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Difference between LED and Halogen
LED lamps consume less energy as compared to Halogen lamps. LED lamps are cost efficient too. Read through this article to find out the major differnces between LEDs and Halogen lamps and how they function.
What is LED Lamp?
An electric lamp which produces light by using light emitting diodes or LEDs is known as an LED lamp or LED light bulb. An LED lamp works on the principle of electroluminescence, i.e. it emits the light due to the interaction of an electric field with a suitable solid.
Basically, an LED is a specially doped PN junction diode which is made of special type of semiconductor materials. When this diode is forward biased, it starts emitting light, hence it is called a light emitting diode (or LED). The circuit symbol of an LED is shown in Figure-1.
The LED is a two terminal device, where the terminals are: anode (+ve) and cathode (-ve). Based on the semiconductor used for manufacturing, there are different types of LEDs such as GaAs, GaP, GaN, GaInN, SiC, ZnSe, and AlGaN LEDs, etc.
An LED lamp is more energy efficient than an equivalent halogen lamp. The most commercially available LED lamps have efficiencies of about 200 lumens per watt. LEDs are widely used as indicating lamps, bicolour indicators, fault indicators, decorative lighting, for indoor and outdoor lighting in domestic and commercial buildings, etc.
What is Halogen Lamp?
A type of incandescent lamp consisting of a tungsten filament sealed in a compact and transparent quartz envelope which is filled with a mixture of an inert gas and a small amount of halogen (like iodine, bromine, etc.) is known as a halogen lamp.
When an electric current is passed through the tungsten filament, heating up the filament to incandescence, i.e. to produce light. In a halogen lamp, as the filament is enclosed in the quartz envelope filled with the halogen gas and an inert gas. The flow of the electric current through the filament starts the halogen cycle, which increases the lifespan of the filament. Here, the brightness of the light emitted from the halogen is directly proportional to the heating temperature of the filament.
Halogen lamps extensively used for lighting in public halls, factories, large gardens, airport runways, studios, etc.
Difference between LED and Halogen Lamps
The following table compares and contrasts the various features of LED lamps and halogen lamps −
| Parameter | LED Lamp | Halogen Lamp |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. An electric lamp which produces light by using lighting emitting diodes or LEDs is known as LED lamp or LED light bulb. | An incandescent lamp consisting of a tungsten filament sealed in a compact and transparent quartz envelope which is filled with a mixture of an inert gas and a small amount of a halogen (like iodine, bromine, etc.) is known as a halogen lamp. |
| Working principle | LED works on the principle of electroluminescence. | Halogen lamp works on the principle of heating effect of electric current. |
| Lifespan | The lifespan of an LED is about 50000 hours. | The lifespan of a halogen lamp is relatively low, about 2000 hours. |
| Colour of Light | Based on the semiconductor used for manufacturing, the LEDs are available in many shades. | A halogen lamp produces light of yellow colour. |
| Heat generated during operation | LED produces minimal heating during operation. | Halogen lamp produces comparatively more heat than an LED. |
| Efficiency | LEDs are highly efficient lamps and the efficiency ranges from 50 to 100 lumens per watt. | Halogen lamps are less efficient than LEDs. Their efficiency range is 22 to 33 lumens per watt. |
| Initial cost | The capital cost of an LED is high. | The initial cost of a halogen lamp is relatively lower than LED lamp. |
| Running cost | The running cost of LED is low, as an LED has high efficiency than halogen lamp. | For a halogen lamp, the operating cost is higher than LED. |
| Power consumption | The power consumed by an LED of same rating is less than a halogen lamp. | A halogen lamp consumes more power than an LED. |
| Reliability | LED lamps are more reliable. | The reliability of a halogen lamp is less than LED due to relatively small lifespan. |
| Design flexibility | LEDs can be designed for various mounting configurations for different requirements, making them versatile. | It is not easy to design the halogen lamps in different mounting configurations due to technical limitations. |
| Colour rendering index (CRI) (0 to 100) | For a typical LED, the colour rendering index rating is around 80, i.e. an LED lamp has 80% ability to render colours the same as a reference lamp type. | The CRI rating of a halogen lamp is 100, which is identical to the standardised daylight. |
| UV emission | LEDs do not emit ultra-violet rays. | Halogen lamp emits a small amount of UV rays. |
| Applications | LEDs are used in decorative lighting, street lighting, domestic and commercial lightings, indicating lamps, etc. | Halogen lamps are used in outdoor lighting, flood lighting, studio lighting, etc. |
Conclusion
As is evident from the above table that there are various differences between LEDs and halogen lamps. LED lamps are better than halogen lamps. However, both of these lamps have their own applications. Thus, by examining the differences given in the above table, one can select either of them as per the exact requirements.
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