400watt High-Pressure sodium light, with pics

[haugy]

Well I installed my HPS light. And while many figured I went WAAAAY overboard, I'm actually very pleased.

It's exactly what I wanted. It's a 400-watt High Pressure Sodium light, that is on a SWITCH. Meaning it will only be on when I really need it. And if I need it, let's just say, I sure as hell have it. While the neighbors might get annoyed if I left it on all the time, I won't. But it's sure as hell bright. ha ha ha

I also put up the motion lights around the perimeter. The two on the front are dual-brights (low beam until motion activated). They do a great job of lighting up the area enough to keep it safe. And when they are on full, they really help out.

 

[Cuda]

Clark Griswold would be proud!
JK. Looks very nice and should keep the crooks away.

 

[ForceFed70]

I am planning to do the same, except was planning to install 2 of them. My garage faces my house, so don't need to worry about ******* off the neighbors. It's sure nice to have those lights for the odd time you are working outside at night. Or even when shovelling the driveway (snow) in the evenings.

 

[waltmcq]

I was thinkin the same thing. This is what I was thinking http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/223/HLF-400NFB400HP.html

 

[haugy]

I was thinkin the same thing. This is what I was thinking http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/223/HLF-400NFB400HP.html

Here is the one I bought from them. I figured, I won't need to ever tilt mine. Easy install, but have a friend handy to hold the 33lbs sucker up while you mount it.

http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/53948/TL-106EXTHPS400.html

 

[Norcal]

CCD Lighting? Who the heck are they,CCD, Crappy Chinese Dreck? Price is not even that great for off-breed merchandise. The problem is that even well known brands are made by the ChiComs too, & unless one sees the package in front of you, have no way of knowing the country of origin.

 

[knobby]

CCD Lighting? Who the heck are they,CCD, Crappy Chinese Dreck? Price is not even that great for off-breed merchandise. The problem is that even well known brands are made by the ChiComs too, & unless one sees the package in front of you, have no way of knowing the country of origin.

Sadly it seems most of the north american "manufactures" now are sourcing ballasts from china or india I know this from experience in my work I install a fair number of venture ballasts they used to be NA manufactured with a almost nonexistent doa rate now they are made in india and they have easily a 15% brand new doa rate also the older ones mostly failed with the cap or starter and the core was fine (cheap fix) now more often than not the core is gone, new ballast time

 

[PaulR]

Looks great Haugy, sweet set up. I like your choice in trucks too, I have the same one, just don't ever try to change the plugs.

WRT the motions on the corners of your house, did you run those wires yourself? I'd like to do something like that but I'm afraid of having to run the wires.

 

[haugy]

Looks great Haugy, sweet set up. I like your choice in trucks too, I have the same one, just don't ever try to change the plugs.

WRT the motions on the corners of your house, did you run those wires yourself? I'd like to do something like that but I'm afraid of having to run the wires.

Thanks man. Already changed them, 5 out of 8 broke. That was a long day.

The wires are actually really easy, but I haven't drywalled in there yet. I just finished getting the electrical run. I had my electrician run the wires inside. Then all you have to do is drill a hole in the steel, fish the wires through, and wire up the lights inside the box that you mount on the wall. I tried to think of everything I could in regards to what I'd need before I put in the insulation and drywall.

But if you have access to your panel, and can fish wires down to it from the attic/roof area, it really is easy. It's just a pair of wires, and a ground.

 

[Falcon67]

Nice. There needs to be about three of those on poles with a motion trigger that also sets off a recording "STAY VER YOU ARRRE. VE VILL SHOOT IF YOU RESIST, DAS IS NO ESCAPE"

 

[haugy]

Nice. There needs to be about three of those on poles with a motion trigger that also sets off a recording "STAY VER YOU ARRRE. VE VILL SHOOT IF YOU RESIST, DAS IS NO ESCAPE"

HA HA HA HA HA HA Awesome!!! I already have the dogs to match too!

