When it comes to new lighting innovation, GE is one manufacturer that you can't rule out in this area.  Metal halide is still a strong contender in the game of saving energy over older forms of lighting.  What makes it most desirable is the white light it gives off and the great reduction of electricity.  GE PulseArc metal halide lamps are among that new group of lighting that most people understand as pulse start metal halides.  It's becoming the specifiers choice to get improved light control while saving energy.  The technology involved in pulse start metal halide lighting is similar to fluorescent lighting. An arc is established between two electrodes in a gas-filled tube which causes a special vapor to produce the light you see. Unlike fluorescent bulbs, this light does not need a coating of phosphors in order to produce the light, the light comes from the arc itself and creates a tremendous amount of light. In the broader category of HID lighting, these are the ones you see with the bright, white color in security, warehouse, parking lot or on the freeway.   

One of the chief benefits of GE PulseArc metal halide light bulbs are the gains in energy efficiency over the standard product.  These lamps have more lumens per watt than the standard variety, making it more energy efficient.  Sometimes a 300 watt pulse lamp can replace a 400 watt standard with no light loss. So in applications like production facilities or warehouse lighting it means more electrical cost savings.  Another key feature is that these bulbs will last a very long time and will produce more usable light over that time. The PulseArc metal halide has a faster restrike if it goes out, that means the lights come on sooner after a shutdown.  The average life of a standard model is typically about 24,000 hours. Compare this to a classic metal halide bulb, which has an average life of about 20,000 hours. It is easy to see the energy savings (thus cost savings) that these bulbs provide. They save energy while reducing maintenance costs because of their extra long life.

Some people wonder about the color of these light bulbs.  Is there a color shift from different manufacturers?  The answer is yes that there can be a different color between manufacturers and various lots although pulse start bulbs have less color shift than the older standard lamps. The Sylvania and GE brands tend to be whiter and more true in color while the Philips is a warmer color almost having a yellow appearance.  If color is a very important thing to your operation, then you may want to consider using the Sylvania brand instead.  Be aware that color can shift over time in use and the only way to get back to the original color is to replace the lamp.  It's sometimes a sign of end of lamp life.  In most architectural specifications, metal halide is becoming the HID lamp of choice for almost all applications.  With the advent of more efficient metal halide lamps, other types of bulbs are being specified less often.

The most common varieties of GE PulseArc metal halide light bulbs are as follows: MVR300, MVR320, MVR350 and MVR400. The number in these codes pertains to the wattage of each lamp. They are usually followed by a PS if it's a pulse start lamp.  We have a large inventory of these lamps for nearly every type of light fixture in the field.  If you need help identifying a bulb, our customer service representatives can help you determine what you have.