Uploaded June 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
1500w linear double ended quartz metal halide lamp with bare arc tube.
The MBIL/H lamp was introduced by Thorn in the early 1970's as an effort to increase the illumination in sports stadia so that new colour TV cameras could be used with narrow apertures to give good depth of field as well as a reduction of energy usage by potentially reducing the number of lighting points.
The MBIL/H lamp was often used in conjunction with the 1000w CSI PAR64 lamp.
The idea behind a long arc bare metal halide lamp was so that they could be used in existing very successful floodlighting luminaires that were developed for linear tungsten-halogen lamps. The narrow lamp being right in the focal point of the compact and efficient reflector systems which gave very good optical control.
Previously, all discharge lamps had utilised large outer envelopes to provide thermal insulation and to prevent the end seals from oxidising which made it impossible for them to be located in the focal point of a compact reflector system and necessitated rather large and bulky floodlight fittings with the associated problems with weight and windage when mounted high on a lighting tower.
As this is a bare arc tube, this must only be used in a sealed luminaire.
The lamp is frosted in order to improve the colour uniformity due the long arc length.
I did clean the lamp with IPA after handling it as any contaminates can cause the quartz to fail during use.
1500w linear double ended quartz metal halide lamp with bare arc tube.
The MBIL/H lamp was introduced by Thorn in the early 1970's as an effort to increase the illumination in sports stadia so that new colour TV cameras could be used with narrow apertures to give good depth of field as well as a reduction of energy usage by potentially reducing the number of lighting points.
The MBIL/H lamp was often used in conjunction with the 1000w CSI PAR64 lamp.
The idea behind a long arc bare metal halide lamp was so that they could be used in existing very successful floodlighting luminaires that were developed for linear tungsten-halogen lamps. The narrow lamp being right in the focal point of the compact and efficient reflector systems which gave very good optical control.
Previously, all discharge lamps had utilised large outer envelopes to provide thermal insulation and to prevent the end seals from oxidising which made it impossible for them to be located in the focal point of a compact reflector system and necessitated rather large and bulky floodlight fittings with the associated problems with weight and windage when mounted high on a lighting tower.
As this is a bare arc tube, this must only be used in a sealed luminaire.
The lamp is frosted in order to improve the colour uniformity due the long arc length.
I did clean the lamp with IPA after handling it as any contaminates can cause the quartz to fail during use.
