Halogen Light Bulbs

Halogen light bulbs

These bulbs are cost-effective, lightweight, and easy to install. They are widely used in all types of spaces, giving off a warm glow. They are popular for the type of colour they give out which is relatively whiter than incandescent lights. This creates great visuals and accents any space that they are installed in.

Halogen light bulbs require a lot of energy to run but are otherwise efficient and functional. Halogen is ideal for keeping the tungsten from thinning out and slows the wearing out of the bulb which increases its longevity.

Types of Halogen Bulbs

Mains-Voltage Halogen Spotlights

Halogen bulbs are highly sought after for their extravagant colour rendering ability and remain a top choice in spotlights. Their illumination incorporates all the colours of the observable spectrum. They have a higher consistency compared to LEDs or fluorescents. The most common types are the GU10 spotlight which is ideal for task lighting and the GZ10 bulb which dissipates heat efficiently.

Low Voltage Halogen Spotlights

Perfect for high projections and brightness in shops and showrooms, these come with an aluminum-coated reflector that is ideal for displaying heat-sensitive objects. They give a sharp and sleek effect and are perfect for halogen downlight and wire lighting systems. The mr16 bulbs and the halogen lamp is ideal for highlighting effects.

Linear Halogens

Linear halogens are commonly used in floodlights and security sensor lights. It is important to keep the filament horizontal to increase the lifespan of the bulb. Available in clear, ruby, and gold colours, they are a great light output for both indoors and out.

Capsules

Capsule lights are mainly used for caravan lighting, boat lighting, pelmet lighting, and desk lighting. They are compatible with both low and main-voltages. The high-powered halogen capsules are available for use in areas like theatre, TV, film, and projector lighting. The g9 led bulb is a very good capsule bulb.

Halogen vs LED Bulbs

LED bulbs last longer, consume less electricity, and give off the same amount of light but they are significantly more expensive than common halogen bulbs. Their efficiency is driving an overall increase in the demand and more homeowners are keen on buying it for their homes. A halogen bulb can be replaced with a LED one regardless of the fitting. With some types like G4, MR11, and MR16, however, the conversion is not possible.

Choosing a Light Bulb

The choice in the type of bulb is dependant on a homeowner’s particular taste and style preferences, but some standard ideas must be considered.

Bulb Shape and Base

Bulbs are named after their unique shapes such as globe, reflector, and spiral. The numeral along with the shape denotes diameter at its widest end. There are two main types of bulb bases: a pin base, and a screw base. It is important to see which base is suitable for connecting to the socket or ballast. This is integral to ensure that the size is compatible with the fixture.

Watts and Lumens

Watts is the degree of energy that the bulb requires to light up while lumens measures how much light is produced. For choosing an energy-efficient light bulb it is important to look at its lumens and not the watts.

Colour rendering index (CRI)

This means how the light makes the object appear to the human eye. The scale of CRI is generally between 0 to 100 and the ones that show a CRI of 85 to 90 are considered good at colour rendering. Those above 90 are considered even better and should be utilized for tasks that require higher levels of colour rendering.

Colour temperature

The unit for temperature is measured in degrees Kelvin (K) and describes how the light appears. Those that create a yellow-white light may have a temperature around 2700K while those at 5000K or higher have a bluish-white tinge. The yellow-based lights are great for producing warm cozy effects and are best suited for the living rooms and bedrooms.

Voltage

To gain maximum efficiency, the voltage of the bulb should match the voltage of the fixture that is being used. Any diversity in the voltage can affect the life of the bulb. For incandescent lights, a lower voltage bulb emits low light levels.

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