Halogen bulbs are advanced incandescent bulbs designed to directly replace their outdated predecessors. Halogen lamps for the home give light in the color spectrum closest to the light of the sun, which the human eye perceives best. They are economical and their service life is many times longer than incandescent lamps. In the article we will talk about the types of halogen lamps and their features, advantages and disadvantages.
Application areas
Halogen bulbs are used for street lighting and spotlights. Due to their high light output and neutral powerful white light, halogen lamps are used in film projectors, where the perception of the film by the viewer depends on the correct color reproduction. Such lamps are indispensable in operating rooms due to their power and compactness. Similar in power LEDthe lamp will be very massive and heavy due to voltage transformers. Lamps with halogen lamps come in different power levels, so they are suitable for general lighting of commercial premises, as well as for illuminating shop windows. They are actively used in everyday life to directly replace obsolete incandescent lamps. Halogen bulbs have the same base as incandescent bulbs, and with equal power consumption they have a higher light output. Recessed halogen ceiling lights are suitable for false ceilings, provided that the installation rules are followed.
Benefits
The main advantage of halogen bulbs is their bright neutral white light. The human eye perceives this shade best of all, so the colors of surrounding objects look bright and saturated. With proper use, the intensity of the luminous flux is maintained until the end of the lamp's life. Such lamps save up to 20% of the consumed electricity compared to incandescent lamps, while the brightness of the light does not change. The service life of such lamps is up to 4000 hours, which is 4 times longer than that of incandescent lamps. Different power and small dimensions allow the use of halogen lamps in spotlights. They tolerate temperature extremes and high humidity well, so they can be used for street lighting. The cost of halogen lamps is much lower than LED.
Flaws
The disadvantages of halogen lamps for the home can beattributed to:
- Sensitivity to voltage drops. You can protect the lamp from power surges by installing a transformer.
- Problematic installation and replacement. The lamp glass must not be touched with bare hands. The sebum on the bulb gets very hot, causing the glass to crack, the gas from the bulb escaping, and the bulb instantly burns out. Gloves or a clean cloth must be used to replace lamps. If it was not possible to avoid touching, you need to wipe the lamp with alcohol or acetone.
- Recycling. A feature of halogen ceiling lights is the content of gas in the lamp bulb. They can't just be thrown down the chute, they must be handed over to a chemical waste disposal company.
- Heating. Like incandescent lamps, halogen lamps get very hot, so when installing it is important that the lamp does not touch the ceiling. Halogen luminaires for stretch ceilings must be mounted with a supply of air gap for cooling between the base ceiling and the suspended canvas. To protect the stretch ceiling from heating, it is necessary to use special protective rings. Exposure to high temperatures contributes to the deformation and cracking of the film web.
- Ultraviolet. Halogen lamps with prolonged exposure contribute to the "burnout" of materials.
Device
The design of a halogen lamp is very similar to that of an incandescent lamp. It consists of:
- tungsten coil;
- legs;
- holders;
- buffer gas;
- insulator;
- base and screw contact for classic lamps;
- contact pair for capsule and spotlights;
- reflector for spotlights;
- protective flask.
Working principle
The principle of operation of halogen lamps is as follows: when voltage is applied to the tungsten filament, it heats up and begins to give off light. The buffer gas allows the tungsten to heat up more, thereby increasing the light output. The tungsten atoms "break away" from the spiral, but thanks to the halogen gas they do not evaporate. Therefore, judging by the reviews, the service life of halogen lamps is much longer than that of incandescent lamps, and the bulb does not darken over time. However, tungsten particles settle in a random place on the spiral, and not where they “broke off”. Over time, the thickness of the spiral becomes uneven. Thicker areas get hotter and the bulb burns out.
Standard voltage
Standard voltage halogen lamps powered by 220W. Usually these are linear lamps and lamps with a protective bulb. The latter are very similar to conventional incandescent lamps, they have a screw base of different sizes and a protective glass bulb. Such lamps are convenient for domestic use, as they easily replace incandescent lamps without installing additional equipment, and the protective glass protects the bulb with halogen gas from accidental contamination.
