Busting the myth, halogen heater bulbs are not the actual heating element in halogen heaters. But they serve as a source of heat to brighten up the halogen lamps. In this article, we’ve covered everything from what halogen heater bulbs are made up of to what causes them to blow.
A halogen bulb is an incandescent lamp consisting of a tungsten filament sealed in a compact transparent envelope. This envelope is filled with a mixture of an inert gas such as iodine or bromine and a small amount of a halogen.
Material Used In Making Halogen Heater Bulbs
A typical halogen heater typically has three significant heating components present. After halogen lamps and the tungsten filament, halogen bulbs play a vital role in the durability and performance of halogen heaters.
Unlike standard heaters, halogen heaters have bulbs that are made up of a special type of tungsten filament enclosed in a small quantity of quartz. Also known as incandescent bulbs, they also consist of a halogen gas which is not only highly reactive but also the reason which makes halogen heaters heat up so rapidly.
However, with this rapid heating, halogen bulbs don’t tend to last very long. They will typically last up to 5000 hours.
How Does A Halogen Heater Bulb Work?
In halogen heaters, different types of halogen gas are enclosed in the quartz envelope present in the halogen heater bulbs.
When the temperature rises, the tungsten filament starts evaporating and gradually combines with the halogen gas inside. After a few seconds, the tungsten is restored in the bulb, which heats it faster than other halogen heaters.
Due to this unique heat-recycling working mechanism, halogen heater bulbs are known to have the longest lifespan of all incandescent bulbs and other heating appliances.
Best Halogen Heater Bulbs
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| 1 |  |
Zilla Reptile Pet Terrarium Mini Heat Lamp Halogen Light Bulb, Night Red, 50 Watt | Buy on Amazon |
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Reptile Heat Lamp Bulb -60W Ceramic Heat Emitter No Harm No Light Infrared Heater Lamp for Chicken… | Buy on Amazon |
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Qixivcom 6-Packs 25W UVA UVB Bulbs Reptile Heat Lamp Heater Light Halogen Basking Bulbs Full… | Buy on Amazon |
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1000W Halogen Lamp Tube for Infrared Paint Curing Lamp Shortwave Heater Bulb Replacement for… | Buy on Amazon |
Are Halogen Heater Bulbs Incandescent?
To some extent, halogen bulbs are incandescent as they emit light after being heated. But, they heat the halogen lamp and produce light inside the heater.
to incandescent bulbs, halogen heater bulbs are far more efficient, durable and smaller in size. However, halogen heater bulbs radiate less UV-infra-red radiation because of using the tungsten filament as a heat source.
Types of Halogen Gas in Halogen Heater Bulbs
The halogen gas in the halogen heater bulbs may differ by type depending on the intensity of halogen heaters. Some common types of halogen gases used in halogen heater bulbs are chlorine, iodine, fluorine, iodine, and astatine.
Other Types Of Halogen Heater Bulb Materials
Some of the halogen heater bulbs are also made up of high-quality fused silica, which is also commonly known as quartz. Unlike other bulb materials, quartz has a high melting point which makes it the ideal choice to fit in halogen heaters.
Quartz is also used as the best replacement for halogen bulbs. It is a solid material and can withstand high temperatures, producing excellent luminance for the halogen lamp inside the halogen heater.
Properties of Halogen Heater Bulbs
- Halogen heater bulbs act as radiant heat sources, which are then used by the filament in the presence of any gas in the halogen group.
- Halogen heater bulbs only emit light when heated by electricity due to the evaporation of tungsten filament in the heater.
- They are very energy efficient as they continuously recycle the tungsten material rather than consuming electricity from any output frequently. Like other incandescent bulbs, halogen heater bulbs are also available in a myriad of sizes, shapes, and bases so that you can choose the best one for your halogen heater.
- The bulbs used in halogen heaters are comparatively safe as they simply turn electricity into light with the help of tungsten filament. They also use the strong, secure, and resilient tungsten material in the filament, which can endure high temperatures with the least possibility of shattering or any other damage in the heaters.
- The filament made up of tungsten material in the halogen heater bulbs does not grow thin over time. That is why halogen heaters have the least possibility of catching fire and can easily resist high temperatures in the surroundings and inside.
Common Reasons Why Halogen Heaters Keep Blowing
It’s common to experience your halogen heater bulbs blowing due to a number of reasons. Although they feature strong tungsten filaments, very high temperatures can blow a halogen heater bulb when they are in operation or at rest. These are some of the reasons why your halogen heater bulb keeps blowing:
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Handling the Bulb
Mishandling of halogen heater bulbs can also cause them to blow or shatter inside. While handling these bulbs, make sure your hands are not slippery, and there’s no grease present around the bulb.
If the grease from the outside gets in contact with the quartz of the bulb, it may lead to the bulb blow becoming too hot.
2. Voltage Disruption
Excessively high or low levels of voltage can also cause your halogen bulb to blow. When the voltage goes up or down, the internal pressure of the bulb may get disturbed, which results in cracks in the bulb or ultimate shattering inside the heater.
3. Right Supply of Wattage
Halogen heater bulbs require a proper wattage supply to light up the halogen lamp and produce heat outside the heater. Therefore, the best practice is to choose a halogen heater bulb with the ideal wattage so you can save yourself from unexpected halogen heater bulbs blowing.
4. Wiring Faults
The unseen wiring fault in the electric socket of your house can also be the hidden culprit of your halogen heater bulbs blowing.
If you regularly experience variation in voltage or have damaged wire that doesn’t supply enough electricity to the heater, you may also experience the blowing of your halogen heater bulbs.
5. Quality of the Bulbs
The quality of your bulbs also matters a lot when you’re finding reasons why your halogen heater bulbs keep blowing.
Depending on the brand you choose, the quality of the bulb may vary with respect to the price. Usually, cheap bulbs made up of low-quality tungsten filament are likely to blow more and have a short life span.
If your halogen heater is blown, check our out article on halogen heater bulb replacement.
Conclusion
Unlike regular incandescent bulbs, the bulbs present in halogen heaters are made up of high-end tungsten filament instead of ordinary glass. That is why they are comparatively safe, effective, cheap, and easy to replace, which makes halogen heater bulbs a preferable option for homeowners.
