SYLVANIA 68842 | MC20TF/U/GU6.5/830 Metalarc® Powerball® 20W Ceramic Metal Halide Lamp

The Sylvania 68842 (MC20TF/U/GU6.5/830) is a sub-compact, high-efficiency **20W ceramic metal halide lamp** belonging to the elite Metalarc® Powerball® family. Operating at a nominal **95V** via an **ANSI C156/E** electronic control gear circuit, this single-ended **T4 tubular bulb** features a precision **GU6.5 Twist-Lock base** designed for rock-solid lamp placement and stable fixture optics. Delivering a punchy **1,700 initial lumens** of crisp **3000K Warm White (830)** illumination, it pairs premium pulse-start tech with an integrated UV-Stop™ quartz sleeve to ensure outstanding lumen maintenance and color stability across its long **15,000-hour rated lifespan**. This German-engineered specialty bulb is built exclusively for **enclosed retail fixtures** and museum-grade spotlight tracking arrays.

The Powerball® Ceramic Advantage

Sylvania Powerball® lamps implement a advanced, patented round ceramic arc tube architecture that optimizes thermal distribution within the chamber. By eliminating the sharp corner points found in traditional quartz or cylindrical ceramic capsules, this cell geometry dramatically minimizes internal temperature drop-offs, yielding a highly efficient **85 lumens per watt (lm/W)**. This engineering ensures unparalleled color temperature stability (±200K) over the life of the bulb, preventing the ugly green or pink discoloration shifts common to aging accent luminaires.

• Pulse Start Operation: Built strictly for high-frequency electronic ballasts, resulting in swift warm-up performance, low power loss, and steady lumen delivery.
• UV-Stop™ Outer Jacket: Shrouded in special UV-inhibiting quartz glass to minimize ultraviolet radiation output, protecting fabrics, jewelry cases, and gallery canvases from bleaching or yellowing.
• Micro Geometry Profile: Its tiny structural size (2.24" MOL × 0.51" DIA) empowers luminaire designers to craft incredibly sleek, low-profile track spots and directional recessed downlights.
• Universal Burn Vector: Operates seamlessly in any spatial orientation or angle without encountering shifts in light output, strike stability, or thermal longevity.

Technical Specifications

• Brand: Sylvania
• Product Code / NAED: 68842 (Also cross-references to legacy number 64977)
• Ordering Abbreviation: MC20TF/U/GU6.5/830
• Series Name: Metalarc® Powerball®
• Wattage: 20W
• Operating Voltage: 95V
• Lamp Operating Current: 0.24 Amps
• ANSI Ballast Code: C156/E
• Bulb Profile: T4 Tubular (Clear)
• Base Type: GU6.5 Single-Ended Twist-Lock (6.5mm pin spacing)
• Initial Lumens: 1,700 lm
• Luminous Efficacy: 85 lm/W
• Color Temperature: 3000K (830 Warm White)
• Color Rendering Index (CRI): 85
• Maximum Overall Length (MOL): 2.24 Inches (57 mm)
• Light Center Length (LCL): 1.38 Inches (35 mm)
• Bulb Diameter: 0.51 Inches (13 mm)
• Average Rated Life: 15,000 Hours
• Manufacturing Origin: Germany

Premium Applications

• Luxury Retail & Showcases: Brings out crisp textures, sparkle, and deep coloration across jewelry counters, boutique shelves, and apparel grids.
• Museums & Art Galleries: Supplies high-lumen spotlighting onto delicate focal points while minimizing thermal stress and UV color fading.
• Commercial Downlighting: Perfect for high-end hospitality lobbies, executive suites, and corporate walkways calling for high-density, sharp point sources.

System Installation & Safety Requirements

• Enclosure Protection: This lamp must be used exclusively inside **enclosed, E-type classified fixtures** engineered to reliably retain hot arc fragments in the rare event of structural rupture. Open luminaire operation is prohibited.
• Ballast Requirements: Operates strictly on compatible Electronic Control Gear ballasts meeting ANSI C156/E criteria. Sylvania recommends utilizing the **51987 (QTP1X20MH SM UNV J)** or **51988 (QTP1X20MH SM UNV F)** ballast platforms.
• Socket & Voltage Limits: Sockets must carry a certified **4000V pulse-rating** to manage initial arc ignition safely. Circuit configurations must deliver a minimum open-circuit voltage of 209V RMS (230V nominal) without external ignitors. Ensure appropriate circuit overcurrent protection is integrated.

Critical Radiation Safeguard Warning