Pros and Cons of Halogen Desk Lamps

Halogen lamps were invented in 1958 and have since ignited the debate as to whether standard light bulbs were better than their halogen counterparts. When shopping for your desk lamp, you will probably run across more than a few halogen lamps and wonder if you should invest in one of these special lights. Consider the good and bad points of these desk lamps and how they work while making your decision.

How Halogen Desk Lamps Work

Your standard light bulb is a tungsten filament inside a gas filled glass bulb. Electricity passes through the filament causing it to glow. The gas, which is usually argon or nitrogen, prevents the filament from combining with oxygen and burning out. When excited by electricity little bits of the tungsten separate from the rest of the filament. This separation weakens the filament and eventually causes the bulb to burn out. A standard light bulb puts out a lot of heat while it is producing light and since the purpose of the bulb is to produce light, the heat is wasted energy.

Halogen bulbs also have a tungsten filament, but a small quartz bulb that holds halogen gas surrounds it. The gas recycles the tungsten back to the filament, allowing the bulb to last longer. This small bulb comes encased in a larger glass bulb to keep it protected. Halogen lamps also produce a lot of heat but they are still more energy efficient than standard bulbs.

Pros of Halogen Desk Lamps

• 10 to 20 percent more energy efficient
• 2 to 3 times the life of standard bulbs
• Brighter, whiter light reduces eyestrain and causes colors to appear more vibrant
• Light that is closer to sunshine and easier to focus into a beam.

Cons of Halogen Desk Lamps

• Bulbs can cost up to 4 times as much
• No warm glow, like standard bulbs
• Need a lamp shade to keep bright filament out of your line of sight
• Burns hotter, which means the inner bulb can explode if moisture touches it
• Bulbs are not compatible with all lamps

You may want a halogen desk lamp if you do a lot of reading for your work. You might prefer a regular desk lamp if your job requires a lot of computer time. Regular desk lamps will create a warmer glow and reduce contrast in your work area, while halogen desk lamps will produce a clean white light that you can focus on your reading material.