Electrical

Illumination
Contents

Introduction.
Laws of Illumination.
Types of Lamps.
Electrical Illumination
Illumination -The degree of visibility of
environment by producing natural or artificial
radiance of a luminous source.
Application of electricity over the principle of
illumination, called as electrical illumination.
( lighting phenomenon, i.e., lamps).
Light and heat – A view:-
 Definitions:-
1) Candela:- It is the unit of luminous intensity of a source. It
is defined as 1/60 th of the luminous intensity per cm2 of a
black body radiator at the temperature of solidification of
platinum (2045 K), emitting one lumen per steradian.
Hence total flux emitted is 4π *1=4π lumen.

2) Luminous flux(F or Ф):- It is the light energy radiated out

per second from the body in the form of luminous light
waves. Its unit is lumen(lm) which is defined as the flux
contained per unit solid angle of a source of one candela
(or) standard candle. 1 lumen=0.0016 watt(approx.)

3) Lumen-hour:- It is the quantity of light delivered in one

hour by a flux if one lumen.( similar to watt-hour).
4) Luminous intensity or Candle power(I):- It is the
luminous flux radiated out per unit solid angle in that
direction . I=( dФ )/( dω ).

5) Reduction Factor:- It is the mean horizontal candle

power.

6) Illuminance or Illumination (E):- When the

luminous flux falls on a surface, it is said to be
illuminated. Its unit is flux (Ф).

7) Specific Output or Efficiency :- It is the ratio of

luminous flux to the power intake by a lamp. Its unit
is lumen/watt (lm/W).
Solid Angle:-
An angle formed by three
or more planes intersecting at
a common point. Unit is
steradian (sr).
ω=A/r²

Streetlight and steradian

 Laws of Illumination
Frechner’s Law
Inverse Square Law
Lambert’s Cosine Law
1) The illumination (E) is directly proportional to the
luminous intensity (I) of the source .i.e.,
E ∞ I……………..(1)

2) Inverse Square Law:- The illumination of a surface is

inversely proportional to the square of the distance of the
surface from the source.
E ∞ 1/r²………….(2)

3) Lambert’s Cosine Law:- E is directly proportional to the

cosine of the angle made by the normal to the illuminated
surface with the direction of the incident flux.
E’= (Ф Cos θ)/A
E’=E Cos θ ………(3)
Types Of Lighting Schemes (or) Lamps

1) Direct Lighting Scheme

2) Indirect Lighting Scheme
3) Semi-direct Lighting Scheme
4) Semi-indirect Lighting Scheme
5) General Diffusion System
1). Direct Lighting
Light from the source falls directly on the object to
be illuminated.
Directed in the lower hemisphere.
Brilliant source of light.
Causes glare and hard shadows.
Downward distribution 60%.
ex., study lamps, bracket lamps., etc.,
2). Indirect Lighting

Indirect lighting due to diffused reflection by placing

opaque bowls over the source.
Directed in the upper hemisphere.
Upward distribution 80%
Shadowless illumination
Brightness is 50% that of direct lighting.
ex., ceiling lights for decoration purposes., etc.,
3). Semi-direct Lighting
Partial spreading of light waves.
Looks perfect for rooms with high ceilings.
Distribution Upwards-30%; Downwards- 45%.
Improves brightness towards eye level and efficiency of
the system.
ex., Auditorium lightings., etc.,
4). Semi-indirect lighting

Light is partially received by diffused reflection and

partially from the source directly.
Distribution downwards-10%; upwards- 75%.
Usage of translucent bowls without reflectors.
ex., celebration lightings.,
5). General Diffusing System

Equal lighting distribution downwards and

upwards.
No usage of bowls, no glaring, direct spread of light
waves around the source.
Distribution upwards – 40%; downwards- 40%.
ex., Sun.,
 By
BTF-09-041
*gk A.Vigneshwaran