Electrical Thumb Rules-Illumination-(Part-19).

Recommended Lighting Levels For Sports Areas
TYPE OF SPORTS	PRACTIVE LEVEL	MINOR LEAGUE	MAJOR LEAGUE	PROV LEVEL
Bowls	20 lux	50 lux	100 lux	150 lux
Tennis	50 lux	100 lux	150 lux	250 lux
Football	50 lux	100 lux	250 lux	450 lux
Cricket Outfield	50 lux	100 lux	250 lux	450 lux
Cricket Pitch	100 lux	200 lux	400 lux	600 lux
Hockey	50 lux	100 lux	250 lux	350 lux
Swimming	50 lux	100 lux	150 lux	250 lux

 

Industrial & Office Applications Lux Level
WORK AREAS	WORK TYPE	LUX
General Engineering	Rough Work	160 lux
General Engineering	Medium Work	400 lux
General Engineering	Fine Work	800 lux
General Engineering	Very Fine Work	1600 lux
Inspection Areas	Rough Work	160 lux
Inspection Areas	Medium Work	320 lux
Inspection Areas	Sub Assemblies	400 lux
Inspection Areas	Fine Work, electric & high precision mechanical	800 lux
Offices	Entrance halls and receptions areas	160 lux
Offices	Conference facilities, general offices, typing and filing	500 lux
Offices	Computer and business machine operation	630 lux
Offices	Drawing Offices	800 lux
Outdoor Areas	Mechanical loading	10 lux
Outdoor Areas	Manual loading	10 lux
Outdoor Areas	Service station forecourts	160 lux
Warehousing	Inactive storage	20 lux
Warehousing	Loading bays and large materials storage	100 lux
Warehousing	Small material storage, packing and dispatch	200 lux

 

Recommended Lighting Levels
Characteristics of Activity	Representative Activity	Illuminance (lux)
Interiors rarely used for visual tasks (no perception of detail)	Cable tunnels, nighttime sidewalk, parking lots	50
Interiors with minimal demand for visual acuity (limited perception of detail)	Corridors, changing rooms, loading bay	100 – 150
Interiors with low demand for visual acuity (some perception of detail)	Foyers and entrances, dining rooms, warehouses, restrooms	200
Interior with some demand for visual acuity (frequently occupied spaces)	Libraries, sports and assembly halls, teaching spaces, lecture theaters	300
Interior with moderate demand for visual acuity (some low contrast, color judgment tasks)	Computer work, reading & writing, general offices, retail shops, kitchens	500
Interior with demand for good visual acuity (good color judgment, inviting interior)	Drawing offices, chain stores, general electronics work	750
Interior with demand for superior visual acuity (accurate color judgment & low contrast)	Detailed electronics assembly, drafting, cabinet making, supermarkets	1000
Interior with demand for maximum visual acuity (low contrast, optical aids & local lighting will be of advantage)	Hand tailoring, precision assembly, detailed drafting, assembly of minute mechanisms	1500 -2000+

 

Interior Light Levels
Environment	Required Light Level
Storage Area / Plant Room (minimal movement of people)	150 – 200 Lux
Construction Areas & Loading Bays (minimal perception of detail)	300 – 500 Lux
Factories & Kitchens (higher perception of detail)	500 – 750 Lux
Inspection, Welding, And Machinery (demanding work)	750 – 1000 Lux
Electronics & Textile Production (repetitive detail)	1000 – 1500 Lux
Technical Offices (accurate detail)	1500 – 3000 Lux
Jewelers & Goldsmiths (precision detail)	3000 + Lux

 

Outdoor Light Levels
Environment	Required Light Level
Very Bright Summer Day	Up To 100,000 Lux
Overcast Summer Day	30,000 – 40,000 Lux
Floodlit Football Match	700 – 16,000 Lux
Shady Room In Daylight	250 – 300 Lux
Night Light On A Building	60 Lux
Night-Time Urban Street	10 Lux
Night-Time Car Park	1 Lux
Security Floodlights	700-1300 Lux
Shed Lights	150-300 Lux
Lamp Posts	120-180 Lux
Landscape Spotlights	120 Lux
Outdoor Path Lighting	100 Lux
Path lighting.	100 Lux
Landscape Lights	100-300 Lux
Garden lights	20 Lux

 

Illumination Level
Light levels as per IS 1944
Classification of Road	Type of road	illumination (lux)
Group A1	Important traffic routes carrying fast traffic	30
Group A2	Other main roads carrying mixed traffic, like main city streets, arterial roads, throughways etc	15
Group B1	Secondary roads with considerable traffic like principal local traffic routes, shopping streets etc	8
Group B2	Secondary roads with light traffic Important traffic routes carrying fast traffic	4

 

Illumination Level
Roadway Classification	Average Maintained Illuminance
	High lux	Medium lux	Low lux
Major/Major	34	26	18
Major/Collector	29	22	15
Collector/Collector	24	18	12
Collector/Local	21	16	10
Local/Local	18	14	8

 

Interior Lighting Level
Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers CIBSE  Part 2 (2002)
Illuminance (lux)	Activity	Area
100	Casual seeing	Corridors, changing rooms, stores
150	Some perception of detail	Loading bays, switch rooms, plant rooms
200	Continuously occupied	Foyers, entrance halls, dining rooms
300	Visual tasks moderately easy	Libraries, sports halls, lecture theatres.
500	Visual tasks moderately difficult	General offices, kitchens, laboratories, retail shops.
750	Visual tasks difficult	Drawing offices, meat inspection, chain stores.
1000	Visual tasks very difficult	General inspection, electronic assembly, paintwork, supermarkets.
1500	Visual tasks extremely difficult	Fine work and inspection, precision assembly.
2000	Visual tasks exceptionally difficult	Assembly of minute items, finished fabric inspection.

 

Illumination levels of Switch Yard
AS/NZS 1158.3.1
Switchyard area lighting targets	Illuminance (lx)
HV areas including any overhead line road crossings and any access path zone type infrastructure	10
Non-HV areas and general open areas	5
Isolated areas such as back of buildings, corners of switchyards away from HV Equipment	2

 

Sub Station Light Levels
WEST BENGAL STATE ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION COMPANY LIMITED
Environment	Required Light Level
CONTROL ROOM / Switch gear Room	300
Battery Room	150
Communication Room	300
Offices/Engineers’ Room/Other Office Room	300
Toilet	100
Outdoor Switchyard area including road	30
Stairs	100
Corridor	100
Road within campus including colony area	30
Maintenance room	150
Any other spot where high level of illumination required	150
Dormitory & ‘C’ type quarters	150
Auxiliary Buildings like Pump room and other houses	150
ACDB- DCDB room/Store / Store Office	150
Conference room	300
Tiffin room/Kitchen	150
GIS Hall	150

 

Sub Station Light Levels
ODISHA POWER TRANSMISSION CORPORATION LIMITED
Environment	Required Light Level
Control Room	350
PLCC Room	300
LT Room	150
Charger Room	150
Cable Gallery	150
Heating Plant	100
Battery Room	100
Computer Room	300
Entrance lobby	150
Corridor and landing	150
Conference and display	300
Rest Room	250
AHU Room	100
DG Set Building	150
Fire Fighting Pump House	150
Switchyard – Main equipment	50
Switchyard – general equipment and balance	30
Street/Road	30

 

Electrical Thumb Rules-Illumination-(Part-18).

Recommended Lighting Levels
IESNA Lighting Handbook
Type of activity	Lighting
Public spaces with dark surroundings	30 Lux
Simple orientation for short temporary visits	50 Lux
Working spaces where visual tasks are only occasionally performed	100 Lux
Performance of visual tasks of high contrast or large scale	300 Lux
Performance of visual tasks of medium contrast or small size	500 Lux
Performance of visual tasks of low contrast or very small size	1000 Lux
Performance of visual tasks near threshold of person’s ability to recognize an image	3000-10000 Lux

Industries Recommended Levels of Illumination
Area And Task	Lux Level
Paper Manufacturing
Beaters, grinding	30
Finishing, cutting	50
Hand Counting	70
Paper machine reel, inspection	100
Rewinder	150
Warehousing, Storage
Inactive	5
Active:
Rough Bulky	10
Medium	20
Fine	50
Clothing Manufacture
Receiving, storing, shipping, winding, measuring	30
Pattern making, trimming	50
Shops, making	100
Textile Mills – Cotton
Opening, mixing, picking	30
Carding and drawing	50
Slubbing, roving, spinning, spooling	50
Beaming and splashing on combo Gray goods	50
Denims	150
Inspection
Gray goods (hand tuning)	150
Denims (rapid moving)	500
Automatic tying-in	150
Weaving	100
Drawing-in by hand	200
Machine Shops
Rough bench and machine work	50
Medium bench and machine work, ordinary automatic machines, rough grinding medium buffing and polishing	100
Fine bench and machine work, fine automatic machines, medium grinding, fine buffing and polishing	500
Extra-Fine bench and machine work, grinding fine work	1000

Recommended Lighting Levels
International Standard Serial Number ISSN: 2278-6252
Area/task/ process	Illuminance (lux)
Exterior circulating, walkways, stores, main entrances and exit roads, car parking, internal factory roads etc.	20-50
Boiler house, transformer yards, furnace rooms, entrances, corridors, stairs etc.	70-100
Circulation areas in industry, stores and stock rooms, canteen	100-150
Coarse work	200-300
Medium work	300-500
Fine work	500-1500
Very fine minute and precise work	1500-3000
Bale breaking, washing , Stock dyeing, tinting, Mixing, Blowing	200-300
Carding, drawing, roving	300-500
Spinning, doubling, reeling, winding	300-750
Warping	300-400
Sizing	400-500
Heading (drawing in)	750-1000
Weaving (plain gray fabrics)	200-300
Weaving (light colored)	300-750
Weaving (dark colored)	500-1000
Knitting	300-750
Dyeing	200- 450
Calendaring, chemical treatment	300-750
Grey cloth inspection	700-1000
Final inspection	1000-2000

