Infrared heaters are currently at the peak of popularity. They are affordable, inexpensive, but very effective remedy for heating both residential and commercial premises. An alternative is an infrared lamp.

The principle of operation of a ceramic light bulb IF radiation

The infrared ceramic lamp is a device for autonomous heating. The energy consumption during its operation is small, but at the same time it does not take a long time to heat up - the outgoing heat can be felt immediately after turning it on. Instant heating is carried out due to the special design of the flask.

Expert opinion

Izosimov Vladimir Nikolaevich

The work of an infrared lamp can be compared with the Sun: the rays that it gives to the outside world heat the surrounding landscape objects and buildings created by man, and they, in turn, give off heat environment and warm up the air. This is the main difference from convection heaters: infrared waves heat only the surface of surrounding objects, and not the air around them.

What is needed: types and applications

Infrared lamps can be classified according to several criteria:

• Power. The range is very wide: from 50 to 500 watts. If necessary, more powerful samples can be found.
• Light Wavelength(longwave, mediumwave, shortwave). Shortwave radiation is the brightest and can be used to heat rooms with large area, and long-wave samples are somewhat dimmer, but the heat emanating from them is softer.
• Lighting. The color of the glass is blue, white or scarlet. Additionally, a mirror coating can be applied.
• The form(the shape of an ordinary light bulb or in the form of tubes).
• Design features(incandescent, halogen).
• Application(for heating, drying, growth, treatment).

Expert opinion

Izosimov Vladimir Nikolaevich

Mirror coating is used to improve the efficiency of equipment. In addition, such a reflective coating helps to direct the flow of light in the right direction. Spraying can replace external reflective elements.

Infrared lamps, subject to reasonable approach and observance of the rules of use, do not have a harmful effect on living organisms. They do not waste energy, while many times more efficient than many analogues. In addition to the above, IR lamps have a number of other advantages:

• They do not have fans or other devices that produce noise, so IR lamps are considered the quietest devices among similar devices.
• The efficiency factor reaches the maximum possible value.
• You can heat both a large area and a specific area. This is very convenient in pigsties, poultry houses and the like.
• Depending on the size of the room, you can choose the right size. A standard infrared lamp is no larger than a conventional one.
• Low electricity costs.
• There are no problems with the installation of equipment. Often, even a specialist does not need to be called. The light bulb is screwed into the socket, the switch clicks - and the job is done.
• Equipment with infrared radiation does not harm the ecology of the planet: it does not emit gases and does not burn oxygen.

The disadvantages of the IR lamp are few, but they should be mentioned:

• The cost of such lamps is much higher than that of incandescent lamps, and the service life, in turn, is shorter.
• If the owner forgets to additionally install a thermostatic device, then the surface of the lamp heater will become very hot, and prolonged exposure to the lighting zone will bring discomfort.

ATTENTION! The flasks heat up very strongly, so it is not recommended to touch them with bare hands - you can get burned.

Benefits of medical IF light bulb for treatment

Infrared lamp treatment is one of those effective and useful physiotherapy procedures that can be easily performed at home.

Infrared radiation normalizes blood pressure and stimulates blood circulation in the brain, removes toxins from the body, contributes to the normalization of the hormonal sphere, and has an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect.

What heals?

Therapy can be both local and general, and is prescribed if the patient:

• Hair problems;
• Skin diseases (dermatitis, trophic ulcer, neurodermatitis, pemphigus, lichen);
• Pathology of the organs of vision;
• Frostbite and burns, long non-healing wounds;
• Respiratory diseases (runny nose, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis);
• Neuritis, neuralgia;
• Inflammatory processes;
• Complications after injuries, pathologies of the joints and the musculoskeletal system, contractures and infiltrates.

It is forbidden to use IR lamps if:

• the patient has a benign or malignant tumor;
• revealed blood diseases, open form of tuberculosis, individual intolerance;
• chronic diseases are acute;
• purulent processes are fixed in the body, but there is no outflow of contents.

IMPORTANT! Pregnant and breastfeeding women are not recommended to be exposed to infrared lamps!

AT medical institutions IR-cabins, electric bandage coupled with thermal wrapping and so on are used. You can buy a special lamp for your home.

For drying car paint and working with plastic in a car service

Among the methods used for drying a car - natural, convection and infrared - the latter is the most productive and convenient.

Drying occurs from the inside, so that cracking of the surface, swelling of the paint and other negative effects are not observed.

