Metal Halide:
Probe Start vs. Pulse Start
What’s Different?
The difference between Probe Start Metal Halide (MH) and
Pulse Start Metal Halide (PSMH) is the removal of the probe from the MH lamp and addition of the ignitor to the PSMH system. This ignitor sends 3kV-4kV pulses to strike the lamp
in place of the probe. With this change, lamp manufacturers have been able to increase the
pressure inside the arc tube resulting in many performance improvements over MH. With the
addition of the ignitor, it is important to insure the lamp sockets are pulse rated to 4kV.
NOTE: Because of the ignitor, re-lamping these ballasts is important as an ignitor will continue to pulse if the lamp has reached the
end of its life, is damaged, or is missing from the socket. If untreated,this has the potential to degrade the ballast insulation system over
time.
Pulse start metal halide systems are used to replace many of the probe start metal halide
(MH) systems in the market today. This transition will continue to accelerate as no new MH
luminaires between 150W and 500W will be sold. Two of the primary drivers for this shift are
improved lamp/ballast performance and legislation.
Better Lumen Maintenance:
• 400W PSMH = 29,820 mean lumens
• 400W MH = 24,000 mean lumens
Longer lamp life means
less maintenance:
• 15kHrs PSMH
• 10kHrs MH
Percentage of Initial Lumens
Why Pulse Start Metal Halide?
PSMH systems are currently the replacement of choice for the old style MH systems. While
these systems are slightly more expensive, they offer many advantages over their life that
make them well worth the investment. In addition to meeting the 88% EISA efficiency requirement, these systems offer additional advantages including improved lumen depreciation,
increased lamp life, and greater efficiency.
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
MH
30%
MH
HP S
P PSMH
S MH
20%
10%
0%
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Operating
OperatingHours
Hours(1,000’s)
(1,000's)
Universal Lighting Technologies is a subsidiary of the Panasonic Corporation,
a member of the Panasonic Group.
14
16
18
20
Greater efficiency means greater energy savings and potential for a reduced luminaire count
Ballasts
Mean
Lamp
Lumens
System
Watts
Mean System
Lumens
Delivered
250W MH
Standard C&C
17,000
297
13600
100%
45.8
250W PSMH
200W PSMH
175W PSMH
P250MLTAC4L
P200ML5AC3M
P175MLTAC4L
17,000
16,800
13,000
283
233
198
13600
13440
10400
100%
99%
76%
48.1
57.7
52.5
System
Watts
Mean System
Lumens
Delivered
Qty of
Lamps
Lamp Type
1
1
1
1
System Energy
Mean Lumen Delivered Savings
Comparison
L/W
(Watts)
Qty of
Lamps
Lamp Type
Ballasts
Mean
Lamp
Lumens
1
400W MH
Standard C&C
24,000
458
19200
100%
41.9
1
1
1
400W PSMH
350W PSMH
320W PSMH
P400MLTAC4M
P350ML5AC4L
P320ML5AC4L
33,000
27,500
25,500
454
397
363
26400
22000
20000
138%
115%
104%
58.1
55.4
55.1
System
Watts
Mean System
Lumens
Delivered
System Energy
Mean Lumen Delivered Savings
Comparison
L/W
(Watts)
Qty of
Lamps
Lamp Type
Ballasts
Mean
Lamp
Lumens
1
1000W MH
Standard C&C
86,000
1080
68800
100%
63.7
96,000
80,500
57,400
1080
945
825
76800
64400
45920
112%
94%
67%
71.1
68.1
55.7
1
1
1
1000W PSMH P1000MLTAC5M
875W PSMH P875MLTAC5M
750W PSMH P750MLTAC4M
14
64
99
4
61
95
System Energy
Mean Lumen Delivered Savings
Comparison
L/W
(Watts)
0
135
255
Annual
Energy
Savings
$5.60
$25.60
$39.60
Annual
Energy
Savings
$1.60
$24.40
$38.00
Annual
Energy
Savings
$0.00
$54.00
$102.00
Savings based on 4,000 annual operating hour @ $0.10/kWH
System Mean Lumens = Mean Lamp Lumens x # Lamps x est. 80% fixture efficiency
Additional Advantages of Pulse Start Metal Halide
• Better Cold Starting
• Improved Color Rendering
• Faster Warm-up Times
• Shorter Re-strike Times
• Cooler Operation
• Reduced color shift
EISA 2007
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 has started to push the transition from the standard MH systems to the more efficient PSMH
systems. OEM manufactures are now required to meet efficiency standards of 88% for PSMH and 94% for MH systems with few exceptions. These
requirements affect all new luminaires from 150W-500W which will be marked E . Currently, PSMH systems are the only ones that can meet the
efficiency requirement. While this legislation does not directly affect the distribution and replacement business, when ballasts in these luminaires
marked E need replacing, they must be replaced with compliant ballasts.
*When conducting any ballast retrofits, attention needs to be given to system compatibility to ensure ballasts will function properly in existing fixtures.
ULTPSMH1013
Universal Lighting Technologies is a subsidiary of the Panasonic Corporation,
a member of the Panasonic Group.