Light fixture
Encyclopedia : L : LI : LIG : Light fixture
- This article is about architectural light fixtures. For stage lighting, refer to lighting fixture.
A light fixture is an electrical device used to create artificial light or illumination in architecture. A complete lighting fixture unit consists of 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. 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.
Fixture types
- Free-standing or portable -- table lamps and office task lights
- Recessed light fixture -- the protective housing is concealed behind a ceiling or wall
- * "Cans" with a variety of lamps
- * Troffer light -- recessed fluorescent lights
- Surface-mounted light -- the finished housing is exposed
- * Chandelier
- Pendant light -- suspended from the ceiling with a chain or pipe
- Indirect lighting -- light reflects off the ceiling for general illumination
- Cove light -- recessed into the ceiling in a long box against a wall
- Track light fixture -- individual fixtures (track "heads") can be positioned anywhere along the track, which provides electric power.
- Under-cabinet light -- mounted below kitchen wall cabinets
- Pole or stantion mounted -- for landscape and roadways
- 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
- Emergency lighting or Exit light -- connected to a battery or to an electric circuit that has backup power if the main power fails
- Anglepoise lamp -- the twentieth century's most successful and innovative desk lamp design.
Light fixture functions
- Accent light
- Background light
- Blacklight
- Downlight
- Emergency light
- Flood light
- Safelight
- Safety lamp
- Sconce
- Searchlight
- Security lighting
- Step light
- Street light
- Strobe light
- Spotlight
- Torch lamp or torchiere
- Landscape or outdoor lighting
- Nightlight
- Wallwasher
Lamp types
- Fuel lamps
- Betty lamp, butter lamp, carbide lamp, gas lighting, kerosene lamp, oil lamp, rush light, torch, candle
Light fixture controls
- Dimmer
- Occupancy sensor
- Three way switch
- Timer
See also
- Architectural lighting design
- History of street lighting in the United States
- Lighting designer for the theater
- List of light sources
- Timeline of lighting technology
| L i g h t i n g and L a m p s | ||
|---|---|---|
| Incandescent: | Incandescent light bulb>Conventional - Halogen - Parabolic Aluminized Reflector (PAR) |
|
| Fluorescent: | Compact fluorescent lamp>Compact Fluorescent (CFL) - Linear fluorescent - Induction lamp | |
| Gas discharge: | High-intensity discharge lamp>High-Intensity Discharge (HID) - Mercury-vapor - Metal-halide - Neon - Sodium vapor | |
| Electric arc: | Arc lamp - Hydrargyrum medium-arc iodide>HMI - Xenon arc - Yablochkov candle | |
| Combustion: | Carbide lamp>Acetylene/Carbide - Candle - Gas lighting - Kerosene lamp - Limelight - Oil lamp - Safety lamp | |
| Other types: | Sulfur lamp - Light-emitting diode>Light-Emitting Diode (LED) - Optical fiber - Plasma | |
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