The presence of a control unit allows you to choose a convenient mode for each coating separately: primer, putty, varnish, enamel. Drying can also be used for the polymerization of powder paints, which until recently was possible only in the factory.

The most popular is a mobile infrared dryer on a rack with several emitters. A portable version is also available. Both short-wave and medium-wave drying are used: the drying time in the first case is from 5 to 15 minutes, in the second - from 12 to half an hour.

For heating greenhouses in the country

Infrared heaters are indispensable for growing plants in those regions of the country where the daylight hours are short. Such heating does not require large physical and material costs, such as water, gas or convector heating, but the results of seed germination are 30–40% higher.

Thanks to IR lamps, it is possible to create several zones in the greenhouse with different temperature conditions, depending on the needs of the crops grown. They are resistant to temperature extremes, the influence of sprayed chemicals (including aggressive ones), mechanical stress, and humidity. Besides:

• the heating system is installed on the ceiling or walls, which allows you to free the floor of the greenhouse for other purposes
• No open fire and heating elements, so the risk of fire is minimal
• installation of IR lamps can be done by a simple user

Expert opinion

Izosimov Vladimir Nikolaevich

Infra-red lamps located under the ceiling are suitable for growing heat-loving crops in season. Equipment laid in the ground is suitable for early cultivation of greenery and seedlings and warming up the soil after a long winter. It is worth spending money on complex equipment only if the owner of the greenhouse plans to engage in floriculture or vegetable growing all year round.

For space heating

The IR lamp is well suited for heating small and medium-sized premises: small private houses, offices, apartments. Especially popular devices among summer residents.

• Lamps do not dry out the air and do not create convective air currents;
• Allows you to leave a large area available for use;
• There is no need to equip the room with a ventilation outlet for combustion products;
• Allow to save up to 60% of financial costs for the consumption of energy resources;
• Voltage fluctuations and power outages do not affect the devices;
• Improve the health of residents;
• The electromagnetic field from infrared lamps does not exceed the permissible level.

Expert opinion

Izosimov Vladimir Nikolaevich

Do not use lamps with plastic cartridges - the material will melt very quickly. The ideal option is ceramics.

For plants

Without enough light, plants weaken, stop growing and blooming, and eventually die. Artificial lighting is necessary not only for greenhouse pets, but also for residents of home pots and planters. Therefore, one cannot do without an infrared lamp in the period from late autumn to early spring.

Choose red and blue glasses: shades of red promote the development of stems and leaves, and blue - the branching of rhizomes.

IMPORTANT! The distance between the plants and the lamp should be at least 150 cm.

For heating animals

IR lamps are used to heat young piglets, poultry, kids and lambs. They stimulate the growth of animals and birds, clear the space, dry the bedding. Basic rules of use:

• the light source must be equipped with a power regulator;
• the temperature in the place of heating should be in the range of 25–32 degrees;
• it is not recommended to frequently turn on / off the device;
• do not forget to clean the surface of the flask from dust from time to time, otherwise the settled dirt will cause the device to overheat and burn out.

The most popular brands for this purpose are Philips, Osram, IKZ, IKZK.

For brooder

Infrared film is best suited for: the heat emanating from the emitter gently and gently warms the eggs, there is no risk of overheating or hypothermia. The film is laid either down, under the tray, or fixed on the sides of the incubator and on the ceiling. Secure the rug with tape or self-tapping screws.

Expert opinion

Izosimov Vladimir Nikolaevich

For delicate creatures like chickens, an ordinary IR lamp is not suitable. If installed incorrectly, it greatly irritates the eyes of the chicks, and it is difficult to install the device according to the rules due to the specifics of the place. In addition, there is a risk of babies crowding near a heat source, which is fraught with crushing and losses.

for soldering station

Quartz or ceramic infrared emitters are used for stations. Quartz is strong and durable, well suited for long-term work.

Ceramic ones quickly reach the desired temperature (in 20-30 seconds), but are much more fragile. They are best used for frequent switching on and off, and for intermittent processes.

For flowers

The rules for using IR lamps for flowers are the same as for greenhouse plants. But they should be placed only on top to prevent curvature of the trunk. The permissible distance from the light source to the plant is 15-30 cm.

REFERENCE! Light-loving flowers (tradescantia, monstera, phalaenopsis, dracaena, gloxia) should be placed closer to the center.

