Security Light: Metal Halide VS High-pressure Sodium????

[bobmisi]

I have a 100 watt metal halide light from lowes that I've run for a couple of years. No problems, nice light, cheap to buy and run. I recently changes the bulb, and the new bulb is slightly more yellow than the old white light, but nothing bad and I can live with it. You really get used to with time. I'd recommend this light............

 

[JerryK]

When electricity was first available people used to leave on their porch lights... Then the big thing was Mercury Vapor, and everyone had to have one of them on to 'protect' their property. Then came high and low pressure sodium, Metal Halide..... I yanked all mine, and just use motion sensors with halogen flood bulbs. The 90 watt halogens put out clean white light... and if you need light to work outside... they are great. If they come on, you know some type of critter is moving around outside... and that's enough 'security' for me... A lot easier to see the night sky, too..

 

[kenmac]

My light is S.V. High pressure ?? I don't know .A friend works for the power co. & gave me the fixture , also gives me the bulbs when they burn out. That's why I keep it

 

[LD1]

LED's are out. Dont want it.

I like the light the halogens put out. As mentioned in my first post, I already have motion detector lights. 1 3-bulb unit, and 1 2-bulb unit. Those are tied in with 7 incadescent bulbs as well. If it werent for living in a woods with trees always blowing and dogs always running, they woudl be great. But Honestly I think they are on more than off. And I am always changing bulbs. I think ONE 100w MH bulb will save me a bunch in the long run.

Just need to know if it will work with HPS ballast/fixtrue. Thats all.

 

[firedog]

there are some points where the lamp voltages intersect, but starting voltage vs normal running voltages vary by a large amount.
Generally speaking, depending on the nominal wattage - YES, but lamp and/or ballast life suffer greatly.
Here's a link: HID Lamp Electrical Properties for Homebrew Ballast Builders and Experimenters

 

[not2old]

I spent the last 30 years repairing condos and ran into lots of different lighting types. I've converted many mercury into HPS or MH by changing the ballast to the proper type without any problems. Why throw away a $500.00 fixture for the cost of a ballast? Especially when you have many matching fixtures. Should work for what you've got.

 

[SPIKER]

HPS and Metal Halide are your two main options now that you left LEDs out.

The Ballasts put out different voltages to the bulbs I believe and have different style of starters. Someone mentioned you can put a HPS or a MH into the other ballast but not other way around. This is true but I think they mentioned shortened lift, that is understatement. you'll get maybe 40~60% of the lifespan from them and you will kill bulbs first then the ballast when a new bulb is put in for the most part.

Merc Vapor lights are listed on and off on CL (Factory take outs usually) they have a more pleasing light to me but more racket than a HPS. MH also has a bit more racket than HPS & I dont care for the brash/harshness of the MH light. Color is a bit better from the MH lights. I'm told you can still get MV lights but only for export not sure about getting Bulbs still probably available but at higher costs

There are some LEDs that are getting much better in price and the color is better than most any of them but the penetration power is not all that great. Look for a brand call "DIAL LIGHT" I know Allied is not carrying them.'' I have been getting lights quoted at work for a few weeks looking at all the options. http://www.dialight.com/ Note: the LEDs have a LONG life also and also use about 1/3 the power for similar output of light. Costs are not all that bad if you are paying the elec by usage. The MV light at my place costs me 7 or 8bucks a MONTH but if I was to put in on a Metered Line it would be almost twice that rate according to the power company (co-op non profit one)

The LEDs are also Instant ON ond Off and Back ON again. the HPS, MH or MV are all slow to come on require Warm Up and then Cool Down prior them re-igniting


Mark

 

[caver]

HPS requires a starter, MH does not. Also there is the mentioned ballast change. We've converted lights at work withh a ballast kit.
Magnatek makes the ballast kits.

 

[KYErik]

I'm a teacher and have a 400 watt grow light in the laboratory. The ballast has one switch position for HPS and one for MH. The instructions were very clear that the switch setting needs to match the bulb type.

 

[LD1]

I think I have decided to just buy a new fixture. I called a few places and talked with some techs and they said the MH bulb in the HPS sodium wouldnt last. They said the operating voltage (after the start) is about twice as high in the MH bulbs. So if it did work, it wouldnt last.

I thought about just using a self-ballasted MV bulb and hardwiring it, which would work, but the bulbs are $25 a pop and only rated for 6000hrs. (1-1/2 year).

A decient new MH fixture is ony ~$100 or so and comes with the bulb.

But then I got to prodding around on ebay and was finding NEW mercury vapor fixtures in the $60 range. I thought they couldnt be had anymore. So I think I am going to order a 175w MV unit. I know them bulbs seem to last for ever and put out really good light:thumbsup: