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PIAA GLOSSARY
Ampere (A or Amp):
The unit of measure for electrical current. Basic formula
for finding Amp draw (Amps = watts ÷ volts)
Candela: A unit of
measurement for the luminous intensity of a lamp at
a specific spot in the beam. Dichroic A glass reflector
and bulb assembly that allows heat to dissipate through
the reflector and away from the bulb thus increasing
bulb life.
Dual Filament Bulb:
A bulb having two filaments encased in one glass tube.
In the case of halogen headlight bulbs with dual filaments,
one filament for the low beam and one filament for the
high beam. The most common dual filament halogen headlight
bulbs are H4, HB2, 9007, and 9004.
Dual Lamp System:
A PIAA innovation that places two types of auxiliary
light systems into one housing, usually a driving light
and a fog light.
High Intensity Discharge:
A light source in which light is produced by a stabilized
arc that burns at a much higher color temperature which
creates a whiter light output than a standard halogen
bulb. This arc is generated with an igniting system
and ballast.
Kelvin Color: Kalvin
temperature is a unit of measure for the color of light
– it is not necessarily related to the heat of
the light source. A higher color temperature represents
a color closer to actual sunlight.
Lens Fluting: A process
in lamp design that molds the lens to control the beam
pattern by deflecting the light to the desired point
in the beam. Lens fluting usually looks like vertical
cuts in the lens.
Lumens: A unit of
measurement for the amount of light that a bulb puts
out. Example: common light bulbs emit approximately
170 candela per 10 watts of electricity.
Multi Surface Reflector (MSR):
A reflector designed to control the beam pattern with
a computer designed surface to project the light precisely
to the desired point in the beam without the use of
fluting.
NHTSA, D.O.T.: National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of
Transportation. Sets the laws and guidelines for the
preservation of safety on public highways.
Projector Lens: An
ellipse shaped lens that concentrates a beam of light
coming from a set back bulb and reflector. The beam
is usually controlled with a shield to give the beam
a very sharp cut off point. This makes a great fog light
or headlight low beam.
S.A.E.: Society of
Automotive Engineers. Publishes the recommended practices,
design specifications and testing procedures for all
automotive systems.
Xenon: The gas used
in H.I.D. systems that produce the extreme white color.
Xenon gas is also used in some halogen bulbs to produce
a whiter light and to keep deposits off the glass tube.
XTRA: A PIAA term
used to designate high efficiency bulbs that are designed
to produce greater light output than its rated power
consumption. (Example 55watts = 85watts of light output) |
