Shedding Light on Halogen Lights And Bulbs
There are 32 light fixtures blazing away in an average American
household. These are the lights in your fridge, hallway, workshop, and porch.
Most of these light bulbs are cheap two-for-a-dollar incandescent,
screw-type bulbs. This is remarkable because the incandescent bulbs have
been around for over a century using the same technology. Although these
bulbs still suffice for the lighting needs of the average household,
people have become discriminating and looked for other options. Popular
choices for many households are halogen lights and bulbs. They are
preferred over the incandescent varieties because they emit light that are
of whiter and brighter nature. Also, these halogen lights and bulbs
generally last longer than ordinary incandescent lights.
How do these halogen lights and bulbs differ from the incandescent
lights? Their difference primarily lies on the principles governing their
functions. Incandescent lights work by having electricity flow through a
fine filament of tungsten inside the bulb filled with argon gas. This
action causes the filament to resist the electric flow, which makes the
argon gas heat up. The heat causes the argon gas to glow and emit
light. Miniscule tungsten particles evaporate and accumulate on bulb walls
as soot. As the tungsten burns out, the filament grows weak and
ultimately, burn out. There are key disadvantages to this process. First, the
soot reduces light emission, resulting in duller light output. Second,
the soot weakens the tungsten filament and makes it brittle, hence,
promoting faster burnout. Given these problems, incandescent lights are
best suited for low traffic areas where soft lighting are better
appreciated like the bedrooms.
The function of halogen lights are similar to those of incandescent
bulbs, but with key structural differences. Halogen lights and bulbs are
composed of peanut-sized and pressurized bulbs inside larger outer
shells. The inner bulbs are halogen chambers. The halogen from these bulbs
direct the evaporating tungsten to the filaments. As a result, the
tungsten filament is constantly rebuilt. Decreased outer shell soot
maintains bright light output. The rebuilding of the tungsten filament also
makes the halogen lights last longer. The brighter and whiter light of the
halogen bulbs make them suitable for high-traffic areas like hallways,
living spaces, and work areas.
Halogen Desk Lamps – Light and Shade
It has to be said that, when it comes to choosing a desk lamp, halogen lighting is truly fit for purpose. Having made such a bold statement, it also has to be said that, whilst halogen lamps do indeed have many advantages, this form of illumination is surrounded by many myths, which this article aims to dispel.
First things first, halogen bulbs are what is know as incandescent bulbs, as are ordinary light bulbs. In basic terms, a thin wire filament is caused to glow by passing an electric current through it; oxygen is kept out by the glass bulb, which is why the filament doesn’t just burn up.
In halogen lamps, the filament is housed within a glass envelope and surrounded by a mixture of inert gas and halogen. The result is that the filament burns brighter, hotter and for longer. The downside of this is an increased running temperature, which means that halogen lamps should no longer be the first choice for inset ceiling and wall lights. This is because they back into a small enclosed space, which makes them a potential fire hazard.
Save On Outdoor Lighting And Think Solar Lights
If you want to save on your energy bill then solar powered lights are a great alternative. You are probably worried about the ever increasing price of electricity to, this is a cost effective way of illuminating your home’s outdoor areas, solar lighting is the answer. How does it work? The first versions of solar lighting, use solar cells that did not produce ample power for a long period of time. As with everything solar lighting has evolved, newer technology uses LED (light emitting diode) lamps that offer much more powerful light that those using solar cells.
Solar lights are not as powerful as electric powered fixtures, they are better used for outdoor decorative lighting.Some places you can use them include walkways, landscape borders, patio and deck areas, as well as gardens. It’s important to have a well thought out plan before you begin, you can even do a quick sketch before hand so you have an idea of how to place the lamps.
Solar light fixtures work off of the energy of the sun. These exterior lights actually collect energy from the sun, through solar cell panels. When night falls these lights illuminate by releasing the solar energy, which in return give your exterior areas light. These panels use NiCad or NiMH re-chargeable batteries to store the battery power collected from the sun.
