Infrared lamps as a heating medium

Household infrared lamps as heating equipment are a promising and interesting solution. Agree: it is very nice to acquire a compact device with high efficiency, while also convenient to use. But you do not know what to be guided by when choosing an IR light bulb?

We will tell you how to choose the best IR light bulb for your home, summer cottage and subsidiary farm. In the article presented by us, the features of their device are considered, the pros and cons, the appropriateness of use are given. To facilitate the task, the best manufacturers with a reputation in the lighting market are listed for selection.

To help customers, the information is supplemented with photographs of IR lamps, video recommendations and useful tips. Taking into account our recommendations, you will easily find a device that is able to provide high-quality heat, comparable in characteristics to the sun's rays.

What is infrared heating?

IR lamps emit heat rays. Objects that are within the range of such devices absorb these waves, and then transfer the received heat to the surrounding air. The nature of infrared rays is comparable to the characteristics of ordinary visible light, insofar as they obey the laws of optics in the same way.

Although infrared waves have transparency, refractive index and reflection, like visible light waves, their specific properties have slightly different characteristics. For example, such radiation is difficult to overcome a layer of water only a few centimeters thick, but silicon wafers can easily pass it.

Aluminum reflects infrared rays much better than visible light, with a reflectance of up to 98%. This radiation is practically not absorbed by the air, and this provides a high level of efficiency for heaters of this type. But water vapor, ozone, carbon dioxide and other "fillers" can significantly spoil the case.

Infrared waves pass through the air space with practically no loss of thermal energy, which is absorbed by surrounding objects and spreads from bottom to top

Unlike convection heating, infrared waves do not heat the air around the device, but the surfaces of the objects to which they are directed. The air is already heated by these items. Understanding this principle will help you use infrared heaters correctly.

How does it work

The IL design is made in the form of two reflector tubes and water cooling. The double tube heat lamp has two tubes with filaments for higher radiation intensity. The reflector design has a built-in reflector to direct the light in the desired direction. ILs with water cooling show the best performance.

The principle of IL operation has a natural basis. The sun is the most powerful natural source of infrared radiation. With its rays, it heats up the walls of building objects, and only then the thermal energy from them is transferred to the air. Thus, it is not the air that heats up, but the building material.

Note! Infrared heaters for heating buildings work on the same principle. They generate infrared rays, which instantly reach objects with practically zero loss, are absorbed in them, with subsequent conversion into heat.

Heating lamps, such as the IHW10 infrared halogen heater, are built in a similar way. When voltage is applied to its heating coil, it heats up, and infrared rays are formed that enter the room.The bright glow of the device, with short-wave radiation and a longer range, covers a significant volume of the room with heating. Long-wavelength ILs are less bright and generate “soft” thermal energy.

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IR lamp device

An infrared lamp is designed not so much for lighting as for heating. To provide heat to the whole room or even the house, special heaters of various types and sizes have been created. IR lamps are more suitable for heat exposure to specific areas of the room.

The most common models of such devices are a glass bulb with a tungsten filament inside.

The mirror coating directs the flow of infrared radiation in the desired direction and increases the efficiency of thermal exposure. Most often, such a light bulb can be screwed into a standard E27 type cartridge and powered from a regular 220 V.

The infrared lamp consists of a bulb and a reflector, inside there is a filament. The device has a standard E27 base, which allows it to be used with suitable luminaires

The lamp power can vary between 50-500 watts. It is not recommended to use a plastic cartridge with such devices; it is better to take ceramics. The holder and lampshade for an IR lamp must withstand heating up to 80 degrees, not every plastic is capable of this.

For the same reason, it is not recommended to touch the switched on IR lamp, you can get a serious burn. A grill is used to protect against accidental touch.

Traditionally, infrared lamps are colored red, but models with transparent glass are also popular. There are also blue IR lamps

The glass from which such a lamp is made can be standard, tempered or pressed. The flask is left clear, but is often colored red or blue.

Contrary to popular belief, blue coloration is not at all an exclusive feature of ultraviolet devices. The filament in IR lamps can be not only made of tungsten, some manufacturers use carbon for this purpose.