For sauna

An infrared heater for a sauna is used if it is not possible to build a full-fledged stove. It looks like a metal case with a screen, a heat-insulating layer, a reflector and a heating element. The most popular: Russian "Peony", "Ecoline", "Master hit" "Ballu"; Italian "ITM" and AEG"; German "WAGO", "Eckerle", "Kroll"; French "Thermor", "Noirot".

It is best to install equipment in the sauna vertically and so that a single heat flow is obtained. The heating element can be ceramic (service life is only 4 years), tubular (service life is 6-7 years) or carbon fiber (up to 10 years and more).

Infrared lamps have a number of advantages over similar lamps. When choosing a machine for a particular purpose, use common sense and technical specifications, not advertising, follow the rules of installation and operation. Then you won't have any problems.

Svoboda Igor Nikolaevich

An infrared lamp and a lamp are light sources that radiate heat in the direction in which they are directed. The principle of operation - when connected to the electrical network, the lamp filament instantly heats up and due to the special design of the bulb, infrared radiation is generated, the temperature of which can reach 75 0 C.

Infrared lamps are classified according to the following criteria:

• application (medical, for heating, for drying);
• depending on the length of the light wave (short-wave, medium-wave and long-wave);
• constructions (incandescent, halogen);
• form (ordinary, in the form of tubes);
• light (red, white, blue);
• power (from 50 to 500 W).

The scope of such lamps is extensive. They can be used for heating small areas (kiosks, balconies, winter gardens, living quarters, offices, etc.). They are also used for medical purposes. An infrared lamp for treatment has found application for colds, pain in the joints and muscles, and lowering blood pressure. Such lamps can be bought at a pharmacy. In paint shops, at repair shops, in car workshops, infrared lamps are sources that speed up the drying of paints, enamels and varnishes and make coatings of better quality.

Agriculture is an industry that is indispensable without infrared lamps. In livestock and poultry farming, they are used for heating and rearing young animals. Infrared illumination not only heats, but also helps to increase the appetite of calves, piglets, foals, bird chicks, which increases weight gain. In addition, the young organism of animals and birds is better resistant to disease. In a brooder where chickens or other poultry are reared, infrared radiation dries the hay at the same time, which improves hygiene. Directed heat provides the necessary temperature conditions. The installation of such sources of heat and lighting in greenhouses and winter gardens contributes to the growth of the crop, because. allows you to adjust the heating height of seedlings and seedlings.

Design

An incandescent lamp and an infrared lamp have much in common. Structurally, the IR light source is a flask, on the inner surface of which a mirror amalgam is applied. There is a tungsten spiral inside the glass case in red, blue or white. The sealed housing is filled with gas (a mixture of nitrogen and argon in various proportions). To connect to a power source, the heat and light emitter is equipped with an E27 ceramic cartridge.

Powerful products have protective fittings to protect the source of heat and light from moisture and overheating and can be used in dusty and humid areas.

Low-temperature models, which include long-wave products, are ideal for use in private houses and apartments, medium-wave ones heat the areas of kiosks, shops, stalls and other medium-sized premises, and short-wave ones heat up production workshops, warehouses and rooms of considerable size.

Advantages

The main advantages of infrared radiation sources include:

• small dimensions;
• possibility of use for different purposes;
• high efficiency;
• instant heating;
• noiselessness;
• they do not burn oxygen;
• fast installation;
• environmental friendliness;
• security.

Main settings

When choosing a lamp, you need to pay attention to the following indicators:

• lamp type;
• power;
• cartridge type.

Infrared lamps will replace expensive equipment for drying, curing and heating. It is only necessary to choose the right source of light and heat. The best products are General Electric (USA), Philips (Netherlands), Osram and Sylvania (Germany), which are world leaders in the production of lighting equipment. These companies produce their lamps on high-tech equipment from high-quality materials in compliance with production technology. Therefore, their products are capable of serving 6,000 hours or more. Customer reviews indicate that the most popular models are: Rubystar, Thera Red and Halotherm of the German company Osram, Ir - the company Sylvania.

Video about infrared lamps

Infrared heating is one of the home heating systems. used both the main and auxiliary method of heating a home.

Since thermal energy is not dissipated in the surrounding space and comes directly to people and objects. Infrared heaters are called "direct heating devices".

Infrared home heating

Infrared heating in our time is gaining more and more popularity.

Operating principle

IR radiation is based on electromagnetic radiation, on physical properties and qualities similar to the sun.

