Glossary of Terms

Welcome to our glossary page. Here, you’ll find definitions for some of the more technical or industry-specific terms related to military lighting, tactical illumination, and identification systems. This glossary is designed to help you better understand the products and technologies we offer.

A

AC
An acronym for alternating current. Alternating current is a type of current that continuously reverses its direction.

Active Illumination
A lighting technique where a light source actively emits light to illuminate a target area or object. Used in night vision systems to enhance visibility in low-light conditions.

Ambient Light Sensor
A sensor that measures the amount of light in the surrounding environment. These sensors are often used in vehicle lighting systems to automatically adjust the brightness of displays or headlights based on external light conditions.

Amp
An abbreviation for ampere. An ampere is a standardized measure of electrical current.

B

Battery Life
The duration a battery can power a device before it needs recharging or replacement. This is a critical specification for tactical lights and other portable military lighting equipment.

Beam Distance
The maximum distance at which a light beam can effectively illuminate a target. Beam distance is a key factor in evaluating the performance of tactical lights.

C

CE
An acronym for the French translation of “European Conformity.” The CE mark is placed on products sold in Europe which have met safety, health, and/or environmental requirements.

Chemical Light
Also known as glow sticks or chem lights, these are non-electric, self-contained light sources that provide illumination through a chemical reaction. Widely used in emergency situations and military operations for marking and signaling.

Class I
Class I is a warning light SAE classification for lights that have a minimum of 4 times the light intensity of a Class II warning light. Examples of Class I warning light applications include emergency vehicles such as police, fire, and ambulance.

Class II
Class II is a warning light SAE classification for lights that have a minimum of approximately 2.5 times the light intensity of a Class III warning light. Examples of Class II warning light applications include utility vehicles that work along roadsides.

Class III
Class III is a warning light SAE classification for lights that have approximately 40% of the minimum intensity of Class II warning lights. Class III products are typically used inside of buildings where there is little or no ambient sunlight.

Color Temperature
A characteristic of visible light measured in units of absolute temperature on the Kelvin scale. Higher color temperatures resemble mid-day sun (6,500 K) and cause less user fatigue compared to lights with lower color temperatures resembling dusk or dawn (2,500 K).

Current
The flow of electrons through a conductor.

D

DC
An acronym for direct current. Direct current is a type of current that only goes in one direction. DC is typically used in most vehicular electrical systems.

Dedicated Voltage
A term used to describe a light that operates on a single voltage (e.g., 12V DC).

DOT
An acronym for the Department of Transportation. DOT-compliant means that the lighting meets section 108 requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). These standards regulate all automotive lighting, signaling, and reflective devices in the United States.

Driving Light
A focused, intense beam of light used to illuminate the stretch of road directly in front of the vehicle.

DRL
An acronym for daytime running lamp. Headlights with DRL automatically switch on when the vehicle is moving forward, emitting a white light to increase vehicle visibility during daylight.

E

ECE
An acronym for the Economic Commission for Europe. The ECE has established uniform regulatory standards for vehicle design, including vehicular lighting. ECE-compliant lights meet these standards in the European Union and in non-European countries that have adopted ECE Regulations.

ETL
An acronym for Electrical Testing Laboratory. ETL is an independent company that specializes in electrical product safety testing.

EMI
An acronym for electromagnetic interference. EMI is a disturbance on an electrical circuit that can interrupt, obstruct, degrade, or limit the circuit’s performance.

Effective Lumens
A measure of the actual light output of a light source, accounting for electrical and optical losses. Effective Lumens provide a more accurate representation of useful visible light.

F

FMVSS 108
An acronym for the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108, issued by the NHTSA. This standard governs vehicular lighting requirements in the United States.

Filament
The part of an incandescent light that emits light when heated.

Flood Beam Pattern
A lighting pattern offering a wide, short-distance spread of light for greater visibility along the horizon.

Fog Light
A lighting pattern that provides a wider, low spread of light to reduce reflection from water or snow and increase short-range visibility.

FP
An acronym for front position lamp. This part of the headlight increases your vehicle’s visibility to other drivers, especially at night or when parked.

H

Halogen
Halogen lights use a tungsten filament within a glass bulb filled with halogen gas. They can operate at higher temperatures than standard incandescent lights, with a higher color temperature and longer lifespan.

Harmonized
In vehicular lighting, this term refers to shared or common regulatory standards between different parts of the world (e.g., ECE and SAE standards).

Homologated
Refers to the conformity of a lighting product to European standards, ensuring it is approved for use throughout Europe.

HID
An acronym for high intensity discharge. HID lights create light through an electric arc between tungsten electrodes in a tube filled with gas and metal salts, producing intense light and reducing power consumption compared to halogen or incandescent lights.

I

IP Rating
The IP Code system classifies the protection of electrical enclosures, including lights, against intrusion from foreign bodies like dust, moisture, and tools.

Incandescent
Incandescent lights use a filament to emit light when heated. They are the least efficient and shortest-lived lighting technology, typically found in older vehicular lighting systems.

Infrared (IR) Lighting
Light that is invisible to the naked eye but can be detected by night vision equipment. Infrared lighting is used for covert operations and in identification systems to prevent detection by the enemy.

Illumination Systems
Integrated lighting systems designed to provide controlled, reliable lighting in specific environments, such as vehicles, ships, or tactical gear.

L

LED
An acronym for light emitting diode. LEDs are an efficient, long-lasting lighting technology with higher color temperatures than halogen, HID, or incandescent lights. Their durability makes them ideal for applications where shock and vibration are present.

Lens
An optical component of a lamp engineered to converge, diverge, or protect light.

LHT
Left Hand Traffic. Refers to the side of the road a driver uses, such as in the UK, where drivers are on the left side of the road.

Lumen
A unit of measurement for the amount of light perceived by the human eye. In vehicular lighting, distinguishing between raw and effective lumens is essential.

Lumens per Watt
A measure of a light’s efficiency, calculated by dividing the light output (lumens) by power consumption (watts). Higher lumens per watt indicate greater efficiency.

M

Multi-Voltage
Describes a light that operates on more than one voltage (e.g., 12-48V DC). Multi-voltage lights are versatile, allowing use in multiple applications.

N

NHTSA
An acronym for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a branch of the U.S. DOT responsible for creating vehicular safety standards.

O

OEM
An acronym for original equipment manufacturers.

Optics
The components of a light that collect, reflect, and refract light to create a specific beam pattern.

P

Pencil Beam Pattern
A narrow, long-range beam of light, often used to reduce glare and reflections when mounting driving lights above the hood.

Photometry
The science of measuring light in terms of its perceived intensity by the human eye.

R

Raw Lumens
The theoretical light output of a light source, calculated by multiplying the LED manufacturer’s lumen rating by the number of LEDs in the light. Raw lumens do not account for electrical and optical losses.

RHT
Right Hand Traffic. Refers to the side of the road a driver uses, such as in Canada, where drivers are on the right side of the road.

S

SAE
An acronym for Society of Automotive Engineers, which sets standards for automotive lighting and other vehicle systems.

Sealed Beam
A type of light with a reflector, light source, and permanently attached glass lens as a single assembly.

Spot Beam Pattern
A focused, long-range spread of light for precise illumination.

T

Trapezoid Beam Pattern
A narrow, long-distance beam pattern that provides enhanced visibility along the horizon.

U

UL
An acronym for Underwriter Laboratories, an independent organization that certifies product safety.