metal Halide

[Ramper]

I am looking for new lights for my pole barn. 40 x 70 unheated in MN. I believe there are incadecents in there now.

Would these work?

http://rmn.craigslist.org/grd/2398627068.html

I am not in there much (mostly long term storage) as I have a 30 x 40 shop and a 3 car garage.

 

[rsanter]

yes they will as long as you have the correct voltage available
they are 'high bay' so thyey need to be 10plus feet off the ground to work well.

and they are not 'instant on' like and incandestant is, when you turn them on they take a few min to warm up

bob

 

[Ramper]

I have a 200 amp service out there. I just need 120volt right?

 

[fefarms]

I have a 200 amp service out there. I just need 120volt right?

According to the seller, the lights are wired for 120 volts. Quite often the ballasts for these older lamps can be rewired internally for 120, 208, 240, or 277 volts. Sometimes you can score a super deal on these when the seller thinks he's stuck with 277 volt lamps, which few readers of craigslist can use.

Speaking of that, $35 per lamp is pretty steep for lights the seller probably scored for free as part of an upgrade job. $25 is more like it, and less for a quantity purchase. Get any bulbs the seller has laying around.

 

[nehog]

I have a bunch of used and new 400 watt bulbs if you need some let me know. As mentioned they are high-bay so they should be 15 to 20 ft up for best lighting, but all lamps of this type are adjustable (you 'lower' the bulb in the reflector to spread out the light) so that will help. Don't forget to use safety chains on them, to prevent nasty things from happening if one should (try to) fall.

Also some of these lights are available with halogen backup bulbs that provide some lighting while the metal halide bulbs warm up. And the comment on price is good, figure they're worth about $25 each, maybe $20 in lots of 10 or more. At least that's my suggestion.

 

[Vicegrip]

Replace the bulbs and capacitors if the fixtures are older. The bulbs loose lumens over time and on off cycles. If the outer bulb is clear you can look at the inner capsule. If ti is dark and or silvery looking it is using full power but giving reduced light.
The caps go bad and cause the capsule to not light. Before they fail they cause loss of lumens and color shift the light. Many a bulb and ballast kit has been changed due to bad capacitors. God rule of thumb is a new cap at least every 5 bulbs at least. I do them every third relamp.

 

[Aceman]

I'd rather pay retail for new T8 4-lamp strips than get a deal on used 400w metal halides of unknown condition. But that's just me...

 

[Ramper]

Here are some 400W ones listed. Are these better?

http://rmn.craigslist.org/mat/2402609920.html

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Replace the bulbs and capacitors if the fixtures are older. The bulbs loose lumens over time and on off cycles. If the outer bulb is clear you can look at the inner capsule. If ti is dark and or silvery looking it is using full power but giving reduced light.
The caps go bad and cause the capsule to not light. Before they fail they cause loss of lumens and color shift the light. Many a bulb and ballast kit has been changed due to bad capacitors. God rule of thumb is a new cap at least every 5 bulbs at least. I do them every third relamp.

If the fixtures work, I would suggest this is bad advice. Remember what the OP wants them for.......................

I am not in there much (mostly long term storage) as I have a 30 x 40 shop and a 3 car garage.

He would be well off to run them until the bulbs begin to cause problems them service the bulb and cap. Given the price of bulbs, it simply doesn't make sense to replace working bulbs, even if their light output is somewhat reduced, for a storage building.

Charles

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Here are some 400W ones listed. Are these better?

http://rmn.craigslist.org/mat/2402609920.html

He doesn't give the voltage in the advertisement. You need to verify the voltage, either from the ID sticker on the ballast housing, or sometimes imprinted in the wire from the ballast itself.

Charles

 

[G_P]

Think of bulb cost as well. Those bulbs may cost you more to replace than you paid for the whole fixture in the first place.

 

[Vicegrip]

If the fixtures work, I would suggest this is bad advice. Remember what the OP wants them for.......................



He would be well off to run them until the bulbs begin to cause problems them service the bulb and cap. Given the price of bulbs, it simply doesn't make sense to replace working bulbs, even if their light output is somewhat reduced, for a storage building.

Charles

Yes from a short term cost perspective yo are right. A bulb and a Cap in 400 watt range will run you about $30. It could also be said that HID in a short visit space is a poor choice itself considering the start up lag times.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

It could also be said that HID in a short visit space is a poor choice itself considering the start up lag times.

This is certainly a true statement. In my place, I have two 500 watt quartz floods that I installed originally and used for several years prior to installing the 400 watt MH lights. I still use the quartz lamps for quick in and out visits or when I simply don't need bright lighting in every corner and crevice.

Charles

 

[6768rogues]

My son bought a dozen 100 watt units at an auction for $15 each. After we started loading them in the truck we realized that there was a 13th unit. One was dead, so I guess he broke even. They work very well, have good light output and a spectrum similar to the sun, so they do not make things look strange colors.

 

[nehog]

Think of bulb cost as well. Those bulbs may cost you more to replace than you paid for the whole fixture in the first place.

Naw, cheap on eBay. I bought about 20 or them last time, and got a great price. (and now have way too many, which is why I'm trying to get rid of a few.)

 

[knobby]

If possible before you buy have the seller run the fixture for a couple of minutes to make sure that the transformers are quiet if the ballast was overheated it will buzz/hum loud enough to be distracting, test BEFORE you buy.