Nathan Cole is Editor-in-Chief, covering residential and commercial lighting specification, LED driver behavior, illuminance and color measurement, and dimmer compatibility. They write most bulb and fixture reviews, keep the paper calibration log, and sign off on every final score. The bench protocol covers three illuminance distances, spectrometer readings at full, mid, and low dim, and a photodiode flicker run on the dimmer wall before scoring discussion. Every scored product requires a 30-day in-room period, and Nathan finalizes a score only when two of the three editors agree on the bench record.
Illuminance and beam uniformity measurement · Color rendering index and correlated color temperature · Flicker percentage and PWM dimming behavior · Smart lighting protocols including Matter, Zigbee, Thread and Wi-Fi · Retrofit recessed and under-cabinet fixture compatibility · Energy codes and lighting power density basics
Trayectoria
- 2006
- Graduated in architectural engineering and joined a Portland lighting design firm as a fixture schedule assistant
- 2011
- Earned Lighting Certified status and began specifying LED retrofits for school and clinic projects
- 2015
- Led a grocery chain relight program covering 42 stores, which started the habit of measuring every lamp on site
- 2019
- Founded LitBuy US in Portland, Oregon, with a card table bench and a shared spreadsheet of lux readings
- 2022
- Moved the desk into the Southeast Powell Boulevard warehouse and built the four-bay light booth
- 2024
- Introduced the 12-month retest cycle for current top picks and the dated change note on every revised review
Credenciales
Lighting Certified (LC)
National Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Professions · 2011
Bachelor of Science, Architectural Engineering
Oregon State University · 2006
Advanced Lighting Controls Certificate
Pacific Northwest Lighting Institute · 2014
Cómo pruebo
Nathan Cole sets the bench protocol: three illuminance distances, spectrometer readings at full, mid, and low dim, and a photodiode flicker run on the dimmer wall before any score is discussed. They require a 30-day in-room period for every scored product and do not finalize a score until two of the three editors agree on the bench record.
