HIGH INTENSITY

DISCHARGE (HID) LAMPS

 High-intensity discharge (HID) lamps can offer better efficiency and longer
life than fluorescent lamp
 with color quality approaching that of incandescent lamp
 HID lamps all utilize a compact “arc tube” in which very high temperature
and pressure exists.
 This small arc tube resembles a point source of light, making HID lamps and
their luminaires both compact and powerful.
TYPES OF HID

 mercury vapor (MV)

 metal halide (MH)
 low-pressure sodium (LPS)
 highpressure sodium (HPS)
Major applications of HID

 outdoor floodlighting
 roadway lighting
 high-bay for industrial environment and sport’s gym
 track lighting for offices
 commercial and retail environments.
Quartz-cannot contain the hot and corrosive
sodium and vapors
Polycrystalline alumina

 high-temperature stability, strength and excellent

light transmission characteristics
 the lamp has slightly higher efficacy and better
color stability.
Metal Halide Lamps

 Metal halide lamp are high-intensity discharge

lamp in which the major portion of the light is
produced by radiation from a mixture of metallic
vapour, metal halides and the products of the
dissociation of metal halides.
 Wattages of metal halide lamps range from 32 to
2000 watts
 A large number of envelope and base
configurations are available
Major variations of metal halide lamps

 Universal-burning-position lamps that are relatively insensitive to lamp

physical orientation
• Position-specific lamps that have maximum efficacy and lamp life
• Clear or phosphor-coated lamps ranging from 3400-4100K in chromaticity
• Optional warm (3000K) and cool (6500K) lamps in some sizes
• A few warm (3000-3200K) clear lamps, especially in lower wattages
• Lamps for open luminaires with internal arc rupture shields
• Silver-bowl lamps that minimize glare and light trespass from directional
luminaries
• Compact lamps without outer glass envelopes that produce a brilliant, high
color rendering light in a comparatively small arc tube
Operating position- When designed for
specific burning position, metal halide

 Universal-Burning Position
 Vertical burning Position
 Horizontal burning position
Color Shift

 It is characteristic of metal halide lamps to shift in color both between lamps

and over time. As metal halide lamps operate, the circulation of hot gases in
the arc tube, the area and position of the "pool" of molten halides, lamp
temperature and age all contribute to a continuously changing mixture of
halides and their moment-to-moment light and color output. Unfortunately,
the most likely lamp color characteristic to change is chromaticity, which is
also the most visible to the eye.
Specification Considerations

 Determine what color shift is acceptable for the application and if the
acceptability applies to the overall appearance of the lamps over time or the
lamp-to-lamp variation at any given time. Recognize that the color stability of
metal halide lamps is not expected, at least in the near term, to be the same
as that of incandescent and fluorescent lamps.
 Consult with the lamp manufacturer to determine what variation can be
expected and what variation might be put into writing as a warranty of
performance.
 Ask lamp and ballast manufacturers about lamp/ballast systems that work
together to minimize color shift and variation. Some electronic HID ballast
now has sensing and feedback circuitry that helps to stabilize lamp operation.
• Use the same ballast model throughout the installation.
• Choose ballasts with good regulation characteristics, especially if the supply
voltage is subject to voltage variations.
• Specify newer-technology lamps. Lamps with "shaped" arc tube chambers;
pulse-start technology and ceramic arc tubes are designed to have minimal color
shift characteristics.
Installation and Operation
Considerations
 Before judging the color of new lamps in an installation, burn the lamps for at
least 100 hours to stabilize the lamp color characteristics.
• If lamps have been moved, and particularly if the lamps have been tipped or
shaken when warm, they must be re-stabilized. Operate them for several hours
in their new positions.
• Operate all of the lamps in an installation in the same burning position.
• Do not operate metal halide lamps on a dimmer.
• If lamp-to-lamp color variation over time is an important issue, specify group
relamping. Lamp manufacturers may select lamps with matching color values on
request or at extra cost for critical installations.
• In general, operate lamps with quartz arc tubes vertically. Off vertical positions
are more likely to change the surface area of the halide "pool.
Double-Ended metal halide lamps

 very high CRI of 80 or more.

 These lamps operate in the range of 35-95 lumens per watt
 70-watt lamp with electronic ballast achieves a system efficacy of about 75
lumens per watt
 Double-ended lamps must be operated with the arc tube within 45 degrees of
horizontal
Mercury Lamp

 high-intensity discharge lamp in which the major portion

of the light is produced, directly or indirectly, by radiation
from mercury operating at a partial pressure in excess of
100 kilopascals.
 Mercury lamps were first developed in 1901, but compact
arc tube versions didn't appear until some 30 years later.
 They became widely used for roadway lighting after the
development of long-life lamps in 1960 and began to be
used for indoor general lighting after improvedcolor or
"deluxe white" phosphors were introduced in 1966.
 The efficacy of mercury lamps that peaked at about 50
lumens per watt together with relatively poor
depreciation characteristics has made the mercury lamp
obsolete for energy-efficient lighting.
 It should not be used in new installations and existing
installations should be upgraded to use a more energy-
efficient source.