What Is the Difference Between Infrared & Regular Lamps?

A regular lamp gives off visible light.

Although infrared and regular lamps use similar technology, they have vastly different uses. Infrared light does not possess the same characteristics as regular lamps, which give off mostly visible light.

Identification

An infrared lamp is a regular lamp that emits more light from the invisible, infrared portion of the light spectrum and minute amounts of ultraviolet light, reports Access Science. The normal incandescent light emits mostly visible light.

Function

Infrared lamps are used more for their heating properties than regular lamps, which are primarily used as a light source, Access Science states. Infrared lamps are useful when you want to increase the temperature of an object.

Fun Fact

An infrared lamp converts, on average, 65 to 70 percent of its electricity input into heat. For the common 250-watt bulb, this amounts to 175 watts of heat. Regular lamps convert about 90 percent of their energy to visible light.

Uses

Regular lamps are most often used for illuminating dark areas. Infrared lamps are often used in agriculture to give young animals a constant, safe source of warmth, reports Joseph M. Zulovich of the University of Missouri.

Types

Regular lamps have more efficient, tungsten-based varieties called fluorescent and halogen lamps. Infrared lamps have two main types that use soft or hard Pyrex glass. Harder Pyrex glass is less susceptible to moisture deterioration, but more expensive

References

• Infrared Lamp
• Incandescent Lamp
• Proper Infrared Heat Lamp Use for Efficient Livestock Production; Zulovich, Joseph (1993)