Recommended lighting levels
IESNA Lighting Handbook
Type of activity	Lighting (Lux)
Public spaces with dark surroundings	30
Simple orientation for short temporary visits	50
Working spaces where visual tasks are only occasionally performed	100
Performance of visual tasks of high contrast or large scale	300
Performance of visual tasks of medium contrast or small size	500
Performance of visual tasks of low contrast or very small size	1000
Performance of visual tasks near threshold of person’s ability to recognize an image	3000-10000

Illuminance Values for Indoor Activities
TABLE 10.4 IES
ACTIVITY	CATEGORY	LUX
Public spaces with dark surroundings	large area (lobby space)	20-30-50
Simple orientation for short temporary visits	large area (lobby space)	50-75-100
Working spaces where visual tasks are only occasionally performed	large area (lobby space)	100-150-200
Performance of visual tasks of high contrast or large size	localized tasks	200-300-500
Performance of visual tasks of medium contrast or small size	localized tasks	500-750-1000
Performance of visual tasks of low contrast or very small size	localized tasks	1000-1500-2000 100
Performance of visual tasks of low contrast  or very small size over a prolonged period	extremely difficult visual tasks	2000-3000-5000
Performance of very prolonged and exacting visual tasks	extremely difficult visual tasks	5000-7500-10000
Performance of very special visual tasks of extremely low contrast	extremely difficult visual tasks	10000-15000-20000

Lighting levels-Sports
Sports	Illumination
Football/Rugby
National/ international	500 Lux
Regional/Local	200 Lux
Local/Training	75 Lux
Tennis
National/ international	500 Lux
Regional/Local	300 Lux
Local/Training	200 Lux
Equestrian
National/ international	500 Lux
Regional/Local	200 Lux
Local/Training	100 Lux
Badminton
National/ international	750 Lux
Regional/Local	500 Lux
Local/Training	300 Lux
Court lighting
Social Play	310 Lux
Club Competition	435 Lux
International	1250 Lux
Swimming
National/Internal	750 Lux
Regional/Local	500 Lux
Local/Training	200 Lux

Lighting levels-Sports
Australian Standard  AS 2560.2.6 – 1994
Sport	Illumination Level
Baseball
Baseball (International & National)	1500 lux
Baseball (AAA Standard)	750 lux
Baseball (Club Competition)	250 lux
Football
Recreational Level	50 lux
Amateur Level (Training)	50 lux
Amateur Level (Competition)	100 lux
Semi-Professional level (Training)	50 lux
Semi-Professional (match Practice)	100 lux
Semi-Professional (Competition)	200 lux
Professional level (Training)	100 lux
Professional level (Match practice)	200 lux
Professional level (Competition)	500 lux
For all sports the minimum for TV coverage.	1500 lux

Recommended Lighting Levels For Sports Areas
Area Type	Lux
Archery, indoor
General Area	25
Shooting Zone	50
Target (Vertical)	100
Badminton
Recreational	300
Supervised Training	400
Club & County	400
National & International	500
Bowls, indoor
Practice	300
Club & County	400
National & International	500
Boxing
Club & Supervised Training	500
Regional	750
National	1000
International	2000
Special Events	2000
Cricket, indoor
Recreational & Supervised Training	400
Club & County	500
Cycle Racing,
Training	300
Club	500
National & International	750
Equestrian, indoor
Practice & Training, show jumping	400
Practice & Training, Dressage	300
Competition Show Jumping	700
Competition Dressage)	500
Five-A-Side Football, indoor
Recreational & Supervised Training	300
Club & County	400
National & International	500
Handball, indoor
Recreational & Supervised Training	300
Club	400
County & National	500
International	750
Hockey, indoor
Recreational & Supervised Training	300
Club	400
County & National	500
International	750
Ice Rinks, Indoor
Hockey & Figure Skating Training	200
Hockey & Figure Skating Competition	750
Skating, Recreational	100
Lawn Tennis, indoor
Recreational	300
Practice & Club	400
County	500
National & International	750
Lawn Tennis, outdoor
Recreational	200
Club	300
County	400
National & International	500
Martial Arts, indoor
Supervised Training	300
Club	400
National	500
Netball, indoor
Recreational & Supervised Training	300
Club & County	400
National & International	500
Shooting, indoor
Target (Vertical)	1000
Shooting Zone	300
Snooker & Billiards
Recreational & Club	750
National & International	1000
Squash
Recreational & Supervised Training	300
Club & County	400
indoor National	500
International	750
Swimming, indoors
Recreational	200
Club & County	300
National	500
International	10000
Table Tennis
Recreational	200
Club & County	300
National	500
International	750
Volleyball
Recreational	200
Training, Club & County	300
National	500
International	750
Weight Training
Supervised Training	400
Sports Halls
Recreational	300
Club & County	400-500
National & International	500-750
Televised (vertical/normal to camera)	1000-2000
Indoor Arenas
Maintenance of Area	100
General Lighting & Training	300
Competition	500
Spectator Viewed Events	900
Televised (vertical/normal to camera)	1000-2000

Electrical Thumb Rules-Illumination-(Part-17).

 

Lighting levels
Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE)
Building	Lux
Areas common to most buildings
Entrance hall, lobby, waiting room	200
Enquiry desk	500
Corridor, passageway, stairs	100
Atria	50-200
Changing room, cloakroom, lavatory	100
Rest room	150
Canteen, cafeteria, dining room	200
Kitchen	300
Commercial offices
General offices	500
Computer workstations	300-500
Conference rooms, executive offices	500
Computer and data preparation rooms	500
Filing room	300
Banks and building societies
Counter, office area	500
Public area	300
Hotels
Entrance halls	100
Reception, cashiers and porters’ desks	300
Bars, coffee bars, dining rooms, grill rooms, restaurants, lounges	50-200
Cloakrooms, baggage, rooms	100
Bedrooms	50-100
Bathrooms	150
Kitchen	150-300
Retailing
Small retail outlets	500
Grocery/vegetable stores	500
Showrooms	1000
Covered arcades and malls	500-700
Fashion	500-750
Supermarket	750
Restaurant	200
Bookshop, chemist, jeweler	500
Superstore	1000
Electrical/furniture store	750
Arcades and malls	50-300
Places of public assembly
Cinema and theatre foyer	200
Booking office	300
Auditoria	100-150
Library	150-300
Museum art gallery	50-300
Lecture theatre	300
Church	100-300
School and College
Computer Room	300
Classroom and Tuition Centre	350
Technical Drawing Room	750
Museum and Science Centre
General Area and Corridor	150
Common Toilet and Restroom	200
Special Lighting for Paintings	300
Special Lighting for Sculptures	750
Retail Shop and Outlet
Sales Area and Premises	400
Gift Wrap Station	450
Cash Register Counter	500
Commercial Space and Office
Lift Lobby	200
Corridor	300
Toilet and Restroom	150
Cafeteria	350
Plant Room (AHU, Genset etc.)	150
Store Room	180
Hospital
Lift Lobby	200
Corridor	250
Waiting Area and Lobby	300
Common Toilet and Restroom	250
Waiting rooms	200
Counseling Room	200
Breast-Feeding Room	200
Intensive Care Unit	300
High Dependency Unit	300
Isolation Room	300
Isolation Room – Ante Room	300
Delivery Suite – Labor Room	300
Simple examination room	300
Operating Theatre – Air-Lock	300
CSSD/TSSU – Sterilization Area	300
CSSD/TSSU – Packing Area	500
Patient Ward – Room	300
Patient Ward – Toilet	150
Operating theatre	1000
Conference Room	400
Catering Dept – Main Kitchen	400
Catering Dept – Beverage Kitchen	300
Catering Dept – Refuse Holding	150
Nursing Homes
Entrance lobbies	200
Lounges (communal)	300
Kitchens	300
Bathrooms	150
Toilets	100
Corridors	100
Staircases	100
Quiet / rest rooms	100
Dining rooms	200
Stores	100
Hotel and Restaurant
Lift Lobby	150
Corridor	150
Common Toilet and Restroom	150
Bar	150
Bedroom	200
Conference Room	400
Exhibition Hall	500
Cinema, Concert Hall and Theatre
Entrance Foyer	200
Auditorium	150
Toilet and Restroom	200
Dress Change	300
Make-Up Room	400
Residential Buildings
Living Room	200
Dining Room	250
Kitchen	250
Bedroom	180
Bathroom	150

 

Lighting Levels
Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE)
Area	Illuminance (lux)
Lifts	100
Corridors and stairs	100
Toilets	100
Canteens	300
Mess rooms	150 – 300
Plant rooms	150 – 300
Store rooms	100

 

