Today, there exist several types of sources and gadgets through which one can get light. There have been several inventions of several gadgets that have made sure that humans get sufficient light in their day-to-day lives.
Various companies in the world have invented several gadgets. These companies make sure that people don’t have to live in darkness.
However, there also exist several types of lights, and they vary from each other based on several parameters. Two of the most popular and widely used lights are 1. Halogen lights, and 2. HID or High-Intensity Discharge.
Key Takeaways
- Halogen lights use a tungsten filament and halogen gas, while HID lights use xenon gas and an electrical arc.
- HID lights produce brighter and more efficient illumination compared to halogen lights.
- Halogen lights have a shorter lifespan and are less expensive, while HID lights last longer and are more expensive.
Halogen vs HID
Halogen or halogen light is a type of incandescent bulb or light that makes use of halogen gas to function, and it can be used residentially or commercially. HID stands for high-intensity discharge lights and is one of the widely used bulbs with different variants. It features a third electrode for ignition.
The type of incandescent bulb or light that uses halogen gas for its functioning is known as halogen light. There are several benefits of using halogen lights.
The earliest usage of halogen lights was made in the year 1959. Before that, chlorine was used in the lamps to avoid the blackening of the lamps. There are several types of halogen lights.
HID or High-Intensity Discharge lights are one of the oldest and most widely used lights. They are also one of the most commonly used lights.
Alike the halogen lights, these lights also have several subtypes. An electric charge is sent between the two tungsten conductors that are present in the bulb, and then the light is produced.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Halogen | HID |
|---|---|---|
| Life span | Less | More |
| Efficiency | Requires more energy | Requires less energy |
| Reach/ Spread | Less | More |
| Colours | Halogen lights are mostly available in the colours white or yellow. | They are available in many colours. |
| Usage | Easy to install and use. | It requires a conversion kit to install and use. |
What is Halogen?
The type of incandescent bulb or light that uses halogen gas for its functioning is known as halogen light. The main component of halogen light is the halogen gas.
Halogen lights have several benefits and applications in various fields and areas. They have been useful to a lot of people as they have several benefits.
There are several benefits of using halogen lights. The earliest usage of halogen lights was made in the year 1959. Before that, chlorine was used in the lamps to avoid the blackening of the lamps.
There are several types of halogen lights. They are also affordable and easy to use and install.
Halogen bulbs or lights have commercial as well as residential applications. In automobiles, they are used in the headlamps.
Other than that, these halogen lights are also used in the making of spotlights and floodlights. They are also used in making halogen reflectors. There are many uses and benefits of using these halogen lights.
There are a few drawbacks to using halogen lights. However, these drawbacks can be overcome by taking proper measures and inventing newer products with newer upgrades and versions.
Halogen lights replaced the usage of chlorine in the lamps as chlorine was used to blacken the lamps. The usage of halogen gas was proven to be more useful than the usage of chlorine.
What is HID?
HID or High-Intensity Discharge lights are one of the oldest and most widely used lights. It is one of the most commonly used bulbs or lights and has immense applications and benefits.
It has several variants, and those variants are used widely by many people in many fields and areas as well.
Alike the halogen lights, these lights also have several subtypes. An electric charge is sent between the two tungsten conductors that are present in the bulb, and then the light is produced.
An ignition that is provided by a voltage pulse is required for these lights to work.
There is an internally present third electrode that is also used for ignition in these bulbs. The material that is present inside these bulbs is evaporated, and it is transformed into plasma.
Because of the evaporation of the material and further transformation into plasma, the bulb or light requires a specific amount of time to warm up.
After the bulb or light is heated, or after the warm-up period ends, an additional voltage is required to operate smoothly.
When the bulb is new, it requires a constant amount of voltage, but as the bulb becomes old, it requires more amount of voltage. As the bulb ages, the efficiency becomes less, and the bulb is no longer as useful as it was when it was new.
Main Differences Between Halogen and HID
- The life span of halogen light is less. On the other hand, the life span of a high-intensity discharge light is more, but as the bulb becomes old, the efficiency of the bulb decreases.
- The halogen lights require more energy. On the other hand, the high-intensity discharge light requires less energy.
- The halogen lights are mostly available in the colours white or yellow. On the other hand, high-intensity discharge light is available in many colours, including red, green, white and yellow.
- The reach or spread, or visibility of halogen light is less. On the other hand, the reach or the spread or the visibility of a high-intensity discharge light is more.
- The halogen lights are easy to use, and they are easy to install in the desired area or field. On the other hand, high-intensity discharge lights are difficult to use and install, and they also require a conversion kit for the installation process.
- https://europepmc.org/article/med/14653284
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00994480.1973.10747714
Last Updated : 23 August, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
The article did a good job explaining the benefits and drawbacks of both Halogen and HID lights. Very informative and well-written.
I found the comparison table to be particularly useful. It made it easy to understand the key differences between these two types of lights.
Agreed. It’s always helpful to have information presented in a clear, concise manner for quick reference.
Yes, the table was very comprehensive and made it simpler to grasp the main disparities between the two types of lights.
The history of halogen lights and their development over time was quite intriguing to read about. Great historical context.
The comparisons made about the colors, reach, and usage of Halogen and HID lights were very illuminating. A well-researched piece.
The detailed description of the working mechanism of HID lights was fascinating. I learned a lot from this article.
The article provided an insightful comparison between Halogen and HID lights, pointing out their differences in a clear manner. It’s a great resource for anyone in need of this information.
I agree, the details about the working mechanisms and applications of these lights were especially helpful.
The nuances of HID lights’ performance as they age were an eye-opener. Understanding these details can certainly guide better decision-making in choosing the right lighting.
This article really highlighted the practical applications of both Halogen and HID lights. It’s good to see these aspects explored thoroughly.
Definitely. It’s refreshing to come across content that delves into the practicality of these lighting options.