LED Fixtures to Replace Metal Halide Bulbs
I have reviewed your site which describes a means of substituting LED lights for metal halides. I am a member of a church in upstate NY and we have a number of light fixtures powered by metal halides. The lights were installed about 15 years ago meaning some of the light elements may be approaching their life cycle. Aside from energy consumption concerns, they are annoying given the time they take to power up. We would hope that we would not have to replace the lighting fixture itself, but could substitute the bulb with an LED equivalent. The light fixture deflects most of the light toward the ceiling which produces a softer light. It also has a large frosted globe surrounding the light element. Any guidance on locating a manufacturer/distributor and relative cost of conversion is welcome.
How LEDs can Replace Metal Halide Bulbs
There are many problems associated with replacing the original light bulbs with LED replacement bulbs. This is because LED technology is very unique, and requires very special attention during the initial design process. Even the most creative LED designs are limited to certain applications. The most obvious restriction is voltage, as LEDs operate from lower DC currents. They do not require any starter circuity. Most metal halides produce a very large quantity of heat from a central location. LEDs are dramatically affect by heat, so they normally require external heat sinking to allow for normal and reliable operation. As LED technology continues to progress, designers will surly advance into more creative and practical design concepts for direct bulb replacements. Today, the most practical solution involves replacing the entire metal halide fixture with a new LED fixture. The LED fixture does not simply include an LED bulb, but must also contain specialized LED drivers, heat sinks, and optics. Together, these components make up the LED fixture suitable to replace many traditional metal halides systems.