How to Compare Halogen Work Lights to LED

Decide whether halogen or LED lighting is right for your project.

Any remodeling or construction project requires light, especially when working at night or in a building that hasn't had permanent fixtures installed yet. Most work lights are powerful halogen lamps mounted on tripods so they can be placed and aimed where light is needed. Light emitting diode lamps, or LEDs, offer an alternative to halogen lamps. LEDs require less energy, last longer and emit less heat. However, they are also more expensive, and their benefits may not outweigh their cost, depending on your needs and budget.

Instructions

1. Consider your budget and how often you expect to use your work lights. If you are a construction or carpentry professional, investing in more expensive LED lighting will save you money and time in the long run, due to their reliability and low heat output. If you plan to use your lights only once or twice for a special project, you may be better off using halogen lights, which are more readily available and cheaper.

2. Consider the areas where you are most likely to use your work lights. In a confined space, halogen lights can emit a considerable amount of heat and make work conditions uncomfortable. LED lamps emit a very small amount of heat.

3. Evaluate the power consumption and cost of both types of lamps. LED bulbs require up to five times less wattage than halogen lamps for the same candlepower output, and last up to 10 times as long.

4. Test both kinds of lamps and decide which looks most natural. Even though LED lamps offer many cost and power consumption benefits, you may simply decide that the light produced by one is more favorable that the other.

References

• Brilliance Technologies: Halogen vs. Power LED Spotlights Comparison
• U.S. Department of Energy: Solid State Lighting LED Basics