The device consists from two layers:

• metal, carbon or quartz layer acting as a heating element, the material affects the heating power;
• aluminum foil, which heats up from the metal and gives off heat to the surrounding space.

Both layers are hermetically sealed. into a dielectric that emits waves.

Modifications of infrared heaters:

• Film- warm floors are mounted only with a film.
• Panel- installation and ceiling, and floor, and walls.

An electric current passing through a heating device is converted into heat waves with a frequency 9 µm, which on their way heat the surrounding objects and planes. At this time, there is no displacement of cold air and no concentration of warm air at the top: the entire room is heated evenly.

Pros:

• cost-effectiveness - in comparison with other types of electric heating, it is saved up to 50% electricity, service life up to 25 years;
• rapid heating of the room;
• area conservation;
• easy installation;
• Ease of controls;
• noiselessness of work;
• environmental friendliness - contributes to the disappearance of the fungus, dust, does not dry the air;
• safety - heaters are installed in wet rooms;
• allowed even when heating verandas, summer verandas.

Minuses:

• high price of equipment;
• warm-up duration large rooms;
• prohibition of use in rooms with ceilings below 2.5 m;
• the high cost of creating key conditions for efficient work: insulation and waterproofing of the house, the creation of thermal shields;
• low mobility;
• maintaining the necessary distance to objects;
• the likelihood of getting burned if too close to the heater;
• low temperature adjustment range;
• smell from heated objects.

Varieties of IR heating

They differ in:

1. Energy source:

• electrical;
• gas;
• electrogas.

1. Place of installation:

• ceiling;
• wall;
• floor.

1. By wavelength:

• shortwave- for small rooms, with ceilings up to 3 meters, temperature up to 600°C.
• medium wave- medium area, ceiling height from 3 to 6 meters, temperature 600-1000°C.
• longwave– for large spaces with ceiling height from 6 to 8 meters, heating temperature 1 thousand °C.

Ceiling heaters

Heating devices are mounted on the ceiling - infrared radiation diverges slightly to the sides and goes to the floor, the main heating surface. Because of this the temperature at the floor is higher than at the walls or ceiling.

Photo 1. Infrared ceiling heater for home heating. The device looks like an ordinary lamp.

Peculiarities

• radiation diverges in a cone, capturing maximum space;
• fixture allows you to choose optimal direction of radiation;
• can act as a "heat gun" when installed near windows or doors;
• ceiling panels imitate designer coatings.

Attention! When connecting several devices, observe the parallel connection, and install a separate machine in the shield, to avoid overload.

Distance from heater to ceiling at least ten centimeters.

Heating with infrared film

Warm floor mounted only with foil mats. Flat heating elements connected in series are soldered into the dielectric.

matami the floor is covered under the finish coating or mounted on the ceiling. The radiated waves heat the opposite surface and objects.

Film heaters are different several advantageous features:

• the minimum thickness of the film mat does not eat up a single centimeter of the area;
• any finish coating is laid on it;
• installation can be carried out independently without special tools;
• safe.

You will also be interested in:

Installation

Installation of film coatings requires the fulfillment of several conditions:

• Perfectly flat base. Before installation, it is necessary to carry out work to align the hydro- and thermal insulation of the base.
• infrared bands stack with a gap of 0.5-1 cm on a space free from furniture and interconnected with thermal insulation tape. From the wall mats recede not less than ten centimeters.

Important! Heating strips can only be cut according to special markup. These places are covered with bituminous insulation, which comes with the floor.

• bend heating elements more than 90 degrees is impossible;
• connect infrared strips in parallel copper multicore cables not less than 1.5 mm. sq. sections;
• on the wall for temperature control hung thermostat, and a thermal sensor is placed under the mat in a special recess;
• after installation, start-up work is carried out in order to check serviceability mats.

The sensor is placed on thermal insulation, otherwise it will not show the real temperature of the base.

Reference. The area with film mats should be not less than 70% for heating efficiency.

Wall thermal IR panels

infrared panels mounted on the wall with special brackets and heat the opposite wall and objects located in the path of thermal waves.

Photo 2. Infrared thermal panels installed around the perimeter of the room. Appliances serve as the main source of heating.

Peculiarities

• Panels combine the properties of radiators and convectors.
• The heater is made of cermet. In this case, the device is a solid panel with a cable connected.
• Wall panel models equipped with thermostats.
• Quartz panels after shutdown keep warm for a long time.
• Quartz heaters replace centralized heating in garages.

