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Different flavors of self-ballasted mercury When it comes to the design of their lamps, manufacturers can have completely different strategies. The comparison above is a good example of such difference (shot with a fixed 4000 K white balance). Here we see two modern 160 W self-ballasted high-pressure mercury lamps during operation, one made by Mazda (Philips, left) and one from the General Electric Company of England. While Philips opted for a warm-white light color at around 3500 K, GEC went for a much colder light (ca. 4500 K). A possible reason for the latter may be that GEC aimed at keeping the same light color when the phosphor material used in those lamps was upgrade from magnesium fluorogermanate to yttrium vanadate in the late 1960s. Philips, on the other hand, upgraded the lamp's color and output in this process. Keywords: Lamps

Different flavors of self-ballasted mercury


When it comes to the design of their lamps, manufacturers can have completely different strategies. The comparison above is a good example of such difference (shot with a fixed 4000 K white balance). Here we see two modern 160 W self-ballasted high-pressure mercury lamps during operation, one made by Mazda (Philips, left) and one from the General Electric Company of England. While Philips opted for a warm-white light color at around 3500 K, GEC went for a much colder light (ca. 4500 K). A possible reason for the latter may be that GEC aimed at keeping the same light color when the phosphor material used in those lamps was upgrade from magnesium fluorogermanate to yttrium vanadate in the late 1960s. Philips, on the other hand, upgraded the lamp's color and output in this process.
DSCF4816m.JPG DSCF4809m.JPG Mazda_MMF_160W_vs_GEC_MBFT21V_160W.jpg Philips_T17Cl_c.jpg Philips_T17Cl_b.jpg
Lamp/Fixture Information
Manufacturer:Mazda (Philips, left) left, GEC of England
Model Reference:MMF 160W (left), MBFT!V 160W (right)
Lamp
Lamp Type:Mercury high pressure self ballasted
Filament/Radiator Type:Incandescent tungsten filament, thermal arc in mercury vapor, and fluorescence
Base:E27
Shape/Finish:Elliptical fluorescent
Burning Position:Vertical
Electrical
Wattage:160 W
Voltage:230-240 V
Current:0.72 A
Optical
Lumen Output:3100 lm (left), 2900 lm (right), initial values
Lumen Efficacy:19.4 lm/W (left), 18.1 lm/W (right), initial values
Colour Temperature:~3500 K (left) ~4500 K (right)
Colour Rendering Index:~72 Ra8 (left) ~65 Ra8 (right)
Physical/Production
Factory Location:Turnhout, Belgium (left), Shaw, England (right)
Fabrication Date:1988 (left), 1986 (right)
Application/Use:General lighting
File information
Filename:Mazda_MMF_160W_vs_GEC_MBFT21V_160W.jpg
Album name:Max / Misc lamps and lighting
Keywords:Lamps
Filesize:1060 KiB
Date added:04 May 2025
Dimensions:1500 x 1125 pixels
Displayed:132 times
Software:Adobe Photoshop CS2 Windows
URL:https://trad-lighting.net/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=825
Favourites:Add to Favourites

Comment 1 to 6 of 6
Page: 1

Ria   [Sun 04 May 2025 at 22:54]
I've always preferred a lower colour temperature for indoor lighting. The only exception is the kitchen, where a higher temperature is better for cooking.
AgentHalogen_87   [Mon 05 May 2025 at 08:55]
You don't cook on lamps Ria! Laughing


Interesting to see different colour temperatures. I always thought the colour of HP / MP mercury vapour lamps were set by them being mercury lamps
Ria   [Mon 05 May 2025 at 22:40]
Oh I don't know, I reckon a 1500W MH lamp would get hot enough to fry eggs, not that I plan on trying any time soon, though Mr. Green
Max   [Tue 06 May 2025 at 21:08]
AgentHalogen_87 - it really depends on the lamp type. Clear (uncorrected) mercury lamps have indeed a light color defined by the discharge alone, but fluorescent ones have a light color which is strongly affected by the phosphor type... here is a good example of disparities between mercury fluorescent lamps.

Ria - Light color preferences is really a matter of personal taste Wink
Ria   [Wed 07 May 2025 at 23:37]
It is indeed. As I said, I've always preferred a lower temperature for most things. Colour, that is, room temperature we like HIGH (80°F Mind Blown Mr. Green)
Sammi   [Thu 08 May 2025 at 21:42]
I need the temperature to be up around that because I got a really bad bout of hypothermia over 30 years ago, and if I get too cold it can take me days to get warm again. Sad bulb icon

Comment 1 to 6 of 6
Page: 1