Heat Lamps

Heat lamps are also called infrared emitters, bulbs or tubes. They heat quickly but use a low amount of energy and are cost effective.

Heat lamps differ from illuminated lamps by low filament temperature. In practice this means that less light is used while obtaining more infrared radiation.
Infrared lamps are designed to be used when a short-wave infrared radiation source is required. Usually clear, red or frosted bulbs are supplied with this type of lamps. Neither colour or finish of the lamp decides the heat, but rather the wattage of the lamp.

What information should you take into consideration while buying an infrared lamp? Its wavelength range, the wattage, voltage, life hours and temperature of the operation. Heat lamps emit light in the Near Infrared 7µm-1.3µm, Middle Infrared 1.3µm-6µm, Far Infrared 6µm-40µm and Far-Far Infrared 40µm-1000µm.

Watts indicate the power of the lamp. Life-hours indicate the length of the lamp in hours. The operating temperature is the temperature range within which the lamp should operate in.

There are a few things to consider before buying a heat lamp: what the overall length is, what the lighted or heated length is, what its diameter and weight is. The lighted or heated length is the length of the emitting section of the lamp. Other features to consider are twin tubes, reflectors and water-cooling. Some lamps have got two tubes with filaments so that heat is emitted more intensively. Heat lamps that have got built-in reflectors can be operated in one desired direction. Infrared lamps with water-coolers usually perform better.