Halogen bulbs are commonly found in a variety
of desk and floor lamps. They are remarkable
for their whiter light, higher light output
from a smaller bulb, and efficiency over
a standard incandescent bulb.
When shopping for a halogen lamp,
make sure
the bulb is placed behind a protective
glass
cover. Halogen bulbs burn hotter
and the
bulbs themselves are filled at
a high pressure,
both of which can create a safety
problem
if something touches the bulb
or if it breaks.
Halogen bulbs are available in a wide variety
of shapes. In addition to the common bulb/reflector
unit found in many track and spot lights,
there are singled ended bulbs for desk lamps,
and short and long "double ended bulbs"
for floor lamps. When replacing a bulb, be
sure to match the socket, voltage, and wattage.
You should you care when replacing a halogen
bulb. Because of their higher operating temperature
and quartz or "hard glass" case,
any oil transferred from your fingers can
lead to premature failure of the case and
thus the bulb. Always hold the bulb by the
non-glass portion to avoid this problem. |
