Par Lamps Vs. Reflector Lamps
Reflector lamps are incandescent bulbs having internal aluminized reflectors that project light out the end. The common wattages are 30 to 120 watts. They are used for track lighting and recessed down lights. Par (parabolic aluminized reflector) lamps are either incandescent lights or halogen lights. Par lamps are designed to project light over long distances and come in beam patterns ranging from narrow spotlights to very wide floodlights. Wattages range from 50 to 120 watts. Does this Spark an idea?
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Applications
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Reflector lamps are interior lights used for recessed fixtures in corridors, lobbies, and entryways in offices and stores. They are also used for track lighting in stores, art galleries, and homes. Newer types of reflector lamps contain neodymium glass that filters out the yellow rays produced by soft-white bulbs. They are a simple way to "punch up" home lighting. Par lamps are used indoors for track lighting, spot lights and other decorative lighting. Outdoors they are used for commercial and residential architectural landscaping and are also used at restaurants and hotels.
Energy Efficiency
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Reflector lamps share the energy inefficiency common to incandescent lights. Incandescent par lamps are being replaced with halogen versions for greater energy efficiency. For example, a low voltage, 20-watt PAR36 light can produce the same candlepower as a standard voltage, 35-watt Par lamp with a 43 percent energy savings.
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Size and Shape
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The reflector lamp comes in one shape and a limited size range, and compared to halogen lamps, this is big and bulky. The small size and the variety of halogen lamps available make them desirable for decorative lighting.
Cost
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There are short-term and long-term trade-offs involved in the use of the lamps. The halogen lamp requires a fixture with a transformer that is more expensive than a simple recessed-can fixture. A 35-watt halogen lamp providing about the same light as a 65-watt reflector lamp costs $7 as of May 2010. The reflector lamp is priced at about $5.75 as of May 2010. However, halogen lamps last about 3,000 hours; three reflector lamps will burn out in that time. There will also be savings in electrical usage.
Safety
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Reflector lamps are not safety hazards. Halogen lamps operate at a high temperature and can cause fires if proper lamp sizes are not used or if they are not kept away from combustible materials. Only purchase halogen lights that carry a testing laboratory seal such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and follow all directions and warnings accompanying the specific product.
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References
- Photo Credit lamp image by Aleksandr Ugorenkov from Fotolia.com
