Pulse Start Metal Halide Vs Ceramic Metal Halide

Metal halide mh lamp arc tubesare made of either quartz or ceramic see figure 1.

Pulse start metal halide vs ceramic metal halide. A starting probe electrode and two operating electrodes see figure 2. Common screw base metal halide lamps are workhorses for applications such as big box retail sports arenas parking garages pole mounts and other commercial outdoor applications. A second factor to consider when buying a new metal halide is whether it contains a protected or an unprotected. You can t just use your new cmh bulb in your old mh ballast.

Ceramic metal halide lamps are 10 20 more efficient than the traditional quartz metal halide and produce a superior color rendition. Metal halide is a high intensity discharge hid lamp with energy efficiency comparable to or better than fluorescent. Even if they share a lot of the same technology they have fundamental differences in the way they re constructed and how they operate. To start the lamp a discharge is created across a small gap between the starting probe electrode also called the starter.

What is the difference between probe start and pulse start lamps. First of all ceramic metal halide and metal halide bulbs are not the same thing. Metalarc pro tech lamps less than 150 watts and powerball ceramic lamps also utilize pulse start. High intensity discharge hid metal halide mh lamps are widely used in commercial lighting applications because they are about three times as efficient as incandescent lamps.

Three electrodes are present in the arc tube of a probe start mh lamp. Probe start lamps have three electrodes in the arc tube a starting probe electrode and two operating electrodes. Probe start metal halide lighting. High performance sylvania metalarc metal halide lamps are among the most energy efficient sources of white light available today for high and low bay interior and exterior street and area lighting applications.

Ceramic arc tubes allow higher arc tube temperatures which manufacturers claim results in better efficacy color rendering and color stability. Pulse start technology is designed to increase lamp life as well as to have both the energy efficacies of high pressure sodium hps lamps and the desirable color characteristics of mh lamps. For years there has been one main technology for middle wattage metal halide fixtures lamps. Lamp configurations include low and high wattage types both clear and coated.

Ceramic arc tubes allow higher arc tube temperatures which result in better efficacy color rendering and color stability. Traditional metal halide mh lamps use probe start technology. Metalarc pulse start lamps utilize metal halide per formance with proven ignitor technology for longer life improved lumen maintenance and reduced color shift over lamp life compared to standard metal halide products.