Torchiere
Encyclopedia
A torchiere or torch lamp, is a lamp with a tall stand of wood
or metal
. Originally, torchieres were candelabra, usually with two or three lights. When it was first introduced in France
towards the end of the 17th century the torchiere mounted one candle only, and when the number was doubled or tripled the improvement was regarded almost as a revolution in the lighting of large rooms.
Today, torchiere lamps use fluorescent or halogen light bulbs. Halogen torchieres usually have a TRIAC
dimmer circuit built into the stem. The same circuit will not work in a fluorescent torchiere for the same reason that it won't work in other types of fluorescent applications: namely, because the pulsing will cause the arc in the fluorescent tube to become erratic. This is overcome by adjusting the pulse-width modulation
in the electronic ballast instead; and most fluorescent torchieres use this method.
Halogen torchieres have been banned in some places, such as dormitories, because of the large numbers of fires they have caused. Halogen bulbs operate at high temperature
s and the tall height of the lamps brings them near flammable materials, such as curtain
s.
Wood
Wood is a hard, fibrous tissue found in many trees. It has been used for hundreds of thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material. It is an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose fibers embedded in a matrix of lignin which resists compression...
or metal
Metal
A metal , is an element, compound, or alloy that is a good conductor of both electricity and heat. Metals are usually malleable and shiny, that is they reflect most of incident light...
. Originally, torchieres were candelabra, usually with two or three lights. When it was first introduced in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
towards the end of the 17th century the torchiere mounted one candle only, and when the number was doubled or tripled the improvement was regarded almost as a revolution in the lighting of large rooms.
Today, torchiere lamps use fluorescent or halogen light bulbs. Halogen torchieres usually have a TRIAC
TRIAC
TRIAC, from Triode for Alternating Current, is a genericized tradename for an electronic component that can conduct current in either direction when it is triggered , and is formally called a bidirectional triode thyristor or bilateral triode thyristor.TRIACs belong to the thyristor family and are...
dimmer circuit built into the stem. The same circuit will not work in a fluorescent torchiere for the same reason that it won't work in other types of fluorescent applications: namely, because the pulsing will cause the arc in the fluorescent tube to become erratic. This is overcome by adjusting the pulse-width modulation
Pulse-width modulation
Pulse-width modulation , or pulse-duration modulation , is a commonly used technique for controlling power to inertial electrical devices, made practical by modern electronic power switches....
in the electronic ballast instead; and most fluorescent torchieres use this method.
Halogen torchieres have been banned in some places, such as dormitories, because of the large numbers of fires they have caused. Halogen bulbs operate at high temperature
Temperature
Temperature is a physical property of matter that quantitatively expresses the common notions of hot and cold. Objects of low temperature are cold, while various degrees of higher temperatures are referred to as warm or hot...
s and the tall height of the lamps brings them near flammable materials, such as curtain
Curtain
A curtain is a piece of cloth intended to block or obscure light, or drafts, or water in the case of a shower curtain. Curtains hung over a doorway are known as portières...
s.