The Great Internet Light Bulb Book, Part I
Incandescent including halogen light bulbs
Copyright (C) 1996, 2000, 2005, 2006 Donald L. Klipstein (Jr) (don@donklipstein.com)
Freely distributing copies of this entire document or un-HTML-ized text versions thereof is permitted and encouraged.
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Basic principles
Luminous efficiency
Vacuum vs. gas-filled bulbs
How bulbs burn out
Why bulbs often burn out when you turn them on
Why burnout is sometimes so spectacular
How bad a current surge bulbs draw when turned on
Making bulbs last longer
Long-life bulbs
Reduced power
Soft start devices
DC vs. AC operation
Why making bulbs last longer often does not pay
How to minimize lighting costs
Halogen bulbs
The halogen cycle
Lifetime and efficiency of halogen bulbs
Halogen bulb failure modes
Use of halogen bulbs with dimmers
Ultraviolet from halogen bulbs