Less than 1% of the mercury in a mercury vapor lamp is in vapor form and will be released if a lamp is accidentally broken. Eye lighting still offers a full line of mercury replacement lamps. They will require optional light and heat sources such as halogen lamps. The mercury vapor lamp is a negative resistance device. Self ballasted mercury hid lamps contain an internal ballast that allows it to operate in an incandescent socket.
Removing the broken lamp debris and ventilating the area for 15 minutes if possible is recommended. Types of mercury containing lamps 12 compact fluorescent lamps 12. Mercury lamps are becoming harder and harder to find. So if the lamp is connected directly to a constantvoltage source like the power lines, the current through it will increase until it destroys itself. This means its resistance decreases as the current through the tube increases. The bulbs have an inner quartz tube containing the mercury vapor discharge. As with fluorescent lights, mercury vapor lamps require a ballast to supply the proper voltage and regulate the current to the electrodes. Mercury vapor lamps are bright, longlasting light sources that are often used to light large areas such as streets, gyms, sports arenas, banks, or stores. Therefore it requires a ballast to limit the current through it. Halogen lamps run hot for the wattage so be careful when setting them up. This is enclosed by an outer glass bulb that filters out harmful shortwavelength ultraviolet uv.
The small diagonal cylinder at the bottom of the arc tube is a resistor which supplies current to the starter electrode. The ballast is designed to be used with a specific size, or wattage, of bulb. Mercury vapor lamps, however, may not be good for your health. Once started, the arc will runaway with itself and draw an excessive current that will destroy the lamp if not controlled by a ballasting device. There is a considered view that these lamps have the potential to sap out the energy from us if we get exposed to. Light dispersion of a mercuryvapor lamp with a flint. Various types of ballasts for mercury lamps are described on pages 11 and 12. Since sodium vapor fixtures are more energy efficient than mercury vapor, a smaller lamp size may provide equal or greater lumen output per kilowatthour of electricity, resulting in a net savings in the monthly energy cost. Engineering high intensity discharge bulletin mercury lamps.