Differences Between Halogen and Incandescent Lamps

Halogen vs. Incandescent Lamps

• Halogen lamps feature a quartz cover, whereas incandescent lamps utilize glass.
• Halogen gas surrounds the filament in halogen lamps, enhancing efficiency and lifespan.
• In incandescent bulbs, tungsten evaporates and deposits on the glass, reducing bulb life.
• In halogen lamps, the halogen gas cycles evaporated tungsten back to the filament, prolonging its life.
• Halogen lamps emit whiter, cooler light compared to traditional incandescent bulbs.

Features of Halogen Lamps

• Easily dimmable; however, dimming results in a warm shift in light color temperature.
• Compact size makes them suitable for spotlights with controlled optics.
• Various beam spreads are available, allowing flexibility for relamping over time.
• Commonly available in low voltage variants (12V or 24V), requiring transformers.

Low Voltage Transformers

• Transformers convert 230V AC to the necessary 12V/24V AC for halogen lamps.
• Two types exist: magnetic and electronic transformers.
• Dimmable transformers are also available to cater to dimming capabilities.

Components of a Luminaire

• A luminaire is the core component of a lighting system comprising:
  • Lamps
  • Ballast/Driver
  • Reflector
  • Diffuser

Incandescent Lamp Overview

• Incandescent lamps were simultaneously invented by Sir Joseph Swan (1878) and Thomas Edison (1879).
• Edison is primarily credited with popularizing the incandescent bulb.
• By 25 years post-invention, millions of incandescent lamps were operational globally.

Incandescent Lamp Mechanics

• Electric current passes through a tungsten filament, which heats up due to resistance, producing light (incandescence).
• Oxygen is removed from the lamp to prevent filament ignition, with inert gases used to fill the bulb.
• Incandescent lamps have low efficacy (8-15 lm/W) and a lifespan of 750-1500 hours but are inexpensive and offer excellent color rendering.

Halogen Incandescent Lamp Advantages

• Halogen lamps provide higher efficiency than standard incandescent lamps (12-18 lm/W for standard vs. 15-30 lm/W for halogen).
• Longer lifespan compared to standard incandescent bulbs (3000-6000 hours for halogen vs. 1000-2000 hours for standard incandescent).