Recommended Lighting Levels
Singapore Standards SS 531-1 : 2006 (2013)
Type of area, task or activity	Lux
Shipyards & Docks
Shipyard area, storage areas	20
Short term handling of large units	20
Ship hull cleaning	50
Ship hull painting and welding	100
Mounting of electrical and mechanical components	200
Building Sites
Clearance, excavation and loading	20
Construction areas, drain pipes mounting, auxiliary and storage tasks	50
Framework element mounting, light reinforcement work, wooden mould and framework mounting, electric piping and cabling	100
Element jointing, electrical machine and pipe mountings	200
Very Low Risk: Storage areas with occasional traffic in industrial outdoor	5
Low Risk: Occasionally used platforms and stairs in petrochemical industries	10
Medium Risk: Pre-Fabrication yards, Vehicle storage, Fuel storage	20
High Risk: Areas with pits / excavations, Valves, compressors area, regularly used staircase and platforms	50
Office Interior
Filing, copying	300
Writing, reading, Data processing	500
Technical drawings	750
CAD work stations	500
Conf& Meeting rooms	500
Reception desk	300

 

Recommended Lighting Levels
SAUDI STANDARD-4520
Area	Lux
General Area
Entrance halls	100
Lounges	200
Circulation area and corridors	100
Stairs, escalators, travelators	150
Loading ramps/bays	150
Canteens	200
Rest rooms	100
Rooms for physical exercise	300
Cloakrooms, washrooms, bathrooms, toilets	200
Sick bay	500
Rooms for medical attention	500
Plant rooms, switch gear rooms	500
Dispatch packing handling areas	300
Control station	150
Agriculture building
Loading and operating of goods handling equipment and machinery	200
Building for livestock	50
Sick animal pens, calving stalls	200
Feed preparation, dairy, utensil washing	200
Bakeries
Preparation and baking	300
Finishing, glazing,decorating	500
Cement, concrete, & bricks industry
Drying	50
Preparation of materials,work on kilns and mixers	200
General machine work	300
Rough forms	300
Ceramics and glass industry
Drying	50
Preparation, general machine work	300
Enameling, rolling, pressing, shaping simple parts, glazing	300
Grinding, engraving, glass polishing, shaping precision parts, manufacture of glass instruments	750
Decorative work	500
Grinding of optical glass, crystal hand grinding and engraving, work on average goods	750
Precision work e.g decorative grinding, hand painting	1000
Manufacture of synthetic stones precious	1500
Chemicals, plastics and rubber industry
Remote operated processing installations	50
Processing installations with limited manual intervention	150
Constantly manned work places in processing installations	300
Precision measuring rooms, laboratories	500
Pharmaceutical production	500
Tire production	500
Color inspection	1000
Cutting, finishing, inspection	750
Electrical industry
Cable and wire manufacture	300
Wending -large coils	300
Wending-medium-sized coils	500
Wending-small Coils	750
Coil impregnating	300
Galvanizing	300
Assembly work-rough e.g. large transformers	300
Assembly work- medium e.g. switchboards	500
Assembly work- fine e.g. telephones	750
Assembly work-precision e.g. measuring equip.	1000
Assembly work-Electronic workshops, testing, adjusting	1500
Mosques
Prayer Area, Mosques	300
Airports
Arrival and departure halls, baggage claim areas	200
Connecting areas, escalators, travelators	150
Information desks, check in desks	500
Customs and passport control desks	500
Waiting areas	200
Luggage store rooms	200
Security check areas	300
Air traffic control tower	500
Air traffic rooms	500
Testing and repair hangars	500
Engine test areas	500
Measuring areas in hangars	500
Platforms and passenger subways (underpasses)	50
Ticket hall and concourse	200
Ticket and luggage offices and counters	300
Waiting rooms	200
Health care premises
Waiting rooms	200
Corridors: during the day	200
Corridors: during the night	50
Day rooms	200
Staff office	500
Staff rooms	300
Wards-General lighting	100
Wards-Reading lighting	300
Wards-Simple examination	300
Examination and treatment	1000
Night lighting, observation lighting	5
Bathrooms and toilets for patients	200
Examination room general	500
Ear and eye examination	1000
Reading and Color vision test with vision charts	500
Scanners with image enhancers and television systems	50
Dialysis rooms	500
Dermatology rooms	500
Endoscopy rooms	300
Plaster rooms	500
Medical baths	300
Massage and radiotherapy	300
Pre-operation and recovery rooms	500
Operating theatre	1000
Intensive care- General lighting	100
Intensive care- Simple examinations	300
Intensive care-Examination and treatment	1000
Intensive care– Night watch	20
Dentists- General lighting	500
Dentists- At the patient	1000
Dentists- Operating cavity	5000
Dentists- White teeth matching	5000
Color inspection (laboratories)	1000
Sterilization rooms	300
Disinfection rooms	300
Autopsy rooms and mortuaries	500
Autopsy table and dissecting table	5000
Educational buildings
Play school room	300
Nursery class	300
Nursery craft room	300
Classrooms, tutorial rooms	300
Classroom for evening classes and adults education	500
Lecture hall	500
Black board	500
Demonstration table	500
Art and craft rooms	500
Art rooms in art schools	750
Technical drawing rooms	750
Practical rooms and laboratories	500
Teaching workshop	500
Music practice rooms	300
Computer practice rooms	500
Language laboratory	300
Preparation rooms and workshops	500
Student common rooms and assembly halls	200
Teachers rooms	300
Sports halls, gymnasiums and swimming pools	300
Public car parks (indoor)
In/out ramps	300
In/out ramps (at night)	75
Traffic lanes	75
Parking areas	75
Ticket office	300
Libraries
Bookshelves	200
Reading area	500
Counters	500
Places of entertainment
Theatres & concert halls	200
Multipurpose halls	300
Practice rooms, dressing rooms	300
Museums (general)	300
Restaurants and hotels
Reception/cashier desk, porters desk	300
Kitchen	500
Restaurant, dining room, function room	200
Self-service restaurant	200
Buffet	300
Conference rooms	500
Corridors	100
Retailing
Sales area small	300
Sales area large	500
Till area	500
Wrapper table	500

 

