Halogen lights

[Mike03a3]

Today, while buying some replacement home light bulbs, I noticed that several manufactures are now selling halogen lights as replacement for standard bulbs with no warnings against using them in enclosed spaces such as typical ceiling lights. It's bad enough that people replace the bulbs with higher wattage ones than the fixtures are intended to use, a hazard itself, but the sale of halogen replacements would seem to me to be a fire hazard. Not exactly a NEC topic, but I'm interested in the members reactions and/or feedback.

Mike

 

[charlie]

Re: Halogen lights

I have not seen the type of bulbs you are talking about. However, if they fit a standard Edison base light socket, they will (I think) have an envelope around the lamp to protect the user from getting too close to the high heat. Just because the central part of the lamp is hot does not mean that it is dangerous if some method is used to keep everything a safe distance.

By the way, I like your signature line.

 

[infinity]

Re: Halogen lights

I seem to remember some older recessed fixtures that had labels inside of the trim that only allowed type A lamps. It may be potentially dangerous to install a PAR type halogen lamps in these fixtures since they weren't listed for use with PAR type halogen lamps. I'm pretty sure that most new recessed cans now allow a larger selection of lamp types and wattages.

 

[jes25]

Re: Halogen lights

I think the ones he is talking about are just like a typical 60 watt A lamp. The only difference being that it is a halogen. I have seen them and wondered the same.

 

[jjc3rd]

Re: Halogen lights

Maybe I missed something? As far as I have seen, all fixtures have lables in them advising the user about the limit of power ratings for bulbs to be installed. ie:"60 Watt Bulb Max". If the replacement bulb is 60 watts or less then there should be no problem with overheating regardless of whether the bulb is halogen or not. Halogen bulbs give of more light than conventional bulbs because they are more efficient. They don't generate more heat. It would not be possible to generate more than 60 Watts of heat. Is there something unusual about halogen bulbs that I'm overlooking?

 

[realolman]

Re: Halogen lights

Here's a short informative article

Since halogens give off more lumens of whiter light than normal incandescent, I wonder if it isn't a smaller wattage, and the package says something to the effect of " As much light as a 60 watt bulb"?

I think the halogen quartz tube would be analogous to the filament in a normal incandescent bulb. Although it would be hotter than the filament, it would be distanced from flammables by the outer bulb, and probably smaller wattage.

 

[TOMWELDS]

Re: Halogen lights

I only bulb the fixture as the manufacturer rates it. I put a temp gun on a halogen bulb (90watt) and got almost a 400degree reading..they are hotter.