Lacquer
Clear coating that protects metal fixtures from rusting or tarnishing. May be tinted in various colours by adding coloured dye.
Lamp
A portable lamp consists of a (from bottom to top) a stand, a base, a mount through which the electrical wiring travels, a neck, a socket to hold the bulb, a lamp shade, a harp that connects the top of the shade to the socket, and a decorative finial that holds the harp in place.
Lamp Holder
Socket inside a housing, which holds the lamp in place and connects it to the electrical source.
Lamping
Equipping a fixture with a lamp.
Lanterns
Unlike chandeliers which are oriented radially, lanterns hang vertically, often with several tiers. Modern pendant lanterns use hanging glass panels or glass rods, often with bevelled edges to reflect the light.
Lead Crystal
Fine quality glass having a high content of lead oxide.
Leaded Glass
Small pieces of glass joined at the edges with metal, traditionally lead.
LED
Light Emitting Diode. A small, solid state device used to indicate dimmer or control status; also used in signs and control units.
Lighting Controls
Devices which give you flexibility, decorative effects and multiple uses from your lighting sources. Today’s sophisticated dimming systems enable you to lower the light level to conserve energy and increase bulb life; vary the mood of a room; alter light source intensity; create lighting scene in each room. Types of controls include integrated dimming systems, touch dimmers, slide dimmers and rotary dimmers.
Light Distribution
Pattern of light produced by a fixture, or created in a room.
Light Sources
The performance of any light fixture depends on the light source, or bulb, that’s used. Different sources produce different effects.
Line Voltage Systems
120 volt distribution is used mostly for lighting mounted to the outside of a house or for post-top lanterns along a drive or path. Line voltage landscape lighting can provide more light and handle greater distances than low voltage systems, but the installation is less flexible and more costly.
Low Voltage Fixtures
Recessed track, task, decorative or landscape fixtures for low voltage lamps. A transformer is required for these fixtures and may by integrated, local or remote.
Low Voltage Housing
Recessed housing with an integral, or occasionally, remote transformer.
Low Voltage Lamps
Incandescent lamps that operate at 6, 12 or 24 volts. Low voltage lamps require a step-down transformer to reduce the voltage from the normal household 120 volts.
Low Voltage Lighting System
A type of lighting that operates on 12-volt current rather than the standard 120 volts. Power is supplied by a transformer, which is itself connected to 120-volt power.
Low Voltage Trim
Either a reflector trim with an integral transformer, which installs in a standard housing, or the dedicated trim to a low voltage housing.
Low Voltage Track
Track powered at low voltage by a step-down transformer, which installs in a standard housing; or the dedicated trim to low voltage housing.
Lumens
The amount of light that a bulb produces. Unit of output; technically “Luminous flux.”