Illuminance values
As per IES
Area Type	Lux
CIRCULATION AREA
Corridors, Passageway	100
Lift	150
Stairs	150
Escalator	150
External Covered Ways	30
ENTRANCES
Entrance halls, lobbies, waiting rooms	150
Enquiry desk	500
Gate houses	300
KITCHENS
Foods stores	150
General	500
OUTDOOR
Controlled entrance halls or  exit gate	150
Entrance and exit car park	30
Stores, stockyards	30
Industrial covered ways	50
STAFF RESTAURANTS
Centre cafeterias, dining room	300
MEDICAL AND FIRST AIDS CENTRES
Consultant room, treatment areas	500
Medical stores	100
Rest room	150
STAFF ROOM
Changing locker and cleaner’s room, cloakrooms lavatories	150
Rest rooms	150
STORE AND STOCK ROOMS	150
Telecommunication board,switchboard rooms	500
Cordless switchboard	300
Apparatus rooms	150
Teteprinter rooms	500
AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE HANGERS
Aircraft engine testing	750
Inspection and repairs (hanger)	500
GARAGES
External apron general	50
Pumps	300
Parking areas (interior) general repairs servicing	30
Greasing, pits washing, polishing	500
GAS WORKS
Exterior walkways and platforms	50
Exterior stairs and ladders	100
Retort house, oil gas plants, watergas plant purifier, indoor coke	100
Booster and exhauster houses	150
GAUGE TOOLS ROOMS
General	1000
INSPECTION & TESTING SHOP
Rough work e.g. counting rough Checking of stock parts	300
sub-assemblies	500
Fine work e.g. radio and telecommunication equipment, calibrated scales, precision mechanism, instruments	1000
Very fine work e.g. gauging and inspections of small intricate parts	1500
Minute work e.g. very small instruments	3000
HOMES
Living rooms general	50
Casual reading	150
Sewing darningsrudies desk and protuged	300
Bedroom general	50
Bed lead kitchen	150
Bathrooms	100
Halls and landings	150
Stairs	100
Workshops	300
Garages	50
INDOOR SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL BUILDING
MULTIPURPOSE SPORTS HALLS
Athletics, basketball, bowls, judo	300
Hockey	700
BADMINTON COURTS	300
BILLIARD ROOMS
General  Table special lighting	100
CARD ROOMS	300
GYMNASIA GENERAL	500
SWIMMING POOL
Top pool	500
Spectator areas	150
Club recreational	300
Changing rooms showers, lookers rooms	150
TABLE TENNIS
Club	300
Recreational	200
HOSPITAL
Ward unit bed heads general	30
General	150
Nurse station evening	300
Pharmacies dispensing bench	500
Shelves	150
Reception general	300
Enquiry desk	500
Laboratories	500
Operating theatre suits general	400
Operating area	30-50
X-ray department radio diagnostic and rooms fluoroscopy	500
TRANSPORTS TERMINAL BUILDING
Airport coach and railway station
Reception areas (desk),customs and immigration halls	500
Railway stations booking offices	500
Railway station parcel and left luggage offices counters	300
Circulation area	150
Waiting area	300
SCHOOL
Assembly halls general	300
Teaching spaces general	300
Teaching spaces general	300
General where also used for further education	500
Chalkboard	500
Beedlework rooms	500
Laboratories	500
Workshop	300
Gymnasium	300
Music practice rooms	300
MUSEUM AND ART GALLERIES GENERAL
Exhibits insensitive to light	300
Light sensitive exhibits	150
Specially light sensitive exhibit	50
LIBRARIES
Shelves, book stack	150
Reading table	300
Reading rooms, newspaper and magazines	300
Reference libraries	500
Counters	500
Cataloging and sorting	500
Binding	500
Closed book store	100
PUBLIC BUILDING ASSEMBLY AND CONCERT HALLS
Theatre and concert halls	100
Cinemas	50
Multipurpose	500
SHOP
Conventional with counters	500
Conventional with wall display	500
Conventional with wall display	500
SHOP
Self service	500
Supermarkets	500
Hypermarkets	500
General	500
OFFICES AND SHOPS
Executive office	500
Computer rooms	500
Punch card rooms	750
Drawing offices drawing boards	750
Reference table and general	500
Print room	300
OFFICE
General office with mainly clerical task and typing office	500
Deep plan general offices	750
Business machine and typing	750
Filling room	300
Conference rooms	750
Aircraft Industry
Maintenance area	750
Inspection area	1000
Paint Shop	1000
Testing area	750
Instruments assembly	1500
Electrical assembly	1500
Explosives Manufacturing
Furnaces, Boiling Tanks, Driers	200
Mechanical furnaces, mechanical driers, generators	500
Paint Shop
Simple spraying	200
Fine finishing	500
Extra fine finishing	2000
Paint Manufacturing
Processing	200-500
Mix comparison	1000-2000
Electricity generating station
Boilers area	50
Cooling towers	50
Fuel handling	50
Storage tanks	10
Transformer yards	50
Turbine areas	50
Petroleum, Chemical and Petrochemical Industry
Process areas
General process units
Pump rows, valves, manifolds	50
Heat exchangers	30
Maintenance platforms	10
Operating platforms	50
Cooling towers (equipment areas)	50
Furnaces	30
Ladders and stairs (inactive)	10
Ladders and stairs (active)	50
Gauge glassed	50
Instruments (on process units)	50
Compressor house	200
Separators	50
General area	10
Control rooms and houses
Ordinary control house	300
Instrument panel	300
Console	300
Back of panel	100
Central control house	500
Instrument panel	500
Console	500
Back of panel	100
Specialty process units
Electrolytic cell room	50
Electric furnace	50
Conveyors	20
Conveyor transfer points Change house	50
Locker room, shower	100
Lavatory	100
Clock house and entrance gatehouse Card rack and clock area	100
Entrance gate, inspection	150
General	50
Cafeteria
Eating	300
Serving area	300
Food preparation	300
General, halls, etc.	100
Garage and firehouse
Storage and minor repairs	100
First aid room	700
Iron and Steel Industry
Open hearth
Stock yard	100
Charging floor, Pouring side , Slag pits	200
Control platforms	300
Mold yard	50
Kilns (operating area)	50
Extruders and mixers	200
Non process areas
Loading, unloading, and cooling
water pump houses
Pump area	50
General control area	150
Control panel	200
Boiler and air compressor plants
Indoor equipments	200
Outdoor equipments	50
Tank fields (where lighting is required)
Ladders and stairs	5
Gauging area	10
Manifold area	5
Loading racks
General area	50
Tank car	100
Tank trucks, loading point	100
Electrical substations and switch yards
Outdoor switch yards	20
General substation outdoor	20
Substation operating aisles	150
General substation indoor	50
Switch racks	50
Plant road lighting (where lighting is Required)
Frequent use (trucking)	4
Infrequent use	2
Plant parking lots Aircraft obstruction lighting	1
Buildings
Laboratories Qualitative, quantitative and physical test	500
Research, experimental	500
Pilot plant, process and specialty	300
ASTM equipment knock test	300
Glassware, washrooms	300
Fume hoods	300
Stock rooms	150
Warehouse and stock rooms
Indoor bulk storage	50
Outdoor bulk storage	5
Large bin storage	50
Small bin storage	100
Small parts storage	200
Counter tops	300
Repair shop
Large fabrication	200
Bench and machine work	500
Craneway, aisles	150
Small machine	300
Sheet metal	200
Electrical	200
Instrument	300
Hot top	300
Hot top storage	100
Checker cellar	100
Buggy and door repair	300
Stripping yard	200
Scrap stockyard	100
Mixer building	300
Calcining building	100
Skull cracker	100
Rolling mills
Blooming, scabbing, hot strip Hot sheet	300
Cold strip, plate	300
Pipe, rod, tube, wire drawing	500
Merchant and sheared plate	300
Tin plate mills Tinning and galvanizing	500
Cold strip rolling	500
Motor room, machine room Inspection	1000
Black plate, bloom and billet chipping Tin plate and other bright surfaces	2000

 

Electrical Thumb Rules-Illumination-(Part-16).

Illumination Requirements per Building & Fire Codes
Walking Surface or Area	Lighting Level (Lux)	Lighting Level (Lux)
	NFPA 1 & 101	IFC/IBC / ICC
New stairways	10.8	10.8
Floors & other walking surfaces (not stairs)	10.8	10.8
Assembly areas during performances	2.2	2.2

 

Illumination Level
Lux Level	Work Activity and Function	Example of User Area
20 – 80	Public walking	Public parks and open-air car parks
100 – 140	Casual non-visual task	Corridors, changing rooms, office restrooms
150 – 180	Some perception of detail	Warehouses, stores, plant rooms, lift lobbies
200 – 240	Continuous occupation	Entrance halls, dining rooms
250 – 300	Very easy visual task	Public toilet, classrooms
300 – 400	Moderately easy visual task	Private office, libraries, lecture theatres
500 – 600	Moderately difficult visual task	Offices, laboratories, retail outlets
750 – 900	Difficult visual task	Supermarkets, technical drawing offices
1000 – 1300	Very difficult visual task	Operating theatres, polishing and painting plant
1500 – 1800	Extremely difficult visual task	Assembly plants, inspection plants
> 2000	Exceptionally difficult visual task	Precision assembly, fine work inspection

 

Illumination Level
Australian Standard AS/NZS 1680.2.2 under Table 3.1
Areas and Activities	Examples	Illumination (lux)
Interiors rarely visited where lighting is only required to aid movement and orientation	Pass-though corridors and walkways; cable tunnels; indoor storage tanks	40
Areas of intermittent use for tasks of coarse detail	Movement, orientation and tasks of coarse detail in areas such as change rooms, storage rooms, loading bays etc.	80
Areas that are continually used for tasks of coarse detail	Simple tasks such as occasional reading of clearly printed documents for short periods or rough bench or machine work in areas such as waiting rooms and entrance halls etc.	160
Continuously occupied interiors used for ordinary tasks with high contrasts or large detail	Food preparation areas; counters for transactions; school boards; medium woodworking	240
Areas where visual tasks are moderately difficult and include moderate detail with low contrast	Routine office tasks such as reading, typing and writing in office spaces or enquiry desks	320
	Medium level inspection work such as fine woodwork or car assembly	400
Areas where visual tasks are difficult with small detail with lower contrast	Visually difficult tasks including most inspection tasks such as proofreading, fine machine work or fine painting	600
Areas where visual work are very difficult and involve very small detail with very low contrast	Very difficult tasks such as fine inspection, paint retouching or fine manufacture	800
Areas where visual work is extremely difficult with extremely small detail with very low contrast	Extremely difficult tasks that may require visual aids such as graphic arts inspection; hand tailoring; inspection of dark goods; extra-fine bench work etc.	1200
Areas where visual work is exceptionally difficult with exceptionally small detail with very low contrast	Exceptionally difficult tasks where visual aids would be of advantage such as the assembly of minute mechanisms and jewellery and watch making	1600

 

Illumination Level
Illuminance	Example
Full moon overhead	1 lux
Family living room	50 lux
Hallway/toilet	80 lux
Very dark overcast day	100 lux
Sunrise or sunset on a clear day. Well lit office area	400 lux
Overcast day, typical TV studio lighting
Full daylight (not direct sun)	10000-25000 lux
Direct sunlight	32000-130,000 lux

 

