Mercury light keeps quitting

[Cadillac STS]

I have had this mercury light for 10 years or so. On in the dark, off at night.

2 weeks ago it stopped working. Looking at it on the ladder the light was getting power and the "Eye" on top was warm. Replaced the "Eye." It worked again no problem. Now it is out again.

Is there something about the light that causes failures over time?

 

[rockwithjason]

put some electrical tape over the window in the photocell. if the light comes on and stays on the eye is not the problem. either the ballast or the lamp has gone bad. usually i save time and effort by replacing both.

 

[kamesama980]

I don't know what the rated lifespan is for them but if it's been on 10 years, I wouldn't feel bad replacing the lamp and ballast.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

The light sensors are very sensitive to lightning strikes anywhere nearby, at least the ones I've had experience with. Have you had any power surges, interruptions, lightning, etc since you installed the replacement?

I would be getting rid of that horribly inefficient light ASAP and get something that produces more light and uses less energy.

Charles

 

[nehog]

I have had this mercury light for 10 years or so...

Ten years is well over the rated life of that bulb. Probably time to replace it, I don't see a need to replace the ballast unless there is evidence that it has failed.

 

[sands35]

The vapor bulb on the post lamp burned out on me. I just removed the transformer and bypassed the wiring. Now I have an efficient and very bright CFL lamp in there. Photo sensor still works.

 

[knobby]

I would be getting rid of that horribly inefficient light ASAP and get something that produces more light and uses less energy.

Charles[/QUOTE]

if the fixture is 400w or less watt a metal halide lamp will interchange just keep the lamp wattage the same eg. 250w MV to 250w MH
this will give an upgrade in output as well as a slightly better CRI with the bonus of longer lamp life

 

[Norcal]

I would be getting rid of that horribly inefficient light ASAP and get something that produces more light and uses less energy.

Charles

if the fixture is 400w or less watt a metal halide lamp will interchange just keep the lamp wattage the same eg. 250w MV to 250w MH
this will give an upgrade in output as well as a slightly better CRI with the bonus of longer lamp life[/QUOTE]


Not quite true, a mercury lamp will operate off a metal halide ballast, but a MV ballast will not operate a MH lamp.

From what I understand, mercury lamp ballasts are no longer avail., as per energy regulations. Even if they still are MV is a obsolete light source & should be replaced.

 

[Cadillac STS]

I replaced the lamp the first time around when I was trying to sort it out.

So it must be the ballast?

 

[nehog]

I replaced the lamp the first time around when I was trying to sort it out.

So it must be the ballast?

No, the 'new' dusk to dawn switch could have failed. The capacitor could have failed. Could have a wiring problem, but probably not.

 

[Norcal]

No, the 'new' dusk to dawn switch could have failed. The capacitor could have failed. Could have a wiring problem, but probably not.

If it is a "dusk to dawn" fixture (the cheap home center specials) there is no capacitor.

 

[Kevin54]

Chances are the eye you put in either has went bad or you have a corroded contact. I am assuming you can kill the power to the light? If so, pull the eye and see if you can see the contacts to see if they are clean. If you have a small syringe, take a little CLR and squirt a little bit on the housing contacts and give them a chance to dry. Then put a little dollop of dialectric grease on the eye and replace it. Also make sure the lamp that you replaced is making contact. If it's hard to turn in or out, you may have a little corrosion there. Look at the solder joint on the end of the lamp and also look at the terminal inside of the socket for any corrosion. The new stuff doesn't last nearly as long as what the old stuff did. If this thread was up about a month ago, I could have sent you a NOS eye as I had one on the shelf but didn't need it, so I tossed it. Go figure. I had it from when I cleaned out my parents house.