Lamps and Light Sources

What is Light?

Light is a form of energy that is part of the

electromagnetic spectrum visible to the human
eye.

What is Light?

What is Light?

There are two different

ways of talking about
light:
„ There is the "particle"
theory, expressed in
part by the word
photon.
„ There is the "wave"
theory, expressed by
the term light wave.

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 Lamps and Light Sources

Light = Energy Waves

Light = Color

Spectral Power Distribution Curves (SPD) provide the user with a visual profile of the color
characteristics of a light source. They show the radiant power emitted by the source at each
wavelength or band of wavelengths over the visible region (380 to 760 nm).

Light = Color

Colors by Addition Colors by Subtraction

Mixture of Light Mixture of Pigments

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 Lamps and Light Sources

Light = Color

Natural Light Electric Light

Daylight Incandescent

Incandescent Lamps and Natural Daylight produce smooth, continuous spectra.

Light = Seeing Color

Light = Measuring Color

- Correlated Color Temperature

(CCT)
color appearance of various light sources

- Color Rendering Index

(CRI)
how a light source renders the color of
objects

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 Lamps and Light Sources

Correlated Color Temperature

color appearance of various light sources

The higher the color temperature (CCT), the

“cooler”
the color of the lamp is in appearance.

The lower the color temperature (CCT) the

“warmer”
the color the lamp is in appearance.

This color temperature is measured in Kelvin.

2200 o 2700 o 4100 o

Correlated Color Temperature

color appearance of various light sources
Kelvin Temperature
Cool 9000 North Blue Sky
8500
8000
7500
7000
6500 Overcast Day
Daylight Fluorescent
Cool White 6000
Fluorescent Mercury 5500 Direct Sunlight
5000
4500
4100K Fluorescent Metal Halide
4000
3500K Fluourescent
3500
3000K Metal Halide
3000K Fluorescent
Halogen 3000
Warm White
Fluorescent Incandescent 2500
High Pressure Sodium 2000 Fire / Candle light
Warm 1500 Hot Embers

Color Rendering Index

how a light source renders the color of objects

Test Colors

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 Lamps and Light Sources

Light = Seeing Colors

http://www.gelighting.com/na/business_lighting/education_resources/learn_about_light/color_lamp.htm

Electric Sources
Lamps for General use

INCANDESCENT DISCHARGE
Solid State
LAMPS LAMPS

Standard Fluorescent White LED

Incandescent Lamps
Lamps
• Compact RGB LED’s
• Linear
Halogen / Quartz
Lamps HID Lamps
• Metal Halide
• High Pressure
Sodium
• Mercury
• High
• Low Pressure
Sodium

Lamp Shape Nomenclature

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 Lamps and Light Sources

Lamp Shapes

How Incandescent Lamps Work

Attributes and Options - Incandescent

•Varied wattages, sizes, shapes, and bases
•Finishes
– Clear
– Inside Frosted
– Coated (Softwhite)
•Dimming
– Yes
–Do not require a ballast
–Warm color appearance with a low color temperature and excellent color rendering (CRI 100)
–Compact light source
–Simple maintenance due to screw-in Edison base
–Less efficacious light source
–Shorter service life than other light sources in most cases
–Filament is sensitive to vibrations and jarring
–Bulb can get very hot during operation
–Must be properly shielded because incandescent lamps can produce direct glare as a point source
–Require proper line voltage as line voltage variations can severely affect light output and service life

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 Lamps and Light Sources

Halogen Lamps

Spectral Power Distribution Curves

Fluorescent

Fluorescent Lamps produce a combined spectrum -- a continuous or broad

spectra from their phosphor, plus the line spectra of the mercury discharge.

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 Lamps and Light Sources

How Fluorescent Lamps Work

Fluorescent Lamp Design..the old

way

Fluorescent Lamp Design…the way

today

Rapid start and starter switch fluorescent bulbs have

two pins that slide against two contact points in an
electrical circuit.

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 Lamps and Light Sources

Ballast A ballast connects in between the line and the lamp

Ballasts perform three main functions

1. They start the lamp.
2. They take the line voltage (120/240/277/480) and step it up or down as required by the lamp.
3. They make sure the lamp operates in a stable mode by regulating the current

The Uniqueness Rule

9 Ballast are made specifically for the lamp they are designed to operate.
You cannot simply replace a lamp with a different type without changing
the ballast. Since it regulates the voltage it is designed for a specific
lamp type and wattage.

