.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Brass

A

A light gold metal used in light fittings.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Bulb

A

The bulb or globe refers to the outer glass container where the light source is.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Bulkhead

A

A lower portion of the ceiling generally constructed to conceal utility services.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Ceiling Height

A

The distance between the flat surface on the floor to the flat surface of the ceiling and is an important factor in lighting.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Chrome

A

A silver color metal used in light fittings.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Color Temperature

A

The appearance of white light emitted from a light source in terms of warmth or coolness measured on the Kelvin scale.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL)

A

Fluorescent lamps that have been designed to produce light from a compact form and shape by including the ballast with the body of the lamps.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Cool White

A

A high color temperature where the color of light is bluish white. Any light above 4000 Kelvin is designated as cool white.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Copper

A

A pink-orange color metal used in light fittings.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Cove Lighting

A

Lighting (usually a LED strip) built into a shelf or ledge at the upper part
of a wall to illuminate the ceiling.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

CRI

A

Color Rendering Index measured on a scale of 1 -100 with 100 being the ideal. It is the ability of a light source to accurately render the color of an object in comparison with a natural light source.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

CTC

A

Close to Ceiling.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Current Type (AC/DC)

A

Types of current. Either ‘alternating current’ or ‘direct current’.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Cut-out

A

The hole that needs to be cut into a surface to recess a light.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Diffuser

A

Any material that diffuses and softens light.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Downlight (recessed)

A

A light fixture recessed into the ceiling that concentrates the light in a downward direction.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Downlight (surface mount)

A

A type of light, often cylindrical in shape, mounted to the ceiling surface that directs light downwards.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Direct Light

A

An illuminant is designated as direct because the light is controlled, pushed in a certain direction and used to highlight task areas or features.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Driver

A

A small device that controls the voltage and current supplied to a lamp. A driver can be built-in to a light fitting or remote (separate) to a fitting. It can control an individual light or multiple lights.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Dimmer

A

A control which allows the light level to be lowered to change the mood of a room.

31
Q

Edison

A

A type of lamp base that you twist around and screw into a lamp holder. Also known as ES and E27.

32
Q

Efficiency

A

A measurement of how effective the light source is in converting electrical power into visible light.

33
Q

Extension Rod

A

An extra length of suspension to increase the drop on a pendant.

34
Q

Festoon Lighting

A

Also known as party lights, which are multiple light bulbs hanging on
a garland.

35
Q

Floodlight

A

A high intensity light that produces a wide beam of light to illuminate large areas.

36
Q

Floor Lamp

A

A lamp designed to stand on the floor, and also known as a ‘standard lamp’.

37
Q

Florescence

A

The ability to absorb short waves of light in order to emit longer waves of
light.

38
Q

Fluorescent Lamp

A

A type of lamp where a phosphor coating inside a glass tube creates a glow when exposed to UV radiation.

39
Q

Gimble Lighting

A

An adjustable ring that holds the LED downlight by its rim so the direction of light can be changed.

40
Q

Globe

A

Term for a light bulb widely used that can be used interchangeably in most cases with bulb.

41
Q

GPO

A

What you may know as a power point is technically referred to as a GPO, which stands for ‘General Power Outlet’. GPOs are available in many different styles and can only be installed or maintained by an electrician.

42
Q

Halogen Lamp

A

A type of incandescent lamp with the addition of a small amount of halogen gas in order to reduce heat and increase lamp life.

43
Q

Hardwired

A

Term refers to a light fixture that is permanently connected to an electrical source so there is no visible cord or plug. This type of fixture must be installed by a licensed electrician.

44
Q

Heat Rating

A

Lighting fixtures must pass heat tests to assure they do not affect combustible ceiling materials; this limits the maximum wattage that can be safely used.

45
Q

Illuminance/Luminance

A

The amount of luminous coverage of an area. Related to the non-specific term ‘brightness’.

46
Q

Illuminant

A

An illuminant denotes the technical implementation of an artificial light source. The illuminant is used in the light, which then distributes the light of the illuminant, controls it and simultaneously protects against glare.

47
Q

Incandescent Lamp

A

A type of lamp where light is created by passing an electric current through a filament (or metal wire) to heat it up, which then becomes visible light. Also known as carbon filament.

48
Q

IP or ‘Ingress Protection’ Rating

A

Determines how waterproof and dustproof a light fitting is. The first digit in an IP rating refers to how dustproof a fitting is, and the second digit refers to how waterproof a fitting is. This rating is important when selecting light fittings for wet areas and outdoor lighting because it indicates the likelihood of moisture and/or any foreign objects getting into the light fittings and causing damage.

49
Q

Kelvin Scale

A

Light sources are often defined in terms of their color temperature, which is measured in degrees Kelvin. Light with a lower Kelvin temperature rating has a ‘warm’ yellow tint while light with a higher Kelvin temperature rating has a ‘cooler’ blue tint.

50
Q

Kilowatt Hour/KWH

A

A unit of measurement for electrical energy. One kilowatt hour equals 1000 watts of energy used for one hour.

51
Q

Lamp

A

Any item designed for producing light and also known as a globe or bulb.

52
Q

LED

A

Acronym for Light Emitting Diodes, which emit light.

53
Q

Lumens

A

Measurement of the amount of light emitted and radiated in a beam. Related to the non-specific term ‘brightness’.

54
Q

Luminaire

A

Term used in the lighting industry for a complete lighting unit, which includes a lamp, housing, ballast, sockets and any other necessary components.

55
Q

Lux

A

The unit of illuminance measured in lumens per square foot.

56
Q

Non-dimmable

A

The brightness of light is unable to be decreased.

57
Q

Operating Voltage

A

The voltage at which lamps operate when they are fully warmed up.

58
Q

Pendant

A

A light fixture suspended from the ceiling. It may be suspended by a chain, cord or rod.

59
Q

Reflectance

A

A measurement of the proportion of light reflected when the light hits a surface and is reflected off it.

60
Q

Retrofit

A

Replacing old and/or existing light fixtures with new technology that improves the efficiency or safety of the lighting system.

61
Q

Sconce

A

A light holder that is attached to a wall. Originally used to describe candle holders.

62
Q

Sensor

A

A device attached to a light fitting used to detect changes in the environment and
trigger the light to switch on or off.

63
Q

Shade (light shade)

A

A fixture that covers the light bulb on a lamp or pendant to diffuse the light it emits.

64
Q

Transformer

A

An electrical device used to convert one voltage to another.

65
Q

Task Lighting

A

A lighting source directed onto a surface providing illumination for a
specific task.

66
Q

Track Lighting

A

A system of interior lights fitted to run along a track.

67
Q

Uplights

A

A light positioned to direct light upwards.

68
Q

UV

A

Acronym for ultraviolet, which is a form of radiation with wavelengths shorter than visible light.

69
Q

Voltage

A

A measurement of the pressure of electricity going through the wires in the home.

70
Q

Wall Lighting

A

Lighting directed on a wall or vertical surface to emphasize that plane, enhance the surface texture or bounce light back into the room. Increasing wall brightness generally makes a room seem more spacious.

71
Q

Wall Washing

A

A lighting technique in which a wall is evenly washed with light.

72
Q

Watt

A

A unit of electrical power.

73
Q

Wattage

A

The amount of electricity consumed by a bulb required for it to operate.

BUILDING GLOSSARY (6 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions