Electrical is finally complete... metal halide lights are up
- Thread starter bmwpower
- Start date
ranger_dood
Well-known member
They should double as heat, as well 
Luckydevil
Well-known member
Those are nice. How's the startup time and where did you get them?
sberry
Banned
I would be interested in the price. etc. I need a couple more. I was curious about the new multi vapor lights too, I know they are a bit more effecient than metals. I have one 400W sodium now and mostly flo's but should light up a couple areas with general type fixtures.
Luckydevil said:
They only takes several minutes (maybe 5) to start up to full output. I have 2 fluroescents (seen in pict) as well in case I need to run in the garage for a second...usually I'm in there for a while. I thought I would be bothered by the startup time, but it hasn't been an issue at all. By the time I pull the car in to work on it, the lights are up.
I got them at a local auction for about $7-8 each. I had to clean them up a bit and buy bulbs, but they work great. When you consider that one of these lights goes for at least a couple hundred bucks each, I think I got a deal.
mleichtle said:If I had windows I wouldn't need lightsLooks great.
Are they all on 1 circut? What size circut? And how much heat do they give off?
They're all on one 15A, 240v circuit. They draw about 1A each. I though about splitting them up on a couple of circuits, but figured I'd always want them all on. If I really wanted to, I could unplug the twist lock plugs on a couple, but that would affect my light output. I installed these because I was tired of not being able to see in my garage.
They don't give off any noticeable heat. I've touched the ballast case and reflector when they were on once. They were warm, but not hot. Might have something to do with running them at 240v. Most people have misconceptions about metal halide lights: they will (1) give me sunburn, (2) heat the entire garage, (3) ignite volatile chemicals stored in my garage, or (4) guide incoming airplanes, etc.
Luckydevil
Well-known member
bmwpower said:
Damn, got any spares you wanna sell?
Satatic
Well-known member
Color rendering?
Satatic said:
Color reproduction I guess you would call it. It's a white light, much like sunlight. I thought T8 fluorescents looked nice until I saw them both side by side. My T8's look yellowish compared to the metal halides.
ChucksCrib
Well-known member
........and if the whole garage thing doesn't quite work out for you......You could always lay down some water, freeze it and open up BMWPower Memorial Ice Rink
ChucksCrib
Well-known member
Yeah maybe not, but I know your just dyin' to get your hands on a Zamboni. Headers...nasty bump stick.....line lock........ 
dboat
Well-known member
ChucksCrib said:Yeah maybe not, but I know your just dyin' to get your hands on a Zamboni. Headers...nasty bump stick.....line lock........
Just like a car guy,, except you forgot the supercharger, nitrous and etc....
Your vette looks nice.. I have a Lightning myself..
MacTexas
Well-known member
How tall is your ceiling? I have metal halide in my garage but they are surface mount. I have a 12' ceiling and it is just like pulling up to a gas station at night. They are very bright. You are the first one I have seen use them. Everyone said they were for outdoor use and would be too hot but I have not found that to be the case.
Fast Orange
Well-known member
Metal Halide is the latest trend in industrial lighting,with many advantages over flourescents-I believe your lights are low bay fixtures,which work great from 12' to 20' off the floor.
The only type of lighting that costs less to run than these is High Pressure Sodium,but the color rendering with HPS is terrible-all colors appear flat,reds look like brown primer.
Both Phillips Lighting and Sylvania have what are known as "True Color Rendition" lamps available for these fixtures.These lamps replicate natural sunlight as well as any flourescent lamp I've seen.
IIRC, lamp life with these is around 12,000 hours,but the lamps can be pricy-$25-$30 each-replacement ballasts can be approxiamately $60.
The only downside to this type of fixture is that,last I heard,they are not UL listed or approved for residential use.A electrical inspector if following the letter of the law,can fail your garage and not allow a CO to be issued.Hope fully you won't have this problem.
Looking Good,
George
The only type of lighting that costs less to run than these is High Pressure Sodium,but the color rendering with HPS is terrible-all colors appear flat,reds look like brown primer.
Both Phillips Lighting and Sylvania have what are known as "True Color Rendition" lamps available for these fixtures.These lamps replicate natural sunlight as well as any flourescent lamp I've seen.
IIRC, lamp life with these is around 12,000 hours,but the lamps can be pricy-$25-$30 each-replacement ballasts can be approxiamately $60.
The only downside to this type of fixture is that,last I heard,they are not UL listed or approved for residential use.A electrical inspector if following the letter of the law,can fail your garage and not allow a CO to be issued.Hope fully you won't have this problem.
Looking Good,
George
Fast Orange said:
I have Sylvania bulbs in mine. Bought them from Lowe's for about $25 each.
Fast Orange said:The only downside to this type of fixture is that,last I heard,they are not UL listed or approved for residential use.A electrical inspector if following the letter of the law,can fail your garage and not allow a CO to be issued.Hope fully you won't have this problem.
Looking Good,
George
I heave not heard this. I've actually talked to a couple electrician friends over the course of the install and they never mentioned this. If all else fails, I can unplug the twist locks, take down the lights and wait until after the inspection to reinstall them...
I will check up on this with them...I hope it's not true.
Not to hijack the thread, but ......George (fast orange)......when you say they are not presently ul listed for residential, does that apply if used in a detached garage? I'm curious as to the specifics of "residential".....do you mean how you are zoned? I haven't bought lights for my new shop yet, and will probably go with flourescents as I did in my last shop with daylight bulbs....I can't imagine these halide lights bmw used being any brighter than daylight bulbs.....but would consider this type of lighting if it is that bright and can be used in a detached shop......... Keith
MacTexas
Well-known member
bmwpower said:
They are RAB Vandalproof 150W.
MXtras
Well-known member
I can not see where an inspector is going to give you any **** about this. The safety of the installation looks good and you have clearance above the ballasts. Looks good to me! I think it would be different if you had 9' or 10' ceilings.
Which bulbs are you using? R-20 (I think) ? I like the Sylvania's - nice light. The GE bulbs seems to be more orange. I am sure it has to do with how they are doped.
Nice space!
Scott
Which bulbs are you using? R-20 (I think) ? I like the Sylvania's - nice light. The GE bulbs seems to be more orange. I am sure it has to do with how they are doped.
Nice space!
Scott
muddy said:
Just got some more info on the code rule:
"210.6 limits voltage in a dwelling to 120 volt between conductors and 20 amp maximum rating for any wiring serving light fixtures. If your metal halide light fixtures are 120 volt rated 20 amps or less then you are allowed to use them in a dwelling. If your light fixtures exceed the above limits then no you must not use them in a dwelling."
A detached garage is NOT a dwelling, so I'm good to go.