B
A
L
L
A
S
T

Ballasts can be magnetic….containing heavy coils,

transformers and capacitors
OR
Ballasts can be electronic…. lightweight, efficient and
operate at high frequency

Attributes and Options - Fluorescent

•Varied wattages, sizes, shapes, and bases
•Finishes
–Coated only – coating determines color
•Long Life
•Dimming
–Yes, with dimming ballast and specific dimmers

–Require a ballast - Requires compatibility with ballast

–Range of color temperatures and color rendering capabilities
–Low surface brightness compared to point sources
–Cooler operation
–More efficacious compared to incandescent
–Ambient temperatures and convection currents can affect light output and life
–All fixtures installed indoors must use a Class P ballast that disconnects the ballast in
the event it begins to overheat; high ballast operating temperatures can shorten ballast
life
–Options for starting methods and lamp current loadings
–Low temperatures can affect starting unless a "cold weather" ballast is specified

Electrical Lighting: HID

‡ Mercury lamp:
„ Uses radiation from
mercury vapor for
illumination
‡ Metal halide (MH) lamp:
„ Utilizes chemical
compounds of metal
halides and possibly
vapors of metals such
as mercury
‡ High-pressure sodium
(HPS) lamp:
„ Uses sodium vapor for
illumination

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 Lamps and Light Sources
Spectral Power Distribution
Curves

HID:
High Pressure Sodium

High Intensity Discharge Lamps (HID) produce light in discrete lines or bands
(used in spectral analysis to identify or fingerprint the material producing the
light).

Spectral Power Distribution

Curves

HID:
Metal Halides

High Intensity Discharge Lamps (HID) produce light in discrete lines or bands
(used in spectral analysis to identify or fingerprint the material producing the
light).

High Intensity Discharge

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 Lamps and Light Sources

Ballast A ballast connects in between the line and the lamp

Ballasts perform three main functions

1. They start the lamp.
2. They take the line voltage (120/240/277/480) and step it up or down as required by the lamp.
3. They make sure the lamp operates in a stable mode by regulating the current

The Uniqueness Rule

9 Ballast are made specifically for the lamp they are designed to operate.
You cannot simply replace a lamp with a different type without changing
the ballast. Since it regulates the voltage it is designed for a specific
lamp type and wattage.

B
A
L
L
A
S
T

Ballasts can be magnetic….containing heavy coils,

transformers and capacitors
OR
Ballasts can be electronic…. lightweight, efficient and
operate at high frequency

Attributes and Options - HID

•Varied wattages, sizes, shapes, and bases
•Finishes
–Clear, Coated, Colored
•Operates with Ballast
•Burning Position Critical
•Dimming
–No
–Multi-level Switching possible
–Ambient temperature does not affect light output, although low ambient temperatures can affect
starting, requiring a special ballast
–Compact light source
–High lumen packages
–Point light source
–Range of color temperatures and color rendering abilities depending on the lamp type
–Long service life
–Line voltage variations, possible line voltage drops, and circuits sized for high starting current
requirements must be considered

Lamp Manufactures
General Electric
www.gelighting.com

Philips
www.lighting.philips.com

Osram/Sylvania
www.sylvania.com

Others

Venture Lighting
http://www.venturelighting.com/

Ushio America Inc

http://www.ushio.com/

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 Lamps and Light Sources

Special Sources
‡ Light-emitting diodes (LEDs):
„ Semi-conductor devices that have a chemical chip
embedded in a plastic capsule

LED

LED

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 Lamps and Light Sources

How LED’s Work

Fiber Optics Systems

Components:

1. Remote Illuminator

2. Cables
• Glass
• Plastic

3. End Fitting

Side Emitting Fiber Optic

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 Lamps and Light Sources

End Lights - Stars

End Lights

Bars

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 Lamps and Light Sources

Cold Cathode

Cold Cathode

http://www.cathodelighting.com/index.html

Neon

ten digits of a Z560M Nixie Tube.

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 Lamps and Light Sources

Electroluminescent
‡ http://www.ceelite.com/products/lamps.a
sp

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