Infrared heating using skirting boards

Infrared baseboards or "warm baseboard" - a variety of wall-mounted infrared heaters.

Photo 3. Infrared baseboards for additional space heating. Appliances heat the floors well.

Behind a special aluminum profile imitating a plinth, a ribbed heating element based on carbon. Heat rises by natural convection.

Peculiarities

• a warm baseboard is a low-power device, so it is used only as an additional tool;
• plinth heat the floors and part of the walls;
• dries out the walls eliminates fungus and mold;
• when located on the walls in special boxes - prevent furniture damage, the laying area is not limited by free space.

Gas infrared heaters

Autonomous type of equipment that does not require electricity. This feature makes gas infrared heaters suitable for places where there is no power connection or there is a possibility of power surges. heated up up to 800 °C, and quickly heats up the area up to 60 squares. For work propane or natural gas required in balloons.

Gas infrared heaters are not intended for permanent heating of the house.

Kinds:

• Ceramic- a ceramic plate is used as a heating element. The gas cylinder is located in the metal base of the device. It is more often used in dachas, in gazebos and street establishments.
• Catalytic It uses both gas and electricity to operate. It is based on the principle of oxidation of substances. It is used for heating residential and industrial premises. This is the safe kind.
• Street- designed for heating terraces, sports and playgrounds, cafes in the form of an open umbrella with a heating radius of six meters. Gas cylinders are located inside the heater.

Operating principle

Same as electric ones, only gas is used:

• in the heater chamber gas is mixed with air;
• the mixture passes into the holes of the ceramic plates and burns, heating ceramics;
• heated plates emit heat waves.

Peculiarities:

• The presence of a built-in sensor to control the concentration of carbon dioxide in the air. When the level is 1.5% exceeded, the sensor will turn off the heater.
• The room is periodically ventilated.
• If large heaters are used, then it is necessary to additionally equip the room with a chimney.

Infrared heating is a great alternative to the usual electric heaters with heating elements and traditional batteries. It allows you to heat rooms for various purposes, delighting consumers with soft warmth and comfort. In the world of infrared heaters, there is a rather unusual heating device - this is an infrared lamp that looks like the most ordinary incandescent lamp. Let's see how this device works, where it is used and what are its features.

The structure of the infrared lamp

The infrared lamp is an autonomous heating device powered by an electrical network. It is a source of infrared radiation that reaches surrounding objects and heats them up. The simplest light bulb is a glass bulb, inside of which is an ordinary tungsten filament. Glass is most often painted in brown-red color, a mirror coating is visible from the inside. Such a light bulb is screwed into the most ordinary cartridge, suspended above the heated space or enclosed in some kind of housing.

There are also more compact infrared lamps for space heating - they are made in the form of thin glass tubes, into which a mixture of nitrogen and argon is pumped. It turns out a miniature light bulb, giving a decent flow of heat. It works at the expense of the same tungsten filament, as in a conventional light bulb, which serves to illuminate the premises.

An infrared lamp is a compact source of infrared radiation. Its power varies from 50 to 500 W, although there are more powerful samples on sale (used in heaters). It is screwed into the simplest ceramic cartridge, although some models require cartridges of a different type. During operation, its body is heated to high temperatures, so the cartridge should not be made of plastic - otherwise it will simply melt. Do not touch the IR lamps - it is possible to get burned.

Infrared lamps are represented on the market by the following varieties:

In no case should an IR lamp be screwed into an ordinary plastic cartridge - high temperature will simply melt it.

• With a mirror coating - they differ in silver flasks;
• With a blue mirror finish;
• With red mirror finish;
• No mirror finish.

The latest types of lamps look like ordinary incandescent bulbs, but they are also a source of infrared radiation.

Powerful luminous heating elements in halogen infrared heaters are also lamps, only more productive and designed to heat a large area.

Infrared lamps are equipped with a mirror coating with a dual purpose - to increase their efficiency and to direct the IR flux in a certain direction. If there is no reflective coating, then external reflective elements can play its role, as is implemented in halogen IR heaters. In addition, several IR lamps can be combined into one structure to form an IR illuminator.

Designations and main characteristics

The infrared heating lamp has the following characteristics:

• Wavelength - according to this parameter, light bulbs are divided into short-wave, medium-wave and long-wave;
• Cartridge type (base) - for example, a traditional heater lamp of the type we are used to is equipped with an E27 cartridge;
• Supply voltage - for almost all household infrared bulbs, it is 220 volts;
• Power - varies in the widest range.

