If you’ve got metal halide lights (MH) in your facility is it time to switch to light emitting diodes (LEDs). The biggest reasons are to save your facility money and energy. Of course, there are even more reasons, which we will get into later in this article. If you’re wondering how MH light and LED technology compare then you’ve come to the right place. This metal halide vs LED article will get you up to speed on the differences between the two!
A metal halide lamp produces light by passing an electric arc through a combination of gasses. A metal halide bulb or MH bulb is made up of an inner arc tube and an outer tube. Mercury and metal halide salts are condensed inside an MH lamp inner arc tube until it is activated.
HID stands for high-intensity discharge. HID lights are found in stadiums, parking garages, street lights, and in retail locations. An HID bulb or HID lamp will have a long warm-up period no matter the type. Metal halide lamps and high pressure sodium (HPS) lights fall into the HID light category. Metal halide light is white in color, while the visible light from an HPS bulb is an amber color.
LED stands for light emitting diode. An LED light bulb works by passing an electric current through a diode, a semiconductor device, which causes it to emit light. Learn about the 16 key benefits of LED lighting here.
No big surprise here – LED lights are better than metal halide lights. Here are some of the reasons why:
Why LEDs are better: LEDs don’t have a warm-up period. They can be adjusted on demand. An LED fixture instantly turns on, while a metal halide fixture can take minutes.
Why LEDs are better: LEDs have a lamp life of 50,000 – 100,000 hours. MH lights usually last 6,000 – 15,000 hours but their poor lumen efficiency usually causes them to depreciate even sooner. LEDs take much longer than metal halides to reach their L70 mark – 50,000 to upwards of 200,000 hours.
Why LEDs are better: LEDs can last for many years with the same lumen output.
Why LEDs are better: Upgrading to LEDs can substantially reduce your maintenance costs. Unlike conventional lamps, LEDs don’t “burn out,” they dim slowly over time. They also have the longest lifespan of any other lighting on the market so they don’t need to be replaced for a long time. LED lighting products don’t require ballasts, helping you cross another maintenance cost off your list.
Why LEDs are better: LEDs are directional and are great for task lighting at your facility. With LEDs, you don’t have to worry about obtaining and figuring out how to use light reflectors or lenses to get the light where you need it. LEDs produce 75-100 lumens per watt.
Why LEDs are better: LEDs don’t generate any heat and are cool to the touch. Our clients are often surprised to see how much they can save on this expense alone.
Why LEDs are better: LEDs are durable and aren’t easily damaged. This is yet another way LEDs can save you on maintenance costs.
Why LEDs are better: LEDs can be dimmed. Many LEDs come with drivers that allow you to dim the light to your wishes. LEDs can also be equipped with special controls so you can adjust the color temperature or intensity of the light.
This is how metal halides and LEDs compare when it comes to lumens:
Metal Halide | Lumens | LED equivalent |
100 | 4,000 | 30 watts |
125 | 4, 800 | 35 watts |
150 | 6,000 | 40 watts |
175 | 7,000 | 50 watts |
250 | 8,000 | 55 watts |
320 | 10,000 | 70 watts |
400 | 16,000 | 115 watts |
750 | 30,000 | 215 watts |
1,000 | 40,000 | 285 watts |
1,500 | 60,000 | 430 watts |
2,000 | 80,000 | 570 watts |
Please note, the numbers displayed are rounded figures and show averages.
The differences between metal halide lighting and LED lighting is astounding. The longer you wait to make the switch, the more money you rack up on your electricity bills. No matter what type of commercial lighting you’re looking for, whether it is office lighting or warehouse lighting, LED technology is the best way to brighten your facility and increase worker productivity.
WattLogic has been saving its commercial LED lighting clients energy and money for decades through LED lighting retrofits and innovative lighting controls. WattLogic provides turnkey packages for many other energy efficiency technology solutions, including power monitoring, HVLS fans, commercial solar installations, energy storage, and smart motors.
Contact us today at (800) 834-8737 and get your audit started. Let us get you the technology and the cost savings you need. We’ll take care of all the headaches that come along with a LED lighting retrofit so you can spend your time on other pressing issues at your facility.
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