Halogen Bulbs vs LED Bulbs: Which is a Better Choice

Earlier, choosing a light bulb for your home or office was quite a simple task; you had to consider only two things – the shape/size of the bulb and the wattage. However, the technological advancement in lighting led to the invention of LED (light emitting diode) bulbs, and since its advent, it has been a complete game changer. 

Today, many homeowners in India and worldwide prefer using LED lights to illuminate their homes, replacing old lights like halogen bulbs. But are these LED lights really worth the hype and better than the halogen bulbs?

In this guide, we compare halogen vs LED lights to help you understand the differences between the types of bulbs and make the right choice.

What are halogen and LED light or bulbs?

Before we compare halogen bulbs vs LED bulbs, it is paramount that you understand what these lights are. 

A halogen light is a kind of incandescent light that has a tungsten filament, and it is filled with a small amount of halogen gas. When this bulb is in, the tungsten filament inside the bulb gets super hot. When combined with the halogen gas, it burns at a high temperature, producing a brighter light compared to the regular incandescent bulb. 

Although halogen bulbs provide excellent illumination, they also produce a lot of heat, which can increase the temperature inside the room and spoil the ambient setting inside your home. 

The LED bulbs, on the other hand, work very differently from the halogen bulb. An LED bulb uses a diode to convert electrical energy into light. This diode is made of two types of semiconductor material, and when electricity passes through them, they emit light. 

The colour of the light emitted by an LED bulb greatly varies based on the type of materials used in the semiconductors. And the light colour can range from warm yellows to cool blues. LED bulbs are known for their versatility and, therefore, have become the most popular lighting solution for residential and commercial spaces.

Halogen light bulbs vs LED – understanding the differences

Now that you know what halogen and LED bulbs are and how they work, let us delve into their differences and how they stack up against each other.

Energy efficiency 

One of the most significant points of difference between halogen and LED bulbs that make the latter a better and smarter choice of lighting solution for your home is energy efficiency. As compared to halogen bulbs, LED bulbs consume up to 90% less energy to produce the same amount of light. 

In incandescent light like halogen bulbs, the maximum amount of energy is lost as heat, whereas in LED bulbs, the heat emission is considerably lower. This, in turn, results in lower power bills and increased savings. Not to mention, it also has a significantly lower environmental impact in the long run.

Brightness level 

When you compare halogen and LED light bulbs, you cannot afford to overlook the brightness factor. The halogen bulbs emit about 16-24 lumens per watt. On the other hand, LED lights emit about 80-100 lumens per watt. 

What this means is that you get a higher brightness level from LED bulbs than from halogens, even when you use a less powerful bulb. To give you a better understanding, a 15-watt LED bulb can shine as bright as an 85-watt halogen bulb. 

Cost-effectiveness

When you do a halogen light bulb vs LED to understand which is the better choice of lighting for your home or office, you must consider not just the cost factor but also the cost-effective aspect of it. 

Although halogen bulbs are cheaper as compared to LED bulbs, they tend to burn out much faster than LED lights. Also, these lights are quite infamous for being inefficient, as nearly 80% of the energy they consume is converted into heat, and only 20% is emitted as light. 

However, LED lights may be slightly more expensive initially, last much longer, and consume a significantly lower amount of energy, which leads to higher savings over time and makes them more cost-effective. 

If you are looking for the best LED tube light for your home, you can consider buying the Wipro Garnet Aluminium Batten from the house of Wipro Consumer Lighting. This tube light is priced at Rs. 449 and has a 1-year warranty. Also, there are two different sizes – 1136 mm and 1180 mm, and you can choose the one that suits your needs.

Risk of burns

As mentioned earlier, the halogen bulbs produce a tremendous amount of heat. This increases the risk of fire, especially if the wrong lamp is used in the fixture or placed close to combustible materials. 

The LED bulbs, too, produce heat, but the intensity is much lower than the halogen bulbs. Also, LED bulbs emit only 10 to 20% of the energy they consume, making them far safer and easier to handle. Additionally, the risk of a fire starting from an LED is minimal. 

UV and infrared light

Look for information about halogen bulbs vs LED differences online. Most of the websites you may come across may not mention anything about the UV (ultraviolet) and infrared light emitted by these bulbs. Halogen bulbs emit UV radiation and infrared light, both of which are quite harmful. 

Traditionally, halogen lights are used for accent lighting and highlighting an artwork. Hence, they required a glass filter or quartz to prevent the UV radiation and infrared light from the bulb from fading the colour of the artwork. 

The LED bulbs, on the other hand, emit zero infrared light or UV radiation, making them a better and safer lighting solution for all purposes.

Dimming 

Probably one of the common factors between halogen and LED bulbs is that they are dimmable. However, having said that halogen lights usually have a lower dimming effect than LED bulbs. 

You can use a dimmer switch with LED bulbs that are specifically designed to ensure that you get a maximum dimming range from them. You can adjust the dimming level of the LED bulbs as per the kind of mood or vibe you want to set in the room. This is not possible with halogen bulbs. 

Conclusion

Thus, by knowing the above differences between halogen and LED bulbs, it is quite evident that the latter is the clear winner and makes for a better choice of lighting solution for your home. So, do your due diligence about choosing the type of LED lighting fixture you want for your home, and you can find a range of options to suit your needs and budget at Wipro Consumer Lighting. 

You can visit the official website to know more about the different fixtures available and purchase them online. Buy now!