Traditional IR lamp for heating, made in the form ordinary light bulb for the E27 base, endowed with a certain marking in the form of an abbreviation. For example, the abbreviation IKZ indicates that the light bulb is not painted in any colors and can be used not only for heating, but also for lighting. The designation ICPC indicates the presence of a red color, while the designation ICZS indicates a blue color.

As an example, consider a lamp IKZK 250 W - this is a product in the form of a traditional bulb, with a power of 250 W, with a reflective coating and red color.

The principle of operation of the infrared lamp

IR lamps heat the room much more efficiently and do not waste energy in vain.

The principle of operation used by infrared lamps was invented by nature itself. We are all well acquainted with the most powerful source of infrared radiation - the Sun. Its rays reach the surface of the planet and artificial structures located on it, warming them up. As a result, they begin to give off heat into the air. That is, the Sun does not heat the air itself, which is generally a good heat insulator, but elements of the landscape and buildings created by mankind.

Infrared lamps that heat the room work in a similar way. They are a source of infrared radiation that affects people, animals and surrounding things. Instantaneously and practically without loss, reaching any objects, IR rays are absorbed by them and converted into thermal energy. That is why, putting our hand under the IR lamp, we will feel the warmth spreading inside us.

Any lamp infrared heater works in a similar way:

• Voltage is applied to its emitter;
• The spiral begins to warm up;
• The resulting IR radiation is sent to the room.

The brighter the lamp shines, the more short-wave radiation it gives, and the further it spreads, allowing you to heat a large area. Long-wave lamps are not as bright, the heat from them is softer and more gentle.

Infrared radiation from lamps does not have any detrimental effect on living organisms, including humans - of course, with reasonable use. Therefore, you can not be afraid for your health. Moreover, some types of infrared lamps are actively used for physiotherapeutic purposes for the treatment of various diseases, which we will talk about later in our review.

Advantages and disadvantages

Let's see what are the good and bad infrared lamps. Let's start with the positives:

Among all types of space heating, infrared is the safest and most environmentally friendly.

• Complete noiselessness of operation - unlike heat guns, IR radiation spreads without the help of fans and at the speed of light;
• Maximum efficiency - like almost all electric heaters, it approaches 100% (but does not reach this indicator due to certain laws of physics);
• The simplest installation - just screw the infrared lamp into the socket and flip the switch;
• The possibility of spot heating is relevant for animals kept in small cages and pens;
• Extremely compact - a traditional 500 W infrared lamp takes up no more space than an ordinary incandescent bulb;
• Environmentally friendly - IR lamps do not burn oxygen and do not emit any gases into the air.

There are also some disadvantages:

• High temperature of the flasks - you can get serious burns;
• Discomfort during a long stay in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe lamps - here most often non-compliance with operating standards affects;
• High electricity consumption is typical for any electric heaters.

The cons are not the worst, they can be neglected if you follow the rules of operation.

Despite the shortcomings, infrared lamps continue to be in demand heating equipment - agricultural workers, breeders of poultry and livestock need them, and they also find their application in heating open areas.

Scope of infrared lamps

Let's see how and where infrared lamps are used. The scope of their application is wide - they are necessary in everyday life, at work, in medicine and in many other areas of human activity.

A halogen infrared lamp is the perfect base for an outdoor heater. With low power and a short wavelength, it can heat a fairly large area. Heating appliances on such IR lamps are often used near swimming pools, on verandas and terraces, as well as in open areas of restaurants and cafes. The infrared rays emitted by them instantly reach the surrounding objects and people, delighting with warmth and comfort. Moreover, in outdoor conditions this is almost the only type of heating - conventional convectors and heat guns are useless here.

The lamp infrared heater is useful for heating any residential and commercial premises. By installing it on the ceiling or on the wall, we get an excellent source of heat - a short-wave or medium-wave lamp will quickly create a comfortable atmosphere for a person to stay. But such heaters are rarely used on a permanent basis - most often they act as auxiliary equipment when the main heating does not work well enough.

For long-term heating of residential premises, it is recommended to use long-wave infrared heaters, and not of the lamp type.

Buying an infrared lamp for heating a greenhouse is a more than excellent solution. Although single lamps hanging on wires above rising plants can be adapted for this. In any case, IR lamps will create an optimal atmosphere in the greenhouse, because plants receive exactly the same rays from our Sun. Therefore, for the development of crops, such heating will be a plus - evidence of this is the feedback from those who have been engaged in seedlings and plant breeding for many years.

