What type of light is this

[bigtiller]

I can't remember for sure what type of light the electrician told me this is. I do remember him saying it was 250 watts and the same thing he installed for the city. It was installed new in 1998 and has been on dusk til dawn ever since with no maintenance or repairs.

Is it mercury vapor, high/low pressure sodium or something else?

 

[Diggin It]

What color is it at night?

Purplish color is Mercury Vapor.

Yellowish is Sodium Vapor

Brighter white could be Metal Halide

 

[bigtiller]

Color?

That's the problem. I'm partially color blind, so I can't talk colors with much certainty.

I was hoping someone could tell by looking at the shape of the bulb, fixture and years the bulb has lasted.

 

[/pine]

Most of the MH bulbs I've seen are elongated...

 

[ovrszd]

The yellowish light from a sodium vapor light is easy to recognize. Very soft dirty color.

The white light from metal halide is stark sharp white light.

The old mercury vapor lights are whitish but not sharp like metal halide. Probably what yours is.

 

[bigtiller]

The yellowish light from a sodium vapor light is easy to recognize. Very soft dirty color.

The white light from metal halide is stark sharp white light.

The old mercury vapor lights are whitish but not sharp like metal halide. Probably what yours is.

Mrs.tiller and I talked it over. She tends to agree with your third description. Thanks. Now we have a better chance of buying the correct bulb if this one ever quits working.

20 years and counting..... how long do they last?

I guess it was wishful thinking that the shape of the bulb & fixture could solve the problem.

I would ask the guy that installed it but he left this world several years ago.

 

[/pine]

You may be able to find a similar business closer to your location but the site below was a big help for us finding the right MH bulbs for our (existing) shop fixtures...

LED Lighting Solutions & Commercial Lighting Fixtures | Shop ALB

Good Luck...

 

[Diggin It]

Now we have a better chance of buying the correct bulb if this one ever quits working.

20 years and counting..... how long do they last?

The correct bulb ( in the minds of many) is LED which usually means changing the fixture, though there may be some retrofits available. More light, brighter and much less power consumption.

How long do MV's last? Indeterminant. Could last another ten years, could fail tonight.

 

[ovrszd]

Mrs.tiller and I talked it over. She tends to agree with your third description. Thanks. Now we have a better chance of buying the correct bulb if this one ever quits working.

20 years and counting..... how long do they last?

I guess it was wishful thinking that the shape of the bulb & fixture could solve the problem.

I would ask the guy that installed it but he left this world several years ago.

I'm more surprised that the dusk/dawn sensor still works. I'm hoping by the time you need to make any replacements you will have forgotten what we decided today.

 

[sixdogs]

I'm more surprised that the dusk/dawn sensor still works. I'm hoping by the time you need to make any replacements you will have forgotten what we decided today.

Yes, be sure to replace the dusk/dawn sensor. It would be a shame to have it go up there twice.
When my lights go bad I take the old one out first and then shop for the new one to make sure I get the right one.