What type of light is this

[bigtiller]

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.

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.

If it lasts another 10 years you can bet I will have forgotten what we decided today. I won't be going up there, it's 23' & 9" to the pole top. Our electric Co-op charges $2 a month for ever to replace and maintain a yard light. It's expensive, but we may go that way when that day comes. I just don't want to get a less powerful (lumens) light. That is the only reason we may hire an electrician to replace it again.

 

[oosik]

Bigtiller - your yard light looks like mine. Mine is sodium vapor and was installed by me - August 17, 1982. You had better believe if it EVER burns out I'll be replacing it with something the same. Yellow, blue, white - - who cares - - its not out there to compliment my complexion on nightly excursions.

It lights up the entire yard and that is exactly what I want. In prior years I had visions of my aluminum ladder in the bucket of my M6040 - all being raised the 24 feet or so to change things - should it ever need it. I think I will forego the adventure and have the electric company do the honors. They DO provide that service - free to customers. Better to watch than to learn how to fly.............

 

[Diggin It]

Our electric Co-op charges $2 a month for ever to replace and maintain a yard light. It's expensive, ...

Ours shows a rate of $16/mo for Sodium, higher for Metal Halide. No LEDs shown.

 

[kc5dlo]

Some smart phones are capable of determining the amount of light a lamp is giving off. I had a compass calibration app on my phone that included that feature. Used it once to replace an LED flood light bulb so that it would match the output of the second bulb and it worked great.

 

[bigtiller]

Bigtiller - your yard light looks like mine. Mine is sodium vapor and was installed by me - August 17, 1982. You had better believe if it EVER burns out I'll be replacing it with something the same. Yellow, blue, white - - who cares - - its not out there to compliment my complexion on nightly excursions.

It lights up the entire yard and that is exactly what I want. In prior years I had visions of my aluminum ladder in the bucket of my M6040 - all being raised the 24 feet or so to change things - should it ever need it. I think I will forego the adventure and have the electric company do the honors. They DO provide that service - free to customers. Better to watch than to learn how to fly.............

36 years and counting. That's great, talk about getting your monies worth. Mine is still a kid at at 20 years old. Maybe it will outlast me and the next guy can fix it.

 

[CobyRupert]

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?

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Is this the same electrician who did the wiring job on it? ...though I guess it's lasted this long.

Is it 240V? (i.e. Is it on a double-pole breaker in your panel?)
I agree with others, from the shape of the fixture it really could be high pressure sodium (HPS), or metal halide, or mercury vapor, but by 1998 I think mercury vapor and low pressure sodium were going out of style.

Maybe you're not color blind, but just have HPS lighting that makes everybody colorblind (at night).



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[bigtiller]

Is this the same electrician who did the wiring job on it? ...though I guess it's lasted this long.

Is it 240V? (i.e. Is it on a double-pole breaker in your panel?)
I agree with others, from the shape of the fixture it really could be high pressure sodium (HPS), or metal halide, or mercury vapor, but by 1998 I think mercury vapor and low pressure sodium were going out of style.

Yes, same guy. He ran out of junction boxes and said he would be back to put one on later. If he makes it back soon there may be hope for all of us.

It's 120 volt.

 

[ovrszd]

Yes, same guy. He ran out of junction boxes and said he would be back to put one on later. If he makes it back soon there may be hope for all of us.

It's 120 volt.

Most security lights around here are wired that way. Even when you rent one from the power company. Although their connectors might be higher grade. No junction box.