(HID) High Intensity Discharge Lamps - Lighting from past generations

What are HID lamps?

HID lamps were common lighting systems found in commercial and industrial settings, where a large amount of light was needed. This is an older technology that was known for its ability to increase visibility. HID lighting is almost obsolete in today's lighting applications, LED solutions have replaced these lamps.

HID lamps could be found in:

• Warehouses - Parking Lots - Indoor Gymnasiums - Outdoor Stadiums - Street Lighting - Trails - Headlights - Exterior Wall Packs - Indoor Gardening - Flood Lights - Barn Lights - Industrial Applications

How did HID lamps work?

High-Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps use different types of gases and vaporized metals to produce light. The most common types of HID lamps include:

Metal Halide (MH): These lamps use a mixture of mercury vapor and metal halide compounds, which can include various elements such as sodium, indium, and thallium, to produce a high-intensity light that is relatively color-balanced.
High-Pressure Sodium (HPS): These lamps contain sodium in an excited state to produce light. HPS lamps are known for emitting a warm, amber light.
Mercury Vapor: The earliest type of HID lamp, mercury vapor lamps use mercury in a vaporized form to produce light. They emit a bluish light and are less efficient compared to other types of HID lamps.
Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH): A variation of metal halide lamps, CMH lamps use ceramic material as part of the arc tube, which improved color rendition and efficiency.

All HID lamps require a ballast to control the electrical current, very similar to fluorescents. Select HID lamps also required an igniter which produces a high voltage to run through the arc tube and start the lamp.

Burn in time:

HID lamps required a burn in period of approximately 100 hours to reach full brightness. You would see a shift or variations in colors during this period until the HID stabilized.  The color and brightness then remained consistent until the bulb ages. Towards the end of its life, HIDs went through chemical composition changes that caused color shifting. 

CONTACT A LUMEN MASTER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU ARE STILL USING HID LAMPS. IN 6 TO 9 MONTHS, THE ENERGY SAVINGS ALONE COULD PAY FOR THE UPGRADE IN QUALITY LIGHTING.