The basic technology for induction lamp is not particularly new. Essentially, an induction lamp is an electrodeless fluorescent. Without electrodes, the lamp relies on the fundamental principles of electromagnetic induction and gas discharge to create light. The elimination of filaments and electrodes results in a lamp of unmatched life. Lasting 100, 000 hours or 25 years, this system can outlast 100 incandescent, five HID, or five typical fluorescent lamp changes.

External magnetic induction lamps are essentially fluorescent lamps with electromagnets wrapped around a section of the lamp tube. High frequency energy, from the electronic ballast (generator), is sent through wires, which are wrapped in a coil around the ferrite inductor, creating a powerful magnet.

The induction coil produces a very strong magnetic field which travels through the glass and excites the mercury atoms in the interior which are provided by a pellet of amalgam (a solid form of mercury). The mercury atoms emit UV light and, just as in a fluorescent tube, the UV light is up-converted to visible light by the phosphor coating on the inside of the tube. The system can be considered as a type of transformer where the inductor is the primary coil while the mercury atoms within the envelope/tube form a single-turn secondary coil.

In a variation of this technology, Internal magnetic induction lamps use a light bulb shaped glass lamp, which has a test-tube like re-entrant central cavity. This cavity is coated with phosphors on the interior, filled with inert gas and a pellet of mercury amalgam. The induction coil is wound around a ferrite shaft which is inserted into the central test-tube like cavity. The inductor is excited by high frequency energy provided by an external electronic ballast (generator) causing a magnetic field to penetrate the glass and excite the mercury atoms, which emit UV light, that is converted to visible light by the phosphor coating.