HQI vs. Mogul vs. DE

What does HQI stand for and do any of these configurations have any advantages over the others?

 

HQI stands for hydrargyrum quartz iodide, which is a high voltage arc passing through a gas that produces light. I believe all metal halide lighting is HQI, as are many other forms of HID lighting, like automotive headlights.
A mogul base will have a screw socket very similar to your typical household bulb. Double ended uses pins on both sides of the bulb instead of the socket. I am not sure if either offers any positives or negatives.

 

I thought MH basically refferred to the single (mogul) ended bulbs, and HQI referred to the double ended bulbs?

 

Nope. HQI refers to how the bulb itself operates. A bulb can be HQI regardless of its base

 

HQI is a bulb with two ends.. it requires a glass shield. Mogul bulbs are single ended and do not require a shield.

 

So which one is it?

 

Here are some links to HQI, mogul base bulbs:

Custom Aquatic - Store - Lighting Supplies - Metal Halide Bulbs - [ Helios 250 Watt 20,000 K Hqi Mogul Base Mh Bulb ]

D&T Aquarium Supplies-Aquarium Supplies For Saltwater And Freshwater Aquariums, And Ponds

Hamilton Technology HQI and Mogul Aquarium Metal Halide Bulb

These are just the first three that popped up on google. But all stores will have them. Like, I said, I *believe* ALL metal halides will be HQI, but even if that is not the case, either mogul or double ended can be.

 

That's true but generally in this hobby most people think of HQI as the double ended lamps. Even if it's a single end HQI it will still require two ends internally. HQI has a smaller bulb inside of the the bigger bulbs with a current running through it. The moguls I think run hotter and the bulbs are cheaper. (from what I've read anyway)

 

Ya I have always thought of DE and HQI as the same thing. I have had experience with moguls bulbs only. Cheap is good but hoter is bad. Thanks for the feed back so far.