Glossary

A

Addressable

The ability of an LED strip to be individually mapped out and controlled to show a specific colour or temperature.

Ambient Temperature

The room temperature or the temperature of the air surrounding the equipment under consideration.

B

Beam Angle

The angle at which light is emitted from a given light source.

Bend Radius

The degree to which an object can be bent without twisting, damaging, or reducing its lifespan. A smaller bend radius signifies greater material flexibility, allowing the object to be curved more tightly.

C

Colour Rendering Index (CRI)

A quantitative measure of a light source's ability to reproduce the colours of illuminated objects accurately in comparison to an ideal or natural light source.

Colour Temperature

A measure of a light source's hue, measured in Kelvin (K), based on a system defined by the International Electrical Commission (IEC). It relates to the radiation of a black body of steel as it is heated, with the temperature determining the light's colour. The scale for light sources intended for general lighting reaches from 2,000 to approximately 10,000 K.

Cutting interval

The indication of the lengths at which a product can be cut.

D

Dimmable

The ability to control the amount of electrical energy given to the LEDs to determine the brightness.

Driver

An electrical device that regulates the power to the light source and responds to the changing needs of the light source, by providing constant power to the LED as its electrical properties change with temperature.

E

Efficiency

A general term for the amount of useful work per quantity of energy.

H

Heat Dissipation

The intentional transition of thermal energy from a hotter object (such as a sensitive electronic device) to a cooler object.

I

Injection Moulds

A shape-forming, manufacturing process in which molten material (metal or plastic) is injected into aluminium or steel moulds (shaped like the end product) and squeezed under high pressure.

IP (Ingress Protection)

Defines the levels of sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures against intrusion from foreign bodies such as dirt and water.

The rating consists of the letters ‘IP’ followed by 2 digits. The first digit stands for the level of protection that the enclosure provides against solid bodies, the second digit describes the degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against water.

The following is a chart of the IP ratings of our products:


IP Rating First Digit - Solids Second Digit - Liquids
IP20
 Protected against a solid object greater than 12mm, such as a finger No protection
IP54
 Protected from total dust ingress Protected from water spray from all directions – limited ingress protection
IP57
 Protected from total dust ingress Protected against the effect of immersion between 15cm and 1m in depth – limited ingress protection
IP65
 Protected from total dust ingress Protected from low pressure water jets from any direction, limited ingress protection
IP67
 Protected from total dust ingress Protected from immersion between 15 centimetres and 1 metre in depth, limited ingress protection
IP68
 Protected from total dust ingress Protected from long term immersion up to a specified pressure, limited ingress protection

K

Kelvin (K)

A thermodynamic (absolute) temperature scale, based on a measure of absolute zero – the absence of all thermal energy – at zero K. The Kelvin is described without reference to degrees and is written without a degree symbol.

L

Light Emitting Diode (LED)

An electronic light source derived from a semiconductor diode possessing unidirectional electric current properties – in other words, diodes are one-way switches. When a voltage is applied in the forward direction, electrons from one side of the p/n junction recombine with holes on the other side of the junction, and energy is released in the form of light.

LED Efficiency

A measure of the light output of an LED device, generally measured in lumens, divided by the power, generally measured in watts, required to operate the device. This relationship, lumens per watt, is a key measure of LED performance.

Lumen

A measure of how much visible light is emitted by a source.

Lumen Output

The amount of light produced by a luminaire at a given time.

Lumens Per Watt (lm/W)

The energy efficiency of lighting; how much visible light you get for a given amount of electricity.

Luminaire

A lighting fixture consisting of one or more electric lamps, complete with all of the wiring and necessary parts such as housing, power supplies, etc.

M

MacAdam Ellipse

A mathematical representation used in lighting design to describe the variation in colour perception within a given set of light sources. MacAdam ellipses illustrate the range of chromaticity coordinates perceived as indistinguishable from a reference point, aiding in the selection of light sources with consistent colour appearance. These regions, delineated by adjacent ellipses, depict the degree of colour differentiation distinguished by the average human eye. This method is crucial in refining the binning process of LED colours, as differences in appearance are measured in MacAdam ellipses or steps.

O

Operating Temperature

The temperature at which a device typically operates is influenced by various factors, including its power dissipation. These factors help establish a "threshold temperature" for the device, which is the maximum normal operating temperature it can withstand. Additionally, there's a maximum operating temperature beyond which the device ceases to function properly.

Overcurrent

A situation where a larger than intended electric current exits through a conductor, leading to excessive generation of heat, and the risk of fire or damage to equipment.

Overload

The situation where the electrical system is tasked with handling a demand beyond its capacity.

Overtemperature

A temperature that is significantly higher than encountered in normal operation.

P

Pixel

The smaller the pixel pitch number, the more pixels used to make up the image on your display, thus improving the resolution and optimal viewing distance.

Power Consumption

The electrical energy per unit time, supplied to operate the LED. Usually measured in units of watts (W) or kilowatts (kW).

Power Supply

A generic term for any device that supplies electrical or other types of energy to a load. In lighting, common power supplies include fluorescent and HID ballasts, various types of transformers, and LED drivers. The latter are available as devices providing either constant current or constant voltage.

Printed Circuit Board (PCB)

A material used to mechanically support and electronically connect electronic components using conductive pathways, or traces, etched from copper sheets laminate onto a non-conductive substrate. Common types include FR-4 (Flame Retardant 4) and metal-core PCBs. The latter are commonly used with LEDs to aid in thermal management.

R

Rated Voltage

The maximum value of current, voltage or any other parameter beyond which the machine will not be operating according to its desired operation.

RGB

The RGB colour model is an additive colour model in which Red, Green and Blue light are added together in various ways to reproduce a broad array of colours.

RGBW

An acronym standing for Red, Green, Blue, and White. It refers to a display or lighting system that incorporates white LEDs in addition to the traditional RGB ones, allowing for a wider range of colour options and improved brightness control.

S

Short Circuit

In lighting, a short circuit occurs when an unintended connection is made between two points in an electrical circuit, resulting in a path with very low resistance. This can lead to excessive current flow, potentially causing damage to the circuit components or posing a fire hazard.

V

Voltage (V)

Voltage, expressed as the electrical potential difference between two points (VA - VB), serves as the driving force propelling electric current from point A to point B in a lighting system. LED voltage is influenced by the semiconductor material's structure, while the brightness of LEDs is chiefly determined by the current flowing through them.

W

Wattage (W)

An amount of electrical power expressed in watts.

Watts (W)

A measure of power, or the rate of energy conversion. The watts consumed by an LED are typically derived from a relatively fixed voltage level and varying levels of current.