What Is Halogen Lighting?

Halogen lights are a popular replacement for the traditional incandescent bulb. Their bright white light makes halogen lamps an energy-efficient choice for many different applications.

Function

Halogen lighting uses a tungsten filament inside a gas-filled glass enclosure, along with a small amount of halogen. The halogen prevents the tungsten from evaporating, and continually regenerates the filament so it can be used again.

Benefits

Halogen lights last longer than standard incandescent bulbs. The light produced is higher in the color spectrum, allowing even a small halogen bulb to illuminate a large area.

Types

Halogen lighting is used to make automotive headlights, floodlights for public areas, residential light bulbs and stage lights.

Considerations

Never touch the surface of a halogen bulb. Dirt or oil on the glass can cause a spot of focused heat that may melt the bulb or even lead to an explosion. Use rubbing alcohol to wipe the bulb clean if it does become smudged.

Warning

Halogen lights generate extremely high temperatures and may create the risk of injury or fire. The ultraviolet light emitted can cause sunburns if the halogen bulb is not covered by a glass safety filter.