The Qualities of the Increasingly Popular Xenon Lamp

Home use of Xenon lights has increased in popularity over the past several years. Xenon bulbs are being used in lamps, cabinet fixtures, recessed and normal puck light fixtures, backlighting fixtures, cove lighting fixtures, showcase lighting fixtures, picture highlighting fixtures and curio cabinets. To better understand the qualities of Xenon lights, let's take a look at what makes them work and the benefits they have over other lighting sources.

Xenon is a type of gas which is used inside the bulb to create a chemical reaction that produces illumination. Xenon gas is used for the purpose of increasing the rated life of a bulb. The rated life is the average time in which a light bulb will last, meaning some bulbs will burn longer and others shorter, but the rated life time is the standard average any given bulb should burn. 'Rated life' is the term used to provide the consumer with a bulb's burn time and is used as a measuring standard for all types of light bulbs. A Xenon light bulb's rated life is between typically 8,000 and 20,000 hours depending on the lamp.

The advantages Xenon bulbs have over other types of bulbs are great. They burn much longer than a standard incandescent or halogen bulb, while also burning cooler than halogen. Xenon lamps also produce a light that is warm to the eyes much like a halogen lamp, but cooler in appearance than a traditional incandescent bulb.

A Xenon bulb is also usable on a dimmer switch which can greatly increase its rated life span. Using dimmers on as many light sources as possible is a good idea since they are effective at adjusting the amount of light needed for various activities and can help save money and energy.

The dimmer you use to regulate Xenon lamps will determine which type of bulb is used. Some Xenon lamps are low voltage and require a dimmer that is designed to regulate a low voltage transformer. Some Xenon bulbs are powered by magnetic transformers and will require a matching dimmer. A regular 120 volt line Xenon lamp will use a standard line voltage dimmer.

As you think about building or remodeling, consider installing lighting fixtures which utilize Xenon bulbs. Your home will have a warmer, longer lasting glow. Also, not having to change those pesky burnt out bulbs as often is a great benefit as well!


Barry Wax of Brodwax Lighting stocks a variety of light fixtures, including Xenon lighting. To see these and others, visit Brodwax today. www.brodwax.com