Light School
Common lighting terms explained
Alternating current is used to refer to an electric current that continually changes direction as it flows.
Amp
An ampere is the unit of measurement of electrical current produced in a circuit by 1 volt acting through a resistance of 1 ohm.
DC
Direct current is used to refer to an electric current that always flows in the same direction.
Current
A stream of charged particles, such as electrons or ions, moving through an electrical conductor or space.
LED
Light emitting diode relates to a semiconductor diode which glows when a voltage is applied.
Lux
Lux levels are determined using a Lux meter and is the measurement of the exact intensity of light at a given point away from the light unit. The Lux level will be influenced by the distance from the light source but also by a wide range of different factors including the product design, secondary lensing and the environment the light is fitted within.
Lumen
Lumen is the unit of measurement for the light emitted from the source of a product, in this case an LED, and is reported using the abbreviation of ‘lm’. Lumens can be a useful measure of anticipated light intensity, it should not be solely relied upon to determine the suitability of one product over another.
OEM
Original equipment manufacturer is used to refer to official, genuine parts produced directly by the vehicle manufacturer.
OHM Ω
Unit used to measure the electrical resistance of a material or an electrical device.
Volt
Unit of electromotive force, the volt measures how much “pressure” there is in an electric circuit.
Watt
The rate at which energy is consumed.