When you purchase a lamp, you may not think about much beyond how attractive they are and the type of light they emit. But if you get technical, you will find that there are a variety of lamps out there. These include incandescent, tungsten, fluorescent and more. You may be familiar with a wide range of lamp lighting styles. But would you be able to determine which one is best in various applications? This article will tell you what you need to know about the Different Types of Lamps.
Lamps Types: Incandescent Lamps
Incandescent lamps use an electric current to light up a filament which produces light. They are often used as desk lamps and table lamps and for accent lighting, closet lighting, and hallway lighting. They can also be used in chandeliers.
The lamps provide good color rendering and serve as the standard by which all lamps are measured. They are low cost and do not require a ballast.
Lamps Types: Tungsten Halogen Lamps
Tungsten halogen lamps are ideal for outdoor illumination. They are often used to light sports arenas, theaters, and studio and television sets. They offer correlated color temperature, a reasonable lifespan and excellent lumen maintenance.
Lamps Types:Fluorescent Lamps
Fluorescent lamps are often used in commercial and industrial settings. You may find them in classrooms and retail shops. They vary in terms of size, color, and wattage. They are typically mounted inside a fixture that contains one to eight lamps with the fixtures mounted in or hanging from a building’s ceiling.
Mercury Vapor Lamps
Mercury vapor lamps are bright and long lasting. They are usually used to illuminate large areas like streets, gyms, sports arenas, banks, and stores. They feature an inner quartz tube that contains a mercury vapor discharge. This is enclosed by an outer glass bulb that filters out harmful UV rays.
Metal Halide Lamps
Metal halide lamps produce light via an electric arc that moves through a gaseous mixture of vaporized mercury and metal halides. They are similar to mercury vapor lamps, but their additional metal halide compound improves efficiency and color rendition. They operate at high pressure and need special fixtures to operate safely.
Sodium Vapor Lamps
Sodium vapor lamps come in high- and low-pressure varieties. They are gas discharge lights that contain an aluminum oxide arc tube. Sodium metal combines with elements like mercury to produce white to light blue emissions.
LED Lights
LED stands for light emitting diode. A diode is an electrical device with two electrodes that allow electricity to flow through. Diodes are made of semi-conductive materials that emit a light when current passes through.
LED lights stand out for their energy efficiency, their long lifespans, and their high-quality light emissions.
Becoming familiar with the different types of light will help you determine which is best suited to your needs. With a wide variety to choose from, you are certain to find a solution that works for you. Which will you be adding to your collection?
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