Illumination Level
IS 3646 (PART-1) 1992
Types of interior or activity	illuminance (lux)
GENERAL BUILDING AREAS
Entrance
Entrance Halls, Lobbies, Waiting Rooms	150-200-300
Inquiry desks	300-500-750
Gatehouses	150-200-300
Circulation Areas
Lifts	50-100-150
Corridors, Passageway, stairs	50-100-150
Escalator, travellators	100-150-200
Medical and First aid Centers
Consulting Rooms, Treatment Rooms	300-500-750
Rest Rooms	100-150-200
Medical stores	100-150-200
Staff Rooms
Changing, locker and cleaner Rooms, Cloakrooms, lavatories	50-100-150
Rest Rooms	100-150-200
Staff Restaurant
Canteens, cafeterias, dining rooms Mess rooms	150-200-300
Servery, vegetable preparation, washing-up area	200-300-500
Food preparation and cooking	300-500-750
Food stores, cellars	100-150-200
Communications
Switchboard rooms	200-300-500
Telephone apparatus room	100-150-200
Telex room, post room	300-500-750
Reprographic room	200-300-500
Building Services
Boiler houses General	50-100-150
Boiler front	100-150-200
Boiler control room	200-300-500
Control rooms	200-300-500
Mechanical plant room	100-150-200
Electrical power supply and distribution Room	100-150-200
Store rooms	50-100-150
Car Parks
Floors	5 to 20
Ramps and Corners	30
Entrances and Exits	50-100-150
Control Booths	150-200-300
Outdoor Car Parks 5-20	5 to 20
TRANSPORT
Airports
Ticket counters, checking, desks And Information desks	300-500-750
Departure lounges, other waiting Areas	150-200-300
Baggage reclaim	150-200-300
Baggage handling	50-100-150
Customers and immigration halls	300-500-750
Concourse	150-200-300
Railway Stations
Ticket office	300-500-750
Information Office	300-500-750
Parcels office, left Luggage Office General	50-100-150
Counter	150-200-300
Waiting rooms	150-200-300
Concourse	150-200-300
Time table	150-200-300
Ticket Barriers	150-200-300
Platforms (covered)	30-50-100
Platforms (open)	20
Ticket offices	300-500-750
Information offices	300-500-750
Concourse	150-200-300
Loading Areas	100-150-200
EDUCATION
Assembly Halls
General	200-300-500 3
Teaching Spaces
General	200-300-500
Lecture Theatres
General	200-300-500
Demonstration benches	300-500-750
Seminar Rooms	300-500-750
Art Rooms	300-500-750
Needlework Rooms	300-500-750
Laboratories	300-500-750
Libraries	200-300-500
Music rooms	200-300-500
Sport halls	200-300-500
Workshops	200-300-500
PLACES OF PUBLIC ASSEMBLY
Public rooms, Village Halls, Worship Halls	200-300-500
Concert Halls, Cinemas and theatres
Foyer	150-200-300
Booking Office	200-300-500
Auditorium	50-100-150
Dressing Rooms	200-300-500
Projection Rooms	100-150-200
Churches
Body of church	100-150-200
Pulpit, Lectern	200-300-500
Choir Stalls	200-300-500
Alter, communion table, cancel	100-150-200
Vestries	100-150-200
Organ	200-300-500
Hospitals
Anesthetic Rooms-General	200-300-500
Anesthetic Rooms-Local	750-1000-1500
Consulting Area- General	200-300-500
Consulting Area-Examination	750-1000-1500
Corridors-General	100-150-200
Ward corridors-Day, screened from bays	150-200-300
Ward corridors- Day, open to natural light	150-200-300
Ward corridors- Morning/evening	100-150-200
Ward corridors- Night	5 to 10
Cubicles- General	200-300-500
Cubicles-Treatment	750-1000-1500
Examination- General	200-300-500
Examination- Local inspection	750-1000-1500
Intensive therapy-Bad head	30-50
Intensive therapy- Circulation between bed ends	50-100-150
Intensive therapy- Observation	200-300-500
Intensive therapy- Local observation	750-1000-1500
Intensive therapy- Staff base(day)	200-300-500
Intensive therapy- Staff base(night)	30
Laboratories-General	200-300-500
Laboratories-Examination	300-500-750
Nurses stations- Morning/day/evening	200-300-500
Nurses stations- Night desks	30
Nurses stations-Night, medical trolleys	50-100-150
Operating theatres- General	300-500-750
Operating theatres-Local	10000 to 50000
Pathology department- General	200-300-500
Pathology department-Examination	300-500-750
Pathology department- Pharmacies	200-300-500
Pathology department-Reception/ inquiry	200-300-500
Pathology department-Recovery rooms	200-300-500
Ward circulation-Day	50-100-150
Ward circulation-Morning/evening	50-100-150
Ward circulation-Night	3 to 5
Ward bed head-Morning/Evening	30-50
Ward bed head- Reading	100-150-200
Night- Adult	0.1-1
Night-Pediatric	1 to 5
Night-Psychiatric	5
X-ray Areas-General	150-200-300
X-ray Areas-Diagnostic	150-200-300
X-ray Areas-Operative	200-300-500
X-ray Areas- Process dark room	50
Surgeries-General	200-300-500
Surgeries-Waiting rooms	100-150-200
Dental Surgeries- Chair Special lighting	Special lighting
Dental Surgeries-Laboratories	300-500-750
Consulting rooms- General	200-300-500
Consulting rooms- Desk	300-500-750
Consulting rooms-Examination	300-500-750
Consulting rooms-Ophthalmic wall & nearvision	300-500-750
Hotels
Entrance Halls 50-100-150
Reception, cashiers and porters Desks	200-300-500
Bars, coffee base, dinning rooms, grill, rooms, restaurants, lounges	50-200
Cloak room	50-100-150 3
Bed room	30-50-100
Bathroom	50-100-150
Libraries
General	200-300-500 1
Counters	300-500-750
Bookshelves	100-150-200
Reading rooms	200-300-500
Reading tables	200-300-500
Catalogues- Card	100-150-200
Catalogues- Microfiche/visual display units	100-150-200
Reference libraries- General	200-300-500
Reference libraries-Counters	300-500-750
Reference libraries- Bookshelves	100-150-200
Reference libraries- Study tables, carrels	300-500-750
Reference libraries- Map room	200-300-500
Display and exhibition- Exhibits insensitive to light	200-300-500
Library workrooms- Book repair and binding	300-500-750
Library workrooms- Catalogue and sorting	300-500-750
Library workrooms- Remote book stores	100-150-200
Museums and Art Galleries- Exhibits insensitive to light	200-300-500
Museums and Art Galleries- Light sensitive exhibits, for e.g., oil and temper paints, undyed leather, bone, Ivory, wood, etc	150
Museums and Art Galleries-  Extremely light sensitive exhibits ,For e.g., textiles, water colors, prints and drawing, skins, botanical specimens, etc	50
Museums and Art Galleries-  Conservation studies and workshops	300-500-750
Museums and Art Galleries- Multi-purpose sports hall	300-750
AGRICULTURE AND HORICULTURE
Inspection of farm products where Color is important	300-500-750
Other important tasks	200-300-500
Farm workshops
General	50-100-150
Workbench or machine	200-300-500
Milk premises	50-100-150
Sick Animal Pets, Calf Nurseries	30-50-100
Other Firm and Horticulture Building	20-30-50
ELECTRICITY GENERATION TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
General plant
Turbine houses (operating floor)	150-200-300
Boiler and turbine house basements	50-100-150
Boiler house, platforms, areas around Burners	50-100-150
Switch rooms, meter rooms, oil plant Rooms, HV substations (indoor)	100-150-200
Control room	200-300-500
Relay and telecommunication rooms	200-300-500
Diesel generator & compressor rooms	100-150-200
Pump houses, water treatment plant Houses	100-150-200
Battery rooms, charges, rectifiers	50-100-150
Precipitator chambers, platforms, etc	50-100-150
Cable tunnels & basements, Circulating Water culverts & screen chamber	30-50-100
Coal Plant-Conveyors, gantries, junction towers, Unloading hoppers, ash handling plants, Setting pits, dust hoppers	50-100-150
Coal Plant-Other areas where operators may be Attendance	100-150-200
Nuclear Plants-Gas circulation bays, reactor area, boiler Platform, reactor charges and discharge	100-150-200
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Structural steel Fabrication-General	200-300-500
Structural steel Fabrication-Marking off	300-500-750
Sheet Metal Works- Pressing, punching, shearing, stamping, spinning, folding	300-500-750
Bench work, scribing, inspection	500-750-1000
Machine and tool shops-Rough bench and machine work	200-300-500
Machine and tool shops- Medium bench and machine work	300-500-750
Machine and tool shops-Fine bench and machine work	500-750-1000
Machine and tool shops- Gauge rooms	750-1000-1500
Die Sinking Shops-General	300-500-750
Die Sinking Shops-Fine Works	1000-1500-2000
Welding and soldering shops-Gas and arc welding, rough spot welding	200-300-500
Welding and soldering shops-Medium soldering, brazing, spot welding	300-500-750
Welding and soldering shops- Fine soldering , fine spot welding	750-1000-1500
Assembly Shops- Rough work for example, frame and heavy machine assembly	200-300-500
Medium work, for example , office Machinery assembly	300-500-750
Fine work, for example, office machinery assembly	500-750-1000
Very fine work, for example, instrument assembly	750-1000-1500
Minute work for example, watch making	1000-1500-2000
Inspection and Testing Shops
Coarse Work, for example, using go/on go gauge, inspection of large sub-assembly	300-500-750
Medium work for example, inspection of painted surfaces	500-750-1000
Fine work, for example, using calibrated scales, inspection of precision mechanism	750-1000-1500
Very fine work, for example, inspection of small intricate parts	1000-1500-2000
Minute work, for example, inspection of very small instruments	2000
Points Shops and Spray Booths- Dipping, rough spraying 00	200-300-5
Points Shops and Spray Booths-Preparation, ordinary painting, spraying & finishing	200-500-750
Fine painting,. Spraying and finishing	500-750-1000
Inspection, retouching and matching	750-1000-1500
Plating shops-Vats and baths	200-300-500
Plating shops- Buffing, polishing burnishing	300-500-750
Plating shops- Final buffing and polishing	500-750-1000
ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGG.
Electrical Equipment manufacture
Manufacture of cables & insulated wires, winding, varnishing & immersion of coils, assembly of large machines, simple assembly work	200-300-500
Medium assembly , for example Telephones, small motors	300-500-750
Assembly of precision components for e.g., telecommunication equipment ,adjustment, inspection and calibration	750-1000-1500
Assembly of high precision parts	1000-1500-2000
Electronic Equipment Manufacture
Printed Circuit Board
Silk Screening	300-500-75
Hand insertion of components, soldering	500-750-1000
Inspection	750-1000-1500
Assembly of wiring harness, clearing Harness , testing and calibration	500-750-1000
Chassis assembly	750-1000-1500
Inspection and testing
Soak test	150-200-300
Safety and functional tests	200-300-500
FOOD, DRINKS AND TOBACCO
Slaughter houses
General	200-300-500
Inspection	300-500-750
Canning, Preserving and Freezing	500-750-1000
Grading and sorting of raw materials  Preparation	300-500-750
Canned and bottled goods Retorts	200-300-500
Automatic processes	150-200-300
Labeling and packaging	200-300-500 3
Frozen labeling
Process area	200-300-500
Packaging and storage	200-300-500
Bottling, Brewing & Distilling
Keg washing and handling, bottle  Washing	150-200-300
Keg inspection	200-300-500
Process area	200-300-500
Bottle filling	500-750-1000
Edible oils and Fats Processing
Refining and Blending	200-300-500
Production	300-500-750
Mills-milling, Filtering and Packing	200-300-500
Bakeries
General	200-300-500
Hand decorating, icing	300-500-75
Chocolate and Confectionery Manufacturer
General	200-300-500
Automatic processes	150-200-300
Hand decoration, inspection, wrapping and packing	300-500-750
Tobacco Processing
Material preparation, making and packing	300-500-750
Hand processes	500-750-1000
LEATHER INDUSTRY
Leather Manufacture-Cleaning, tanning and stretching, vats, cutting, fleshing, stuffing	200-300-500
Finishing, scarfing	300-500-750
Leather Work General	200-300-500
Pressing, glazing	300-500-750
Cutting, splitting, scarfing, sewing	500-750-1000
CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR
Clothing Manufacture
Preparation of cloth	200-300-500
Cutting	500-750-1000
Matching	500-750-1000
Sewing	750-1000-1500
Pressing	300-500-750
Inspection	1000-1500-2000
Hand tailoring	1000-1500-2000
Hosiery and Knitwear Manufacture
Flat bed knitting machines	300-500-750
Circular knitting machines	500-750-1000
Lock stitch and over locking machine	750-1000-1500
Linking or running on	750-1000-1500
Mending, hand finishing	1000-1500-3000
Inspection	1000-1500-2000
Glove Manufacture
Sorting & grading	500-750-1000
Pressing, knitting, cutting	300-500-750
Sewing	500-750-1000
Inspection	1000-1500-2000
Hat Manufacture
Stiffening, braiding, refining, forming, Sizing, pounding, ironing	200-300-500
Cleaning, flanging, finishing	300-500-750
Sewing	500-750-1000
Inspection	1000-1500-2000 –
Boot and Shoe Manufacture Leather and Synthetics
Sorting and Grading	750-1000-1500
Clicking, closing	750-1000-1500
Preparatory Operations	750-1000-1500
Cutting tables and pressure	1000-1500-2000
Bottom stock preparation, lasting, Bottoming finishing, show rooms	750-1000-1500
Rubber
Washing, compounding, coating, drying Varnishing, vulcanizing	200-300-500
Lining, making and finishing	300-500-750
DISTRIBUITION AND STORAGE
Work stores	100-150-200
Unpacking, sorting	150-200-300
Large item storage	50-100-150
Small item rack storage	200-300-500
Issue counter, records, storemans desk	300-500-750
Warehouses and bulk stores
Storage of goods where identification requires only limited preparation of details	50-100-150
Storage of goods where identification	100-150-200
Automatic high bay rack stores  Gangway	20
Control station	150-200-300
Packing and dispatch	200-300-500
Loading bays	100-150-200
Cold stores
General	200-300-500
Breakdown, make-up and dispatch	200-300-500
Loading bays	100-150-200
COMMERCE
General Offices	300-500-750
Deep plan General offices	500-750-1000
Offices Computer Work station	300-500-750
Offices- Conference Rooms, Executive Offices	300-500-750
Computer and data preparation Rooms	300-500-750
Filling rooms	200-300-500
Drawing Offices-General	300-500-750
Drawing Offices- Drawing Board	500-750-1000
Print rooms	200-300-500
Counter, office area	300-500-750
Banks and building societies- Public area	200-300-500
SERVICES Workshop  Garages
(Garages)Interior parking areas	20-30-50
(Garages) General repairs, servicing, washing, polishing	200-300-500
(Garages) Workbench	300-500-750
(Garages) Spray Booths	300-500-750
External apron-General	30-50-100
Pump area (retail details )	200-300-500
Workshop- General	200-300-500
Workshop- Workbench	300-500-750
Workshop-Counter	200-300-500
Workshop- Stores	200-300-500
Commercial laundries- Receiving, sorting, washing, drying, Ironing, dispatch, dry-cleaning, bulk Machine work	200-300-500
Commercial laundries-Head ironing, pressing, mending, spotting, inspection	300-500-750
Commercial laundries-Launderettes	200-300-500
Commercial laundries-Walkways	30-50-100
Commercial laundries-Process areas	50-100-150
RETAILING
Small Shops with Counters	300-500-750
Small Self Service shops with island displays	300-500-750
(Supper-Markets) , Hyper-Markets)General	300-500-750
(Supper-Markets) , Hyper-Markets)Checkout	300-500-750
(Supper-Markets) , Hyper-Markets)Showroom for large objects, for e.g. Cars, furniture	300-500-75
(Supper-Markets) , Hyper-Markets)Shopping precincts and arcades	100-150-200

