How does a Halogen bulb work?
As the filament temperature of an incandescent bulb is increased, it will reach the point where the tungsten metal vaporizes and combines with a halogen (iodine or bromine) to form a gas within the bulb. As the gas decomposes, depositing thetungstenback on the filament, a halogen bulb emits a bright yellow light with a color temperature close to that of direct sunlight. The efficiency of producing light is 10% to 20% higher for the halogen than for the incandescent bulbs, and the the bulb operates at a much higher temperature. The surface of the small bulb will reach 1,000 to 1,200 degrees F, enough to cause third degree burns and ignite paper and wood. When you change out a halogen bulb, the package warns you to not touch the exterior of the bulb. The fear is that your fingers may leave a residue of oils on the surface, and when the bulb heats up, that residue can cause thermal cracking and destroy the bulb. So handle these bulbs with tissues or clean gloves. They will normally last u