An infrared lamp is also useful for those who grow seedlings on a windowsill or on a table by the window. Young plants may lack light and heat, and IR lamps can easily make up for this deficiency. The main thing is not to overdo it with the power and duration of the backlight, otherwise the results achieved will be ruined.

The infrared lamp is well known to those who breed poultry - chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, quails, etc. Newly born chicks placed in a separate cage need warmth. A red lamp for heating the chicks will allow the young to survive and not freeze - the birds are happy to huddle right under the infrared lamp, enjoying its warmth. Similarly, individual cages with animals are heated - a heat lamp with temperature control can be useful here, which will optimize the conditions for placing animals.

Similar infrared lamps are used in zoos and farms, where newly born animals are separated from their mothers in separate cages and boxes. In order to keep them warm and comfortable, low-power IR bulbs are hung over them. To create more comfortable conditions, cages and boxes are pasted over with reflective materials.

Infrared lamps are used by villagers and rural settlements for winter heating of poultry houses - during periods of severe frosts, IR lamps will prevent the birds from freezing. The same measures apply to rabbits, nutrias and even domestic animals - these can be newly born puppies and kittens who lack maternal warmth.

We somehow forgot about the treatment with infrared lamps, hoping more and more for miraculous (and often useless) pills. But before they were used to eliminate pain symptoms, with pain in muscles and bones, in the treatment of osteochondrosis. They also helped with acute respiratory infections, flu, throat diseases, high blood pressure and skin diseases. With blue infrared lamps, they relieved stress, strengthened the immune system, increased the endurance of the body, and removed bruises.

Today, treatment with infrared lamps is slowly reviving - people trust pills less and less, remembering the miraculous effect of physiotherapy procedures. Moreover, the treatment with infrared rays just refers to physiotherapy. We also managed to forget that infrared lamps help well in the treatment acne- this information is relevant for many people experiencing skin problems.

Household infrared lamps as heating equipment is a promising and interesting solution. Agree: it’s very good to get a compact device with high efficiency, while also being easy to use. But you do not know what should be guided by when choosing an IR bulb?

We will tell you how to choose the best IR bulb for your home, garden and 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 selection task, the following are listed the best manufacturers with a reputation in the lighting market.

To help customers, the information is supplemented with photographs of IR bulbs, 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.

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 indexes and reflection coefficients, like visible light waves, their specific properties have slightly different characteristics. For example, such radiation hardly overcomes a layer of water only a few centimeters thick, but silicon wafers easily pass it.

Aluminum reflects IR rays much better than visible light waves, the reflectance can reach 98%. Such radiation is practically not absorbed by air, and this ensures a high level of efficiency for heaters of this type. But here water vapor, ozone, carbon dioxide and other “fillers” can noticeably spoil the matter.

Infrared waves pass through the air space with virtually no loss of thermal energy, which is absorbed by surrounding objects and propagates from the bottom up

Unlike convection heating, IR 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 objects. Understanding this principle will help you use it correctly.

IR lamp device

The 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 have been created different kind and size. IR lamps are more suitable for thermal effects on certain areas of the room.

The most common models of such devices are a glass bulb, inside which is a tungsten filament.

The mirror coating directs the flow of infrared radiation in the right 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 conventional 220 V network.

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 fixtures.

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 cartridge and lampshade for an IR lamp must withstand heating up to 80 degrees, not every plastic is capable of this.

Traditionally, flasks of infrared lamps are painted 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 dyed red or blue.

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

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

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

Finally, there is a very special type of lamp 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 water splashes. Such devices are widely used for night heating of young animals, as well as for keeping exotic animals at home: reptiles, snakes, etc.

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 waves differ in the amount of heat and light. The brighter the infrared lamp shines, the shorter the radiation wave, and the further the area of ​​its penetration.

The heat of devices emitting long waves is considered to be milder in effect. There are usually no problems with voltage, since household appliances of this type are traditionally designed for a voltage of 220 W in a conventional network.

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

As for power, it is chosen depending on the size of the area 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 dried-out frames are installed in the room, etc.

IR lamps vary in shape and diameter and are labeled according to these features. To understand the dimensions of the product from the code, you will have to do some calculations. The numbers next to the letter code must be divided by 4 to get the diameter in inches.

