Pulse Start Metal Halide Description:
Pulse-start metal halide (MH) lamps produce higher light output both initially and over time, operate more
efficiently, produce whiter light, and turn on, re-strike faster and energy savings.
Definitions:
A change in the lamp and ballast construction allows pulse start metal halide lamps to start using a high voltage
igniter in the ballast instead of a starting electrode (probe) in the lamp. The result is a "white light" system that
challenges high pressure sodium’s long lamp life, high lumen output and quick starts capabilities. This
produces metal halide lamps with 20,000 hours of life or longer.
Benefits of Metal Halide Pulse Start HID Ballast/Lamp System:
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Longer lamp life
Better lumen maintenance
Reduced color shift
Superior color rendition to HPS
Improved lamp-to-lamp color consistency
Faster warm-up time
Faster re-strike time
Colder starting temperatures
Less arc tube blackening
How Does Pulse-Start Metal Halide Lighting Save Money?
Compared with probe-start lighting, pulse-start metal halide lighting saves you money in four ways:
1. Brighter light – Pulse-start lamps produce more mean lumens per watt of electricity.
2. Lamp light output is maintained – Because the light output of lamps declines as they age, the design
of the lighting system must be based on the “maintained” or end-of-life light output. The bigger the
decline (lumen depreciation), the more excess-initial-lighting must be provided. Pulse-start metal halide
lamps are about 6 percent better than probe-start lamps in maintaining light output over their service
life, so fewer lamps are required.
3. Lamp life is long – Some pulse-start metal halide lamps last longer than probe-start lamps. For
example, 250-W pulse-start lamp can have a 15 000-hour life, compared with a 10 000-hour life for a
probe-start lamp of the same wattage.
4. Lamp replacement is less frequent – Replacing burned out lamps is a significant labor cost. Pulsestart lamps last longer, so they don't need replacing as often, thus lowering labor costs.
1 188 Technology Dr. Unit H, Irvine, CA 92618
Tel: 949-453-9888 Fax: 949-453-8889 Sales: sales@greencityaac.com
How Much Will I Save?
The combination of lower initial lighting power and longer lamp life offers the potential for operational savings
when pulse-start bulbs are used instead of probe-start bulbs. Consequently, your actual cost savings will
depend on electricity savings and the price paid for the pulse-start bulbs.
Table below compares the annual electricity consumption for probe-start and pulse-start metal halide lamps in
a typical warehouse installation. In this example, the pulse-start system provides a 24 percent reduction in
annual electricity use. If the potential additional cost savings from the associated longer lamp life are also
included, cost savings can be even higher. Combining pulse-start lamps with electronic ballasts provides the
greatest savings. For even greater savings in high-bay spaces, fluorescent systems should be considered.
Comparison of Annual Electricity Consumption of a Pulse-Start 320-W Metal Halide Lighting System
with a Probe-Start 400-W Metal Halide Lighting System (both with magnetic ballasts)
400-W Probe-Start
Number of luminaires
320-W Pulse-Start
100
89
20 000 hours
20 000 hours
23 500
26 400
458
349
45 800
34 900
6 000
6 000
Annual kWh
274 800
209 400
Annual cost of electricity**
$25,800
$19,700
Annual savings
–
$6,100
Percent savings
–
24%
$20,000
$21,360
–
0.2
Lamp life
System mean lumens
Input watts per luminaire*
Total system watts
Annual hours of operation
Initial cost***
Payback (years)
*Includes lamp and ballast.
**Assumes an electricity cost of $0.08 per kWh and a demand charge of $7 per kW.
***Lamp costs may vary widely depending on volumes purchased, supplier relationships and contracts.
Comparison of 400W probe-start MH system with 400W pulse-start systems:
Comparison of 400W probe-start MH system with 400W pulse-start systems. Energy savings can be realized by reducing
fixture count due to higher light output, or one-to-one replacement using 320W pulse-start systems
400W Pulse-start MH
400 Pulse-start MH
Magnetic Ballast
1
20,000 hours @ 10
hours/start
42,000 lumens
Electronic Ballast
1
20,000 hours @ 10
hours/start
42,000 lumens
400W Probe-start MH
No. Lamps
Service life
Initial lamp light output
1
20,000 hours @ 10
hours/start
36,000 lumens
2 188 Technology Dr. Unit H, Irvine, CA 92618
Tel: 949-453-9888 Fax: 949-453-8889 Sales: sales@greencityaac.com
Ballast
Probe-start magnetic
Pulse-start magnetic
Pulse-start magnetic
Ballast Factor
1.0
1.0
1.0
Initial system light output
36,000 lumens
42,000 lumens
42,000 lumens
Lamp watts
400W
400W
400W
System watts
Relative system watts
458W
100%
452W
99%
425W
93%
Initial system efficacy
Lumen maintenance
Relative maintained light output
Maintained system efficacy
79 lm/W
23,500 lumens @
40% of lamp life
65%
100%
51 lm/W
Color rendering
65 CRI
Starting Time
4 minutes
93 lm/W
32,800 lumens @ 40%
of lamp life
78%
139%
73 lm/W
65 CRI (80-90+ with
CMH lamp)
2 minutes
99 lm/W
36,000 lumens @ 40%
of lamp life
78%
153%
85 lm/W
65 CRI (80-90+ with
CMH lamp)
<1 minute
Re-strike Time
10 minutes
Color temperature
3000-4000K
4 minutes
3600-4000K (30004200K with CMH lamp)
4 minutes
3600-4000K (30004200K with CMH lamp)
Mean lumens
Comparison of ceramic metal halide and halogen PAR lamps by major manufactures; GE,
Sylvania, Philips Lighting:
Lamp Type
Watts
Initial Lumens
Average Life (hours)
Halogen PAR
100
1400
2000
Halogen-IR PAR
100
2070
3000
Ceramic Metal Halide
39
2200-2400
9000-1000
Philips Lighting
Manufacturer
OSRAM Sylvania
GE Lighting
Wattage (W)
20-400
39-250
35-320
Efficacy (lm/W)
60-97
80-99
67-97
CRI
85-93
80-94
80-90+
Color Temperature (K)
30000K, 40000K
30000K, 42000K
30000K, 42000K
Rated Life (hours)
9,000-20,000
9,000-15,000
9,000-15,000
3 188 Technology Dr. Unit H, Irvine, CA 92618
Tel: 949-453-9888 Fax: 949-453-8889 Sales: sales@greencityaac.com
Pulse Start Economic Advantages:
Pulse Start lamp systems can yield fewer fixtures for a given system because of the increased lumen output
and that means a lower capital cost for the system. Also, because the lamp life is longer than traditional Probe
Start lamps and the lumen maintenance can extend the re-lamp interval, fewer lamps will be required over the
life of the system. Fewer lamps also have the potential additional side benefit of reduced disposal or
re-cycle cost, which is better for our environment and may have some economic benefit as well.
The following Lumen Maintenance chart is a good example of how various types of Metal Halide lamps
compare. From this chart, it is clear that not only do Pulse Start lamps provide more lumens but also the choice
of electronic vs. magnetic ballast makes a significant difference as well.
4 188 Technology Dr. Unit H, Irvine, CA 92618
Tel: 949-453-9888 Fax: 949-453-8889 Sales: sales@greencityaac.com