http://www.pegasusassociates.com/DimmerFAQs.html
Q) Can dimmers increase halogen lamp life?
A) Yes. Dimming increases incandescent lamp life and halogen lamps are a type of incandescent lamp with a tungsten filament just like a traditional incandescent lamp. A pilot test performed by Lutron, a major manufacturer of dimmers, suggests that halogen lamps will have an expected lamp life similar to that of other incandescent lamps when dimmed. As an example, one type of halogen lamp with a rated life of 2000 hours dimmed to 25% has a life extension of about four times that of a non-dimmed lamp. Lutron is continuing testing with various halogen lamps.
Part of the characteristic of the halogen bulb is that it runs at a hotter tempature and gas helps cause it to redeposite the metallic ions from the filament back onto the filament.
If you run it cooler (dimmed) than that does not happen.
But it just affects the life of the bulb.
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