Description of Xenon Bulb

In addition to traditional incandescent and fluorescent lighting, a variety of other bulbs are now available to consumers, including xenon bulbs. Used commercially for theater stage lighting and movie theater projectors, xenon bulbs are becoming increasingly popular for home use and headlight lamps in automobiles.

Identification

A xenon bulb contains xenon gas that produces light when heated with electricity. Some types of xenon bulbs also contain filaments like incandescents but utilize xenon to create light more efficiently.

Time Frame

It takes between 8,000 and 20,000 hours for 50 percent of xenon bulbs to burn out, or for the bulb to reach its rated life. Some bulbs burn beyond their rated life.

Color

The light created by xenon bulbs is whiter than what is produced by incandescent or halogen bulbs, creating an appearance more like daylight.

Features

As long as the bulbs have a similar rating and wattage, xenon bulbs can be substituted for halogen lights.

Benefits

In automobiles, xenon bulbs give off more than double the light of traditional halogen bulbs and use 66 percent less energy, according to TireTrack.com. For other uses, xenon also provides more light with greater efficiency than other types of bulbs.

References

• TireTrack.com
• LightBulbs.org