How Does Metal Halide Work?

To put it simply, metal halide technology works by passing an electrical arc through a mix of gasses, creating light. The bulb contains two primary parts: the inner arc tube and the outer bulb. When the lamp is inactive, the mercury and metal halide salts are condensed inside the inner arc tube. Metal halide lighting features two electrodes –– one on each end of the inner arc tube.

When electrical current is supplied to the lamp, electricity passes from one electrode to the next, heating the mercury and metal halide salts contained within the inner arc tube. This causes those elements to turn into gas, and as the metal halide atoms move away from the electrical arc, they create white light. This process is why it takes metal halide lamps anywhere from one to 15 minutes to warm up.