Low voltage
Low-voltage halogen lamps operate up to 24W. They require the additional installation of a step-down transformer, which also protects the lamp from power surges. Low-voltage halogen lamps are available in capsule and reflector types.
Linear
Linear halogen fixtures are a quartz glass tube with a tungsten filament supported by special holders. Socles are located at both ends of the tube. Linear lamps are available in standard sizes: 7.8 and 11.8 cm. Linear lamps are installed exclusively in a horizontal position. Due to their strong brightness and high power consumption, they are rarely used indoors, but they are great for spotlights. Modern models of linear luminaires have increased durability and uniform flood light, therefore they are suitable for installation in rooms with a large area.
With outer bulb
Lamps with a protective bulb are designed to directly replace incandescent lamps. They operate on a standard voltage of 220 W and are visually very similar to Ilyich's light bulbs. They consist of a small quartz bulb with a tungsten coil filled with halogen gas and a larger outer bulb that protects the quartz glass from accidental contact. Such lamps are produced with standard bases. External glass can be transparent, frosted or milky. There are models with ultraviolet filters. Halogen lamps morecompact compared to incandescent lamps, and can be used in miniature lamps. The outer flask can be decorative: in the form of a candle or a hexagon. The service life of halogen lamps depends on the stability of the mains voltage, so it is recommended to install protective voltage transformers.
Mirror
Mirror halogen ceiling lights consist of a quartz capsule and a cone-shaped reflector. The capsule is small, and the tungsten coil can be placed both vertically and horizontally. The reflector is usually made of aluminium. Aluminum directs heat radiation downwards, which is important when installing halogen lamps in suspended ceilings. There are models of lamps with interference reflectors that remove heat back. IRC-halogen lamps do not transmit infrared radiation of the tungsten filament, due to which heat loss is reduced, and the brightness of the lamp is increased. Judging by the reviews, this makes the lamps safer and more economical, and also increases their service life.
Produce models with and without protective glass. It can be transparent, matte, milky or colored. Most protective glasses block ultraviolet light. Lamps without protective glass can only be used in enclosed luminaires.
These bulbs operate on voltages of 6, 12 and 24 W, so they require an additional installation of a step-down transformer. Suchthe transformer will also protect the fixtures from power surges and increase their service life.
Mirror luminaires are suitable for installation in suspended and stretch ceilings. However, it is important to leave enough space between the concrete slab and the suspended structure to avoid overheating of the fixtures and burning the ceiling. For installation of halogen spotlights in a stretch ceiling, it is necessary to use protective thermal rings to avoid overheating and deformation of the canvas. Spotlights can be used both to illuminate individual areas, and to create general lighting. Halogen fixtures are often used as recessed lighting in furniture.
Capsules
Capsule lamps are a miniature quartz glass bulb with a horizontally or vertically positioned tungsten filament. Typically, such lamps are used as a structural element of spotlights without protective glass, as well as in halogen chandeliers. Capsule lamps are popular for decorative lighting.
Halogen lamps - an improved model of incandescent lamps. Thanks to the buffer gas, which prevents the tungsten from evaporating, halogen lamps have a longer service life. The main advantage of halogen lamps is bright white light, which is well perceived by the human eye. This shade of the light flux contributes to the correct perception of color and does not strain the eyes. However, halogen lamps are sensitive to voltage fluctuations in the mains,get very hot and emit ultraviolet light. Such lamps should not be touched with bare hands, as even minimal contamination will disable them.
Produce standard voltage and low voltage lamps. Linear luminaires and lamps with a protective bulb operate at a standard mains voltage of 220 watts. The latter are very similar to conventional incandescent lamps, they have a standard base, and a protective glass prevents contamination of the quartz bulb. They are convenient for home use. Mirror models of lamps are used as spot lighting and backlighting. The mirror reflector redirects the light and infrared flux down, which prevents overheating of the upper part of the lamp. Thanks to this, reflector lamps can be used in suspended and stretch ceilings, as well as built into furniture. Halogen spotlights are produced with protective transparent, frosted, white and colored glass, as well as without it. The latter can only be used in closed-type fixtures.
