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High Intensity Discharge (HID) lighting produces more light and uses less energy than a
standard bulb. The quality of light emitted by HID lights is closer to that of natural
daylight, making them preferable for growing, diving, and automotive applications, among
others.
HID lights have a capsule of gas instead of the tungsten filament. The gas is actually used
to produce light instead of simply slowing the decay of the bulb. Two electrodes are
positioned close together and hermetically sealed inside the gas capsule. The electrodes are
wired to a ballast containing a circuit board with several high current capacitors,
transistors, and resistors. The ballast acts as the light's control center, igniting the
light and then regulating its power flow.
When the ballast ignites, it takes in a small amount of power and creates an intense charge
of electricity across the electrodes. This electrical charge excites the gas molecules
inside the bulb and causes them to discharge photon particles, producing light. Because the
light is based on this gas discharge, HID lights only produce about 5% of their total output
at ignition and can require up to 30 seconds to warm up to full power. If the light is
turned off, it must cool to a certain temperature before it can be re-ignited.
In addition to being more efficient, HID lights also produce brighter and more intense light
because the entire capsule of gas is used instead of just a small filament in the middle of
the bulb. This also means that the light will be distributed more evenly than with a
standard bulb. This advantage in light quality is a major reason why HID systems are
preferable for automotive and gardening lights. Motorists are able to see much more with HID
headlights than with standard halogen headlights. In fact, many car manufacturers are
including HID lights as part of their standard package instead of making them a luxury
upgrade.
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