Electrodeless HID Phase 2 Lab

The electrode-less HID light source is a new class of solid-state plasma light source that combines the best features of solid-state electronics and full spectrum plasma emitters. This lab evaluation is a phase 2 based on the recommendation of previous lab tests done by SCE. Technology has been improved since the first project. This project will aim at evaluating the lighting fixtures that have addressed issues, including fixture temperature raised in phase 1.

Commercial lighting accounts for 34.5% of all commercial electricity used in the Southern California Edison (SCE) service area and is one of the major contributors to peak electrical demand. To address this demand, SCE tests new and emerging lighting technologies for possible inclusion in its incentive portfolio that is offered to customers. Electrodeless high intensity discharge (ELHID), also referred to as plasma, is a new lighting technology that is being examined as a replacement for high intensity discharge (HID) lighting in parking lot fixtures (also referred to as shoe‐box style fixtures).  ELHID differs from conventional lighting in that it has no electrodes penetrating a glass envelope, and therefore no mechanical failure points within the bulb. Instead, radio frequency waves are concentrated on gases within the glass envelope to generate an intense, bright white light source. Now being developed by various manufacturers, the technology has been showcased at various lighting events as a lower‐demand replacement for HID. To assess the ELHID’s potential advantages, SCE evaluated the technology in laboratories in two phases at the SCE Technology Test Centers (TTC) in Irwindale, California. This report describes the second phase of testing.