 

[waltmcq]

CCD Lighting? Who the heck are they,CCD, Crappy Chinese Dreck? Price is not even that great for off-breed merchandise. The problem is that even well known brands are made by the ChiComs too, & unless one sees the package in front of you, have no way of knowing the country of origin.

So Mr. Norcal what do you recommend?

 

[Norcal]

Lithonia,Lumark,Hubbell, or Holophane (they used to manufacture their own ballasts, not sure if they still do).

 

[haugy]

My Trace-lite is made in Arizona. Don't know about the ballasts though.

 

[ForceFed70]

Spoke to my father (he runs an electrical business).

He reccomends for me that I use 2x250W quartz lights/fixtures. He says 2x400W HPS is way overkill and 250W quartz fixtures can be bought for cheap.

 

[Norcal]

Spoke to my father (he runs an electrical business).

He reccomends for me that I use 2x250W quartz lights/fixtures. He says 2x400W HPS is way overkill and 250W quartz fixtures can be bought for cheap.

Why? You get less light for about the same amount of power consumption, plus you will be replacing a lot of halogen lamps compared to HPS lamps.

 

[walrus]

Why? You get less light for about the same amount of power consumption, plus you will be replacing a lot of halogen lamps compared to HPS lamps.

Quartz may be cheap to buy but their is a reason for that. They ****

 

[green.bubbly]

Thanks man. Already changed them, 5 out of 8 broke. That was a long day.

Sorry to threadjack but how hard of a job is it if they break. My son has that truck and wants me to change the plugs. I am not into pulling a head for a broken plug.

 

[Rentawrench]

On the plugs . Did you warm the engine up first ?use a lil never seize when installing the new ones?

 

[pauls340]

Ladies and Gents, with all your metal halide or HPS lamped fixtures your head might spin watching the electric (energy) meter spin at 9000 rpm! All your fixtures probably come with a magnetic ballast/ coil/ core...buy simply changing that "old style" ballast to our DHID, you can save 40%-50% on your electric bill. It is a component change, thus not affecting your UL/CSA listing. ALSO, your lamp starts degrading the second it is turned on. You can drop up to 45% of the lumen output over the life of the lamp. Our Accendo DHID with its microprocessor, will run that lamp at over 95% effeciency for the entire life of the lamp. Actually, the lamp life will increase and burn brighter and restrike faster. Because the lamp will burn brighter, you can changeout a 400w HPS (burns at about 465w) with our 250wHPS lamp and not notice a considerable difference in what your eyes can detect. So if you buy a 10,000 hour lamp it will burn at least that long, provided no physical failure of the lamp, but at above 95% brightness. This DHID ends re-lamping. Can be mounted within your fixture or within 15'. Our 250w DHID runs about $195 + alittle freight shipped outta Ohio. Check it out www.accendoelectronics.com Made in Georgia and Ontario !

 

[haugy]

Sorry to threadjack but how hard of a job is it if they break. My son has that truck and wants me to change the plugs. I am not into pulling a head for a broken plug.

Read up on it, there's tons of info about the problems with those plugs. They are notorious for breaking. Because of that, it's insanely expensive to get it done at a dealership. Definitely do your homework before you try it. I did, and it was still a pain.

On the plugs . Did you warm the engine up first ?use a lil never seize when installing the new ones?

Yep.

 

[1Garageman]

That is a really nice job/light.

I have a question, this might be stupid. I looked at the light info and it shows that you can go 120volts or 240volts, which why did you go?????
I just have never gone 240volts on a light before, but might.

 

[anvil]

240 vs 120 = half the cost to run. I would go MH due to the white light.

 

[ForceFed70]

240 vs 120 = half the cost to run.

Sorry, but that's completely wrong. A 240V fixture will draw 1/2 the current but that doesn't make it any cheaper to run. Your electricity bill is based on wattage not current.

 

[Falcon67]

240V means half the amperage, allowing for smaller wiring.

 

[ForceFed70]

240V means half the amperage, allowing for smaller wiring.

True. I guess by "run" he could be refering to the wiring.