Kolorarc MBI-T 250W Tri-Band Metal Halide

The Kolorarc MBI-T lamp was developed by Thorn engineer Ken Brown as a high performance alternative to the standard Kolorarc range. The earlier lamps were based on sodium-scandium technology which had been developed through Thorn's close links with Sylvania of USA, but with further modifications to suit European ballasts.

A characteristic feature of American and British-developed sodium-scandium lamps is their high initial lumen output, but this is always followed by rapid lumen depreciation. Consequently in later life they are not nearly so efficient. However they have the advantage that their spectral output remains fairly constant, and strong colour shifts are unusual. The competitive technology being developed in Europe by Philips was the tri-band sodium-indium-thallium chemistry. This delivered more stable lumen output, but initial output was lower and the colour stability from lamp-to-lamp, as well as colour rendering quality, was rather poor.

The MBI-T lamps represent Thorn's attempt to develop a product having the advantages of both technologies. It features a shaped arc tube having end seals of very small cross-section, which minimise thermal losses and ensure higher cold spot temperatures and good luminous efficacy, but without overheating the central portion of the arc tube so that sodium loss would be accelerated. A steatite ceramic insulator over the side frame further enhances colour stability by slowing sodium loss. Ignition of the lamp is assisted by a small UV-enhancer which produces a brief pulse of UV radiation, these high energy photons then ionising the gas in the arc tube.

Manufacturer:	GE-Thorn Lamps Ltd.
Lamp Power:	250 Watts
Lamp Current:	3.0 Amps
Lamp Voltage:	105 Volts
Cap:	E40s/45
Bulb Finish:	Clear
Bulb Type:	T-46
Overall Length:	220 mm
Focal Distance:	150 mm
Electrodes:	Backwound thoriated tungsten
Atmosphere:	Ar \| Hg-In (Na, Tl, Hg)Ix	Outer : Nitrogen
Luminous Flux (100 hrs):	21,000 lm @ 100 hours
Luminous Efficacy (100 hrs):	84 lm/W @ 100 hours
Colour Temperature & CRI:	CCT: 4200K	CRI: Ra 70
Chromaticity Co-ordinates:	CCx:	CCy:
Burning Position:	Horizontal ±15°
Rated Life:	6000 hours to 70% survival
Warm Up / Re-strike Time:	2 minutes	< 7 minutes
Factory:	Leicester	England
Date of Manufacture:	April 1991
Original Value:	GB £54.43 (1992)


References:	1) GE Lighting UK Catalogue 1992.
	2) GE-Thorn UK Price List, March 1992.