Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill (Detail)

v2.4.1.9
Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill (Detail) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Apr. 17, 2014
Goodwill [Line Items]      
Goodwill, Beginning Balance $ 21,498,000us-gaap_Goodwill $ 10,166,000us-gaap_Goodwill $ 18,600,000us-gaap_Goodwill
Business acquisition 21,493,000us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod 11,332us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod  
Goodwill, Ending Balance 42,991,000us-gaap_Goodwill 21,498,000us-gaap_Goodwill 18,600,000us-gaap_Goodwill
Goodwill, Gross 45,387,000us-gaap_GoodwillGross    
Accumulated impairment losses (2,396,000)us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss    
Goodwill 42,991,000us-gaap_Goodwill 21,498,000us-gaap_Goodwill 18,600,000us-gaap_Goodwill
Lighting Fixtures and Lamps      
Goodwill [Line Items]      
Goodwill, Beginning Balance 21,498,000us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= rvlt_LightingFixturesAndLampsMember
10,166,000us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= rvlt_LightingFixturesAndLampsMember
 
Business acquisition 21,493,000us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= rvlt_LightingFixturesAndLampsMember
11,332,000us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= rvlt_LightingFixturesAndLampsMember
 
Transfer of Relume's Media business (1,463,000)us-gaap_GoodwillTransfers
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= rvlt_LightingFixturesAndLampsMember
   
Goodwill, Ending Balance 41,528,000us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= rvlt_LightingFixturesAndLampsMember
21,498,000us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= rvlt_LightingFixturesAndLampsMember
 
Goodwill, Gross 43,517,000us-gaap_GoodwillGross
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= rvlt_LightingFixturesAndLampsMember
   
Accumulated impairment losses (1,989,000)us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= rvlt_LightingFixturesAndLampsMember
   
Goodwill 41,528,000us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= rvlt_LightingFixturesAndLampsMember
21,498,000us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= rvlt_LightingFixturesAndLampsMember
 
Lighting Signage and Media      
Goodwill [Line Items]      
Transfer of Relume's Media business 1,463,000us-gaap_GoodwillTransfers
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= rvlt_LightingSignageAndMediaMember
   
Goodwill, Ending Balance 1,463,000us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= rvlt_LightingSignageAndMediaMember
   
Goodwill, Gross 1,870,000us-gaap_GoodwillGross
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= rvlt_LightingSignageAndMediaMember
   
Accumulated impairment losses (407,000)us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= rvlt_LightingSignageAndMediaMember
   
Goodwill $ 1,463,000us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= rvlt_LightingSignageAndMediaMember