Whilst halogen lamps come with many advantages over traditional light bulbs, there are also some disadvantages, which mean they are not the best choice for every lighting application. If you are considering buying a halogen desk lamp, this article will help you make the final decision.[DFR::42ea1573-5483-5625-80dc-af861396370b-2687-af|align_right_1]

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.

The heat output is obviously a major disadvantage in this type of application but there is another characteristic that could be seen as a drawback in some settings: halogen lights do not produce the same cosy, rosy glow of traditional light bulbs. Nevertheless, in some situations the cosiness is of secondary consideration; with a halogen desk lamp for instance the aim is to shed clear light on  your paperwork, which is exactly what is does.

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.[DFR::3a0393f6-8689-4ee8-c882-bb3f8f8374e4-2687-af|align_left_1]

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.

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.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 at 3:00 pm and is filed under Desk Lamp. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.