Are you still using halogen bulbs simply because you’re not convinced by all the hype around LED lights? While halogen bulbs were once the top choice for homes and businesses alike, LED technology has completely changed the game. These bulbs use up to 80% less energy and last up to five times longer than traditional halogen bulbs.
So, why the hesitation to switch? Keep reading to discover the many benefits of LED lighting and how it stacks up against the old halogen bulbs.
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LED or Halogen?
Halogen lights have been the preferred light source and the ideal replacement for incandescent lamps for a long time.
The main advantage of halogen lamps was their increased efficiency.
A halogen lamp consumes around 20% less energy than an incandescent lamp while still providing the same illumination level. The lifespan of a halogen lamp vs. an incandescent lamp has also doubled.
However, if today’s LED technology is used as a benchmark, halogen lamps have almost nothing but disadvantages. LED lights are even more economical with around 85% less power consumption than halogen lamps. LED lights also have a clear advantage in terms of durability. They will last between 15,000 – 50,000 hours.
I personally have switched most lights to LED at home, but still have a Halogen fixture of 4 lights on a track in the media room.
I've had to replace bulbs at least 4 times over 7 years so the shorter lifespan of Halogens is definitely noticeable!
Although you can get Halogen bulbs for standard screw-in E26 light sockets, they are not too common. Often, the choice to use Halogen starts with the type of light fixture as many Halogen bulbs use a different type of socket.
For example, ceiling fans with lights embedded, often require a slim bulb. Some Halogens, such as R7 type are long, slim bulbs that can fit nicely into a tight space.
GU10, G4 and GU5.3 are some other common Halogen socket types.
Nevertheless, consumers often choose the outdated halogen version. The main reason for this is the difference in price. But if you think of the energy savings and the long lifespan, in most cases the LED variants are ultimately cheaper.
Comparison Between LED and Halogen Lights
The energy savings and much longer lifespan of LEDs compared to halogen lamps have been described above. As a positive side effect of the low energy consumption, most LED lamps only get hand-hot. There is no risk of burns as with halogen lamps.
Halogen lamps have a filament that generates visible light in addition to the waste heat. The filament is very sensitive to shocks when switched on.
LED lamps, on the other hand, are based on semiconductor technology and are shockproof and insensitive to vibrations. This is a particular advantage for adjustable or movable lights.
The brightness of halogen lamps can be easily adjusted with a dimmer. Many LED lamps are not dimmable. With dimmable LED lamps, this feature must be explicitly stated in the product description.
| Comparison | Halogen | LED |
|---|---|---|
| Savings compared to incandescent lamp | 20% | 80 – 90% |
| Lifespan | 2,000 – 4,000 h | 15,000 – 50,000 h |
| High heat loss | Yes | No |
| Shockproof | No | Yes |
| Dimmable | Yes | Depends on Brand and Requires Specific Dimmers |
LED replacement for halogen: High voltage or low voltage
If you’re switching from a halogen light to an LED, it’s important to match the correct voltage type. Halogen lights come in both high-voltage (110V-240V) and low-voltage (12V) options, and choosing the wrong LED can lead to flickering or even failure.
High-voltage Halogen Lights
Almost all high-voltage halogen bulbs connect directly to your main power source, which can make replacing it with an LED a much simpler process. However, if your setup includes a dimmer, you may run into compatibility issues.
Older dimmers are typically designed for incandescent or halogen bulbs and can cause LEDs to flicker or not light up at all. The best solution is to replace the dimmer with an LED-compatible one if needed.
Low-voltage Halogen Lights
On the other hand, low-voltage halogen needs a transformer to reduce your primary voltage to 12V — this means that when switching from a halogen to an LED light, some issues might occur when your existing transformer requires a minimum power load that your LED bulb will not meet.
This can also result in flickering or failure. To ensure stable operation, consider replacing your transformer with an LED-compatible power supply.
LED Replacement for Halogen: Brightness and Color Temperature
In addition to an identical operating voltage, the replacement of halogen lamps with LED lamps also depends on other factors. Usually you want to have a similar brightness as before after replacing the lamps. The brightness of LED lamps is not given in watts, but in lumens.
Our watts to lumens converter helps you to find out the lumen value of the old halogen lamps. Also the beam angle of the old and new lamps should be similar.
Halogen lamps produce a very warm cosy light. LED lamps, on the other hand, are available with all color temperatures for a wide variety of applications. In order to obtain the same light quality as possible with LED lamps, these should have a color temperature of 2700 Kelvin.
Choosing the Right LED Replacement for Your Halogen Bulbs
Switching from a halogen bulb to an LED may seem as simple as swapping one for the other, but finding the perfect replacement for your home or office can be a bit more complex. Here are a few simple steps that will allow you to find your perfect halogen replacement.
- Match the Socket Type – First, start by checking your existing halogen bulb base, i.e., GU10, MR16, E27, etc, and look for an LED with the same fitting.
- Select the Correct Voltage – As mentioned, high-voltage halogen bulbs require high-voltage LED replacement, whereas low-voltage halogen might need a compatible LED version or a complete transformer replacement.
- Find the Right Brightness – Halogen brightness is measured in watts while LED uses lumens — you can use a watt-to-lumen converter to make sure that the LED matches or exceeds your halogen’s brightness.
- Choose the Ideal Color Temperature – If you want your LED to provide the same warm, cozy feeling of a halogen bulb, get an LED with 2700K; for cooler temperatures like daylight lighting, go for 4000K or higher.
Conclusion
No matter if you want to buy a new lamp or replace the illuminants of existing lamps, LED instead of halogen is the better solution in most cases. The energy cost savings and long life of LED compared to halogen lamps are only two of many advantages.
The purchase price of LED lamps is only higher at first glance. In the long run, the use of modern LED technology pays itself off.
