Philips MasterColor Elite MHC50/U/MP/3K/ALTO 50W Metal Halide Lamp – 3000K Warm White | 4000 Lumens | CRI 85 | ED17-P | E26 Base | Open or Enclosed

The Philips MasterColor Elite MHC50/U/MP/3K/ALTO is a 50-watt protected ceramic metal halide lamp delivering 4,000 initial lumens at 3000K deluxe warm white with CRI 85 — producing high color rendering, energy-efficient light in a compact ED17 protected form factor. ALTO technology, FadeBlock UV protection, 20,000-hour rated life, M148/O or M110/O ANSI compatibility, E26 medium base, and both open and enclosed fixture ratings make this a premium specification for retail displays, art galleries, museums, and commercial accent and downlighting where warm white color quality is critical. Model 36891-0.

Quick Specs

• Brand: Philips
• Series: MasterColor Elite
• Model Number: 36891-0
• Lamp Code: MHC50/U/MP/3K/ALTO
• Lamp Type: Protected Ceramic Metal Halide
• Wattage: 50W
• ANSI Code: M148/O or M110/O
• Color Temperature: 3000K (Deluxe Warm White)
• CRI: 85
• Initial Lumens: 4,000 lm
• Lamp Efficacy: Up to 95 lumens per watt
• Rated Life: 20,000 hours
• Base Type: E26 Medium Screw-In
• Bulb Shape: ED17-P (Protected)
• Burn Position: Universal
• Fixture Compatibility: Open or Enclosed Fixtures
• Overall Length (MOL): 5.43 inches
• Diameter: 2.125 inches
• Special Features: ALTO Technology (low mercury), FadeBlock™ UV protection

Product Overview

The Philips MasterColor Elite MHC50/U/MP/3K/ALTO (Model 36891-0) is a premium 50-watt protected ceramic metal halide lamp engineered for commercial applications where warm white color quality, UV protection, and long service life are all required simultaneously. At 3000K with CRI 85, this lamp produces rich, warm light that renders product colors, artwork, and natural materials with exceptional accuracy — a specification level rarely achieved with standard HID sources.

The MasterColor Elite’s defining advantages over standard metal halide at this wattage are threefold. First, CRI 85 is significantly above the CRI 65 of standard metal halide, enabling accurate color rendering in retail and display environments where purchase decisions depend on how products appear under the light. Second, FadeBlock technology provides integrated UV protection — filtering harmful UV wavelengths that cause fading in fabrics, artwork, photography, and sensitive materials. Third, the universal burn position and dual open/enclosed fixture rating give this lamp the widest installation flexibility in the compact ED17 metal halide category.

ALTO technology uses Philips’ low-mercury manufacturing process — minimizing mercury content and supporting TCLP compliance for simplified disposal. Lamp efficacy reaches up to 95 lumens per watt, and the protected (ED17-P) outer envelope provides containment as an additional safety layer. Rated life of 20,000 hours significantly reduces maintenance frequency compared to standard halogen and lower-grade HID alternatives at equivalent wattage.

Why Choose This Product

• CRI 85 — premium color rendering for ceramic metal halide: The highest CRI standard available in compact metal halide technology — essential for retail display, artwork, hospitality, and any application where color accuracy drives the lighting specification.
• 3000K warm white — the preferred color temperature for premium retail and hospitality: Produces rich, warm light that flatters products, materials, and human skin tones — the correct specification for fashion retail, food service, hospitality, and gallery lighting.
• FadeBlock UV protection — protects sensitive materials: Integrated UV filtering reduces the fading of fabrics, artwork, photography, merchandise, and interior finishes — essential for art galleries, museums, retail environments selling sensitive goods, and hospitality interiors.
• Open and enclosed fixture rated: Both O-rated and enclosed-rated in a single lamp — the widest fixture compatibility in the compact metal halide category.
• Universal burn position: Installs in any orientation without affecting lamp performance or rated life.
• 20,000-hour rated life: Long service life significantly reduces replacement frequency and maintenance cost compared to halogen or lower-grade HID alternatives at equivalent wattage.
• Up to 95 lm/W efficacy: Industry-leading efficacy for a 50W compact ceramic metal halide source.
• ALTO low-mercury technology: TCLP-compliant mercury content — supports commercial facility disposal compliance and environmental purchasing standards.
• M148/O or M110/O dual ANSI compatibility: Operates on either M148 or M110 ANSI ballast designations — broader ballast compatibility than single-code ceramic metal halide lamps.

