Incandescent Light - Design

Incandescent lamps come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes, but all share the same basic elements as De La Rue's original incandescent lamp. Each is contained by a glass or quartz envelope. Current enters the lamp through a conductor in an airtight joint or joints. Wires carry current to the filament, which is held up and away from the bulb by support wires. Changes in the specifics of incandescent lamps have been made to increase efficiency, lifetime, and ease of manufacture.

Although the first common electric lamps were incandescent, many lamps used today are not: Fluorescent lamps, neon signs, and glow-discharge lamps, for example, are not incandescent. Fluorescent lamps are more energy-efficient than incandescent lamps, but may not offer a desired color output.