Shedding Some Light On Halogen Desk Lamps
It has to be said that, when it comes to choosing a desk lamp, halogen lighting is truly fit for purpose. Having made such a bold statement, it also has to be said that, whilst halogen lamps do indeed have many advantages, this form of illumination is surrounded by many myths, which this article aims to dispel.
First things first, halogen bulbs are what is know as incandescent bulbs, as are ordinary light bulbs. In basic terms, a thin wire filament is caused to glow by passing an electric current through it; oxygen is kept out by the glass bulb, which is why the filament doesn’t just burn up.
In halogen lamps, the filament is housed within a glass envelope and surrounded by a mixture of inert gas and halogen. The result is that the filament burns brighter, hotter and for longer. The downside of this is an increased running temperature, which means that halogen lamps should no longer be the first choice for inset ceiling and wall lights. This is because they back into a small enclosed space, which makes them a potential fire hazard.
Another characteristic that some people see as a disadvantage is the lack of the rosy glow that comes from traditional light bulbs. When it comes to task lighting, however, a rosy glow is far less essential than clear illumination.
The fact is, light produced by these lamps is markedly different from traditional light bulbs and whilst it is ideal for some applications, it is less useful for others. When it comes to halogen desk lamps, however really you can’t go wrong.
Halogen light is bright and white, not only making colours appear brighter but also reducing eyestrain, which particularly explains why halogen lamps have become so popular as reading lights and desk lights.
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.
The other reason for the rising popularity of halogen lighting is the low running cost. A halogen light typically lasts two or three times longer than a standard bulb. Some commentators, in fact, quote a running life of up to 3,000 hours. At the same time halogen lamps use 10% to 20% less energy.
The simple truth of the matter is that whilst halogen lights may not be suitable for every lighting application, halogen desk lamps are brilliant – in more ways than one!
Tags: Desk Lamp, desk light, halogen desk lamps, halogen desk light
