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Kontrollleuchte

English translation: indicator lamp

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Kontrollleuchte
English translation:indicator lamp
Entered by: Rowan Morrell

13:18 Jun 3, 2004
German to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Food & Drink / Refrigeration Devices for Food Counters
German term or phrase: Kontrollleuchte
"Die grüne Kontrollleuchte im Geräteschalter leuchtet auf. An dem Thermostatregler ist die gewünschte Oberflächentemperatur einzustellen."

My instruction manual has moved on from installing this cooling unit/fridge thing for food counters and we're now into starting the thing up. What exactly are Kontrollleuchte? Just control lights? Or are they something like checking or monitoring lights? TIA for your help.
Rowan Morrell
New Zealand
Local time: 04:00
indicator lamp
Explanation:
Lamp is a more commonly used term than light in industry, but I don't suppose it matters that much.

What does matter tho, IMO is words like Kontroll which means check (i.e. indicate that something is working).
The English word control is different and means Steuerung. To translate "Kontroll" as "control" is dangerous. Analogous to "Konstruction" which means design in English and not "construction".
Selected response from:

Gareth McMillan
Local time: 18:00
Grading comment
I love it when a clear-cut solution emerges, an on this occasion, "indicator lamp" definitely seems to be the way to go. So thank you, Gareth, and all those who agreed with him (some good comments by the peer graders too). I do know about "Kontroll" being a false friend (like Konstruktion, indeed!), but it can mean "control" occasionally and I wondered whether that might work here. However, I always had doubts about that, and I think it was just as well I asked here. Interesting though that a couple of other people thought "control light". But indicator lamp is much better, so thanks again - appreciate your help.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +5indicator lamp
Gareth McMillan
4 +1indicator light
Kim Metzger
4 +1control light is OK
Michael Pauls
4control light
Cilian O'Tuama
3Status light
Hoenikker


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
control light


Explanation:
control light is fine, though IMO here you'd get away with just 'the green light'.

Cilian O'Tuama
Germany
Local time: 18:00
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 112
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3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
indicator light


Explanation:
That's one possibility based on Langenscheidt under the note: allgemein fuer Betriebszustand.


    Langenscheidt Fachw�rterbuch Technik und angewandte Wissenschaften
Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 10:00
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 125

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  NGK
1 hr
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4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
control light is OK


Explanation:
I think your suggestion is OK. It's a light that indicates if something is switched on (or off).
Ernst suggests:
Kontrollampe, Kontrolleuchte f / pilot lamp o. indicator o. signal [lamp]

HTH

Michael Pauls
Germany
Local time: 18:00
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  moser.ilja
2 hrs
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16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Status light


Explanation:
As I understand it, the light is coming on in order to indicate that it's "on". In this sense, it's a status light.

For heating systems it has a special translation,
More info here:
http://www.sign-lang.uni-hamburg.de/HLEX/Konzepte/L4/L461.ht...

Hoenikker
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42 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
indicator lamp


Explanation:
Lamp is a more commonly used term than light in industry, but I don't suppose it matters that much.

What does matter tho, IMO is words like Kontroll which means check (i.e. indicate that something is working).
The English word control is different and means Steuerung. To translate "Kontroll" as "control" is dangerous. Analogous to "Konstruction" which means design in English and not "construction".

Gareth McMillan
Local time: 18:00
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 16
Grading comment
I love it when a clear-cut solution emerges, an on this occasion, "indicator lamp" definitely seems to be the way to go. So thank you, Gareth, and all those who agreed with him (some good comments by the peer graders too). I do know about "Kontroll" being a false friend (like Konstruktion, indeed!), but it can mean "control" occasionally and I wondered whether that might work here. However, I always had doubts about that, and I think it was just as well I asked here. Interesting though that a couple of other people thought "control light". But indicator lamp is much better, so thanks again - appreciate your help.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Mario Marcolin
9 mins
  -> Thanks Mario.
agree  Bob Kerns (X): Fully agree; this has nothing to with the English word control and lamp is definitely better than light.
16 mins
  -> Thanks Bob.
agree  Guenther Danzer: Indicator consisting of a light to indicate whether power is on or a motor is in operation, also pilot lamp. http://www.wordwebonline.com/en/INDICATORLAMP
17 mins
  -> Thanks Günther, and for the back up I was maybe too lazy to provide.
agree  NGK
34 mins
  -> Thanks Norbert.
agree  Kathi Stock
47 mins
  -> Thanks Kathy.
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