Why were early carbon-arc lamps mainly used in large places such as lighthouses and train stations?

Early carbon-arc lamps were primarily utilized in large-scale installations like lighthouses, train stations, and department stores because they produced an exceptionally brilliant light that was unmatched by other technologies of the time.1

However, these devices were not suitable for widespread or domestic use for several key reasons:

• High Power Requirements: They consumed significant amounts of power, making them impractical for general or small-scale applications.1
• Operational Complexity: The lamps were cumbersome to operate and difficult to control.23
• Maintenance: Because they relied on consumable carbon electrodes that burned away during operation, they required constant attention and were costly to maintain.43

Due to these limitations, their use remained restricted to specialized environments where high-intensity illumination was essential, such as in searchlights or large public spaces, until more practical alternatives like the incandescent lamp were developed.41