Different Types of Lights in a Lighting System

Since the light bulb’s invention, there have been significant improvements in the different types of bulbs we use today. Now, there are several types of bulbs and lamps to choose from, each equipped with unique features that help them perform efficiently. They are commonly found in the lighting systems of homes, offices, factories, and even your electrical devices. In this blog, we will go over the different types of lights in a light system and how they can work for you.

Incandescent Lamps

Incandescent bulbs are standard bulbs composed of a tungsten filament that is placed in either a mixture of nitrogen gas or in a vacuum. The bulb glows and produces heat when electricity passes through this filament. In recent years, these bulbs have been replaced by other light alternatives because when this bulb is switched on, the sudden flow of current, energy, and heat penetrate the filament causing it to overheat and burst. The lifespan of these bulbs is 700-1000 hours, and they can also be used as a dimmer. The luminous efficiency of incandescent bulbs is about 15 lumens per watt.

Compact Fluorescent Lamps

A compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) is a modern type of light bulb that uses less power, produces the same amount of light as an incandescent lamp, and has a long lifespan. However, they contain mercury, which makes it difficult to dispose of them after use. Moreover, these lamps cannot be used with dimmers, but have a lifespan of 10,000 hours and a luminous efficiency of 60 lumens per watt.

Halogen Lamps

Like incandescent lamps, halogen lamps consist of a tungsten filament that is sealed inside a compact transparent envelope and filled with an inert gas and a small amount of halogen. Typically, the halogen is either bromine or iodine, which allows the filament to burn at elevated temperatures. Halogen also serves to increase the lifetime and brightness of the lamp. Additionally, the luminous efficiency of a halogen lamp is about 25 lumens per watt.

Metal Halide Lamps

Metal halide lamps generate a great amount of light despite their compact size and are one of the most efficient lamps in this list. They consist of a discharge tube or arc tube within a bulb that is made of either ceramic or quartz, as well as contains mercury, MH salts, and a starting gas. You can find these bulbs in halls, traffic lights, on stages, and in outdoor lighting systems.

Light Emitting Diode

LED lamps are probably one of the more popular bulb-types. Not only do they lack a filament, but use less power and have a long lifespan. These lamps can generate more light while conserving energy for your devices. While LED lamps are costly, they are composed of diodes that emit light of a desired color without the use of filters.

Fluorescent Tube

A fluorescent tube is a gas discharge tube that utilizes a fluorescence to produce visible light. Compared with incandescent bulbs, fluorescent tubes use less power to produce the same amount of light. Unfortunately, these lamps are expensive, do not have good color representation ability, and cannot be used with dimmers.

Neon Lamps

A neon lamp is a gas discharge lamp that holds gas at low pressure. It is assembled by mounting two electrodes within a small glass envelope. While high-brightness bulbs are filled with a pure neon gas, standard brightness bulbs contain an argon or neon gas mixture. When a voltage is applied, the gas ionizes and starts to glow, allowing a very small current to travel between the electrodes. Once the gas ionizes, you can keep the lamp at a lower voltage.

High Intensity Discharge Lamps

Metal halide, mercury vapor, self-ballasted-mercury lamps, and high-pressure-sodium lamps all are high intensity discharge lamps. These lamps contain inner glass tubes that hold tungsten electrodes with electrical arcs as well as metals and gas. With the immunity of the self-ballasted mercury lamps, auxiliary equipment must be provided for each bulb to work properly. Typically, high intensity discharge lamps are used when you need a lot of light to cover large outdoor areas.

Low Pressure Sodium Lamps

Low pressure sodium lamps are the most efficient of all other lighting systems. Similar to fluorescent lamps, they briefly heat up before reaching their full potential. Normally, they are used in places like outdoor areas and parking lots where color is not too important.

If you find yourself wanting to switch out your current lighting system, or in need of incandescent bulbs, fluorescent lamps, or other light alternatives, look no further than Industrial Gamut; a trusted supplier of all types of optoelectronics products as well as other industrial automation parts. Give our team members a call or email sales@industrialgamut.com and see why customers choose to steadily rely on Industrial Gamut for all their operational needs.


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