What is the difference between incandescent, fluorescent, halogen and LED lamps (bulbs)?
An incandescent lamp is a tungsten filament lamp as used for the last 100 years with wattages normally ranging from 25w to 150w. These produce a lot of heat, are not energy efficient by today’s standards and have a lamp life of 1,000 hours. They are currently being phased out under a European directive. Fluorescent is a much more energy-efficient light source (21w fluorescent = 100w incandescent) which runs cooler and lasts approximately 10,000 hours. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFL’s) are now instant start, flicker free, similar in size to incandescent and available in ‘warm white’. Fluorescent lamps are commonly used to meet the requirements of Building Regulations part L (the minimum required amount of lumens per watt). Halogen lamps use halogen gas within their construction, are more energy efficient than incandescent by about 30%, give good light output and produce less heat. They offer a direct replacement therefore for the old incandescent lamp. Latest Halogens are infra red coat
Related Questions
- Compact fluorescent lamps contain mercury, a hazardous material, incandescent bulbs do not. If more compact fluorescent lamps are used, does it not mean more mercury pollution in the EU?
- Why aren compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) as small as regular incandescent bulbs? Why do some look funny?
- Aren compact fluorescent lamps much more expensive than incandescent bulbs?