Selection of Various Types of Inverter-(Part-3)

How to select Right Inverter

• Before buying an inverter for, It is very important to understand what is the right inverter for our requirement for that we do understand the basics criteria of Inverter.
• In order to make a good estimate of your power needs, you’ll need to take a look at all of the devices you plan on plugging into your new inverter.
• If we only need to use one device at a time, then that’s the only one you’ll need to look at. However, you’ll need to add together the numbers from multiple devices (like an LCD screen and a video game system) if you plan on using them at the same time.

(A) Power Requirement:

• One of the most important factors that we must know before buying an inverter is Power requirement.
• Power requirement means all electrical appliances (like fan, tube lights, television,Pumps, CFL etc.), we want to run at the time of power failure. The power requirement is simply addition of the power consumed by various electrical equipments.
• The thing we must understand that Inverter is not a Generator. Inverter has its own limitations. If power requirement is more than our estimation, then an inverter alone cannot create demands effectively.
• High power inverter can run our refrigerator and air conditioners, but battery will not last more than few hours. Hence it better to estimate Inverter Load Carefully
• The selection of correct size Inverter is very important, If we need to power small appliances like energy efficient light bulbs, we do not need to buy a 2000W power inverter because it will consume more power even in standby mode and work very inefficiently with small appliances. On the other hand, if we connect a coffee machine to a 150W inverter we will quickly blow a fuse, Therefore power estimation is important thing.
• The size of Inverter depends on the watts (or amps) of what we want to run. It is recommend that we choose at least 10% to 20% more than our requirement.
• Suppose you want 1No Fans, 1No Tube lights, 1No CFL and 1No television to operate at the time of power failure. Therefore the total power requirement to be (1×90 + 1×50 + 1×25 + 1×120) = 285 watts. Here Total Load is 285 watts.

(B) Surge Power (Starting Power):

• Starting and running power requirement of all electric appliances are different.
• Starting power of Electrical Equipment is several times greater than their normal working power.
• An 18 Watts CFL takes around 25 Watts power to start and after few seconds it works on 18 Watts. Some appliances like Refrigerator, Washing Machine etc take almost double power to start as compared to the normal running power.
• For example Gridding Machine have normal working power 1000W, their starting power is higher than 4000W, so inverters with continuous power 2000W are not suitable because their peak power is limited by 4000W.
• For selecting right Inverter, Always take into account starting power requirements of your equipment, especially devices with electric motors, Electronics Choke, Capacity, inductive
• The Size of the inverter should be chosen based on the power consumption of your load.
• Resistive loads: All resistive loads like toaster, coffee maker, electric range, iron, Incandescent lamps, flood lighting. Laser Printers use Nichrome resistance wire in their heating
• The Starting Power or Surge Power rating should be 6 times the Watt rating
• Inductive Loads: All Inductive Load like induction motor, reciprocating pumps and compressors, refrigeration, air-conditioning, Oxygen Concentrators have more starting current.
• The Starting current (LRA) should be 5 times the full load current (FLA).
• Capacitive Loads: Switched Mode Power Supplies (SMPS), electronic equipment like battery chargers, computers, audio and video devices, radio etc.
• The Starting Power or Surge Power rating should be  3  times the Watt rating
• Microwaves :
• The Initial power consummation by the microwave will be 2 times the cooking power.
• A Water Supply Pump:
• The starting surge can be 3 times the normal running rating of the pump
• The inverter should, therefore, be sized adequately to withstand the high inrush current. 

Starting Factor
Type of Device	Starting Factor
Air conditioner	5
Refrigerator / Freezer	5
Air Compressor	4
Sump Pump / Well Pump / Submersible Pump	3
Dishwasher	3
Clothes Washer	3
Microwave	2
Furnace Fan	3
Industrial Motor	3
Portable Kerosene / Diesel Fuel Heater	3
Circular Saw	3
Bench Grinder	3
Incandescent / Halogen / Quartz Lamps	3
Laser Printer / Other Devices using Quartz Lamps for heating	4
Switched Mode Power Supplies	3
Photographic Strobe / Flash Lights	4

  (C) Rating (VA rating) of the inverter:

• It stands for the Volt ampere rating. It is the voltage and current supplied by the inverter to the equipments.
• If an inverter operates with 100% efficiency, then the power requirement of the electrical items and power supplied by inverter is same. But 100% or ideal conditions does not exist in real.  Most inverters have the efficiency range from 60 % to 80%. This efficiency is also called power factor of an inverter and is simply  the ratio of power required by the appliances to power supplied by an inverter. Power factor of most inverters ranges from 0.6 to 0.8.
• Rating of inverter (VA) =Power consumed by equipments (watts) / Power factor (efficiency).
• Power of inverter (VA) = 535/0.7 = 765 VA
• In the market 800 VA inverters are available. So Size of an inverter with 800 VA.

