G12 Base - Pulse Start Metal Halide

G12 bulbs can refer to the shape of the glass or the type and size of the base. The G12 bases of these pulse start metal halide bulbs have pins that are approximately 12 millimeters (about 0.47 inches) apart. While several bulb shapes can have the G12 base, pulse start bulbs with this base are most often in the ceramic metal halide family.

Generally, pulse start MH lamps skip the third starting electrode (i.e. the "probe" electrode) in favor of a high voltage ignitor. The ignitor, alongside the ballast, uses pulses of electricity to start the lamp. The absence of a starter electrode increases the lifespan of the lamp while maintaining the lumen output over time. Ceramic discharge metal halide (CDM) lamps, also known as ceramic metal halide (CMH) lamps are MH lamps with one notable difference in their inner arc tubes. Rather than a fused quartz inner arc tube, CDM lamps use noticeably smaller ceramic tubes to reduce the chances that the high pressure and temperature of the light will destroy the glass.

Since these G12 bulbs can handle higher temperatures, it results in better efficacy, color rendering, color stability, and often 10 to 20% more efficiency than the traditional quartz MH arc tubes. They also have one of the highest CRIs of the HID family, ranging from an acceptable 80 to an almost-perfect 96, making them popular as indoor grow lights. They can be found wherever traditional pulse start metal halides are used, such as television or film sets, flood lights, architectural lighting, or stadiums.

Don't let petite size of these G12 lamps fool you. Our G12 light bulbs come in a wide range of wattages and lumen packages, from retail store-ready 20-Watt bulbs to our stadium-worthy 150-Watt bulbs with over 10,000 lumens available.

Find out where G12 bulbs can improve your lighting. Call 1-800-624-4488 and let our knowledgeable lighting experts advise you!