What Are HID Bulbs?
HID is an acronym for "high intensity discharge." HID lamps are used in areas that require intense lighting or in large areas that need a lot of light. For high-light conditions, HID lamps are more energy-efficient and last longer than other types of lighting but have a higher setup cost. Does this Spark an idea?
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Lamp
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An HID lamp is a glass, quartz or ceramic bulb with a filament in the center. When powered, it heats up and create an arc between two filaments that glows very intensely surrounded by high-pressure gasses.
Types
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HID lamps include metal halide, high pressure sodium and mercury vapor. Mercury vapor and high pressure sodium have the longest lifespan, but metal halides have a larger range of light colors they emit.
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Uses
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Aquarium lit with metal halide lamps Streetlights, warehouse lighting and outdoor safety lighting use mercury vapor and high-pressure sodium lamps. Metal halides have similar uses, but many are specifically manufactured for plant growth and for coral reef aquariums.
Efficiency
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Incandescent light bulb. HID lights are much more efficient than incandescent bulbs. An HID lamp can put out 198 lumens per watt of power used, whereas an incandescent bulb puts out only 12 lumens per watt.
Ballasts
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Unlike incandescent lights, HID lamps require a ballast. Ballasts regulate the flow of electricity that reaches the lamp and determine how much power a lamp uses, ranging from 35 to 1,000 watts.
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References
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