Is it dangerous to leave a halogen light bulb on for several hours?

Answer 1

PROVIDED * that the power of a halogen light bulb is not more than the maximum power rating of its lamp holder or light fitting AND

* that lamp holder or light fitting is of a type suitable for its location and application to provide light, it should not be dangerous to leave a halogen light bulb "on" for several hours.

In other words if a light fitting is rated at 150 Watts maximum the rated power of the halogen bulb used in that fitting must never exceed 150 Watts.

As for any light bulb, if it were too powerful for its lamp holder or light fitting, there would be a serious risk of overheating. In other words, if a light fitting is rated at 100 Watts maximum and a halogen bulb rated at 150 Watts is used in it, there will be a serious risk of overheating which would lead to: * premature bulb failure as the least consequence and

* catching on fire - leading to a house fire - as the worst consequence. As for any light bulb within any overall long period of time, if it were left on for a greater rather than a lesser percentage of that time, there would be two key consequences: * it would reach its rated service lifetime more quickly and would therefore have to be replaced more often during that overall long period of time;

* it would consume more electricity and would therefore cost more money to run during that overall long period of time.

Answer 2

No, there are many instances where a light bulb is never turned off. It is not a good principle to get into as the watt meter keeps turning and money is being spent to keep it on in daylight hours.