The reflector is marked as IKZK, IKZS and IKZ, which indicates red, blue or no coloration. Separately, it is worth mentioning IR lamps, made not as a traditional bulb, but as a narrow tube.

The ceramic infrared lamp bulb is more resistant to heat, moisture, temperature extremes and shock than glass counterparts

Finally, there is a very special kind of lamps of this type, they are equipped with a ceramic body and are intended only for heating where lighting is not needed.

Nichrome or fechral thread is used as a heating element in such devices. These are very strong and durable devices, they are not afraid of contact with splashes of water. Such devices are widely used for night heating of young animals, as well as for keeping exotic animals at home: reptiles, snakes, etc.

Advantages and disadvantages of the lamp

Home infrared lamps are used in infrared therapy. It is a physiotherapy specialization that uses the biological effects produced by AI in tissues for therapeutic purposes. The main effect is a pleasant sensation of warming, which in terms of sweating, vasodilation and a slight increase in heart rate is nothing more than a series of compensatory mechanisms activated by the average person while walking at a steady pace. Ideal for all those who are sedentary or unable to exercise.

Advantages of the method

The advantages of an infrared lamp include:

1. Efficient use for heating residential and public buildings due to the thermal effect in the form of halogen devices.
2. Generation of heat absorbed by tissues. Some of this heat is dissipated in the environment, while the rest is transferred to deep tissues.
3. An increase in temperature in the treatment area, causing a secondary effect in the form of an increase in tissue metabolism, capillary vasodilation of arterioles and muscle relaxation.
4. Therapeutic effect due to an increase in temperature in the irradiated tissues, which manifests itself in muscle relaxation.
5. Anesthetic effect due to the removal of halogen substances from pathological tissues.
6. The increased blood flow that follows vasodilation directs increased amounts of nutrients, oxygen, white cells, and antibodies to the tissues to help remove catabolites from the tissues. These biological modifications improve tissue tropism, aid in the repair of damaged tissue, and accelerate resolution of chronic inflammation.
7. The healing effect.

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Important! If you are using any medication, you should consult your doctor before using infrared rays for treatment, as there are potential side effects - with a large dose of infrared rays, they can cause skin damage and damage to unprotected eyes.

Features of choosing the right option

Most often, the IR lamp is designed for a standard E-27 cartridge, but there are other options, this point should be considered before buying.

In addition to the type of base, when choosing an infrared lamp, you should take into account such indicators as:

• wavelength IR radiation;
• power heating device;
• voltage nutrition.

Long, medium and short wave infrared radiation differ in the amount of heat and light. The brighter the infrared lamp shines, the shorter the radiation wave, and the farther the area of ​​its penetration.

The heat of devices emitting long waves is considered to be softer in effect. Voltage problems usually do not arise, since household appliances of this type are traditionally designed for a voltage of 220 W in a regular network.

In order not to burn yourself on the surface of the infrared lamp, as well as to protect the device from damage, use protective grilles

As for the power, it is chosen depending on the size of the area that needs to be heated. For 10 square meters, it is recommended to take 1 kW of power. You can slightly increase the resulting figure, depending on the heat loss.

This is true for poorly insulated rooms, objects located on a cold floor, if old windows with cracks in cracked frames are installed in the room, etc.

IR lamps vary in shape and diameter and are labeled according to these characteristics. To understand the dimensions of the product from the code, you have to do some calculations. The numerical indicators that are indicated next to the letter code must be divided by 4 to obtain the dimensions of the diameter in inches.

The result obtained can be easily converted into centimeters. For example, for a PAR38 lamp, the calculation would look like this: 38: 4 = 4.75 inches; 4.75 * 2.54 = 12.07 cm.The letters indicate the shape of the flask, the meaning of the code is presented in the table:

The shape of the bulb of an infrared lamp can be very different, this moment is reflected in the letter marking. The short body fits better under the lampshade to reduce glare

The R number indicates the presence of a reflector. Such models are usually very simple in design. The glass part of the bulb, through which the radiation passes, is monolithically connected to the reflector; inside there is a layer of reflective paint.The illumination angle is over 45 degrees.

