Metal Halide Vs. Incandescent
"Metal halide" and "incandescent" are two different types of light bulbs. Both metal halide light bulbs and incandescent light bulbs have their practical applications. There are several advantages and disadvantages associated with each type of light bulb. Does this Spark an idea?
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Lumens
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"Lumens" are a unit of measurement used to gauge the light output of light sources. Metal halide light bulbs put out between 80 and 115 lumens per watt of power used. Incandescent light bulbs only put out around 17.5 lumens per watt of power used.
Lifespan
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Overall, metal halide light bulbs are rated to last much longer than traditional incandescent light bulbs. A 100-watt incandescent light bulb will only last for around 750 hours before it burns out. Metal halide light bulbs can last upwards of 15,000 hours before they become ineffective.
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Applications
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Incandescent light bulbs can be used indoors as well as outdoors to provide modest lighting where needed. Metal halide light bulbs are almost exclusively employed for outdoor applications where generous amounts of light are needed. However, they can be used indoors for greenhouses or in warehouse-type settings.
Fill Gas
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Metal halide light bulbs typically contain several gases including mercury, argon, krypton and neon. Some incandescent light bulbs contain argon or an argon-nitrogen mixture. Sometimes, incandescent light bulbs will contain premium gases like krypton or xenon. Older incandescent light bulbs featured no fill gases but a vacuum instead.
Mercury
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Unlike incandescent light bulbs, metal halide light bulbs contain around 38mg of toxic elemental mercury. Broken metal halide light bulbs need to be handled and disposed of properly. Since mercury is recyclable, broken or ineffective metal halide light bulbs should be taken to a recycling facility.
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