HID

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HID

View all HID products available through Key Supply LLC

High-intensity discharge (HID) lamps are similar to fluorescents in that an arc is generated between two electrodes. The arc in an HID source is shorter, yet it generates much more light, heat, and pressure within the arc tube.
Below are HID sources, listed in increasing order of efficacy (lumens per watt):
• metal halide
• high-pressure sodium
• low-pressure sodium
Like fluorescent lights, HID also requires ballasts, and they take a few seconds to produce light when first turned on because the ballast needs time to establish the electric arc.
Originally developed for outdoor and industrial applications, HID lamps are now used in office, retail, and other indoor applications. Their color rendering characteristics have been improved, and lower wattages have recently become available (as low as 18 watts).