Glossary

The standard Malaysian square three-pin socket outlet (BS 1363 type), rated at 13 amps.

How wide the light spreads, in degrees. A narrow beam (about 24 to 36°) picks out objects; a wide beam (90° and above) lights a whole area.

The largest fault current a breaker can safely interrupt, in kiloamps. 6kA and 10kA are common for MCBs.

A metal terminal crimped onto the end of a cable so it can be bolted securely to a breaker, busbar or equipment.

CCT stands for correlated colour temperature. A 3CCT light has a switch or wall-switch sequence that lets you choose between three colour temperatures, usually 3000K, 4000K and 6500K.

The colour of white light, in kelvin. 3000K is warm white, 4000K is neutral white and 6500K is cool daylight white.

Ways to route and protect cables. Conduit is a tube (PVC or metal), trunking is a rectangular channel with a lid, and cable tray is an open support for heavy cable runs.

How naturally a light shows colours, on a scale up to 100. CRI 80 is standard for general lighting; CRI 90 and above suits shops, galleries and make-up areas.

A fan with a direct-current motor. It is quieter and uses less electricity than a traditional AC motor, and usually offers more speeds by remote control.

A lamp or driver that can be dimmed with a compatible dimmer. Non-dimmable LEDs can flicker or fail on a dimmer circuit.

Lamp cap types. E27 and E14 are screw caps (large and small), B22 is a bayonet cap, GU10 is a twist-lock two-pin cap for mains spotlights, and MR16 is a low-voltage two-pin cap that needs a transformer.

Connecting exposed metal parts of an installation to the ground so that fault current has a safe path and protective devices can operate.

Lumens divided by watts: how much light you get for each watt of electricity. A higher figure means a more efficient light.

In Malaysia, some appliances such as fans and lamps carry an Energy Commission star label from 1 to 5 stars. More stars means lower energy use.

Gang is the number of switches on one plate. A 2-way switch is used in pairs so one light can be controlled from two places.

Lights for tall ceilings. High bay fittings suit ceilings of roughly 6 m and above (warehouses, factories); low bay fittings suit lower industrial ceilings.

Ingress Protection: two digits showing how well a fitting keeps out solids (first digit) and water (second digit). IP20 is for dry indoor use, IP44 resists splashes, IP65 is dust-tight and resists water jets, and IP66 resists powerful water jets.

A power supply that converts mains electricity to the low voltage or constant current an LED needs. Strip lights usually use a constant-voltage (12V or 24V) driver; many downlights and panels use a constant-current driver.

The amount of visible light a lamp gives out. Use lumens, not watts, to compare brightness between LED products. About 800 lm matches an old 60W incandescent bulb.

A switch that turns a circuit off automatically on overload or short circuit, protecting the cable. Rated in amps (for example 16A), poles and breaking capacity (for example 6kA).

An MCB protects the wiring from too much current. An RCCB protects people from earth leakage. Most homes need both; an RCBO combines the two for one circuit.

MS is a Malaysian Standard; IEC standards are international electrotechnical standards. Many Malaysian standards adopt IEC ones (shown as MS IEC). Datasheets list the standards a product is tested to.

How many conductors a breaker switches. Single-phase circuits use 1P or 2P devices; three-phase supplies use 3P or 4P.

How efficiently a product draws power from the supply, from 0 to 1. A PF of 0.9 or above is better for large installations and commercial premises.

A residual current breaker with overcurrent protection: an MCB and RCCB in one module, protecting a single circuit.

A device that trips when current leaks to earth, protecting people from electric shock. Sold by amp rating, poles and sensitivity, such as 30 mA or 100 mA.

Malaysia's standards and industrial research body. SIRIM QAS International tests and certifies products; a SIRIM label shows a product has been certified to the relevant Malaysian standard.

A device fitted in the distribution board that diverts voltage spikes, for example from nearby lightning, away from connected equipment.

Suruhanjaya Tenaga, Malaysia's Energy Commission, requires listed electrical equipment to carry a Certificate of Approval and its label before sale.

Tube sizes. T8 tubes are about 26 mm across and T5 tubes about 16 mm. They fit different holders and are not interchangeable.

The electrical power a product uses. With LED lighting, a lower wattage can give the same light as an older, higher-wattage lamp.