Differences Between Halogen and Incandescent Lamps

Study Notes

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).

Description

Explore the distinctions between standard incandescent lamps and halogen incandescent lamps, including differences in materials used, operation principles, and light output. Learn how halogen gas helps to increase the lifespan and color temperature of halogen lamps.