Comparison of LED & Halogen
Gone are the days when the only lighting option was a simple, white bulb. Nowadays, light bulbs come in many shapes and sizes and use different technologies. You may find yourself comparing LED and halogen lights for your next home repair or remodeling project and wondering which lights will give you the most quality for your money. Does this Spark an idea?
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Heat Output
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Halogen lights are known for creating excessive heat. If you leave on a halogen light for several hours, you can feel the heat when in the vicinity of the light. This heat has the potential to damage objects upon which the light is cast, which makes halogen lights less ideal for heat-sensitive situations such as art galleries.
LED lights produce far less heat than halogen lights. According to a comparison posted by retailer Brilliance Lighting, "LED based MR16 average reflector temperature is only 70°C," while halogen lights can reach a temperature of 250 degrees Celsius.
Efficiency
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LED lights are more energy efficient than halogen lights. Halogen lights direct a great amount of energy into creating heat instead of light. LED's efficiency can result in a lower electric bill as well as environmental benefits. Some experts estimate that LED spotlights can save up to 80 percent of your lighting cost.
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Source Life
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The life expectancies differ greatly between a halogen and LED light. Consumers can expect about 2,000 hours of light from a halogen light, whereas LED lights can provide up to 50,000 hours of light.
Colors
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Traditional halogens only come in a single white color. Modern LED lights are available in red, blue, green, amber and combination colors as well as multiple shades of white ("warm" and "cool," for example). LED lights can add a stylistic touch to your lighting scheme that halogen lights cannot.
Robustness
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Halogen lights rely on a fragile wire filament to operate. When the wire breaks (and it may do so with an audible "pop" sound), you must replace the light. Halogen lights are susceptible to breaking when touched and you must handle them with care.
LED lights are more robust because they do not contain fragile parts such as the filament. You can move or handle LED lights without the fear of mobile parts breaking and having to replace the light.
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References
- Photo Credit two halogen spotlights image by GeoM from Fotolia.com