The result obtained is easy to convert to centimeters. For example, for a PAR38 lamp, the calculations would be: 38:4=4.75 inches; 4.75 * 2.54 \u003d 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 by letter marking. Short body fits better under the lampshade to reduce glare

The R number indicates the presence of a reflector. Such models usually have a very simple 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.

Models marked BR are lamps with a convex reflector coated with paint or other reflective material.

The transparent bulb combined with it can be glossy or matte, sometimes there is a variant with cells that reduce the level of radiation scattering. Such models also usually have an illumination angle in excess of 45 degrees.

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

PAR models are equipped with an aluminum coated parabolic reflector. A tempered glass flask with a honeycomb structure is attached to it. Precisely calculated shape of both elements ensures complete tightness of the device.

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

Advantages of IR heating

As already mentioned, IR lamps are used for spot heating of individual zones. Although in crop or animal husbandry, a few lamps can fully meet the heat needs of a greenhouse, chicken coop, etc. A winter garden, a balcony, a stand-alone kiosk, and other similar objects are advantageously heated using IR lamps.

Here are the main advantages of this type of devices:

• compact dimensions;
• simple installation;
• high efficiency;
• heat distribution 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 heated air flows so that they spread throughout the room, as is done with convection methods. Even if the lamp is located under the very ceiling, the heat will reach the goal.

For the operation of such a heater, oxygen is not needed, so its presence favorably affects 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 light

Due to the absence of convection, dust also does not move around the house. IR lamps are not difficult to store if they are only used seasonally. To install or dismantle the device, you just need to screw it into the cartridge or unscrew it.

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

Such lamps are convenient to use if you need to heat a specific place. For example, if the balcony turned 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 simply be 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 intensity of heating depending on the situation.

They are used for medicinal purposes in medical institutions, but at home the healing effect does not disappear anywhere. 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 lamp above the floor. This point is especially relevant when growing plants and young animals.

The relevance of lamp heating

Such lamps are widely used in animal husbandry, both in the industrial sector and in small households. Infra-red lighting is practically indispensable for rearing 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 hung at some distance from each other.

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

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

Some believe that red-bulb lamps should be used in the first 20 days of a chick's life to reduce stress on the young. Wiring must be laid on the outside of the cage. It is recommended to use luminaires with protective grille to protect the chicks from burns and the glass from damage.

Periodically, after cooling, 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, you should not take cheap lamps with thin bulbs that burst upon accidental contact with drops of water.

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 hung 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 industries for drying various surfaces. IR light can also be used to dry herbs, spices, foodstuffs, etc. Another option is to heat the plastic for molding work.

Presentation of popular manufacturers

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

Not the most low price on IR lamps is fully compensated by increased reliability, modern design and long service life.

Manufacturer #1 - Philips

It is these characteristics that distinguish models manufactured by Philips. They can be safely used where there is a danger of exposure to water splashes: in bathrooms, in kitchens, in livestock buildings.

Philips PAR lamps save up to 30% more heat than comparable lamps with an improved reflector. Approximately 90% of electricity is converted into infrared radiation. These products are highly durable.

Infrared lamps are compact in size and light in comparison with other types of heaters, they are easy to install and remove.

Manufacturer #2 - Osram

Osram SICCATHERM products show high efficiency. Lamp power varies from 150 to 375 watts. They are designed to be used with a standard E27 base, the illumination angle is 30 degrees.

Red flasks in this line are marked as RED, frosted flasks are indicated by the letters FR, and transparent - CL.

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

Producer #3 - InterHeat

IR lamps manufactured by InterHeat are universal, almost all of them are suitable for a standard base. Their distinctive feature is the increased resistance of the glass bulb to splashes and accidental impacts.

InterHeat's high-power bulbs have proven to be stable and durable in livestock buildings

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

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

An overview of the IR150RH E27 IR lamp from PHILIPS can be seen in the following video:

This video contains helpful information optional IR lamps for heating animals:

An interesting comparison of the characteristics of a mirror and ceramic IR lamp:

Of course, such devices cannot fully provide heat for a house or a large room. But there are situations when an IR lamp is simply irreplaceable. If the device is chosen correctly, it will provide uniform and relatively inexpensive heating exactly where it is needed.

And how did you select an infrared light bulb for installation in a house / apartment? Tell us about what was the decisive argument in favor of this or that decision for you. Please write comments in the block below, ask questions, post photos on the topic of the article.