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LATITUDE A location's distance north or south of the equator measured in degrees.

LIGHT EMITTING DIODE (LED) A semiconductor device composed of a PN junction designed such that electrons cause visible light during their migration across the junction.

LIGHTNING ARRESTOR Devices that protect electronics from lightning-induced surges by carrying the charge to ground.

LINE/WIRE LOSS The voltage drop or energy loss due to the resistance of wire in an electrical circuit. See VOLTAGE DROP

LINEAR CURRENT BOOSTER (LCB) An electronic circuit that matches PV output directly to a motor by converting unneeded voltage to higher usable current. Used in array-direct water pumping.

LOAD Refers to equipment that is powered by electricity. Usually expressed in terms of amperes or watts. Any device or appliance that uses energy (such as a light or pump).

LOW-E GLASS Glass coated with layers of metal or metal oxide. The coating emits very little radiation in the long-wave (infrared) spectrum, which diminishes heat loss from the building interior, and reduces heat gain in hot weather.

LUMEN A unit of measurement quantifying the amount of light emitted from a light source.