Are metal halide bulbs being phased out?

Given metal halide is a declining technology under strong direct competition by solid-state lighting, a significant number of products may have been discontinued. In other cases, luminaires may have been redesigned for a different ballast and then retested. Check with the luminaire manufacturer about availability.

Is metal halide the same as high pressure sodium?

The primary visual difference between them is that metal halide light is white and the light emitted from a High Pressure Sodium bulb is amber orange. These bulbs cannot be interchanged without changing their ballast, the regulating element in all light bulbs.

Will a metal halide bulb work in a HPS fixture?

Both Metal Halide and High Pressure Sodium bulbs are part of the HID family of bulbs. These bulbs cannot be interchanged without changing their ballast, the regulating element in all light bulbs. Unfortunately not all ballasts allow both the MH and HPS bulbs to be interchangeable.

Can you replace metal halide bulbs with LED?

Light-emitting diode (LED) technology advancements now allow you to retrofit your metal halide lamps with a simple bulb change. LEDs can give you comparable lumens at a fraction of the energy cost. They are also longer-lived and show a lower reduction of performance over their service life.

How long does a Metal Halide ballast last?

approximately 20,000 hours
Failure to replace a commercial light bulb before complete lamp failure will damage the ballast and cause a drastic increase in maintenance costs. In the case of Metal Halide, most manufacturers rate these HID light bulbs with a life of approximately 20,000 hours.

Do Metal Halide lamps need a ballast?

Metal halide (MH) ballasts are required to start the lamp, regulate the lamp starting and lamp operating currents, and provide appropriate sustaining supply voltage. MH lamp voltage typically increases over time, and the ballast must continue to provide sufficient voltage to the lamp as it ages.

When should I switch from high pressure sodium to metal halide?

HPS grow light bulbs also maintain their brightness better and last longer overall than MH, although they still become less efficient towards the end of their lifespan and should be replaced before they burn out completely. The general recommendation is to replace HPS grow lamps after 12-18 months of regular use.

Which is hotter metal halide or HPS?

MH are hotter than HPS. And slightly less efficient.

Are metal halide bulbs energy efficient?

Metal Halide lights have average efficiency (75-100 lumens/watt source efficiency). They lose out to LEDs principally because their system efficiency is much lower (<30 lumens/watt) due to all of the losses associated with omnidirectional light output and the need to redirect it to a desired area.

What is a MH conversion bulb?

Metal halide bulbs, sometimes shortened to just “MH” and high pressure sodium bulbs, sometimes shortened to simply “HPS”, are in a family called High Intensity Discharge bulbs, or “HID” for short. The bulbs in this family produce a large amount of lumens, which is why they’re used for public spaces, like stadiums.

Why do metal halide bulbs explode?

It might be letting too much current — which would overheat// over pressurize the active component of the MH. So you have to be on the watch for that, too. Voltage spikes would produce the same heat surges, again, destroying the lamp.

Can you touch metal halide bulb?

Yes, it’s going to be a problem for you. When the bulb is in contact with something that point on the bulb becomes a heat sink and the glass temperature on that point of the bulb will become unstable and may cause the bulb to burst. It’s the same reason that you don’t want water to ever touch a MH in operation.

Which is better HPS or metal halide lights?

A main benefit to HPS lights is the lifespan of about 24,000 hours and fairly cheap to replace compared to the metal halide bulbs. When using HPS lights consumers do not run the risk of coming into contact with mercury, infrared, or UV lights that can cause harm to animals and people.

What’s the difference between metal halide and high pressure sodium light bulbs?

Both Metal Halide and High Pressure Sodium bulbs are part of the HID family of bulbs. The primary visual difference between them is that metal halide light is white and the light emitted from a High Pressure Sodium bulb is amber orange. These bulbs cannot be interchanged without changing their ballast, the regulating element in all light bulbs.

When to switch from metal halides to HPS?

Indoor grow specialists all over the world use blue-heavy metal halide lamps (MH) for vegetative growth and switch to red-heavy high pressure sodium (HPS) lamps for flowering, but is this pricey, laborious process actually beneficial for cannabis?

How does a metal halide light bulb work?

Metal Halide bulbs produce light by passing electrical currents through a mixture of mercury and metal halide gas to make a white light.