BR models are bulbs with a convex reflector coated with paint or other reflective material.

A transparent bulb combined with it can be glossy or matte, sometimes there is an option with cells that reduce the level of radiation scattering. These models also typically have over 45 degree lighting angles.

IR lamps are well suited for even and gentle drying of various surfaces that have been painted or varnished

PAR models are equipped with an aluminum coated parabolic reflector. Attached to it is a tempered glass bulb with a honeycomb structure. The precise shape of both elements ensures complete tightness of the device.

Usually, such models are slightly shorter than the analogs described above, they are considered more reliable and suitable for operation in difficult conditions.

Conclusions and useful video

Infrared heating is hardly cost effective to heat a large home. But it is well suited for additional, spot heating. With its help, it is easy to organize heating where there is only electricity. In addition, ILs are convenient in plant growing, animal husbandry, drying varnishes and paints.

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Benefits of infrared heating

As already mentioned, infrared lamps are used for spot heating of individual zones. Although in crop or livestock breeding, several lamps can fully meet the heat needs of a greenhouse, chicken coop, etc. A winter garden, a balcony, a free-standing kiosk, and other similar objects can be advantageously heated using IR lamps.

Here are the main advantages of this type of device:

• compact size;
• easy installation;
• high efficiency;
• heat spread without the use of fans, etc.

The air practically does not absorb infrared waves, which deliver heat directly to the heating object. As a result, it is not necessary to direct the heated air currents so that they spread throughout the room, as is done with convection methods. Even if the lamp is located close to the ceiling, the heat will reach the target.

Such a heater does not require oxygen to operate, therefore its presence has a beneficial effect on the atmosphere in the room.

When raising chickens, infrared heating is a must. At night, you can use a ceramic lamp that does not give off light

Due to the lack of convection, dust also does not move through the house. Infrared lamps are not difficult to store as long as they are only used seasonally. To install or dismantle the device, you just need to screw it into the cartridge or unscrew it from it.

The device does not require special storage conditions; with careful handling, it more than fulfills the resource laid down by the manufacturer.

Such lamps are convenient to use if you need to heat a specific place. For example, if the balcony turns out to be too cold in winter, a couple of small lamps will help to quickly solve the problem, and in the summer they can be simply removed and hidden. It is also worth remembering the beneficial effects of infrared radiation on human health.

If you equip the infrared lamp with a temperature controller, you can change the heating intensity depending on the situation.

They are used for medicinal purposes in medical institutions, but the healing effect does not disappear at home either. Although there are medical devices for treatment, household lamps are not suitable for this.

Another advantage of infrared lamps is the ability to easily change the height of the luminaire above the floor. This point is especially relevant when growing plants and young animals.

Applications for infrared lamps

Despite the disadvantages, the infrared lamp continues to be in demand for heating various rooms. The scope of its application is wide - it is necessary not only in everyday life, but also in production, in the medical industry, etc. Especially often infrared lamps are used by agricultural workers and people who specialize in breeding livestock and poultry. They also acquired some distribution for heating open areas.

For heating animals

Infrared devices are well suited for livestock breeding, so they are used in chicken coops, pigsties, cowsheds, stables, etc. Infrared radiation to heat chicks helps chicks survive and stay warm. Birds are happy to huddle right under the device, enjoying the heat released from it. In the same way, cages with animals are heated, where a thermal infrared lamp with temperature control can be useful.

Such devices are especially in demand in chicken coops. Their use helps to provide the birds with the necessary level of warmth and create a comfortable atmosphere even in extreme cold. They stop feeling discomfort from cool air and freeze. The immune system of birds grows stronger, and the risk of morbidity among them decreases sharply - this is very important for laying hens, because a comfortable, stable temperature helps them to lay eggs regularly.

The same devices are used in zoos, terrariums and on farms, where newly born animals are deposited in separate boxes, cages. To make them comfortable and warm, low-power bulbs are installed above them. In terrariums where snakes, turtles, reptiles and other amphibians live, a heat point is made using an IR lamp. It is a place where reptiles crawl out to warm themselves. Exposure to radiation for 3-5 minutes will warm up the animals, and the absence of bright light will have a positive effect on their nervous system and will preserve their sleep patterns.