 (D) Type of Battery

• The performance and Life of an inverter depends on the battery Quality.
• Battery stores the energy needed to run appliances during power cut.
• There are three Type of Battery
• Lead Acid Battery
• Tubular Battery
• Maintenance Free Battery
• Normally high power Lead Acid batteries are used to power inverters.

 (E) Battery Capacity (Ah):

• Capacity of a battery is expressed in terms of Ampere Hour (Ah). It is decide the back up hours of Inverter.
• It indicates the rate of current a battery can supply for a given duration. If the capacity of a battery is 100 Ah, that battery can supply 100 Ampere current for 1 Hour or 1 Ampere Current for 100 Hrs
• Battery capacity = Power requirement (watts) x Back up hours (hrs) / Battery Voltage (volts) x Battery Efficiency x No of Battery
• Example: If Inverter Load is 390 Watt, We need 3 hours back up and Battery Voltage is 12V, Battery Efficiency is 90%
• Battery Capacity = (390 x3) / 12×0.9×1 = 109 Ah
• Therefore a battery capacity of 120 Ah.
• In reality battery performance degrades with usage, so you are recommended to buy 5-10% higher capacity battery.
• Therefore a battery with a capacity of 150 Ah is suitable for our requirement.
• If we use series – parallel battery combination for backup is
• Backup capacity(hours) = N series X Volts X Battery Ah X N parallel / (UPS capacity in VA)
• Where, N series = no. of batteries in series and N parallel = no. of parallel battery banks

 (F) Backup Time (Hr):

• Backup (hours) = Battery Ah X Battery Voltage X Inverter Efficiency / Total Load (Watt)

(G) Battery Voltage (12V, 24V or 48V):

• We can choose Battery Voltage of 12V, 24Vor 48V for inverter. The selection is very important for Voltage drop and Cable size of Inverter.
• To control load current within limit, as load increase, we should select higher size of Battery Voltage.
• Let’s take example.

Watt	Volt	Amp	Cable Resistance(Ω)	Voltage Drop (V)
1000	12	83	0.01	0.8
2000	24	83	0.01	0.8
4000	48	83	0.01	0.8

• As per above table, as the load increase, by selecting higher voltage,load current within limit.
• Let’s take example of selecting different voltage for same load (Watt)

Watt	Volt	Amp	Cable Resistance(Ω)	Voltage Drop (V)
4200	12	350	0.01	3.50
4200	24	175	0.01	1.75
4200	48	87.5	0.01	0.88

• At Higher Load (Watt), by selecting lower voltage (12V).The load current is high. The higher the current needs the bigger the components. High currents require large diameter cables and fuses, which are expensive and the entire system is not safe.
• By only doubling the voltage we can get double the power (Watt) at the same current.
• 12 Volt used to be a standard for extra low voltage power systems. Today, mostly systems are 24V or 48V and include a 230V AC inverter. This means the wiring of the house does not have to be different from any other grid-connected household and cabling cost is greatly reduced.
• The Battery Cost for higher Voltage is not more for same rating of Battery. For 12KW Load, Instead of buying a battery which has a capacity of 1000AH at 12V, (12KWH) we can rearrange the battery as a 24V 500AH (12KWH) or 48V 250AH (12KWH). The total power available from the battery is exactly the same, but with lower losses in the cabling and inverter.
• A higher volt inverter will be more expensive than a lower volt one, and for small setups, that extra expense is unnecessary.  If we are going to have high load demands, it makes more sense to go with a higher-volt inverter for a variety of reasons. 

(H) Battery Charger:

• The battery capacity is limited to the size of the charger. Usually, the battery capacity should be no more than 12x the maximum charge current i.e. a 5A charger can only accommodate 60AH of batteries (5 x 12 =60).
• If discharges are expected to be less frequent than once in every 10 days, We may use formula of 20x the maximum charge current.

(I) Discharge Rate:

• Lead acid batteries have few Amps hour if the discharge rate is fast.
• Generally, the lead acid battery discharge rate is slow. It is 20 hours.
• At high discharge rate, the capacity of the battery drops steeply. Suppose the battery is 10 Ah and its discharge rate is 1C. One hour discharge of the battery at the rate of 1C (10 Amps in 1 hour), the capacity reduces to 5 Ah in one hour.
• Suppose we want to run a load at 20 Amps for 1hour. Then the capacity of the battery is 20A x 1 Hour = 20Ah.
• Keep discharge rate to maximum 80%. Then the battery capacity should be 20Ah / 0.8 = 25 Ah
• So a 25 Ah battery can give 20 Amps current for 1 hour to run the load.
• But it is better to drain the battery to 50% only then, 25 Ah / 0.5 = 50 Ah.
• Hence it is better to use a 50Ah battery to run the load at 20 Amps per Hour to keep 50% charge in the battery.

Battery Capacity	Hours of Discharge
100	20
90	10
87	8
83	6
80	5
70	3
60	2
50	1

 

 

Selection of Various Types of Inverter-(Part-2)

Comparison of Inverters: 

Comparison of Different Type of  Inverter
	Square Wave	Stepped  Sine Wave	Pure Sine Wave
Safety of Appliances	Less	Moderate	High
Life of Appliances	Less	Moderate	High
Battery Life	Less	Moderate	High
Noise Level	High	Moderate	Normal
Heat generation	High	Low	Normal
Suitability for appliances	No	Not recommended for prolonged use	Yes

How to Select Batteries for Inverter

• Batter is the vital part of inverter. Performance and life of an inverter is greatly depends upon battery.
• There are three types of batteries available in market.

1. Flat Plate (Lead Acid ) Battery,
2. Tubular Battery
3. Maintenance Free Battery.

• Without getting too much into details, all we can say is that Tubular Batteries are the best choice for inverters. They may cost slightly more than Flat Plate, but they will last longer.
• Maintenance Free batteries may sound good, but they have lesser life (4-5 years as compared to 7-8 years of a tubular battery).
• But the most important thing to run batteries for a longer time is to make sure that it is topped (filled) with distilled or RO water frequently and the fluid levels are maintained.

(1) Lead Acid Battery

• Lead acid batteries known as “Automotive Battery”.
• Lead-acid batteries are the oldest type of rechargeable battery. Most of the inverters batteries are lead acids battery of different types.
• It is used for automotive purpose are termed as “High Cycle” lead acid batteries.
• These batteries are designed to provide high current for a very short duration (To start the vehicles).

• Automotive lead acid batteries are not designed to be regularly discharged by more than 25% of their rated capacity. Here the requirement of inverter is totally different.
• Inverter requires “Deep Cycle” type batteries to provide continuous power which can be discharged at least 50% of their rated capacity.
• Some good deep cycle batteries can be discharged over 80% of their capacity. Deep Cycle batteries have specially designed thick plates to withstand frequent charging and discharging.
• Lead acid batteries require regular maintenance. You have to check the electrolyte level and require to be topped up on regular intervals. These batteries release poisonous gases during charging and discharging. If you don’t keep the batteries in a properly ventilated place, it can invite serious health problems.
• We have to keep the terminals of normal lead acid batteries corrosion free by applying petroleum jelly or grease regularly.

Advantage:

• This light weighed inverter battery.
• Price is Economical and quite cost-effective
• This is the most common type of inverter battery.
• It is a rechargeable and generates a large amount of current.
• Battery life is approximately 3-4 years.  

Disadvantage:

• We need maintain it regularly, such checking the electrolyte level, topping up with distilled water etc.
• Need well-ventilated place while installing a lead acid inverter battery.
• Not Safer in use.

Application:

• Suitable for small domestic Inverter.

  (2) Tubular Battery

• This is the most popular and efficient among all types of inverter batteries.
• Together with robust grid design, superb efficiency, long operational life and requirement of low maintenance tubular inverter battery is the most preferable choice of all.

• This is the most popular segment of inverter batteries used in domestic and industrial applications.

Advantage:

• Long life (5 Years)
• High electrical efficiency.
• Less Maintenance (Less number of water toppings)

Disadvantage:

• Cost of tubular batteries can go up to double of a normal flat plate battery

Application:

• Suitable for both domestic and industrial Inverter.

 (3) Maintenance Free Battery

• As the name indicates there is no need of maintaining the batteries. No need of filling distilled water at regular intervals. This is possible because of a special type of electrolyte which need not be replenished.
• Maintenance free batteries also called as sealed batteries and do not need any regular maintenance to function impeccably.
• Apart from that other best feature is safety. Maintenance free batteries do not emit any poisonous or harmful gases.

Advantage:

• It is costlier, But the money is worth to invest.
• It is sealed lead acid batteries which do not require topping up or additional ventilation
• They are more durable and safer than normal lead acid inverter battery.

Disadvantage:

• Cost is very high as compared with normal lead acid batteries.
• Life is comparatively low (3 To 4 Years)
• Scrap value is not much more.

Application:

 Comparison of various types of Batteries 

Comparison of various types of Batteries
	Flat Plate Batteries	Tubular Batteries	Maintenance Free Batteries
Cost	Low	High	High
Safety	Low	Low	High
Efficiency	Low	High	Medium
Maintenance	High	Medium	Low
Water toppings	High	Medium	Low
Releases harmful gases	Yes	Yes	No
Ventilation requirement	Yes	Yes	No
Scrap Value	High	High	Low
Weight	Low	High	Depend on the model.
Battery Life Span	Low (  3 Yrs)	High( 5 Yrs)	Medium (3 to 4 Yrs)
Suitable	For Low power cut areas as their designed cycle life is low.

