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And lighting manufacturers don't spare you the hype Posted by sam96CS [Email] (#852) [Profile/Gallery] (more from sam96CS) on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:57:32 In Reply to: Halogens don't dim with age, Noel, Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:54:58 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
You have to dig to find the hard facts (lumens, color range and expected life) and to separate facts from carefully worded claims. The "extra bright" white and blue halogens typically start with a filament that is overdriven, which results in short bulb life. In addition, these bulbs are coated to filter out light in the yellow range of the spectrum. Human vision is very much geared to light in the yellow range, and the pupil of the human eye is more repsonsive to yellow light than blue.
Overdriving the filament isn't so bad if the shorter expected bulb life is prominently disclosed. But coating to filter out yellow light makes little sense; you will see less, and you could compromise the vision of other motorists whose eyes can't adjust to blue/white light as well as they adjust to yellow light.
Bulb makers are quick to point out that their high end bulbs are street legal. But anybody with a clue can see that corporate interests often override human interests, and that reason doesn't always keep up with technology.
I've seen displays in auto parts stores claiming that halogens get 25% dimmer in a year or two. My own experience is like Noel's; the light output looks constant from birth to death.
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