When a ballast goes, it will cycle on and off as it warms and cools. After you fire them up, you have to sit there for 20 minutes to check them out.
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How can you tell if a metal halide bulb is bad?
When compared to other lamps in the same system, the lamps gain a brownish hue. This is caused by expired metal vapors in the lamp and the lack of a specific mixture in the arcs tube.
How do you test a metal halide bulb?
The output of the ballast should be checked with a tester. After turning on the lamp and touching the ends of the tester, you can remove the bulb from the lamp and make a test. You should get readings that match the output on the label.
Can you replace metal halide bulbs with LED?
Long life, lower energy costs, and control options are offered by the light emitting device. A 200 watt light emitting device can be used to replace a 400 watt bulb. A 50 watt LED can be used to replace a 100 watt metal halide. A 50% reduction in annual energy use costs can be achieved with the implementation of an LED replacement program.
How often should you change metal halide bulbs?
The bulbs need to be replaced every 8 months. You lose 40% of your yield when you lose 40% of your output.
Are metal halide bulbs expensive to run?
A system of 1,000 400 watt Metal Halide fixture costs $42.22 per hour. $30.09 per month in energy per fixture is what it would cost if the fixture ran an average of 730 hours a month.
How do you troubleshoot a metal halide light fixture?
If the lamp is loose in the sockets or the base is distorted, the lamp won’t seat correctly. There are loose contacts, poor connections, or broken wiring in the sockets. High pressure sodium and low watt metal halide lamps need a starter that has a high voltage pulse.
How do I know if my metal halide ballast is bad?
There are signs that a Metal Halide light bulb needs to be changed.
How does a metal halide light fixture work?
Metal halide technology works by passing an electricalarc through a mix of gasses and creating light. Mercury and metal halide salts can be found inside the inner arcs of lamps. There are two wires on each end of the inner arcs.
Can you put a metal halide bulb in a regular light fixture?
Like fluorescent lights, metal halides need a ballast to regulate the current inside the bulb. The larger E39 base won’t fit in a standard household lighting fixture and a metal halide bulb won’t work in it.
How long do electronic ballasts last?
Magnetic ballasts can last up to 15 years with normal use, according to the Certified Ballast Manufacturers Association.
Why is my metal halide bulb flickering?
Mercury lamps can have flickering or erratic operation if they are not properly ballasted. The effect is usually seen when the lamp starts to warm up and then extinguishes. It is possible that this is caused by improper voltage/ current relationships delivered by ballast.
Do metal halide bulbs wear out?
The bulbs should be replaced after 6 to 10 months of continuous use. The initial voltage spike, operation temperature, and age of the ballast are some of the factors that cause HPS bulbs to depreciate.
What’s better HPS or metal halide?
HPS is two times more efficient than metal halide. Delivery of usablePAR is better with HPS than it is with metal halide. An average of 80,000 to 110,000 lm per standard 1,000 watt bulb is delivered by metal halides.
Do metal halide bulbs dim over time?
Within 6 months your new light will be less than 30,000lm. The lm of metal halides is lost very quickly. lm depreciation is 50% at half life. The lm loss due to reflected light is not taken into account.
What is the function of Ignitor?
A discharge lamp can be started with an ignitor.
Do metal halide bulbs require ballast?
In order to start the lamp, regulate the lamp starting and lamp operating currents, and provide appropriate sustaining supply voltage, metal halide (MH) ballasts need to be installed. The lamp’s voltage can change over time, and the ballast needs to keep providing enough power to the lamp.
Why do metal halide bulbs explode?
Metal halide lamps can explode if they operate at high pressures, but some products are manufactured with safety features in mind. If the outer envelope is broken, some lamps self extinguishing.
What is the LED equivalent of a 1000 watt metal halide?
The equivalent of a 1000W Metal Halide bulb is a fixture or retrofit that produces at least 45,000lm. The more efficient you are at producing those lm, the better the energy savings.
Do you need a ballast with LED lights?
Some of the bulbs are engineered to work with an existing ballast, which is not required. Plug and play LEDs can be used to replace linear fluorescents, compact fluorescents, or HIDs. Incandescent and halogen lamps don’t have to have a ballast.
Do I need to remove ballast for LED lights?
A lamp’s current is regulated by a ballast. A driver is required instead of a ballast in order to light up. Magnetic and electronic ballasts are used for fluorescent lights.