Selection of Various Types of Inverter-(Part-1)

Introduction:

• In this modern society, electricity has vital role on the most daily activities for domestic and industrial utilization of electric power for operations.
• An inverter is used to provide uninterrupted 220V AC supply to the load connected to its output socket. It provides constant AC supply at its output socket, even when the AC mains supply is not available.
• There are many factors, which are affecting on selecting of the best inverter for our application

Block Diagram of Inverter:

• Power inverter is a device that converts electrical power from DC form to AC form using electronic circuits. It is typical application is to convert battery voltage into conventional household AC voltage to use Equipments, when an AC power is not available.
• There are two methods, in which the low voltage DC power is inserted into AC Power.
• In First Method first is the conversion of the low voltage DC power to a high voltage DC source, an then It is the conversion of the high DC source to an AC waveform using pulse width modulation.
• In Second method the outcome would be to first convert the low voltage DC power to AC, and then use a transformer to boost the voltage to 220 volts.
• The widely used method in the current residential inverter is the second.
• An Inverter not only converts the DC Voltage of battery to 220V V AC Signals but also charge the Battery when the AC mains are present.
• The block diagram shown above is a simple depiction of the way an Inverter Works.

When the AC mains power supply is available.

• When the Utility Company AC mains supply is available.
• C Main Sensor: the AC sensor senses it and the 230V A.C supply feeds to the Relay and battery charger.
• Relay or Change over Switch: AC main sensor activates a relay and this relay will directly pass the 230V AC mains supply to the Load.
• Battery Charger: Battery Charger converts line A.C Voltage to DC Voltage and Charges the Battery even when A.C Power is available.
• Battery: Battery is charged and it is stopped when it is full charged.

 When the AC mains power supply is not available.

• When the AC mains power supply is not available.
• Relay or Change over Switch: AC main sensor activates a relay and this relay will connected to battery in absent of the AC mains supply.
• Battery: Battery is providing DC Power to Oscillator circuit through Relay.
• Oscillator Circuit: An oscillator circuit inside the inverter use pulse width modulator to generate the 50Hz frequency required to generate AC supply by the inverter.
• The battery DC supply is connected to the Oscillator. The flip-flop converts the incoming signal into signals with changing polarity such that in a two-signal with changing polarity.
• The first is positive while the second is negative and vice versa. This process is repeated 50times per second to give an alternating signal with 50Hz frequency. This alternating signal is known as “MOS Drive Signal “.
• Driver Circuit: The MOS drive signals are given to the base of driver transistor which separated into two different channels.
• Amplifier Circuit: The transistors amplify the 50Hz MOS drive signal at their base to a sufficient level and output them from the emitter.
• Inverter Transformer: The transformer used for this is a center-tapping which divides the primary into two equal sections.
• This center-tapping is connected to the positive terminal of the battery. Two ends of the primary are connected to the negative terminal of the battery through switches S1 and S2.
• MOSFETs or Transistors are used for the switching operation. These MOSFETs or Transistors are connected to the primary winding of the inverter transformer.
• When these switching devices receive the MOS drive signal from the driver circuit, they start switching between ON & OFF states at a rate of 50 Hz. This switching action of the MOSFETs or Transistors creates a 50Hz current to the primary of the inverter transformer. This results in a 220V AC or 2300V AC (depending on the winding ratio of the inverter transformer) at the secondary or the inverter transformer. This secondary voltage is made available at the output socket of the inverter by a changeover relay.

 Type of Inverter

• The inverters are classified by depending on their output
• Sine wave
• Modified sine wave
• Square wave.

(1) Sine Wave Inverter:

• In utility Company Sine wave generated by rotating AC machinery and sine waves is a natural product of rotating AC machinery.
• Pure sine wave inverters provide an output same as a sine wave which is similar to the utility supplied grid power, hence Pure Sine Wave inverter produces a better and cleaner current

• All commercial instruments are designed to run on pure sine wave. Characteristics of such devices are greatly depending upon the input wave shape. A change in wave shape will affect the performance and efficiency of the appliances.
• Sine Wave guarantees by Sine way Inverter is pure so the equipment will work to its full specifications as per its design. Appliances like Motors, refrigerators, Ovens etc will generate full power on pure sine wave input only.
• A few appliances, such as Toaster, light dimmers, and some battery chargers require a sine wave to work propellerly. Operation of these appliances in Square or stepped waves will considerably affect the life of such equipment due to the generation of heat.
• Distortion in the sine wave creates humming noise in transformers, and audio devices
• Some time we noticed that audio amplifiers, Televisions, Fluorescent lamps etc make noise on inverter power. This indicates that inverter output is not pure sine wave.
• It is always advisable and recommended to go for a pure sine wave inverter for the safety and effective performance of your appliances.

Advantages:

• Output voltage wave form is pure sine wave with very low harmonic distortion and clean power like utility-supplied electricity.
• Inductive loads like microwave ovens and motors run faster, quieter and cooler.
• Reduces audible and electrical noise in fans, fluorescent lights, audio amplifiers, TV, Game consoles, Fax, and answering machines.
• This type of inverters will save your current bill compared to square wave inverters.
• Prevents crashes in computers, weird print out, and glitches and noise in monitors.
• Back up time will be better than square wave inverters.

Disadvantages:

• Sine wave inverters are 2 to 3 times expensive compared to square wave and modified sine wave inverters.

Application:

• More sensitive electrical or electronic items
• Desktop computers, laptops, Laser printers, photocopiers,
• Camera battery chargers, cell phone chargers,
• Mixer,
• Fluorescent lights with electronic ballasts ,
• Digital clocks ,
• Sewing machines with speed/microprocessor control ,
• Medical equipment,
• Small house hold water pumping motors, Drives etc.

(2) Modified Sine Wave:

• A modified sine wave inverter has a waveform like a square wave, but with an extra step.
• Modified sine wave is a simulation of the pure sine wave output when the inverter sharply drops or increases voltage to switch polarity. As a result, the output form closely matches pure sine wave but still has much greater distortions.
• A modified sine wave inverter will work fine with most equipment, although the efficiency or power will be reduced with some.

• The devices are usually about 70% efficient, so we can expect some significant power losses if we are using a modified sine wave inverter in your system.
• Motors, such as refrigerator motor, pumps, fans etc will use more power from the inverter due to lower efficiency. Most motors will use about 20% more power.
• Some fluorescent lights will not operate quite as bright, and some may buzz or make annoying humming noises.
• Because the modified sine wave is noisier and rougher than a pure sine wave, clocks and timers may run faster or not work at all. They also have some parts of the wave that are not 50 Hz, which can make clocks run fast. Items such as bread makers and light dimmers may not work at all in many cases appliances that use electronic temperature controls will not control. The most common is on such things as variable speed drills will only have two speeds on and off.
• The difference between Sine wave and modified Sine wave inverter is the cost. Sine wave is considerably more expensive. We can find it practical way from it .We can install a small Pure Sine Wave inverter for any “special need” and also a larger Modified Sine Wave inverter for the rest of our applications.

Advantages:

• Cheaper than pure sine wave inverters
• Output correction waveform; relatively stable; suitable for ordinary personal users with TV, fan, lamp, computer, hot pot etc.
• Output wave form have a very low harmonic distortion compare to Square wave inverter

Disadvantages:

• Lower efficiency than pure sine wave inverters.
• Power Loss is more compared to sine wave inverter.
• Modified Sine Wave output is not suitable for continuous long time operation of certain appliances with capacitive and electromagnetic devices such as a fridge, microwave oven and most kinds of motors, printers as well as capacitive fluorescent lights etc
• Some fans with synchronous motors may slightly increase in speed (RPM) when powered by a modified sine wave inverter. This is not harmful to the fan or to the inverter.
• Certain rechargers for small nickel-cadmium batteries can be damaged if plugged into a modified sine wave inverter

Application:

• Some household appliances and power tools.
• Inductive loads like micro ovens and motors.
• Fans and fluorescent lights,
• Audio amplifiers, TVs, game consoles, fax and answering machines.

 (3) Square Wave Inverter:

• The Output wave form of the Inverter is like square.
• This is old-fashioned and the cheapest inverters, but the hardest to use.
• A square wave inverter will run simple things like tools with universal motors without a problem, but not much else.

• The current we get from grid is neither square wave nor pure sine wave, it’s nearly sine wave. So, our electronic devices like fan and tube light will emit some buzz noise while operating in square wave current. In some rare cases, these square wave inverters have spoiled the speed control dimmers of ceiling fans.
• In the form of square wave, The load voltage must be switched majorly from high voltage  to low Voltage, without  using  for an intermediate step of 0Volt.
• The main reason for this fault is high voltage output. Normally, voltage output from square wave inverters is 230 volt to 290 volt, hence it is not recommended to sensitive electronic devices like computers.
• They just flip the voltage from plus to minus creating a square waveform. They are not very efficient because the square wave has a lot of power in higher harmonics that cannot be used by many appliances. Synchronous motors, for example, use the 50Hz component and turn the rest of the frequencies into heat
• Square wave inverters are seldom seen any more.

Advantages:

• It is very cheap

Disadvantages:

• Life of Application is less.
• Speed control of some equipment is not possible
• Voltage Variation is high.
• Large 3rd and 5th harmonic components which burn power and severely cut down on the efficiency of devices

Application:

• Low cost AC motor drives
• Some electronic ballast for fluorescent lamps