lighting resistive and inductive help please

happyhero

Hi Can anybody help me. I have been looking at some lighting and switching, and the litrature goes on about some things depending on the type of lighting load.

Can anybody tell me what the difference is between inductive and resistive and how I could tell what an item is? ie I am looking at some halogen floodlights, the ones with a long 78mm tube in them 150w, what would they be?

I know some of you will say ask an electrician well I have some electrical background and want to understand this first before I get envolved with electricians.

Any help appreciated.

Also what would low votlage halogen and 230v halogen be?

paul_h

All 230V filament lighting, such as standard incandescent bulbs or halogen, are classed as resistive loads.

All lighting which contains a ballast (or choke), such as fluorescent or high/low pressure sodium/mercury, is classed as an inductive load.

Low voltage systems fed by a transformer are technically an inductive load, but are generally low current systems, so the de-rating applied is usually less of a problem.