Open Circuit Voltage

Abbreviated as OCV. This is the voltage emitted by the secondary side of a transformer/ballast. In a complete lighting system the final power output takes place at the socket. Because of this this is most commonly referred to as "socket voltage" or "voltage at the socket".

Operating Position

Base Down, Base Up, Horizontal, Universal.


  • Diffuser
  • Fiber Optics
  • Filter
  • A device or material used to restrict the passage of one or more things while permitting the remaining to pass.
  • Gel
  • A colored film used in stage and studio applications to filter colors. Gels are placed in a frame around the face of certain fixtures in order to filter out certain colors, or more to the point, allow only certain colors to be emitted.
  • Lens
  • Louver
  • Reflector


"Functional component grouping in electronic ballasts that converts the line frequency into a high frequency." - Advance Ballast Glossary

Output Voltage

The voltage being supplied by a driver or transformer. This term isn't technically correct to describe the voltage being delivered by a ballast. The appropriate terminology for the voltage being delivered by a HID ballast is open circuit voltage. by It is not used to describe the voltage being supplied to any component that receives power from a driver, ballast or transformer that is installed within a lighting system.

Oxidation (Oxidize)

  • Oxidation is a process that involves oxygen reacting with something else. Oxidation is what is occurring when iron rusts. When iron rusts it is reacting with oxygen or, in other words, oxidizing and in this process creates iron oxide. This same process is what causes pennies to turn green and what causes silver to tarnish. In the same way when tungsten oxidizes it creates tungsten oxide. The difference between the oxidation that occurs between tungsten and iron is that iron oxidizes (rusts) at room temperature while Tungsten requires a higher temperature for oxidation to occur.
  • Note for proper terminology: At times it is said that a vacuum is 'put' into something but this is incorrect as a vacuum requires that something be removed. The correct terminology is that a vacuum is "created" by "evacuating" a bulb's envelope (shell). A vacuum is created by sucking all of the air out of the bulb's shell. By doing so, oxidation is prevented.