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OSRAM SYLVANIA National Customer Service and Sales Center 1-800-LIGHTBULB (1-800-544-4828) or www.sylvania.com Specifications subject to change without notice.
OSRAM SYLVANIA: THE LEADER IN ENERGY-SAVING HID LAMPS
UNDERSTANDING HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE LIGHTING
A brief description of the catalog format and related terminology will assist the
reader in understanding the information presented in this section.
All product families are listed in ascending wattage, followed by alphabetical bulb
designation to simplify lamp identification. Performance ratings are based on tests
conducted under controlled conditions on AC circuits with auxiliary equipment
meeting current published ANSI specifications.
Lamp performance under typical service conditions may vary from rated values.
Ratings and specifications are subject to change without notice.
ANSI CODE
This is a unique code that describes the class and the electrical characteristics of
the lamp and ballast as well as the fixture requirements. The code is developed
and assigned by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). It is intended
to aid in matching the lamp to both the correct ballast and to a luminaire with the
required features. The ANSI CODE consists of type of lamp (S = HPS, H = Mercury,
M = Metal Halide, L = LPS, C = Ceramic Metal Halide), followed by the ballast
number, and for metal halide and Ceramic metal halide lamps followed by the
fixture requirement (O, E, S, F).
The emergence of electronic ballasts to operate metal halide lamps has
produced additional need to separate the lamp designation of quartz and ceramic
metal halide lamps, as there can be some important differences in system perfor-
mance. Therefore the C lamp designation from NEMA has been introduced going
forward for future differentiation of ceramic metal halide lamps and they will begin
to be labeled accordingly.
ARC LENGTH
Arc length is the dimension of the arc discharge measured from one electrode tip
to the other. This is useful for optical design of reflectors and affects fixture
efficiency.
AVERAGE RATE LIFE (HOURS)
The average life of a lamp is based on vertical operation (unless otherwise noted)
of representative lamps operated under controlled conditions of at least 10 hours
per start (except for M1500 and BRITELINE® lamps, which are based on 5 hours
per start). Average life is defined as the total operation hours at which 50% (Medi-
an) of any group of lamps is still operating (except for most High Pressure Sodium
and Mercury lamps, for which 65% of the lamps are operating at the end of life
denoted by a “+” next to the life rating). Variations in operating conditions such as
bulb and base temperatures and line voltage can also affect lamp life.
Regular operation of lamps with off times less than the hot restrike time will
shorten lamp life. For hot restrike values of specific lamp types, please refer to
the SYLVANIA Metal Halide Lamp Specification Guide.
Operating cycles shorter than 10 hours per start will reduce lamp life as follows:
5 hours / start – Approximately 75% of rating
2.5 hours / start – Approximately 55% of rating
1.25 hours / start – Approximately 40% of rating
BASE
Most SYLVANIA HID lamp bases for general lighting are made of corrosion-
resistant brass with special lubricant to provide easy removal at end of lamp life.
See page 123 for all base illustrations.
GU6.5 – Bipin bases are used on the smallest HID lamps and convenient
twist & lock feature provides secure installation.
G8.5 – Durable bipin bases have special center presses that secure lamps
in the socket.
G12 – Ceramic bipin bases are used on T6, T7.5 single ended lamps.
E26 Medium – Medium (MED) bases are used on lamps in E17 bulbs and
are limited to 175W maximum.
E26 Medium Skirted – Medium skirted (Med Skt) bases consist of a
medium brass base with a skirt, which is mechanically connected to a
PAR38 bulb.
E39 Mogul – All (MOG) bases are embossed with letters and numbers
representing months and years. The date of installation can be recorded
by marking the letter of the current month and the number that coincides
with the last digit of the current year.
EX39 Exclusionary Mogul Base – Exclusionary Mogul bases (EXCL MOG)
are bases used on metal halide lamps having shrouded arc tubes,
permitting them to be used in open fixture applications. These bases are
compatible with exclusionary or standard mogul sockets.
