Halogen Lights

[wolf63]

I want to buy a new desk lamp for using in my computer room. I used to have a halogen spotlight and it was great but used to get really hot. It was a cheap lamp.

Do all Halogen lights heat up? My cat burned her bum on the last one and I would rather not live with the smell of singed cat hair again.

[heathfield]

Halogen lamps get a lot hotter than incandescent lamps. This is because the filament operates at a higher temperature, and because the filament is usually closer to the glass envelope.

[wolf63]

Thanks - so I am now back at the beginning again in my search for adequate lighting for my little computer area.

The halogen light that I had was really good but Princess Merlin is a stupid cat and did not realise that she had set her bum on fire until I saw the smoke and advised her - she is long haired. I thought that it was just this particular light, due to its reasonable cost, was warming up more than a 'normal' halogen light.

[scotman]

Some desk lamps now have LEDs in them. They do not heat up to any significant temperature.

[wolf63]

Thanks scotman - I will surf along to Tesco.com and see what they have. I have to buy a new clothes airer as well as my other cat used the last one as a climbing frame and I have no idea how he managed to bend it all out of shape.

[gingejbee]

I have two lamps which have mini -fluorescent tubes (11 watt energy-saving PL tube). They give a good "daylight" illumination, excellent for office work and reading etc. They are several years old on original tubes and run barely warm. I bought them from the now defunct Tchibo stores, but similar are available at Argos. (Incidentally, don't be put off by "fluorescent" - there is NO flicker that you can get sometimes with the large tubes.)

[scotman]

regarding fluorescent.
All these 'flicker' at 50 Hz, whether your eye/brain system notices is not something I can comment on.

[rojash]

I have two LED desk lamps (one each side) and they work very well. No heat, and easily bright enough.

[annie0000]

My kids have these lights:

http://www.lampsandli...ilver--07_6910_UK_BOX

for reading in bed and they are great and don't get hot as they are meant for kids use - there are various ways of attaching them, though mainly to attacje them to a bed - I guess it would depend on what kind of desk you have whether it would be suitable

[rccatnap]

You could also try < www.seriousreaders.com >.

[wolf63]

recatnap - my dad had a lamp from that site ( www.seriousreaders.com ) and it was excellent. However I am looking for something cheaper. Thanks for the link though.

annie - the lights look good, I will consider my options.

I am using the main light and a little table lamp just now but it still doesn't seem to be enough.

[annie0000]

Wolf, you may be able to get a better deal as well - I got two for £50 from ebay. That was about 4 or 5 years ago and they have been used every night (and sometimes left on all day!) and I have never had to change the bulbs. The kids have them attached to their beds and even when they have been on for hours, they are still touchable.

[rov1100]

If you want true white light you may not be able to better these. Compared with normal lamps they are in another world.

http://www.ottlite.co...uO_06cCFYob4QodeU9G9w

[scotman]

John Lewis have small table lamps with LEDs from £25.

[wolf63]

Thanks everyone - I shall have a look at ottlite site and John Lewis as well as the others.
Susan