Lamp Headlamp
What Are Metal Halide Lamps (HQI)?
Metal Halide Lamps are high pressure, high intensity gas discharge lamps. They are much more efficient than fluorescent and incandescent bulbs and have a higher luminous efficacy i.e. roughly a quarter of the energy used by them produces actual light (up to 100 lumens per watt ) / a much greater proportion of their radiation is light rather than heat compared to other types of bulbs. For example, traditional incandescent bulbs give out 95% as heat.
Metal Halide lamps usually consist of a fused quartz arc tube that contains a pressurized mixture of a noble gas (argon), mercury, and metal halides. Light is produced within the arc tube when the electric current is passed through this mixture of ionized gasses. Electrons collide with the metal atoms and gas, ultraviolet radiation is produced and then converted to visible light by the fluorescent coated inner surface of the lamp, and pressure is increased within the lamp as the reactions take place. They can produce very clear white light, or coloured light – the colours come for the mixture of metals used and the wavelength emissions from the gases.
Due to the pressurized structure and the UV radiation production, many metal halide lamps have a protective outer tube. Despite a more complicated manufacturing process to produce these lamps, they typically have a long life, during which they are highly efficient.
The high intensity and extreme brightness of these lamps means that they have many commercial applications where strong lighting is needed over large outdoor areas e.g. car parks, warehouse, football stadiums etc, or in retail settings. Their superior brightness has also led them to be used in more modern car headlamps, bicycle lamps and torches. Metal Halide lamps are particularly suitable for use in aquariums or for indoor gardening.
For larger lamps e.g. in public or commercial settings, because of the pressurized nature of the bulbs, it’s a good idea to have them inspected before installation, given adequate shutdown time if in continuous operation, and make sure they’re replaced before they reach the end of their life.
There are high quality very reasonably priced range of Commercial Metal Halide lamps, and Metal Halide DE 70w & 150w lamps.
About the Author
Art Icklewright is an author specialising in lighting and light bulbs of all kind including low energy light bulbs, energy saving light bulbs and G9 bulbs.
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