E39 POM – Position Oriented Mogul (POM) bases are used on lamps
designed to operate only in the horizontal position and require a special POM
socket. A pin located on the base engages in a slot within the POM socket
ensuring proper operating position of the lamp within the fixture.
Rx7s / R7s Recessed Single Contact – SYLVANIA double-ended HID lamps
with recessed single contact (RSC) bases have silver plated contacts to
provide maximum electrical contact.
BULB
Each bulb description consists of a letter to indicate bulb shape, followed by numbers
that indicate maximum bulb diameter in 1/8 inch increments. For
example, a BT37 bulb is a blown shape with a tubular top, 3-7/8 of an inch or 4-5/8
inches in diameter. Illustrations of bulb shapes are shown on page 123.
Although SYLVANIA HID bulbs are made of glass designed to resist thermal
shock in normal applications, they must be shielded from direct contact with
liquids, such as rain, during operation to avoid bulb breakage.
COLOR RENDERING INDEX (CRI)
Color Rendering Index (CRI) is an international scale (numbering system) up to
100 indicating the relative color rendering quality of a light source when
compared to a standard reference light source of the same chromaticity (color
temperature). The CRI expresses the degree to which colors will appear “familiar”
or “natural” under the light source selected. In general, the higher the CRI
number, the better the color rendering properties of the light source being
measured. The color rendering index of any two like sources should only be
compared if those sources have the same correlated color temperature (CCT).
CORRELATED COLOR TEMPERATURE (CCT)
The correlated color temperature of a light source, expressed in Kelvin (K), is a
means of describing the appearance or chromaticity of the source. The correlated
color temperature of the light source contributes to the visual appearance of the
lighted space. “Warm” light sources have a low color temperature (2000-3000K)
and feature more light in the red/orange/yellow range. Light with a higher color
temperature (>4000K) features more blue and is referred to as “cool”.
With new installations, or group relamps, all color performance evaluations
should be made after at least 100 hours of operation (at recommended operating
cycles) to allow the lamps to stabilize. Additional changes in chemistry within the
arc tube over the life of the lamp may also cause the color temperature to shift as
the lamp gets closer to the end of it’s rated life. To minimize color variation
within an installation, it is recommended that HID lamps be group relamped and
run on equal operating cycles.
DIMMING HID
Most SYLVANIA HID products can be dimmed on stepped 0- 10 volts, bi-level
dimming systems provided specific guidelines are followed. Generally, most Metalarc®
metal halide lamps can be dimmed down to 50% of rated wattage depending on the
lamp type and operating position. LUMALUX® high pressure sodium lamps can also
be dimmed down to 50% of rated wattage. In addition to lower light output, HID lamps
may shift in overall color and exhibit a lower color rendering index (CRI) when operat-
ed in a dimmed mode. Some restrictions apply to both the operation of the ballast and
lamp. For more information on dimming, please reference NEMA guidelines or contact
a SYLVANIA representative.
FIXTURE REQUIREMENT
Developed by the American National Standard Institute (ANSI), the fixture
requirement code describes the type of fixture required for each lamp type. See
lamp warnings for additional information and proper operating instructions.
Operating cycles shorter than 10 hours per start will reduce lamp life as follows:
E = Lamps classified as E-type are to be used only in suitably rated enclosed
luminaires.
O = Lamps classified as O-type, comply with ANSI Standard C78.389 for
containment testing and may be used in open luminaires.
S = When operated within 15 degrees of vertical, this lamp may be operated
in an open luminaire provided the installation is not near people or flammable
or combustible material, otherwise it must be operated in a suitably enclosed
luminaire.
F = F-rated lamps require an enclosed fixture with a UV filter and lens
interlock.
The 2005 NEC requires that luminaires which use a metal halide lamp shall be
provided with either a containment barrier that encloses the lamp (historically
referred to as an enclosed luminaire) or shall be provided with a means, typically
a special lampholder, that will only accept an ANSI Type-O metal halide lamp.
(Exception: This requirement will not apply to open luminaires with thick-glass
parabolic reflector PAR lamps.)