Technical Specifications

Dimensions

Applications

The Philips MasterColor Elite MHC50/U/MP/3K/ALTO is specified for premium commercial lighting applications where warm white color quality, UV protection, and long lamp life are all required:

• Retail display and accent lighting – CRI 85 and 3000K warm white produce accurate, flattering product color rendering for apparel, jewelry, cosmetics, footwear, and home goods. FadeBlock UV protection prevents merchandise fading from prolonged lamp exposure.
• Art galleries and museums – FadeBlock UV filtering is the critical specification for gallery and museum lighting — protecting artwork, photography, textiles, and antiques from UV-induced fading while maintaining high CRI 85 color accuracy for exhibition quality.
• Hospitality environments – Hotels, restaurants, lobbies, and event spaces where 3000K warm white creates a premium, comfortable ambiance and CRI 85 enhances food presentation and occupant appearance.
• Commercial downlighting and highlighting – Recessed, track, and directional accent fixtures in retail stores, showrooms, and corporate reception areas where the ED17-P compact form factor suits tight fixture housings.
• Outdoor commercial flood lighting – Universal burn position and dual open/enclosed fixture rating support outdoor flood applications where versatile fixture installation is required.

Replacing Your Current Compact Metal Halide Lamp?

Confirm the following before ordering to ensure a compatible replacement:

• ANSI code — M148/O or M110/O: This lamp operates on M148/O or M110/O ANSI ballasts. Both codes cover 50W ceramic metal halide designations — verify your existing ballast carries one of these codes. Do not install on other ANSI metal halide ballasts even if wattage appears similar.
• Base type — E26 medium screw: Verify your fixture socket accepts E26 medium base lamps. Some compact metal halide fixtures use GX8.5, G12, or other proprietary bases — confirm the E26 socket type before ordering.
• Color temperature — 3000K warm white: If your current installation uses 3500K or 4000K metal halide lamps, note the warmer color shift. If mixing this lamp with other fixtures in the same space, ensure consistent color temperature across the installation.
• CRI upgrade: If your current lamp is CRI 65–70, this is a significant CRI 85 upgrade. Color rendering will improve noticeably — verify this improvement is consistent with your space’s design intent.
• Burn position: Universal — no orientation restriction.
• Fixture type: Rated for both open and enclosed fixtures — no restriction on fixture housing type.
• Warm-up and re-ignition: Ceramic metal halide lamps require a warm-up period to reach full output after ignition and a cool-down period before re-striking after hot extinguishing. This is normal for the technology.
• FadeBlock UV: If you are replacing a standard metal halide lamp without UV filtering in a gallery, museum, or sensitive merchandise environment, the addition of FadeBlock UV protection will provide immediate benefit for fade-sensitive materials.

Ordering Information

• Brand: Philips
• Series: MasterColor Elite
• Model Number: 36891-0
• Lamp Code: MHC50/U/MP/3K/ALTO
• Lamp Type: 50W Protected Ceramic Metal Halide
• ANSI Code: M148/O or M110/O
• Color Temperature: 3000K Warm White
• Base: E26 Medium Screw
• Case quantities and bulk pricing: Contact ADL Supply for volume orders.

Compliance and Safety

• Philips ALTO Low-Mercury Technology: Yes — TCLP-compliant low-mercury manufacturing
• FDA 21 CFR 1040.30 Compliant: Yes — UV radiation performance standards for ultraviolet radiation-emitting products.
• Canada SOR/DORS/80-381 Compliant: Yes — Canadian Radiation Emitting Devices Regulations.
• UV Radiation Warning: Exposure to UV radiation from a broken or punctured outer envelope may cause serious skin burns and eye inflammation. Use only in appropriate fixture enclosures. Replace damaged lamps immediately. Avoid prolonged exposure in high-traffic areas without adequate protective shielding.
• Verify RoHS compliance status with manufacturer specification sheet.
• Verify California Title 20 / T24 compliance with manufacturer specification sheet.
• Verify Prop 65 warning requirements with manufacturer specification sheet.
• Mercury disposal: This lamp contains mercury. Dispose of in accordance with local and state lamp recycling regulations. Do not dispose of in general waste. For lamp recycling information, visit lamprecycle.org.

ADL Supply recommends confirming all applicable compliance data with the Philips official product data sheet prior to specification or installation.