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For space heating

An excellent basis for an outdoor heater is a halogen infrared lamp. With a short wavelength and low power, relatively large areas are heated with its help. Heating devices, supplemented with such bulbs, are widely used on verandas, terraces, near pools. They are used even in open areas of cafes and restaurants. The infrared rays emitted by them quickly reach people, delighting them with warmth and comfort.

In outdoor conditions, they are almost the only way of heating, tk. conventional convectors, heat guns will be useless. The infrared tube heater is excellent for heating commercial and residential areas. By installing such appliances on a wall or ceiling, you get a good source of heat. A short or medium wave light bulb will quickly create a comfortable atmosphere for people to stay. Heaters of this type are rarely used on a permanent basis - they are often used as ancillary equipment in case of poor main heating.

For sauna

With the help of IR lamps, the body is warmed up from the inside, because infrared waves easily penetrate to a depth of about 4 cm, having a positive effect on joints, skin, and the system of internal organs. The use of such heaters in saunas contributes to weight loss. Excess fluids, along with toxins and toxins, are actively removed along with sweat.

At the same time, blood flow improves, and the body's energy consumption increases, which provokes the burning of calories. With regular visits to infrared saunas, you can successfully fight all sorts of skin lesions, for example, dermatitis, eczema, etc.Staying in an infrared sauna makes the walls of blood vessels elastic, reducing the risk of developing heart and some other dangerous diseases.

For drying paint and working with plastics

Processing different materials and drying them with an IR lamp is a profitable and practical method, which is used by both small workshops and large paint shops. Lamp drying can be done pointwise: the heat from the device is directed to the area of ​​the object that needs to be dried, without heating its other zones. For example, drying the hood does not heat up the entire vehicle, but only the hood.

When working with plastic, radiation helps it straighten, soften, bend and shape. Additionally, they participate in shrinking, drawing, extrusion of objects from plastic, representing an effective tool. Such bulbs are also used by printing houses, where they use them to free the paper from excess moisture - drying with warming up is faster. The result is high quality printing.

For heating greenhouses

With the help of infrared radiation, the optimal atmosphere in the greenhouses is organized, because the plants receive the same rays from the sun. Such heating will be a plus for the development of crops. For this, a lamp for an infrared lamp is used or single products are adapted, which hang on wires over developing plants. This type of lamp is also suitable for those who grow seedlings on the windowsill. Plants will not lack warmth, lighting. The main thing is not to overdo it with the selection of power, the duration of the backlight.

For treatment

The treatment with infrared light bulbs has been a little forgotten. Previously, infrared lamps were widely used to eliminate pain symptoms, treat osteochondrosis, and pain in bones and muscles. They also helped with flu, throat diseases, acute respiratory infections, skin diseases and high blood pressure, through them they strengthened the immune system, relieved stress, removed bruises, and increased the body's endurance.

Nowadays, treatment with infrared lamps is gradually reviving again. People began to trust pills less, remembering the beneficial effects of physiotherapy procedures. Treatment with infrared rays belongs precisely to the field of physiotherapy. The infrared spectrum is effective in treating acne, which is important for people who are concerned about skin problems.

Appropriateness of lamp heating

Such lamps are widely used in animal husbandry, both in the industrial sector and in small households. Infrared lighting is almost indispensable for raising newborn offspring. It creates a suitable temperature, gently dries bedding materials, and produces a disinfecting effect.

Heating with infrared lamps is widely used in greenhouses. To service one room, several lamps are usually used, which are suspended at some distance from each other.

For piglets of the first week of life, it is recommended to use a lamp of the IKZK-250 type, the height of the suspension from the floor is 50 cm. In the next two weeks, the lamps are raised by another 25 cm, then this distance is brought to one meter. At this height, this model can heat approximately one square meter of area.

For raising chickens, an infrared lamp should be used, which can heat the cage to 23-32 degrees. During the day, the temperature should change, so you need to install a thermometer in the cage, and outside - a thermostat that will change the intensity of heating.

