There's been a lot of publicity, some would say hype, surrounding halogen lamps over the past twelve months or so, especially since phasing out the traditional light bulb began. But, is halogen lighting all it's cracked up to be? The truth is, it does have it's place in domestic lighting, and although not ideal for every application, for desk lamps halogen is superb.
Once you understand the basic physics behind halogen lighting, it is easier to appreciate where it can be used to the greatest advantage. Just as with the traditional light bulb, halogen lamps work on the principle of incandescence; simply, a wire filament is made to glow by passing and electric current through it. If the traditional light bulb were not surrounded by glass, the filament would just burn out.
I halogen lamps, the filament is sealed into a transparent gas-filled pocket, together with an inert gas plus a small amount of halogen. The advantage of this is that the filament continues to work for longer and at higher temperatures. Because of this higher running temperature halogen lamps should be used with caution when setting them into enclosed spaces, such as ceiling and walls.
The tungsten filament in halogen lamps glows with a bright white light; there is none of the cosiness that comes with traditional light bulbs. Some folk find this off putting, however this clear light is superbly suited to paperwork and reading, which means that halogen desk lamps have a clear advantage over traditional lighting.
And this, of course, is the crux of the matter - the characteristics of light produced by halogen lamps are very different from the light we have grown used to. It is not cosy, it is not soft focus, it is not good general illumination; it is clean, it is white, it is directable - it is ideal task lighting.
The reason for the increasing popularity of halogen reading lights and desk lamps is that halogen light shows colours bright and true to help reduce eye strain.
There is a disadvantage to all of this bright light though - halogen bulbs simply have to be shaded. Once shaded, however, you can direct clear white light exactly where you want it; on a desk, this will be onto the papers or spreadsheets you're working on.
There is another reason for the popularity of halogen lamps, though, and that is the longevity of the filament. Halogen bulbs will last up to 3,000 hours or, to put it another way you could leave the desk lamp on 24 hours a day, seven days a week and the bulb would last an age. That's not all - that self same bulb will also use up to 20% less energy than a standard one.
So there you have it - the truth about halogen lighting. These lamps may not be the definitive answer to all your lighting needs but when it comes to desk lamps they truly are the light of choice. - 29957
Once you understand the basic physics behind halogen lighting, it is easier to appreciate where it can be used to the greatest advantage. Just as with the traditional light bulb, halogen lamps work on the principle of incandescence; simply, a wire filament is made to glow by passing and electric current through it. If the traditional light bulb were not surrounded by glass, the filament would just burn out.
I halogen lamps, the filament is sealed into a transparent gas-filled pocket, together with an inert gas plus a small amount of halogen. The advantage of this is that the filament continues to work for longer and at higher temperatures. Because of this higher running temperature halogen lamps should be used with caution when setting them into enclosed spaces, such as ceiling and walls.
The tungsten filament in halogen lamps glows with a bright white light; there is none of the cosiness that comes with traditional light bulbs. Some folk find this off putting, however this clear light is superbly suited to paperwork and reading, which means that halogen desk lamps have a clear advantage over traditional lighting.
And this, of course, is the crux of the matter - the characteristics of light produced by halogen lamps are very different from the light we have grown used to. It is not cosy, it is not soft focus, it is not good general illumination; it is clean, it is white, it is directable - it is ideal task lighting.
The reason for the increasing popularity of halogen reading lights and desk lamps is that halogen light shows colours bright and true to help reduce eye strain.
There is a disadvantage to all of this bright light though - halogen bulbs simply have to be shaded. Once shaded, however, you can direct clear white light exactly where you want it; on a desk, this will be onto the papers or spreadsheets you're working on.
There is another reason for the popularity of halogen lamps, though, and that is the longevity of the filament. Halogen bulbs will last up to 3,000 hours or, to put it another way you could leave the desk lamp on 24 hours a day, seven days a week and the bulb would last an age. That's not all - that self same bulb will also use up to 20% less energy than a standard one.
So there you have it - the truth about halogen lighting. These lamps may not be the definitive answer to all your lighting needs but when it comes to desk lamps they truly are the light of choice. - 29957
