Incandescent: Difference between revisions
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Incandescent light bulbs work by passing electricity through a thin wire (filament) made of tungsten which then heats up and gives off light. To prevent the filament from oxidizing or evaporating, it is enclosed in an airtight bulb that either has a vacuum or is filled with a chemically inactive (inert) gas like krypton, argon, or xenon. Most the power delivered to the bulb is converted to heat or to invisible light like infrared, but visible light is also produced. | [[File:Incan.jpg|thumb|Typical PR flange incandescent bulb and a bi-pin bulb from a Mini Maglite]]Incandescent light bulbs work by passing electricity through a thin wire (filament) made of tungsten which then heats up and gives off light. To prevent the filament from oxidizing or evaporating, it is enclosed in an airtight bulb that either has a vacuum or is filled with a chemically inactive (inert) gas like krypton, argon, or xenon. Most the power delivered to the bulb is converted to heat or to invisible light like infrared, but visible light is also produced. | ||
Because the power is applied directly to the bulb, bulbs are designed for certain voltages, for instance 3 volts. A common type of flashlight bulb is a flanged PR bulb used in Maglite C and D cell flashlights. Some lights require bulbs that are threaded. Smaller bulbs, like the the xenon light included in the Mini Maglite are "bi pin" and have two pins that fit into sockets. | Because the power is applied directly to the bulb, bulbs are designed for certain voltages, for instance 3 volts. A common type of flashlight bulb is a flanged PR bulb used in Maglite C and D cell flashlights. Some lights require bulbs that are threaded. Smaller bulbs, like the the xenon light included in the Mini Maglite are "bi pin" and have two pins that fit into sockets. | ||