Halogen Lamp Life Vs. Voltage
A halogen lamp is a type of incandescent lighting that is notable for its energy efficiency. However, that efficiency varies depending upon the temperature of the lamp and its operating voltage. Does this Spark an idea?
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Halogen Lamps
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Halogen lamps contain a small quantity of a halogen gas, such as bromine. The high heat of a halogen lamp causes the tungsten filament within to evaporate; the halogen gas inside helps to replace tungsten that has evaporated back to the filament, thus greatly lengthening the life of the lamp.
Efficiency
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To produce light, the filament within a light bulb must become very hot. The inside of a halogen lamp is coated to reflect heat in order to keep the filament hot without using more electricity.
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Life vs. Voltage
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The life of a halogen lamp is largely dependent upon using proper voltage. Because heat damages the filament inside the lamp, using a voltage higher than recommended will shorten the life of the lamp, while using less than the recommended voltage will lengthen its life.
Under and Over Voltage
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Operating halogen lamps at a voltage 10 percent higher than recommended can reduce the lamp life by 35 percent. While using less voltage extends the life of the lamp, reducing the recommended voltage by more than 10 percent will shorten the lifespan as well, as the chemical reactions within the lamp cannot operate properly with so little voltage.
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