Any reason to not use Halogen Bulbs for a DIY Dim Bulb Tester?

[t1d]

Any points to consider?
Thank you for your help.

[tautech]

Wattage ?
You might need several holders in parallel and some way to cover those fittings when not being used for safety.

[t1d]

Hi, tautech! Great to hear from you. I will be using a great many, low wattage bulbs, in order to create a good many current brackets. Meaning, I want to be able to bring the current up very slowly and very precisely. Protecting the bulbs that are not being used is a good point. My case design already takes this into consideration. But, I was wondering if there was any difference in the way a halogen would act, as opposed to a common incandescent, and, if one is better for the application, then why...

[tautech]

110VAC SES ?
I'd just treat them like any other incandescent bulb as after all that's what they are and just in a different format/build to your normal tungsten filament bulb.

They should just work for a DBT. 

[t1d]

Excellent! Thank you very much.

[james_s]

The only things I can think of to consider are the high bulb wall temperature which needs better protection/isolation form flammable materials than standard incandescent, and the fact that prolonged (hours) operation at significantly lower than design power prevents the halogen cycle from working and can result in rapid blackening of the bulb wall. Otherwise yes, they are just incandescent lamps like any other.

[floobydust]

Halogen lamp filaments at rated power run hotter than ordinary incandescents, so the hot/cold resistance ratio is higher.
I'm saying the cold resistance is lower, you'd have to measure it, and this gives less current limiting/higher inrush for a dim bulb tester so start with lower wattage or what I do is have the option of two lamps in series with a switch for small loads.

[t1d]

Ahh... In series = good thought. Thanks.