Halogen Floods &
Spots
Halogen floods are available
in both "heavy" glass and "soft" glass. The heavy glass
halogen flood light bulbs are commonly referred to as "PAR" lamps.
PAR stands for parabolic aluminized reflector. These halogen light bulbs are
used both indoors and outdoors. Halogen light bulb PAR lamps are the only halogen
flood that may be directly exposed to inclement weather, as the thick glass
prevents cracking. PAR flood halogen light bulbs are available in diameters
from 1.75" to 4.75". As a general rule of thumb, if the glass covering
the PAR lamp is dimpled then the bulb has a wider (flood) beam spread. PAR lamps
with a narrow beam (spots) have smooth glass covering the reflector.
Soft glass halogen floods
look identical to standard incandescent floods (generally called either "R
shape" or "BR shape". These halogen light bulbs should be used
either indoors or in fixtures protected from direct weather exposure. Whether
your halogen flood is a PAR, R, or BR the diameter of the bulb may be found
in the item number directly following the PAR, R, or BR designation. Halogen
light bulbs, like incandescent light bulbs, are measure in 1/8" increments.
For example a PAR30 halogen light bulb is 30/8" diameter, or 3.75".
