the present disclosure describes a method for determining the condensate location within an hid lamp . the method involves monitoring current and voltage waveforms during the glow phase of lamp starting . if the voltage drop during the glow phase is low with a corresponding high current , then the volatile component of the lamp fill has condensed on the electrodes during the previous cool down period . if the voltage drop is high and current is low then most of the condensate has localized on the arc tube wall . an automated detection apparatus is used to carry out the measurements to determine condensate location .