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High Intensity Discharge Lamps

II - HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) LAMPS
An HID lamp consists of an internal "arc tube" where the light is generated, typically surrounded by a large "outer bulb" made of glass. A small arc tube—the size of a pea—can generate as much light as a 4-foot long fluorescent lamp. There are three main families of HID lamps:

High Pressure Sodium (HPS) lamps provide an efficient golden light and are typically seen in street lighting. GE Brand Name: LUCALOX®

Mercury Lamps generate bluish white light and were used (and can still be seen occasionally) in streetlights, back yards, etc.

Metal Halide Lamps are mercury lamps to which a small quantity of chemical salts has been added. This almost doubles the light output and improves the color rendering to give a crisp, white light. GE Brand Name: MULTI-VAPOR®