HID lamps require a ballast to operate. Typically, the HID ballast (sometimes …. HID ballasts are classified by the type
of circuit they use: Reactor (R), … 1 Introduction To HID Lighting The term High Intensity Discharge or HID describes lighting systems that produce light through an electrical discharge which typically occurs inside a pressurized arc tube between two electrodes. In general, these systems feature long life, high light output for the size of the lamp and increased efficiency compared to fluorescent and incandescent technologies. HID lamps are named by the type of gas and metal contained within the arc tube. There are five different families of HID: Mercury Vapor, High Pressure Sodium, Quartz Metal Halide, Pulse Start Quartz Metal Halide, and Ceramic Metal Halide. HID lamps come in various shapes and types, such as elliptical and tubular. The lamp bases come in various shapes and types as well, such as screw base, double ended, bi-pin and many others. See the lamp catalog for more information

HID lamps require a ballast to operate. Typically, the HID ballast (sometimes with the addition of a capacitor and igniter) serves to start and operate the lamp in a controlled manner. HID lamps take several minutes to warm-up. Full light output is reached after the arc tube temperature rises and the metal vapors reach final operating pressure. A power interruption or voltage drop will cause the lamp to extinguish. Before the lamp will re-light, it must cool to the point where the lamp’s arc will restrike. 2 HID Lamp Types High Intensity Discharge lamps, as their name implies, produce a high level of light for their physical size by means of an electrical discharge. A controlled high intensity arc is maintained between two electrodes inside of a glass or ceramic tube, which is filled with gas and metal vapors. The following chart summarizes the operating characteristics of HID lamps. Each lamp’s main benefits and characteristics are described below. *Data is typical of GE lamps sold in America

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