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Light fixture

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This article is about architectural light fixtures. For stage lighting, see Stage lighting instrument.
A wide array of light fixtures

A light fixture is an electrical device used to create artificial light or illumination. A luminaire is a lighting fixture complete with the light source or lamp, the reflector for directing the light, an aperture (with or without a lens), the outer shell or housing for lamp alignment and protection, an electrical ballast, if required, and connection to a power source[1]. A wide variety of special light fixtures are created for use in the automotive industry, aerospace, marine and medicine.

Light fixtures are classified by how the fixture is installed, the light function or lamp type.

Light fixture is US usage, in English it is called a light fitting, however Luminaire is the international IEC terminology for technical use.

Fixture types

Free-standing or portable

Tiffany dragonfly desk lamp with pigeon sculptures

Fixed

  • Recessed light—the protective housing is concealed behind a ceiling or wall, leaving only the fixture itself exposed. The ceiling-mounted version is often called a downlight.
    • Cans with a variety of lamps—this term is jargon for inexpensive downlighting products that are recessed into the ceiling. The name comes from the shape of the housing. The term pot lights is often used in Canada and parts of the US.
    • Troffer light—recessed fluorescent lights (the word comes from the combination of trough and coffer).
    • Cove light—recessed into the ceiling in a long box against a wall.
    • Torch lamp, torchière, or floor lamp.
A chandelier light fixture
  • Surface-mounted light—the finished housing is exposed, not flush with surface.
    • Chandelier.
    • Pendant light—suspended from the ceiling with a chain or pipe.
    • Sconce—provide up or down lights; can be used to illuminate artwork, architectural details; commonly used in hallways and/or as an alternative to overhead lighting.
    • Track lighting fixture—individual fixtures (track heads) can be positioned anywhere along the track, which provides electric power.
    • Under-cabinet light—mounted below kitchen wall cabinets..
    • Emergency lighting or exit light—connected to a battery or to an electric circuit that has backup power if the main power fails.
    • High bay/low bay lighting—typically used for general lighting for industrial buildings.
    • Strip lights or industrial lights—often long lines of fluorescent lamps used in a warehouse or factory.
A garden solar lamp is an example of landscape lighting
  • Outdoor lighting—used to illuminate walkways, parking lots, roadways, building exteriors, landscape, and architectural details.
    • Pole or stanchion mounted—for landscape, roadways, and parking lots.
    • Pathway lighting—typically mounted in the ground at low levels for illuminating walkways.
    • Bollards—A type of architectural outdoor lighting that is a short, upright ground-mounted unit typically used to provide cutoff type illumination for egress lighting, to light walkways, steps, or other pathways.
    • Street light.
    • Yard light.
    • Solar lamp.

Special purpose lights

Lamp types

Main article: List of light sources
  • Fuel lamps
Betty lamp, butter lamp, carbide lamp, gas lighting, kerosene lamp, oil lamp, rush light, torch, candle, Limelight, gas mantle
Safety lamps: Davy lamp & Geordie lamp
Xenon arc lamp, Yablochkov candle
A-lamp, PAR Parabolic reflector lamp (PAR), Reflector lamp (R), Bulged reflector lamp (BR) (Refer to lamp bases)
Mercury-vapor lamp, Metal-halide (HMI, HQI, CDM), Sodium vapor or "high pressure sodium"
Linear fluorescent, Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL), Blacklight

Light fixture controls

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lamps and luminaires.

References

  1. ^ http://www.sylvania.com/BusinessProducts/Glossary/

Floor Lamp Provides quality information on floor lamps.

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