Apparatus and method for comparison of electric power efficiency of lighting sources

• US 6,774,619 B1
• Filed: 08/05/2002
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Verfuerth, Neal R., Potts, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zarneke, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANG, MINH NHUT
• Application Number:
  US10/211,851
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 324/103.R, 324/114, 324/142, 324/158.1, 702/60, 702/62, 700/286, 700/291, 700/293
• US Class Current: 324/142
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source

Abstract

Apparatus and method for comparison of electric power efficiency of lighting sources includes electric power supply to a first circuit and first light, and electric power supply to a second circuit and second light, and a first light meter and a second light meter to measure the light intensity of the first light and second light respectively and a clamp-on ammeter on the electric power line to the first light source and a clamp-on ammeter on the electric power line to the second light source and each clamp-on ammeter connected to a separate window in a computer to show the amperes drawn by each light source, and each light meter connected to a window in the computer to determine equal light from each lighting source.

Claims

1. Apparatus for comparison of electric power efficiency of lighting sources comprising:

a. a first light source and a second light source each said light source connected to a common electric power source,

b. a first light meter under said first light source, and said first light meter connected to a display window in a computer

c. said first light source aimed at its respective first light meter,

d. a second light meter under said second light source, and said second light meter connected to a display window in said computer,

e. said second light source aimed at its respective second light meter,

f. a clamp-on ammeter clamped on electric power source to said first light source,

g. a clamp-on ammeter clamped on electric power source to said second light source,

h. said clamp-on ammeter on electric power line to said first light source wired to a computer first panel display window,

i. said clamp-on ammeter on said electric power line to said second light source, wired to a second panel display window of said computer and,

j. an electric switch on line from said electric power source to said first light source, and an electric switch on line from said electric power source to said second light source.

3. Apparatus for comparison of electric power efficiency of lighting sources of claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

a. two of said clamp-on ammeters, one of said clamp-on ammeters on each of first circuit and second circuit power lines from electric power supply to first lighting fixture and to second lighting fixture.

2. Method of comparison of electric power efficiency of lighting sources comprising:

a. a first light source and a second light source each said light source connected to a common electric power source voltage,

b. an electric switch on line from said power supply to said first light source, and an electric switch on line from said power supply to said second light source, and each said electric switch in a closed position,

c. a first light meter under said first light source, connected to a first display window in a computer, and a second light meter under said second light source connected to a second display window in said computer,

d. said first light source aimed at its respective first light meter,

e. said second light source aimed at its respective second light meter,

f. a clamp-on ammeter clamping on electric power source to said first light source,

g. a clamp-on ammeter clamping on electric power source to said second light source,

h. said clamp-on ammeter on electric power line to said first light source wired to a computer first panel display window, and

i. said clamp-on ammeter on electric power line to said second light source, wired to a second panel display window of said computer.