HID Retrofit

LED HID retrofit lamps provide a direct, fixture-friendly upgrade path away from legacy metal halide and high-pressure sodium (HPS) lighting, without the cost and downtime of replacing an entire fixture. These corn-cob style LED lamps are engineered to match the ANSI length and diameter of the HID lamp they replace, so they drop into existing fixture housings and work with existing reflector optics. Most models in this category are Type B ballast bypass lamps, meaning the fixture is rewired to operate the lamp directly from line voltage, eliminating the ongoing cost, maintenance, and failure risk associated with HID ballasts. The result is significant energy savings — typically 60–75% less power draw for equivalent or better light output — along with a service life of up to 50,000 hours, roughly 3.3 times longer than a comparable metal halide lamp.

This category spans multiple bulb shapes and wattage tiers to cover the full range of HID replacement needs. ED17, ED23.5, and ED28 lamps address lower- and mid-wattage applications from roughly 50W to 250W HPS/MH equivalency, while ED37 and BT56 lamps scale up to handle 400W, 750W, 1000W, and 1500W HID replacements, including Current's High Output BT56 series reaching up to 106,000 lumens. Fixed-wattage and fixed-CCT models are available alongside Selectable LumenChoice® and SpectraChoice™ lamps, which use built-in switches to let installers choose wattage and color temperature (commonly 3000K, 4000K, or 5000K) on site — reducing the number of SKUs needed to stock for a given project. Most lamps in this category carry a 5-year limited warranty, cULus safety certification, and Damp location ratings, with many models also DLC qualified for utility rebate eligibility.

LED HID retrofit lamps are widely used in warehouses, manufacturing facilities, parking lots, canopies, wall packs, high-bay industrial spaces, and outdoor area lighting — anywhere legacy metal halide or HPS fixtures are still in service. Because these lamps require the fixture to be rewired for ballast bypass operation, installation should be performed by a qualified electrician familiar with Type B retrofit wiring. Once converted, fixtures benefit from instant-on/instant-restrike performance, reduced maintenance calls, and elimination of the ballast as a point of failure — an important consideration for facilities maintenance teams managing large numbers of high-bay or pole-mounted fixtures.

Selecting the correct LED HID retrofit lamp starts with identifying the wattage and type (HPS or metal halide) of the existing lamp, along with the fixture's bulb shape, base type (commonly EX39 mogul or E26 medium), and available input voltage. Cross-referencing the original HID wattage against the LED replacement's NEMA-equivalency rating ensures adequate light output for the application, and confirming fixture compartment dimensions avoids fit issues during installation. For help identifying the correct replacement lamp for your existing HID fixture, or for wholesale pricing and bulk availability, contact ADL Supply at 1-800-235-3489.