Florescent lights have shown significant advances in technology resulting in more energy efficient, low wattage bulbs. Representing florescent lights with higher arc pressures, the hid fog lights show better efficacy than the other florescent types. The efficacy of HID sodium lamps is the highest at 140 lumens per watt. Sodium HID lamps produce a more yellowish light. Metal halide HID off road lights have a whiter luminescence.
Although the color rating index of LED lighting faces further development, the solid state technology of the LED work lamps has resulted in the longest lamp life. They can last for as long as 30,000 hours. As technology improves, the costs of LED work lamps are expected to lower.
An HID work light offered by Quantilutions.com has a lumens output of 3,200 and a lifetime approaching 3,000 to 4,000 hours. The projection of the beam is 80 feet by 60 feet. The lamp has a polycarbonate lens and output power of 35 watts. Rubber seals make the HID lights weather resistant, and the power input is 3.2 amperes.
Ballasts are employed in HID lamps to provide a high starting pulse and to control the voltage after the pulse levels off. In the sodium HID lamps, the interplay of electrons moving through the xenon, mercury and sodium atoms under high pressure cause wavelengths of light to be emitted that are visible to the eye. HID lamps can last as long as 5,000 hours. Some of the lamps can be affixed with different magnetic mounts.