I kind of got a taste for this over Christmas 🤪

Haha

I just find it interesting that the street light fixture somehow survived:

https://youtu.be/BzZitICHXc4?si=KTyELxkXh7As9a89

In Japan, I have been aware of 2 types of energy saver 4 foot T10 tubes being used. The most common 4 foot T10 tubes for energy saving are F36T10 (FLR40S/M/36) tubes for rapid start F40T10 (FLR40S/M) or F40T12 (FLR40/M) fixtures and have also been aware of F38T10 (FL40S/38) tubes being made almost exclusively by Mitsubishi that are intended for preheat F40T10 (FL40S) or F40T12 (FL40) fixtures.

Information about the Mitsubishi F38T10 preheat tubes:

https://www.mitsubishielectric.co.jp/ldg/wink/ssl/displayMLFCatalog.do?pid=98024&cid=MLF1983ZYUUTAKU&pg=322&spg=323

https://www.mitsubishielectric.co.jp/ldg/wink/ssl/displayMLFCatalog.do?pid=97999&cid=MLF2006SISETU&pg=625&spg=725

Eventually, I think the Mitsubishi F38T10 tubes were later discontinued in favor of F37T9 (FL40SS/37) tubes I believe sometime in the mid 2000s.

From my experience with running European 4 foot F36T8 fluorescent tubes on North American 2 lamp lead lag F40T12 fluorescent ballasts, it has been hit or miss where in some cases, the 2 lamp ballast runs both tubes reliably and in other cases, the lamp on the leading side blinks endlessly as if EOL or refuses to start when an electronic starter is used.

I like soda and fruit juice...my mom won't let me have caffeine thoI been sneaking my grandma's Mtn dew....

@Olav
Yes, that is an excellent resource, I have read many of those through in the "literature" tab. I just reread the Electric Lamps: Discharge book, but I once again didn't see any solid definition of HID lighting over there.

That said, I was hoping to get input on the question itself. Are you able to help with that? Do you know of a source that might have the answer?

Have you ever taken the trouble to read books instead of just Wikipedia?

Some books are even available online as PDF files:

books about lamps on lamptech, James Hookers website

I can highly recommend it.

On Wikipedia (so reliable, I know), they say that HID lamps have a wall loading at or above 3W per square centimeter. Is this the definition of HID lamps? What category do carbon arc lamps fall under, or other incandescent arc sources? I thought carbon arc was HID, but they don't have walls, so are they? How about medium pressure mercury lamps (MA/V)?

Are there also definitions for low intensity, medium intensity, and ultra high intensity lamps?

Theoretically, if you has a thick basketball-size quartz envelope with electrodes that were only a centimeter apart inside and mimicking the characteristics of something like an MV lamp, would the low watt density per square centimeter of quartz wall exclude it from being considered HID?

I also hear that these lamps may have a minimum temperature requirement, but I can't pinpoint what that would be if that was the case. Is this a thing as well?

In that case, would pin based CFL lamps have a separate category like the linear tubes and non-linear fluorescent lamps like circlines and u bends?

Yes, they are in a different category. Current definitions exempt pin-base, fluorescent, HID, and other unusual lamps from efficiency requirements.
I think what will happen is they will expand the LPW requirement and amend the definitions to include fluorescent lamps.

The ban only applies to lamps, not ballasts and other necessities. Which means that here in Oregon, in 2026, I can still go to Home Depot and buy a brand-new fluorescent fixture.

I also find it funny that they are focusing so heavily on banning light bulbs, while I can just go to another isle and buy an electric baseboard heater.
These cost much more to operate than pretty much any heat pump or natural gas furnace.

they have been banned here in europe since 2023. But you can still get your hands on them lol. I have a huge stash at home, so I think I will be good for the foreeable future.