Guide on Popular Infrared Catering Light Bulbs

Catering light bulbs are purposefully designed for applications such as keeping food warm and warming food. Typically used in commercial units, catering bulbs are commonly found in pubs, restaurants, butchers and supermarkets. The most popular use is the Sunday Carvery. Specialist infrared manufacturer, Victory Lighting, lead the way in this field but other brands such as Osram and Dr Fischer also offer high quality products.

There are two types of linear catering lamps: non-jacketed and jacketed, both available with either R7s caps or SK15s fly leads. Screw-in infrared bulbs with E27/ES caps are also available as PAR shaped lamps.

Non-Jacketed

These special low pressure lamps convert a large percentage of energy consumed into the most efficient part of the infrared spectrum for food warming, IRA and IRB. As a result, when compared with standard K-class halogen lamp these lamps are approximately 10-15% more efficient, in addition, they also have an average life of 5,000 hours compared to 2,000 hours for a standard halogen. This non-jacketed lamp also enjoys a reduced internal gas pressure, operating at less than 1 bar at full power. Accordingly, they are designed not to explode or shatter on failure making them safer than standard lamps.

These lamps also have a multi-layer coating which provides a full and constant colour across their sleeves, ensuring uniformity from one batch to the next.

Main Features:

• Long Life
• Easy Replacement
• Designed not to explode or shatter on failure
• Efficient conversion of energy to infrared part of the light spectrum

Jacketed

These lamps have a tough quartz glass envelope designed to provide high resilience to impact breaks, splashed food liquids and increased protection against food ingress.

Like non-jacketed R7s bulbs, these special low pressure lamps convert a large percentage of energy consumed into the most efficient parts of the infrared spectrum for food warming, IRA and IRB. As a result, when compared with standard K-class halogen lamp these lamps are approximately 10-15% more efficient, in addition, they also have an average life of 5,000 hours compared to 2,000 hours for a standard halogen. This jacketed lamp also enjoys a reduced internal gas pressure, operating at less than 1 bar at full power. Accordingly, they are designed not to explode or shatter on failure making them safer than standard and non-jacketed lamps.

These lamps also have a multi-layer coating which provides a full and constant colour across their sleeves, ensuring uniformity from one batch to the next.

Features Include:

• Long Life
• Easy replacement
• Increased protection against food ingress
• High resilience to impact breaks
• Efficient conversion of energy to infrared part of the light spectrum

Infrared PAR Screw-In E27/ES

Infrared PAR screw-in E27/ES lamps with hard glass fronts can be used for food warming, the low wattage versions are also suitable for other purposes such as keeping chicks, puppies and kittens warm in their early life. Red and clear finishes are available; the function of the red filter is to reduce visible light by 75%. Additionally, these lamps are made with a specially moulded neck to ensure the base/cap will not detach from the main body of the bulb.

Product Features:

• Long Life
• Visible light reduced by 75% with red filter
• Lamp necks moulded to ensure cap will not detach from main body of the lamp

The catering lamps listed above are the most popular ones on the market, however there are alternatives available that offer different sizes and finishes. For further information on any catering light bulb please speak to our experienced and knowledgeable sales team and they will be happy to assist.

Call +44 800 131 3003, email sales@easy-lightbulbs.co.uk or visit our full infrared light bulb range where our range of catering lamps can be viewed online.