Units
Lamps and Luminaires
Unit code: PCN124
Contact hours:
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
This is an important unit in the lighting suite of courses because it describes the basic equipment that people working in any area of the lighting industry have to know and understand – the lights themselves. Understanding how a lamp works and how it performs helps people make informed decisions about the choices they have in choosing lamps for particular applications. All lectures in units that follow this will assume a good knowledge and understanding of the principles, properties and performances of light sources, including the emerging LED products.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 1 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
There is a wide range and ever increasing number of lighting products available today and the choice of a lamp or luminaire for a particular application requires an understanding of the different properties of each type of light source, its performance and limitations. The person working in any field of lighting requires a working knowledge and understanding of these design and performance factors to appreciate the need for the wide range of product available.
Aims
There is a wide range and ever increasing number of lighting products available today and the choice of a lamp or luminaire for a particular application requires an understanding of the different properties of each type of light source, its performance and limitations. The person working in any field of lighting requires a working knowledge and understanding of these design and performance factors to appreciate the need for the wide range of product available.
Objectives
On completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the basics of light production and the characteristics of practical lamps, including light output, colour temperature and electrical control gear.
2. Demonstrate an understanding, by individually undertaking your own simple designs, of the factors that affect and determine the performance of luminaries for different applications.
3. Understand the requirements of luminaires to meet relevant Standards of electrical and mechanical safety.
4. Interpret and compare polar plots and other luminaire data provided in manufacturers specifications, to make strategic decisions about choices of luminaries for a particular application.
5. Measure and quantify the properties of lamps and luminaire materials relevant to luminaire design.
Content
Topics include:
An historical outline of the development of light sources; detailed discussion on the practical requirements of light sources including tubular fluorescent lamps; various high pressure and low pressure discharge lamps. Practical lamps are discussed in terms of luminous efficacy, spectral output, colour rendering, life, supply requirements, control gear, cost, etc.
The design, manufacture, testing and the provision of data on luminaires are discussed including the requirements of luminaires; methods of light control; the properties of optical systems; refractors; reflectors and diffusers; luminance control techniques; manufacture of luminaires and auxiliaries; codes and provision of photometric data for indoor and outdoor luminaires; the calculation of utilisation factors; luminaire luminances; computerised testing, and machine readable photometric data.
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
In this unit you will have a combination of formal lectures coupled with a significant component of laboratory exercises associated with photometric and colour measurement in applied situations. The basic material will be made available on the unit On-Line Teaching (Blackboard) university website, allowing the lecture periods to take more of an interactive discussion and problem-solving format. Students will also undertake an assignment on a luminiare design.
Your practical work will be carried out in the QUT NATA-registered Photometric Laboratory and will include work-place type measurements. You will also undertake some field work measurement exercises of lighting installations.
This unit is being taught concurrently with an undergraduate offering of the same subject. University policy permits that postgraduate and undergraduate students attend the same lectures. Separate discussion groups will be provided for postgraduate students where student numbers allow. As a postgraduate student you will be required to complete separate assessment tasks.
Assessment
In this unit you will be assessed primarily on your understanding of how the different types of lamps work and factors that affect their performance. You will also be expected to understand the general principles of luminaire design and performance.
For successful completion of this unit you will be expected to obtain an acceptable level of achievement in all areas of assessment.Students will receive individual feedback on their written assignments and computer assignments as part of the grading of the assignment.
Assessment name:
Examination (Theory)
Description:
Open book Summative: Understanding of concepts, problem solving and calculation format.
Relates to objectives:
1, 3, 4 and 5.
Weight:
25%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
End of Semester
Assessment name:
Practical Assignment Exercises
Description:
Computer-based design exercises based on specified design criteria
Relates to Objectives 2, 5
Relates to objectives:
2 and 5.
Weight:
30%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
End of Semester
Assessment name:
Assignments
Description:
(Formative & summative) Practical assignment exercises on properties and characteristics of luminaries
Relates to objectives:
1, 3 and 4.
Weight:
45%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
End of Semester
Academic Honesty
QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.
A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.
Resource materials
1. Julian W (1999) Lighting: Basic Concepts, University of Sydney
2. Lighting and Human Performance II, EPRI Technical Report 1006415
3. Pritchard DC (1992) Lighting, 5th Edition, Longman
4. IESNA Lighting Handbook, 9th Edition, Editor M Rea
Students should also make use of the Web to source general information on relevant products and materials.
Risk assessment statement
There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Last modified: 19-Oct-2012
