HQI - What is it?

[Dive_Master]

What does HQI stand for?

High Quality Intensity, perhaps???

[PerryinCA]

I've done alot of searching to find out the correct answer for this, and still haven't found what it truly is. Some electricians/manufacturers consider it to be Mercury (Hg) Quartz Iodide, and others say its Halogen (a group of gasses on the periodic table) Quartz Iodide.

Both are in fact correct, as the lamps contain Mercury and Halogen Vapors. It just depends on who your asking.

-Perry

[Ninong]

Well, if you're asking me I would tell you it stands for Mercury Quartz Iodide.

Another point of confusion is that the Germans use HQI to mean all metal halide lamps and over here most people think of HQI as meaning double-ended lamps.

Ninong

[PerryinCA]

Good point Ninong. HQI come in more than just the double ended form. Regardless of the 'actual' meaning of HQI, whats not arguable is that it is simply a form of description for the gas content in the lamp. In fact, all MH have similar if not the same gases. Its the ratios that are chaged to achieve different colors.

-Perry