Metal Halide Lamp

Definition

A lamp that uses an electric discharge to produce light from a metal vapor such as sodium or mercury.

Purpose

Metal halide lamps provide high-intensity, efficient lighting for various applications, including outdoor, industrial, and commercial settings. They produce a bright, white light and are known for their high lumen output and good color rendering.

Examples of Use

• Street lighting: Providing bright, efficient illumination for roadways and public spaces.
• Sports arenas: Lighting large indoor and outdoor sports facilities.
• Industrial lighting: Ensuring adequate lighting in factories, warehouses, and other industrial environments.

Related Terms

• HID (High-Intensity Discharge) Lamp: A type of lamp that includes metal halide, mercury vapor, and sodium vapor lamps.
• Lumen: A unit of measurement for the amount of light produced by a lamp.
• Ballast: A device that regulates the current to the lamp and provides the necessary voltage to start it.

Notes

• Metal halide lamps require a warm-up period to reach full brightness and may need a cooling period before restarting.
• They contain small amounts of mercury, requiring proper disposal to avoid environmental contamination.
• Advances in LED technology are providing more energy-efficient alternatives to metal halide lamps.