TERMS & DEFINITIONS | GTR LIGHTING

Cooling

For alternating current, an abbreviation. An example of a current that continuously reverses direction is an alternating current.

Amp.

An acronym that stands for ampere. Electrical current is measured in standardized units called amperes.

The CE

This acronym represents the French term for European Conformance. The CE mark is applied to goods that have complied with safety, health, and/or environmental regulations and are sold in Europe.

Temperature of Color

This property of visible light is expressed in Kelvin units of absolute temperature. In terms of illumination, a light with a color temperature closer to the midday sun (6,500 K) will be less taxing on users than one that emits light more akin to morning or dusk (2,500 K).

Present Day

The movement of electrons via a wire.

DC

A direct current abbreviation. Only one direction of current flow is known as direct current. DC is commonly utilized in the majority of automotive electrical systems.

DOT,

an abbreviation for the Transportation Department. The DOT is in charge of all US transportation-related entities.

The Voltage Dedicated

A light that runs on a single voltage, such as 12V DC, is referred to by this name.

ECE

An abbreviation for the European Economic Commission. Vehicle lighting is subject to standardized regulatory criteria for vehicle design set by the ECE, which was created under the auspices of the UN.

The EMI

An abbreviation for electromagnetic interference. The performance of an electrical circuit may be interrupted, obstructed, deteriorated, or limited by electromagnetic interference.

Lumens that work

An indicator of a light's actual output. A photometric testing instrument is used to assess the practical lumen output, which is a better indicator of the beneficial visible light generated because it accounts for both electrical and optical losses.

The filament

The component that emits light in an incandescent lamp.

Halogen

In halogen lights, a tungsten filament is housed inside a glass bulb filled with halogen gas. These lights have a greater color temperature and can run at higher temperatures than conventional incandescent lights of comparable power without losing their useful life.

HID

This abbreviation refers to high-intensity discharge (HID). To produce the light that HID lights use, an electric arc is produced between two tungsten electrodes contained in a tube filled with gas and metal salts. The metal salts evaporate and create a plasma when the electricity arcs, producing bright light while using little power. Compared to halogen or incandescent lights, HID lights offer a greater color temperature, burn brighter, and last longer.

Rating of IP

The IP Code specifies a classification system to prevent foreign objects (such as dust, tools, or moisture) from entering electrical enclosures, including lighting. IP65 often refers to resistance to water spray and dust, while IP68 mainly refers to resistance to water submersion and dust.

Luminous

Most of us are accustomed to the conventional lighting technology known as incandescent lights. Incandescent bulbs for automobile lighting come in two primary varieties: wedge base (ex. 3056 or 3157) and bayonet base (ex. 1156 or 1157). Despite being the least expensive of the lighting options, incandescent lights are also the least effective and have the shortest lifespan.

The LED

A shorthand for diodes that emit light. Electricity is transferred from one plate to another in LEDs, a relatively new lighting technology. Light of this kind has a high color temperature, is long-lasting, and is incredibly efficient. Because LEDs don't contain breakable bulbs or delicate filaments, they're an excellent option for applications that involve vibration and shock.

Lens

An optical component of a lamp designed to offer protection by either convergent or divergent light.

The lumen

An indicator of light's strength as seen by the naked eye. It is especially crucial to distinguish between raw and effective lumens in the context of vehicle lighting.

Watts per lumen

A light's efficiency is determined by dividing its power consumption (measured in watts) by its light output (measured in lumens). A light is more efficient if the lumens per watt figure is higher.

Multiple Voltage

A phrase for a lamp that runs on multiple voltages, such as 12-48V DC. Manufacturers can benefit from having a multi-voltage light since it enables them to use it for a variety of purposes without requiring them to employ different SKUs.

The NHTSA

This acronym represents the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The US Department of Transportation's NHTSA division is in charge of developing vehicle safety regulations.

OEM

For original equipment manufacturers, this is an acronym.

Optical

The light source or sources that gather, reflect, and/or refract light to form a beam pattern.

Photometric

A scientific method of measuring light's intensity as experienced by the human eye.

Lumens in their raw state

An indicator of a light's potential output. This number is calculated for LED lights by multiplying the number of LEDs in the light by the lumen rating provided by the manufacturer. The electrical and optical losses that affect all lights are not taken into consideration by raw lumens, making them unrepresentative of the actual light output.

SAE.

For the Society of Automotive Engineers, this is an acronym.

Sealed Beam.

This kind of light has a permanently connected glass lens, a reflector, and a light source all in one unit.