An incandescent light source generates light utilizing a thin filament wire (usually of tungsten) heated to white heat by an electric current passing through it.
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halogen lamp is an incandescent lamp with a filament that is surrounded by halogen gases, such as iodine or bromine. Halogen gases allow the filaments to be operated at higher temperatures and higher efficacies. The halogen participates in a tungsten transport cycle, returning tungsten to the filament and prolonging lamp life.
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A fluorescent lamp is a high efficiency lamp utilizing an electric discharge through inert gas and low pressure mercury vapor to produce ultraviolet (UV) energy. The UV excites phosphor materials applied as a thin layer on the inside of a glass tube which makes up the structure of the lamp. The phosphors transform the UV to visible light.
CFL is the term applied to fluorescent lamps that are single-ended and that have smaller diameter tubes that are bent to form a compact shape. Some CFLs have integral ballasts and medium or candelabra screw bases for easy replacement of incandescent lamps.
High Intensity Discharge is a general term for mercury, metal halide and high-pressure sodium lamps. HID lamps contain compact arc tubes which enclose mercury and various gases with other chemicals and operate at relatively high pressures and temperatures.
A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor diode that emits light when an electrical current is applied in the forward direction of the device. The effect is a form of electroluminescence where incoherent and narrow-spectrum light is emitted from the p-n junction. LEDs are widely used as indicator lights on electronic devices and increasingly in higher power applications such as flashlights and area lighting. An LED is usually a small area (less than 1 mm) light source, often with optics added to the chip to shape its radiation pattern and assist in reflection. The color of the emitted light depends on the composition and condition of the semi conducting material used, and can be infrared, visible, or ultraviolet.
A ballast is a device intended to limit the amount of current in an electric circuit. They can be as simple as a series resistor as commonly used with small neon lamps or as complex as the computerized, remote-controlled electronic ballasts used with fluorescent lamps.
A ballast is a device intended to limit the amount of current in an electric circuit. They can be as simple as a series resistor as commonly used with small neon lamps or as complex as the computerized, remote-controlled electronic ballasts used with fluorescent lamps.