There are so many different varieties of light bulbs that it can be difficult to know the difference, let alone choose the right type for any space. Metal halide bulbs have been popular bulbs, but how are they different from LED lights and which one is the better option?

What Are Metal Halide Bulbs?

A metal halide bulb belongs to a family of bulbs called High Intensity Discharge. 

These types of bulbs use a ballast to cover AC power to the bulb. Metal halide bulbs are also omnidirectional, meaning light is dispersed in any direction. 

Reflectors are added inside to gather and aim light. These bulbs are initially rather bright but will fade quickly. They take time to reach their maximum producible light level after being turned on and will get hot and require cool down time before they can start up again.  

Halide Bulb Usage

Metal halide lights are used for high lumen output situations. Indoor applications include gymnasiums, factories, or warehouses. 

Outdoor lighting applications are street lights, parking lots, or stadiums. The life span of a halide bulb is approximately 12,000 to 20,000 hours. 

Even though output can last for up to 20,000 hours, after about half the life of the bulb, it has lost up to 50% of its lumen effectiveness. With aging, halide bulbs will also change colors to more of a blue or violet shade. 

Therefore, it’s not uncommon to need to replace halide bulbs well before their maximum life span is reached.  

Making the Switch to LED

As LED lighting grows in popularity, many are contacting LED suppliers and installers to make the switch from metal halide lighting to LED lighting. LED lights use 25% of the energy of a halide light. 

Their life span is much longer, potentially up to 200,000 hours without decreasing output. The quality of LED lighting exceeds that of metal halide bulbs. 

With these advantages, it’s no wonder that LED lights are quickly replacing other types of lighting.

For more information about LED installation, contact US LED today.