What Is PAR Lamp?

PAR is an abbreviation formed from the initials of the words Parabolic aluminized reflector. PAR lamp is a type of lamp widely used in commercial buildings, residences and transportation vehicles. PAR lamps are used in the headlights of old vehicles, exterior lights of vehicles such as trains and airplanes, and lighthouses.

What Is PAR Lamp?
18.03.2023
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PAR is an abbreviation formed from the initials of the words Parabolic aluminized reflector. PAR lamp is a type of lamp widely used in commercial buildings, residences and transportation vehicles. PAR lamps are used in the headlights of old vehicles, exterior lights of vehicles such as trains and airplanes, and lighthouses.

A PAR lamp consists of an aluminum reflector used to collect the light, a light source and a glass lens as a shield.

Halogen lamps of different power are generally used in PAR lamps. The sizes and operating voltages of PAR lamps also differ.

PAR lamps are called by different names according to their diameter. For this purpose, a 2-digit code is used next to the PAR name. For example; The diameter of the PAR16 lamp is approximately 50 mm. The diameter of the PAR56 lamp is 175 mm. Other PAR lamp types and diameters are as follows.

  • PAR16: 50mm
  • PAR20: 65mm
  • PAR30: 95mm
  • PAR36: 115mm
  • PAR38: 120mm
  • PAR46: 145mm
  • PAR56: 175mm
  • PAR64: 200mm

The most widely used of these are PAR20, PAR30 and PAR38.

In a PAR lamp, the geometry of the reflector and the position of the light source determine the light angle. PAR lamps can have a narrow, medium or wide beam angle. Lamps with a narrow light angle should be used to illuminate far points, and lamps with a wide light angle should be used to illuminate large areas.

PAR lamps can have 110 V or 220 V input voltage. There are also lamps with different operating voltages such as 12 V and 30 V. The standard power values of PAR lamps are as follows.

  • PAR36: 30, 75, 100
  • PAR38: 75, 100, 120, 150
  • PAR46: 150, 200
  • PAR56: 200, 300, 500
  • PAR64: 250, 500, 1,000

PAR lamps equipped with LED light source with today’s technology have much higher luminous efficiency. For example; A 30 W LED PAR lamp can reach 3,000 lumens of light output.

In addition, halogen lamps have a working life of 500 hours, while LED lamps can work for over 25,000 hours without malfunction.

Emre Yılmaz, the founder of Lighting Portal, graduated from Atılım University Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering in 2013, and since then has been involved in the management and product development activities of state-supported projects in the lighting industry. He completed his master's degree at Gazi University Industrial Design Engineering Department and continues his education in the doctorate program of the same department.
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