Could you imagine not having lamps at home? – no fluorescent lamps, study lamps, ceiling lamps? I guess not. Lamps or bulbs are so much a part of our society that we seldom give them much notice. However, we cannot imagine living without them.

Lamp comes from the Greek word "lampas", meaning torch, lamp, or beacon. Any equipment that gives off light for some duration to be used for lighting is called a lamp.

In the modern world, lamps are defined as the replaceable part of a luminaire. This contraption transforms electrical energy to both visible and non-visible electromagnetic energy.

The first thing man had to develop was fire. After developing fire, he must have thought, “Hey, I have to put this in my den so it will provide light and warmth to it.” And so he took a piece of flaming firewood from the bonfire and took it inside his home. Thus the first “lamp” in the form of a torch was created.

Man’s next problem was how to get those things to last longer. Over the span of time, he developed numerous ways of prolonging this light. Some of the ancients used beeswax, some used olive oil.

Soon complex means of lighting homes and streets were used. In the late 19th century, oil lamps lined the streets of England to provide lighting throughout the thoroughfares.

Then came the famed perseverance of Thomas Edison. After tiring days of back breaking work, Edison invented the incandescent lamp. And the world was changed forever.

Today the world is a big glowing lamp. Cities are bathed in streams of light from buildings, street lamps, car lights and home lighting. Because of technology, lamps today can last longer, can light brighter, and can be used more conveniently than before.

So Many Lamps, So Little Time - Kinds of Lamps

1. Oil based lamps

These are the old fashioned lamps that burn on oil, wax or other base. They are now commonly used to provide atmosphere to the home or to light areas where there is no electricity.

2. Incandescent Lamp

The incandescent lamps have come a long way. These lamps are used to provide lighting in many countries. These lamps are hot and give off light that is, in brightness, somewhere between candlelight and sunlight. Halogen lamps are a version of incandescent lamps that give a brighter light more akin to sunlight.

3. Flourescent Lamps

Fluorescent lamps give off light that is cooler than its incandescent cousin. They are very energy efficient and are easy to install and do not generate too much heat. They are very popular nowadays. Another good thing about these lamps is that they last longer than incandescent lamps.

4. HID Lamps

High-intensity discharge lighting are specialized lamps that are very powerful. They were first used for streetlights and are very energy efficient. They typically convert energy to light at an astounding 8:10 ratio.

5. LED Lamps

LED lamp technology is very promising because they give off a very bright light for very little electricity and do not heat as much as the other lamp technologies. However, they are still expensive to manufacture for lighting. They are, however, already being used for electronic displays, and accent lighting. Another upside is that they are extremely durable, LED lamps could last 100,000 hours or more! This makes the future of lamps very exciting.

David Arnold Livingston enjoys decorating his home,
and having fun with lighting. He recommends the resource: Lamps and More

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