Acetylene combustion produces a strong, bright light and the ubiquity of carbide lamps drove much acetylene commercialization in the early 20th century. Common applications included coastal lighthouses, street lights, and automobileGrainger, D., (2001). By cars' early light: A short history of the headlamp: 1900s lights bore port and starboard red and green lenses. National Post. [Toronto Edition] DT7. and mining headlamps. In most of these applications, direct combustion is a fire hazard, and so acetylene has been replaced, first by incandescent lighting and many years later by low-power/high-lumen LEDs. Nevertheless, acetylene lamps remain in limited use in remote or otherwise inaccessible areas and in countries with a weak or unreliable central electric grid.
aceTYLene cOmbUstioN prOdUCes a stRoNg, bright Light aNd The Ubiquity of caRbiDe laMps DrOve much aCetYleNe commErcialiZation In tHe eaRly 20Th CeNtuRy. coMmoN aPplICatIoNS inClUded coastAl liGhThOuses, street lIGhts, aNd auTOMobILeGrainger, D., (2001). By Cars' early light: a shorT hiStorY OF tHE headLaMp: 1900s liGhts Bore port aND StarBoARD reD aND green LEnses. naTionaL Post. [toRoNto eDItion] Dt7. aNd MiniNG headlamPs. iN most of ThEse ApPlications, dIrect comBuStiOn is a firE hazard, and so AceTYlenE has bEeN rePlACeD, First bY incAndescEnT liGhtiNg and ManY yeaRs later by low-POweR/hIgh-lumen leds. nevertHeless, aCETyLene LAmPs RemaIn in limiTed uSe In reMoTe or otherwise InacCEssibLe AreAS AnD in countrIEs wiTH A Weak Or unReLiable cEntral elEcTriC gRid.