Incandescent Lamps

Tungsten Halogen Lamps

Linear Fluorescent Tubes

Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL)

HID ( high intensity discharge )

Incandescent Lamps

Incandescent lamps are one of the oldest and most well known types of lamp. Electric current passes through the filament and heats it to a certain temperature to produce light. Available in a multitude of shapes, sizes, wattages and voltages they offer particular qualities of light to suit a large variety of applications. Incandescent lamps are cheaper than other types of lamp such as halogen and fluorescent but they have a short life expectancy of around 1000 hours and are not energy efficient.

From the 1st September 2009 the European Union started to introduce the following bans, which will gradually see most types of incandescent lamp phased out:

Most Popular Types of Incandescent Lamp

• General lighting service or GLS lamp with 60W being the most popular.
• Candle lamps.
• Rough service lamps.
• Pygmy lamps.
• Golf ball lamps.
• Reflector lamps.
• Linear strip lights.

Tungsten Halogen Lamps

A halogen lamp is another type of incandescent lamp. A tungsten filament is sealed into a compact transparent capsule. It is then filled with gas and a small amount of a halogen substance such as bromine or iodine. The mixture of the two produces a chemical reaction called halogen cycle. This process increases the life expectancy of a halogen lamp and makes the lamp shine brighter. A halogen lamp operates its filament at higher temperatures than other types of gas filled lamp without reducing its life expectancy.

Halogen lamps are designed to give a compact, high output, crisp white light. They are more efficient than standard incandescent lamps and smaller in physical size. Until technology advanced in compact fluorescent and LED lighting, halogen was the most popular choice for accent, display and general lighting by both domestic and commercial users.

Originally tungsten halogen lamps were only available in low voltage and required a low voltage transformer to power them, adding costs to a downlight installation.  With the emergence of the 50W mains GU10 halogen in the late 1990s they quickly became the number one choice of lamp for downlights.  Although halogen lamps last up to 6 times longer than standard incandescent lamps they are an aging technology. They are being over taken by compact fluorescent and LED lamps which offer a far greater life expectancy and offer 80-90% energy savings.

Colour Options
Colour temperature 2700K extra warm white colour 827.
Colour temperature 3000K warm white colour 830.
Colour temperature 4000K cool white colour 840.

  Most Popular Types of Halogen Lamp

• MR16 mains halogen lamp with GU10 cap and aluminium reflector – available in 20W, 35W and 50W
• MR16 low voltage halogen lamp with G5.3 cap and dichroic reflector – available in 20W, 35W and 50W
• Halogen energy saving lamps similar to the above two types and available in mains and low voltage
• Halogen G9 and G4 capsule lamps – available in 25W, 40W and 60W
• Linear halogen with R7s cap – available in 100W, 150W, 200W, 300W and 500W

Halogen Lamp Options & Beam Angles

Halogens are available in a variety of beam angles. Beam angles are used to direct or distribute the light of a lamp in a downlight. A lamp with a 12 degree beam angle is called a spot and has a very narrow beam; this would be used to light a single object such as an ornament. A halogen lamp with a 50 degree beam angle is called a very wide flood; this would be used to evenly spread the light across a room. Here are the four main types of beam angle available:

• Spot 10 or 12 degree beam angle
• Flood 25 degree beam angle
• Wide flood 36 degree beam angle
• Very wide flood 50 degree beam angle

Below is an example of a 12 degree beam angle using a 50W halogen lamp.

The average height of a room is 2.4 metres, using a 12 degree beam angle you would get an approximate 0.5 metre spread of light at floor level.

Linear Fluorescent Tubes

Fluorescent lamps or fluorescent tubes are gas discharge lamps that use electricity to energise mercury vapour. The energised mercury atoms produce a short wave ultraviolet light that causes the phosphor to fluoresce, this reaction produces light.

Fluorescent lamps require an additional ballast to control them; the ballast regulates the flow of current through the lamp. There are two main types of ballast; electronic and magnetic. Electronic ballasts, also known as a high frequency or HF have a number of advantages over magnetic, also known as switch start. The main advantages of electronic over magnetic are:

• An increase in lamp life of around 40% thus reducing maintenance costs.
• Energy savings of 20-30% due to the efficacy of operation.
• No additional fluorescent starters are required, further reducing maintenance costs.
• HF ballasts don’t make the lamp flicker when they are turned on.

Linear fluorescent tubes create a more diffused type of light. Their high energy efficiency levels (particularly when used with HF ballasts) make them ideal for warehouses, offices and public buildings.