Scientist Mark O. Nore argues that different colors of lighting can significantly affect the development and behavior of young poultry.

Some believe that red bulbs should be used for the first 20 days of chicks' life to reduce stress on the chicks.Route the wiring around the outside of the cage. It is recommended to use luminaires with a protective grill to protect the chicks from burns and the glass from damage.

Periodically, after cooling down, it is necessary to clean the surface of the device with a damp cloth from dirt, otherwise it will work with increased load and may burn out too quickly. For chickens, do not take cheap lamps with thin bulbs that burst on accidental contact with water droplets.

Infrared heat is very beneficial for young pets. Such lamps allow you to adhere to the optimal temperature regime, prevent the development of diseases, strengthen the immune system.

In small home greenhouses, the level of heating depends on the needs of the crops that are grown there. You will need several lamps, usually the distance between them is about one and a half meters. The lamps are suspended in such a way that the height can be changed: they are lifted up as the plants grow to avoid overheating.

In addition to these areas, infrared radiation is also successfully used in the construction and automotive industry for drying various surfaces. IR light is also applicable for drying herbs, spices, food, etc. Another option is to warm up the plastic for molding work.

How to apply correctly

Before starting the warm-up procedure, install the lamp in a convenient place near a household outlet so that you can comfortably approach it.

How to use an IR lamp:

1. Before starting the procedures, a sound timer is always set, since during warming up the person relaxes and can fall asleep. The patient is positioned at a distance of 30 to 50 cm from the heater.
2. During the session, the direction of the device or the body is changed in order not to be burned.
3. The heating temperature should be comfortable, the heating is carried out until slight reddening of the skin, the duration of the procedure is agreed with the attending physician.
4. Usually, a procedure is used from five to ten minutes per session.

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Application procedure

Warnings during use:

1. You cannot use the head heating procedure for more than 5 minutes in one session, the interval between procedures should be at least two hours.
2. It is forbidden to look at the emitter.
3. It is necessary to move or disconnect the device if a burning sensation is felt.
4. It is not recommended to use the device in case of injury within the first 24 hours.
5. Before the procedure, do not use essential oils, lotions or creams that can cause burns.
6. Do not touch the IL when it is hot.
7. Do not screw the device too tightly into the base, otherwise it may burst.
8. Infrared therapy is contraindicated in certain skin cancers that may be exacerbated by intense light.

Presentation of popular manufacturers

The market for IR lamps is wide and varied. According to consumer reviews, products from well-known manufacturers such as Philips, InterHeat and Osram are highly popular.

The not the lowest price for IR lamps is fully compensated by the increased reliability, modern design and long service life.

Manufacturer # 1 - Philips

These are the characteristics of the Philips models. They can be safely used where there is a danger of exposure to water spray: in bathrooms, in kitchens, in livestock buildings.

Philips PAR lamps reduce heat consumption by up to 30% compared to peers with an improved reflector. Approximately 90% of electricity is converted to infrared radiation. These products are characterized by increased durability.

Infrared lamps are compact and lightweight compared to other types of heaters, they are easy to install and remove

Manufacturer # 2 - Osram

Osram SICCATHERM products demonstrate high efficiency. The power of the lamps varies from 150 to 375 watts. They are designed for use with a standard E27 base with an illuminance angle of 30 degrees.

Red flasks in this line are marked as RED, matte ones are designated by the letters FR, and transparent ones - CL.

The manufacturer Osram has established itself in the lighting market as a conscientious and reliable supplier.

Most often, such lamps are used in animal husbandry, as well as for drying painted and varnished surfaces.

Manufacturer # 3 - InterHeat

InterHeat IR lamps are versatile, almost all fit a standard cap. Their distinctive feature is the increased resistance of the glass bulb to splashes and accidental impacts.

High power bulbs from InterHeat have proven to be robust and durable when used in livestock buildings

These lamps are widely used in the field of raising young animals and poultry. The bulb can be transparent or red, the power of the heaters varies in a wide range and can be from 100 to 375 W.