Halogen Vs. LCD Vs. Xenon Lighting

Identification

• Halogen bulbs use a tungsten filament, but unlike traditional incandescent bulbs, they contain halogen gas. Halogen gas extends the life of the bulb by returning the tungsten particles to the filament. LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, are small bulbs that run on an electrical circuit where they produce light via the electrons that run through them. Lastly, xenon bulbs are similar to halogen bulbs in the manner that they use a gas known as xenon. In these bulbs, two tungsten electrodes and metal salts are present that vaporize when electricity is introduced. This excites the xenon gas, which then produces a bright light.

Halogen Light Bulbs: Pros and Cons

• Halogen bulbs use less energy than a traditional incandescent light bulb. They have a longer lifespan at upwards of 6,000 hours. However, these bulbs do produce a large amount of heat. Furthermore, bulbs that are not encased in a light fixture must be moved using gloves, as the oil from a person's hand can cause the bulb to overheat. Halogen bulbs produce an impure light that is yellowish in color, similar to traditional incandescent bulbs.

LED Lighting: Pros and Cons

• LED bulbs are made by clustering small LED lights together, as many as 180, to create a larger light source. This results in a high cost for producing LED light bulbs. LED bulbs, however, can last significantly longer than both compact fluorescents and traditional incandescents, with a lifespan of upwards of 50,000 to 100,000 hours. They do not contain a filament, so they are not damaged by simple bumping or jarring. LED bulbs do not produce a significant amount of heat and use as little as 2 to 10 watts of electricity to run.

Xenon Light Bulbs: Pros and Cons

• Xenon bulbs are more durable than traditional incandescence and halogen bulbs because xenon bulbs do not contain any type of filament. Therefore, accidental jarring or bumping does not damage the bulb. Xenon bulbs will also last longer than halogen bulbs, with lifespans of upwards of 20,000 hours. These bulbs are three times brighter than halogen bulbs. They are becoming more common for use in headlights, but many drivers note that the lights are too bright and bothersome for oncoming traffic.