Halogen Lamps

How does it Work?

A halogen lamp is also known as a tungsten halogen, quartz-halogen or quartz iodine lamp. It is an incandescent lamp that has a very small amount of halogen such as iodine or bromine added to it. The combination of the halogen gas and the tungsten filament produces a halogen cycle chemical reaction, which redeposit evaporated tungsten back onto the filament. Halogen lamps can be operated at a higher temperature than a standard gas-filled lamp of similar power and operating life, which produces light of a higher luminous efficacy and color temperature. With the small size of halogen lamps it allows their use in compact optical systems for projectors and illumination to name a few.

Halogen lamps are used in many applications such as headlamps in automobiles, home and business use, schools and stage/theatre lighting use. The most common format for the halogen lamps is the MR16, which is available in 10-50 W power ratings with 150-180 lumens.