Q.  Fluorescents?

• Fluorescent is a light source consisting of a tube filled with argon, along with krypton and other inert gas. When electrical current is applied, the resulting arc emits ultraviolet radiation that excites the phosphors on the inside of the lamp wall, causing them to radiate visible light.
•  Every lamp will contain a ‘T’ number and an ‘F’ number. The ‘T’ indicates the diameter of the lamp and is measured in 1/8s of an inch. The most common ‘T’number is 12 which translates to 1 ½” and is also known as the ‘chubby’ tube.
  Other ‘T’ numbers that may be seen are;
  T2, T4, T5, T6, T10, with T12 & T8 being the most common.
•  The ‘F’ number indicates wattage and what length it associates with. 
  Following the ‘T’ & ‘F’ numbers, is any other pertinent information that indicates colour temperature, base and coating.
•  All fluorescents require a ballast to start up the lamp.

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Q.  High Intensity Discharge (HID)?

HPS – high pressure sodium,

MV – mercury vapor,

MH – metal halide,

SOX – low pressure sodium.

All HID lamps require a ballast to start up the lamp with the appropriate voltage and maintain constant current levels.

HID lamps are available on a variety of wattages, sizes, and bases.

 

 

General characteristics

• HPS, SOX & MV all have poor color rendition indexes, which means that even though they put out a lot of lumens, it is difficult to see clearly under these lights.
• The light given off is yellow in color
• Metal Halide has a lower lumen output, however, has a much higher color rendition index, which makes it seem much brighter to the human eye.
• The light given off is white in color

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Q.  Halogen & Incandescent?

Halogen lamps are similar to incandescent in that they both use filaments. However, in the halogen lamp, the filament in enclosed in quartz glass filled with inert gas. This encourages the filament to burn at a higher temperature giving off a brighter, more intense light.

 

PAR Lamp
A Parabolic Aluminized Reflector lamp. An incandescent, metal halide or compact fluorescent lamp used to redirect light from the source using a parabolic reflector. Lamps are available with flood or spot distributions.

 

 

 

Tungsten Halogen Lamps
A gas-filled tungsten filament incandescent lamp with a lamp envelope made of quartz to withstand the high temperature. This lamp contains a certain proportion of halogen gas, namely iodine, chlorine, bromine and fluorine that slows down the evaporation of the tungsten. A tungsten-halogen lamp retains most of its initial efficiency over its life, with little lumen loss. Also commonly referred to as a quartz lamp.

 

Halogens and incandescent lamps are available in a wide variety of wattages & sizes for a huge range of applications.

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Q.  Energy Efficient?

Energy efficient bulbs, utilizing compact fluorescent technology, are available in different wattages and sizes which can replace a number of lamps which will save you money and time.  

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