Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Preliminary Values Assigned to Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed (Detail)

v2.4.1.9
Preliminary Values Assigned to Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Apr. 17, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Mar. 08, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Nov. 15, 2013
Aug. 22, 2013
Business Acquisition [Line Items]              
Goodwill $ 42,991us-gaap_Goodwill $ 18,600us-gaap_Goodwill $ 21,498us-gaap_Goodwill   $ 10,166us-gaap_Goodwill    
Intangible assets   20,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles   1,599us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles      
Purchase price       856us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet      
Tri-State DE LLC              
Business Acquisition [Line Items]              
Accounts receivable           468us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentAssetsReceivables
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_TriStateDeLlcMember
 
Inventory           310us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedInventory
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_TriStateDeLlcMember
 
Goodwill           2,786us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_TriStateDeLlcMember
 
Other intangibles           738rvlt_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibleAssetsOtherAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_TriStateDeLlcMember
 
Other assets           38us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedOtherNoncurrentAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_TriStateDeLlcMember
 
Assets acquired           6,500us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_TriStateDeLlcMember
 
Accounts payable           440us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilitiesAccountsPayable
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_TriStateDeLlcMember
 
Accrued liabilities           208rvlt_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedAccruedLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_TriStateDeLlcMember
 
Other current liabilities           80us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilitiesOther
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_TriStateDeLlcMember
 
Liabilities assumed           728us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_TriStateDeLlcMember
 
Purchase price           5,772us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_TriStateDeLlcMember
 
Tri-State DE LLC | Customer Relationships              
Business Acquisition [Line Items]              
Intangible assets           1,680us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_TriStateDeLlcMember
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
 
Tri-State DE LLC | Non-compete agreements              
Business Acquisition [Line Items]              
Intangible assets           480us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_TriStateDeLlcMember
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMember
 
Value Lighting              
Business Acquisition [Line Items]              
Cash   35us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCashAndEquivalents
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_ValueLightingMember
         
Accounts receivable   8,720us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentAssetsReceivables
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_ValueLightingMember
         
Inventory   7,505us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedInventory
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_ValueLightingMember
         
Goodwill   18,635us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_ValueLightingMember
         
Other intangibles   116rvlt_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibleAssetsOtherAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_ValueLightingMember
         
Other assets   2,901us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedOtherNoncurrentAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_ValueLightingMember
         
Assets acquired   57,747us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_ValueLightingMember
         
Accounts payable   8,683us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilitiesAccountsPayable
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_ValueLightingMember
         
Accrued liabilities   1,383rvlt_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedAccruedLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_ValueLightingMember
         
Other current liabilities   1,362us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilitiesOther
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_ValueLightingMember
         
Other liabilities   1,185us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNoncurrentLiabilitiesOther
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_ValueLightingMember
         
Deferred income tax liability   5,825us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedDeferredTaxLiabilitiesNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_ValueLightingMember
         
Liabilities assumed   18,438us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_ValueLightingMember
         
Purchase price   39,309us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_ValueLightingMember
         
Value Lighting | Customer Relationships              
Business Acquisition [Line Items]              
Intangible assets   12,270us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_ValueLightingMember
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
         
Value Lighting | Non-compete agreements              
Business Acquisition [Line Items]              
Intangible assets   260us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_ValueLightingMember
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMember
         
Value Lighting | Backlog              
Business Acquisition [Line Items]              
Intangible assets   2,505us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_ValueLightingMember
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_OrderOrProductionBacklogMember
         
Value Lighting | Trade Names              
Business Acquisition [Line Items]              
Intangible assets   4,800us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_ValueLightingMember
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_TradeNamesMember
         
Relume Technologies Inc              
Business Acquisition [Line Items]              
Cash             61us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCashAndEquivalents
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_RelumeTechnologiesIncMember
Accounts receivable             851us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentAssetsReceivables
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_RelumeTechnologiesIncMember
Inventory             1,935us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedInventory
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_RelumeTechnologiesIncMember
Goodwill             8,624us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_RelumeTechnologiesIncMember
Other assets             838us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedOtherNoncurrentAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_RelumeTechnologiesIncMember
Assets acquired             16,209us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_RelumeTechnologiesIncMember
Accounts payable             2,574us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilitiesAccountsPayable
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_RelumeTechnologiesIncMember
Accrued liabilities             1,891rvlt_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedAccruedLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_RelumeTechnologiesIncMember
Other current liabilities             26us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilitiesOther
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_RelumeTechnologiesIncMember
Capital lease obligations             110us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCapitalLeaseObligation
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_RelumeTechnologiesIncMember
Liabilities assumed             4,601us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_RelumeTechnologiesIncMember
Purchase price             11,608us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_RelumeTechnologiesIncMember
Relume Technologies Inc | Customer Relationships              
Business Acquisition [Line Items]              
Intangible assets             680us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_RelumeTechnologiesIncMember
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
Relume Technologies Inc | Trademarks              
Business Acquisition [Line Items]              
Intangible assets             1,200us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_RelumeTechnologiesIncMember
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_TrademarksMember
Relume Technologies Inc | Technology              
Business Acquisition [Line Items]              
Intangible assets             2,020us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_RelumeTechnologiesIncMember
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= rvlt_TechnologyMember
Seesmart Technologies Incorporated              
Business Acquisition [Line Items]              
Cash 69us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCashAndEquivalents
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_SeesmartTechnologiesIncorporatedMember
           
Accounts receivable 1,048us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentAssetsReceivables
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_SeesmartTechnologiesIncorporatedMember
           
Inventory 1,352us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedInventory
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_SeesmartTechnologiesIncorporatedMember
           
Goodwill 10,166us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_SeesmartTechnologiesIncorporatedMember
           
Other assets 334us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedOtherNoncurrentAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_SeesmartTechnologiesIncorporatedMember
           
Assets acquired 23,676us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_SeesmartTechnologiesIncorporatedMember
           
Accounts payable 2,692us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilitiesAccountsPayable
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_SeesmartTechnologiesIncorporatedMember
           
Accrued liabilities 1,137rvlt_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedAccruedLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_SeesmartTechnologiesIncorporatedMember
           
Deferred revenue 104us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilitiesDeferredRevenue
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_SeesmartTechnologiesIncorporatedMember
           
Liabilities assumed 5,400us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_SeesmartTechnologiesIncorporatedMember
           
Purchase price 18,276us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_SeesmartTechnologiesIncorporatedMember
           
Seesmart Technologies Incorporated | Customer Relationships              
Business Acquisition [Line Items]              
Intangible assets 7,273us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_SeesmartTechnologiesIncorporatedMember
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
           
Seesmart Technologies Incorporated | Trademarks              
Business Acquisition [Line Items]              
Intangible assets 3,434us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_SeesmartTechnologiesIncorporatedMember
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_TrademarksMember
           
Seesmart Technologies Incorporated | Customer Deposits              
Business Acquisition [Line Items]              
Other current liabilities $ 1,467us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilitiesOther
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= rvlt_SeesmartTechnologiesIncorporatedMember
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= rvlt_CustomerDepositsMember