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Xenon capsules use an electric current passed through Xenon gas to produce light, rather than a filament. Not only does this method require minimal electric current draw compared to filament lighting, it is much more robust and lasts much longer than the Halogen lamps it is designed to replace.

Xenon (XGD) lamps are specialized high pressure discharge lamps developed for use in the automotive industry. Unlike industrial HID lamp types (MH and HPS) that require several minutes to warm up and reach full light output, XGD lamps are designed to strike immediately and the associated ballast systems are capable of restarting them when hot.

The light color spectrum of XGD lamps is specifically optimised to provide the best performance when used in applications where the user is in a scotopic vision (dark) adapted condition, whereas most other lamps are balanced for photopic (day-light) vision. This is one of the key reasons why Xenon lighting causes less eye strain than other capsule types, making it a more convenient and safer night lighting option. It also reflects off road signs and markings more brightly.

The XGD technology consists of a very compact quartz glass arc tube discharge vessel, filled with Xenon gas and metal halide salts. In this hybrid system, Xenon gas provides the instant start aspect while the metal halide salts contribute the very high luminous efficacy of a XGD lamp. The arc tube assembly also contains two electrodes that protrude into the gas via special seals, to ensure the system remains hermetically sealed after many switching cycles and despite all the vibration the lamp will be exposed to under normal operating conditions. The arc tube itself is encased in a soda lime glass outer jacket to filter out the ultra-violet generated by the gas discharge. This is of particular importance, considering the widespread use of polycarbonate lenses in automotive lighting. This active part of the XGD lamp is mounted in one of two basic lamp holder types: D1/D3 range contains an integrated ignitor module and suits designs where space efficiency is very important and lamp replacement cost is less important, the D2 range requires an external ignitor (typically integrated into the ballast) and suits high duty cycle systems where lamp replacement occurs on a regular basis.

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