METAL

HALIDES
 Contents of reports:
• Background and history
• Definitions and Essentials
• Characteristics
• Examples
• Functions and usefullness
Background and History
1912 Charles P. Steinmetz is the first to
use halide salts in a mercury vapor lamp.
He used the halides to correct color and
was successful, but he could not get a
consistent arc. The complex phenomena
of plasma physics was still being explored.
Steinmetz's arc would dance around
allowing the temperature in the discharge
tube to drop, the lower temperatures
would stop the halide salts from burning
and the color and intensity of the lamp
would shift.
1962 Robert Reiling used recent developments in
the high-pressure mercury vapor lamp to create
the first reliable MH lamp. A fused quartz
discharge tube with molybdenum and tungsten
sealed electrodes were just developed to deal with
the destructive high temps of high-pressure
mercury lamps. Reiling built on the work of
Steinmetz to complete the work. The MH lamp
became more popular decades later as the price of
the lamp became more affordable.
 Definiton

A Halide is a chemical compound of a halogen combined with an electropositive element, or in the case
of lamps: a metal. A halogen is a monovalent element which readily forms negative ions. There are 5
halogens: fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine.
Metal halides are compounds formed when metal and halogen elements combine.
This type of lamp is also known as an 'MH' lamp. It is an HID lamp (High Intensity Discharge),
which means it provides most of its light from the electric arc within a small discharge tube. It
is becoming increasingly popular due to its good quality white light and good efficiency. The
most prominent use of the MH lamp is in stadiums and sports fields. It is also used widely for
parking lots and street lighting in urban areas. Its competitors include the HPS lamp, mercury
vapor lamp, LPS lamp, halogen lamps, and LEDs. MH lamps have advantages over the rest
which make it more useful for certain applications.
Characteristic of Metal Halide:
The unique characteristics of metal halide lighting provide high
performance such as:
 Long life
-Metal halide lamps have an average life of 15,000-20,000+ hours.
 Better Light Quality
-The output of metal halide lamps is closer to natural sunlight than most
other light sources.
 Designable Color
-Metal halide lamps can be designed to produce almost any color
temperature desired, from 2700K to 20,000K. Specialty colors, including
blue, green, aqua and pink, can also be produced.
Characteristic of Metal Halide:
 Compact Size
-Metal halide generates high light levels from a compact light
source. This allows for smaller, more controllable luminaires.
 Versatility
-Metal halide lamps are relatively unaffected by ambient
temperature, equally suited for indoor or outdoor use.
 High Efficiency
-Metal halide lamps generate 65-115 lumens per watt, more than
incandescent, fluorescent or mercury vapor lamps.
 Positive Environmental Impact
- Efficient long-life systems mean less waste.
 Examples:

Metal Halide is favorite for Metal Halide Street

Sports Field Lighting Lamps
Schematic Diagram of Metal Halides
Functions/Uses:
Metal-halide lamps are used for general lighting purposes both indoors and
outdoors, such as commercial, industrial, and public spaces, parking lots, sports
arenas, factories, and retail stores, as well as residential security lighting;
automotive and specialty applications are further fields of usage.
 Other Uses:
• Photography
• Fog, Rain or typhoon (Floodlights)
• Streetlights (remote places)
• Airport Runways