Menards Dusk to Dawn lights

[jeff5295]

Menards had a sale last week on high pressure sodium ($40 after rebate) and compact fluorescent ($25) dusk to dawn lights. They were out of the HPS, but I got a rain check and I bought the CF too as it was the last day of the sale. Just need to decide which one to use and which to return.

I had a HPS at my last shop and had no issues with it for 4 years. Just curious if anyone has any long term experience with the CF dusk to dawn lights. I've heard the bulb life isn't nearly as long as the HPS, but that's just what I found doing some internet searches. I hate to put too much faith in what's found doing a google search. Looking for some credible experience.

I think I would prefer the whiter light of the CF and I'm guessing it would use a lot less power. Just don't want to be feeding it bulbs all the time. It gets cold here (-20F is not uncommon a few times thru the winter) so I need something that will actually light in the cold also.

The brand name on each is Patriot Lighting. Any comments?

 

[Gary S]

I bought CFL dusk to dawn lights back in the Fall of 2004 when I finished my garage. Of the 4 I installed on my garage, 2 of them have had the lamps replaced once. One lasted only 1 year. One lasted 5 years. The remaining 2 are still working every night after 7 years. They are a different brand of light from what Menards is selling now I believe.
My winter temps here drop to -45 degrees during the night, so on a cold winter night, the lights are required to start up at -20 to -25 when it gets dark. They have never failed to light. The white light of the CFL looks much brighter to the human eye than the red light of HPS.

 

[jeff5295]

Thanks Gary, sounds like a real ****-shoot on bulb life. Bulbs are only $10, so I guess I have to weigh out bulb replacement cost over electicity savings if I decide to keep the CF. I know the white light would look a lot better than the orange of the HPS.

Anyone else have experience with CF outdoor lights?

 

[ishiboo]

Patriot Lighting is Menards house brand, to compare you'll probably need to figure out who makes it for Menards

 

[TWX]

I've been using "indoor" CFL bulbs outside for years. Granted, I don't live where it gets cold, but they work fine here for me.

 

[Zick]

I had one of their CFL Dusk to Dawn lights to replace a broken HPS. I was amazed at the amount of light it actually put out. Never had a problem with it turning on during the winters here.
I think mine ran for about 3 years before I took it down when we built our new house.
I still have it but haven't found a new home for it yet.

 

[kenfath]

My son installed a double 'U' tube CFL dawn to dusk fixture over 4 years ago. It has been going strong ever since still has original tubes. He has it near the roof peak above garage doors and it lights ~40+ feet to the street. It has very low power consumption -- ~35 watts. He has another CFL which replaced the wall switch controlled 175W mercury vapor. It gets less use but is a good light. I've found nothing wrong with CFL's for outdoor use.

 

[jeff5295]

Well, I decided to try the CFL. Installed it this afternoon and it turned on about an hour and a half ago as it was getting dark. Looks nice, very clean "white" light. Much better than the neighbors yellow/orangish outdoor light.

I hope I have good luck with bulb life, as some of the others have seen.

 

[jeff5295]

Just looked outside and noticed my new light no longer works. Exactly 2 nights is what I got out of it. Tomorrow I'll have to determine if it's the bulb or fixture.

The orange glow of the HPS is starting to look more appealing than fixing the CFL every few days. Glad I didn't return the HPS yet.

 

[vtx531]

I have 4 CFLs that are on all night every night for the last year and a half still working fine. They also were no problem in the Michigan winter. As for the two timers I have for them...needed to replace one once and the other one twice. The CFLs I have are something like 9w for $1 each at Walmart.

 

[Gary S]

Just looked outside and noticed my new light no longer works. Exactly 2 nights is what I got out of it. Tomorrow I'll have to determine if it's the bulb or fixture.
.

If it failed that soon, just return it for a free replacement. Menards is very good about standing behind their products.

 

[jeff5295]

Turned out to be the bulb. Got a new one and we'll see how long this one lasts. I still have the HPS light sitting there in the box. If I have any more problems with the CFL any time soon, I'll just return it and put up the HPS.