What is high-pressure mercury vapor?

Mercury vapor lamps were the first high intensity discharge lamps to be commercially available for a wide variety of lighting applications. Most models produce a bluish-white light. Mercury vapor lamps are gas discharge lamps that uses an electric arc through vaporized mercury to produce light.

Are mercury vapor lights being phased out?

According to the act, mercury vapor security lights are being phased out to “protect the environment” and to “promote energy efficiency” in lighting. According to the ban, existing fixtures can remain in service but, as they burn out, they must be replaced with newer, more efficient lighting alternatives.

Which type of Vapour is stored in mercury lamp?

The bulbs have an inner quartz tube containing the mercury vapor discharge. This is enclosed by an outer glass bulb that filters out harmful short-wavelength ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Are mercury vapor and high-pressure sodium interchangeable?

Due to their low lighting efficiency, mercury vapor lamps should be replaced wherever possible. In areas where identifying colors is important, they should be replaced with metal halide fixtures; if color is not important, they should be replaced with high-pressure sodium fixtures.

Which gas is filled in fluorescent tube?

mercury vapour
A fluorescent lamp tube is filled with a gas containing low pressure mercury vapour and noble gases at a total pressure of about 0.3% of the atmospheric pressure.

Can I use a LED bulb in a mercury vapor fixture?

If you use the lights for indoor or outdoor replacement, LED light, overs the halogen and sodium bulbs, is much water-proof and thus the durability is greatly improved. Most importantly, you can save much electricity cost if you use LED lamps to retrofit mercury 400 watt vapor lamps, 175 W halogen lamps!

What gases are filled in fluorescent tube?

A fluorescent lamp tube is filled with a gas containing low pressure mercury vapour and noble gases at a total pressure of about 0.3% of the atmospheric pressure.

What is the difference between mercury vapor and high pressure sodium?

High pressure sodium produces a more neutral white light. Mercury vapor bulbs produce light with a distinct blue tint to it. In many countries, including the USA, mercury lighting is being phased out in favor of the more efficient types of HID bulbs.

Can you use metal halide bulbs in a high pressure sodium fixture?

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.

Why Mercury Vapour is used in fluorescent lamp?

Mercury is used in a variety of light bulbs. Mercury is useful in lighting because it contributes to the bulbs’ efficient operation and life expectancy. Fluorescent and other mercury-added bulbs are generally more energy efficient and last longer than incandescent and other equivalent forms of lighting.

What makes a high pressure mercury lamp work?

The center discharge tube of the high-pressure mercury lamp is made of quartz glass. The tube is filled with mercury and argon. The main motor pole is made of tungsten and filled with alkaline earth metal oxide electron-emitting substances.

What do you need to know about mercury vapor lamps?

What is Mercury Vapor Lamp? 1 Lamp Construction. It consists of 2 electrodes made up of an alloy of tungsten which is placed together in a medium containing mercury vapor and 25-50 torr of pure argon 2 Working of Mercury Vapor Lamp. 3 Advantages. 4 Disadvantages. 5 Applications of Mercury Vapor Lamp. 6 FAQs.

When did they start using mercury in lamps?

These early low pressure lamps used a lot of mercury, today’s lamps use a tiny amount of mercury. Right around 1900 the mercury arc rectifier was developed, this luminous device was very important for power conversion.

How is a mercury vapor lamp a negative resistance device?

The mercury vapor lamp is a negative resistance device. This means its resistance decreases as the current through the tube increases. So if the lamp is connected directly to a constant-voltage source like the power lines, the current through it will increase until it destroys itself.