Photometric Toolbox FAQ

Q: Will Photometric Toolbox run under Windows 98?

A: Yes. Photometric Toolbox will run under any version of Windows from 3.1 on up. However, it is a 16-bit application and does not support long filenames. We are working on a 32-bit upgrade and will have this available shortly.

Q: Does Photometric Toolbox come with a library of photometric files?

A: No. Photometric Toolbox is a tool used to evaluate photometric performance. IES format files can be obtained directly from the manufacturer or manufacturers rep. A library is also delivered with AGi32.

Q: Can I type in Photometric data from paper to produce an IES format report ?

A: Yes. This is one of the primary functions of Photometric Toolbox. However, in order to produce an accurate report you must have a complete representation of candela data on paper. If in doubt fax us the paper report at 303.972.8851 and ask.

Q: Can I compare luminaire performance of two like products ?

A: Absolutely. Simply open each file in Photometric Toolbox and create the appropriate report (indoor, roadway [all outdoor ex flood], flood). Then compare efficiency, polar plots, iso-illuminance plots, CU, luminance (indoor only).

Q: Does Photometric Toolbox create iso-illuminance templates to scale ?

A: Yes. The template generator will plot up to ten isolines for common luminaire arrangements (single, back to back, quad etc.) to any scale including metric. It cannot however, plot templates for tilted luminaires.

Q: Can Photometric Toolbox convert between IES format and others such as TM-14 ?

A: Not currently. However, this is planned for the 32-bit version.

Q: How do I prorate a photometric file to resemble a different lamp ?

A: Open the file in Photometric Toolbox, change the lumen output to the single lamp output of the new lamp. Then change the Multiplying Factor to boost or derate the candela values accordingly. Example: have a file based on 27500 lumens with MF=1. Want the file to be based on 30000 lumens. Change the lumens to 30000 and the multiplier to 1.09 (30000/27500). IMPORTANT NOTE: this practice is only necessary if you must have the photometric file reflect the alternate lamp. Application programs can make this proration easily without the need to edit the photometric file. In the case of the example above, the file would normally show lumen output of 27500 (before editing) in an application program. Simply change the output in the application program to 30000 lumens.

Q: Are the "Luminous Dimensions" of the luminaire important ?

A: Yes, very important for luminaires used indoors. Application programs will normally look at the luminous dimensions of the luminaire to determine if it needs to be descritized for accurate computations.

Q: Are the "Watts" of the luminaire important ?

A: Yes. AGi32 will use the Watts figure to compute Lighting Power Density (watts/ft2). The figure should consider both lamp and ballast watts for total connected load.

Q: Can Photometric Toolbox read "type A" photometry ?

A: No. Type A photometry is generally used for sealed beams such as automotive headlamps. It is not used in architectural lighting applications. NOTE: It has been common misnomer in the past to confuse type A with type C photometry. Architectural lighting products use type C photometry (or type B for floodlights).

Q: What does the line in the IES file TILT=INCLUDE mean ?

A: This means the luminaire uses a metal halide lamp and the output is effected by tilting the luminaire. By using the "INCLUDE" response to the TILT metric, a series of multiplying factors are entered based on the lamp performance at various tilt angles. Application programs like AGI and AGi32 will use the tilt data to compute the derated performance of each luminaire based on its aiming (tilt). This data is available from the lamp manufacturers and is the responsibility of the luminaire manufacturer to maintain.