How to Test a Halogen Bulb with a Multimeter

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A light bulb is something that most individuals don’t consider on a daily basis. However, have you ever tried to look at the different options accessible? Try to look, and you may think which one is the best for you.

You will find many benefits to choosing halogen bulbs, and you may realize it can be an excellent option for a wide array of needs. 

You see, an average bulk isn’t energy efficient, and most are sought to have a life of at least 750 hours. That tends to be the bulk you have been utilizing regularly for years, infrared heat is emitted from a standard bulb, and you’ll be consuming a huge amount of energy to keep that bulb working. 

Halogen bulbs have been recognized as some of the best and brightest bulbs accessible. That could make a big difference in your home and how you perceive it. Do you feel as if you’re walking in a cave inside your home? It might be because of your light bulbs, and just opting for halogen could make a huge difference in the way your home is illuminated. 

What is a Halogen Bulb? 

In 1958, halogen bulbs were invented to the world. Such light bulbs are much brighter compared to standard ones. They have been the most typical option for headlines for many years now. 

Halogen bulbs are a kind of incandescent lamp producing an intense light with greater cool temperatures compared to non-halogen incandescent lamps. Did you know that halogens are widely utilized in ultramodern light fixtures and track lighting systems, and headlights? 

The light’s intensity makes halogen lamps an excellent option for task lighting. Remember that halogen light bulbs are more likely to cost more compared to non-halogen incandescent bulbs. However, it makes up for the difference with a longer lifespan and greater energy efficiency. 

The only issue with halogen bulbs is that they generate a huge amount of heat. That makes a huge amount of heat. That makes this type of bulb a bad option for offices in close proximity to a halogen lamp or for kid’s rooms because of safety problems.

Keep in mind that you shouldn’t touch a halogen bulb with your bare hands or leave any flammable materials close. It will help if you do not leave with such lamps on for a long period without somebody close at hand. 

The good thing about these lights is that they’re more energy-efficient compared to conventional bulbs, not to mention last much longer. They have the same design as the traditional lights, even consisting of a tungsten filament. Rather than glass, they are made out of quartz. 

That enables the lights to be much smaller compared to others as the quartz can deal with hotter temperatures and be nearer to the filament than glass can. 

The Difference Between Standard Lighting

Until 1958, every household was lit using standard electric light bulbs. Those are designed with frosted glass surrounding argon or nitrogen. You will also find a tungsten filament in the center. Every time the light is turned on and plugged in, the filament in the bulb heats up at least $2,500 degrees Celsius. Further, the tungsten gets hot, white-hot, and that light is the incandescent that you see.

The major issue with standard light bulbs is that they do not last too long, apart from the fact you end up breaking at least one from each package by dropping it. Typically, you get at least 750 to 1,000 hours of use from a single light. 

That’s because the tungsten vanishes and ends up depositing itself on the glass, which leaves a small region that ends up breaking, and that results in burnout. Further, you receive more heat than light, meaning they’re not that energy-efficient, and you waste all the heat.  

What Makes Halogen Bulbs a Better Option? 

You will notice similarities between halogen and traditional lighting, including the reality that they both utilize a tungsten filament. One of the key differences is instead of using glass, the outer part of a halogen bulb is made from quartz.

Such lights are much tinier compared to conventional lights, as quartz can ensure hotter temperatures. As an alternative, the gas utilized comes from the halogen group. Such gases can mix with tungsten vapor. That’s what helps to make such bulbs last a lot longer. 

When the temperatures become extremely high, the gas mixes along with the tungsten atoms while they’re vanishing. That causes them to be reused or recycled, making the lights last much longer compared to standard light bulbs. Another awesome bonus is that you receive less heat and more light from the bulbs. 

Just keep in mind not to touch such bulbs with your bare hands. You could get a bad enough burn from standard lighting, and those get even hotter. 

How to Test a Halogen Bulb? 

Here are the steps you need to follow to test a halogen bulb with a digital multimeter.

  1. Set your meter to measure resistance and choose the highest possible range for the meter.
  1. Connect the negative black lead to the common (COM) socket. 
  1. Plug the positive lead in the voltage socket. After you’re done, turn the digital multimeter and check whether it’s working. Connect the red probe and black probes. The reading on your screen must be over 0.5 Ω for a good functioning multimeter. 
  1. After confirming, go ahead and test the resistance between both sides of the pin by connecting the black probe and the red probes to the pins of the halogen tube. 

Final Thoughts

So, the next time you want to change the bulbs in your ceiling fixtures and lamps, spend more time and get yourself a longer-lasting halogen bulb. They provide more light, are more energy-efficient, and will last longer than other bulbs. 

Of course, you may be paying a bit more today, but you will certainly end up saving more money in the end.

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