Getting the Most Out of Your 626mm Halogen Lamps
If you’re running a PET blowing machine, you know the drill. You need those preforms soft and ready to blow—and you need it to happen fast. That’s exactly why we built these 626mm halogen lamps. These aren’t your typical light bulbs. They’re heavy-duty infrared heaters designed to do one thing: get your plastic to that perfect melting point without ruining the batch. Let’s talk power. We went with a 220V 1000W setup because it hits that sweet spot. It gives you enough heat density across the full 626mm length to get the job done, but it won’t scorch the plastic. One quick tip: keep your power supply stable. If your voltage starts jumping around, those tungsten filaments are going to burn out way faster than they should. It’s just physics. Why not just use LEDs? You might hear people talking about LED replacements. But here’s the thing: LEDs are for seeing; halogens are for heating. These lamps use a quartz envelope and a clever halogen gas cycle. Basically, as the tungsten evaporates, the gas pushes it back onto the filament. This keeps the tube crystal clear and ensures your heat output stays consistent, even after thousands of cycles. Fitting them into your workflow These are designed to be a simple drop-in replacement for your old, worn-out elements in the oven. Since 626mm is a pretty standard size for medium and large machines, they should slide right in. Just wire them to your control board, and you’re good to go. A couple of things to watch out for… 1000W of infrared energy puts out a lot of heat. If your cooling fans are clogged with dust or just aren’t pulling enough air, your lamp housing can overheat. That’s usually when connectors start to fail. Also, take a look at your reflectors. If they’re dusty, you’re losing heat. That forces the lamp to run hotter and harder just to keep up. Keep them clean, and your lamps will last a whole lot longer.