Replacing MH with CFL Revisited

[mjwalsh]

Floodlight Socket Extenders to allow Compact Fluorescent Flood lights to fit?

Flourescents generally have a higher Kelvin number making the light they do produce more friendly to the human eye. The human eye can in other words process the light better from the CFL.

Soapy & others,

By our vacuums & around our building we still have about 12 of the 75 watts & 90 watts of the Halogen flood lights. They are supposed to have similar lumens as regular incandescent 150 watts floodlights.

Right now we still have intense pressure ($$$) on the electrical contractors from last years flooding in our area. So we are trying to buy time before we install completely new fixtures.

The wife of my main employee picked up about 25 CFLs that were taken out prematurely at a large motel. In order to use these bulbs that were tested & seemed to still have almost 100% of their original light --- we need to find a socket extender.

Anybody know where we can buy the socket extenders for those floodlight style CFLs?

MikeW

 

[Randy]

Mike,
Are you talking about something like this http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/5834/ELEC-242500.html

 

[mjwalsh]

Any other suggestions on perimeter lighting on building itself?

Mike,
Are you talking about something like this http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/5834/ELEC-242500.html

Randy,

Thanks. Normally I would be able to research that type of thing myself but we have scrambling with some other very serious updates besides trying to educate over at the CLA BB about coin mech improvements & the mechs relationship to the dollar coin legislation by McCain & Harkin.

Anybody have any other suggestions using the existing junction 110V around the perimeter of our building?

I might have to start a whole new thread since this one is more focused on replacing MH.

MikeW

 

[I.B. Washincars]

I have converted about 70 175W MH fixtures using this 105W CFL

https://1000bulbs.com/product/8257/FC105-S50MOGOD.html

Here are pics of the results. The first one (single bay) is the finished product after the CFL conversion.

In the second pic (tandem bay), the near bay has been converted, the far bay still has the 175 MH.

 

[bighead]

Well, we just switched two of our 400w metal halides over to the CFL's you can buy from Klean Rite. Keep in mind, the MH were 5 years old, but a side by side comparison at night showed no difference to the naked eye, so we are going to switch over the rest of our fixtures later this month.

 

[Indiana Wash]

OK, you have convinced me. I switched my bay lighting over to T5HO's but my lot lighting is poles. There is no way to switch those over. I have at least 16 400w bulbs on poles. Am I correct in that all I have to do is get flourescent bulbs with mogul bases and try one? Any suggest on how I reach them? I don't own a bucket truck.

 

[6t7gto]

I rented a man lift from our Home Depot.
it will reach 35' and tows behind your truck.
quite inexpensive.
david

 

[2Biz]

I have at least 16 400w bulbs on poles. Am I correct in that all I have to do is get flourescent bulbs with mogul bases and try one?

You'll need to bypass your incoming line to the cap and transformer and wire directly to the mogul socket...Its not as simple as screwing in a mogul base bulb without any modification!

 

[Indiana Wash]

You'll need to bypass your incoming line to the cap and transformer and wire directly to the mogul socket...Its not as simple as screwing in a mogul base bulb without any modification!

Yeah, Kleenrites video says just remove everything except the socket and wire directly to it. I hope the bulbs fit. I hate to rent a lift and have no bulbs fit!

 

[2Biz]

The mogul base attaches to a strip of metal that can easily be bent upward to give you more room in the fixture. You could probably gain 2 or more inches if needed.

After measuring the amount of room I had in the fixtures, I bought all medium base sockets and medium based bulbs before taking the fixtures apart. So I had to change everything out at that point. I believe the mogul bulbs would have worked just fine...

 

[Ghetto Wash]

Any suggest on how I reach them? I don't own a bucket truck.

I dared my 17 year old son and gave him $20 to climb my 35' flagpole to replace the line. He did it, but said he wouldn't do it again.

 

[washnvac]

I have at least 16 400w bulbs on poles.

Indiana--I do not think you will be happy with the light output from the flourescents on a 35 foot pole. I changed four units on 15 foot poles, and that was just ok. The flourescents do not get the light to the ground like the halides.

I would suggest converting them to 250 watt or 320 watt pulse start for a little savings. Check with your electric utility to see if there are any rebates in converting to the pulse starts. Ask if they will lend a guy and truck to change them. (Never hurts to ask)

 

[MEP001]

I would suggest converting them to 250 watt or 320 watt pulse start for a little savings. Check with your electric utility to see if there are any rebates in converting to the pulse starts. Ask if they will lend a guy and truck to change them. (Never hurts to ask)

Good idea, just remember that pulse-start MH require the bulb be base up.

 

[ted mcmeekin]

Why does 1000 bulbs.com say cfl's are NOT RECOMMENDED with photo cells or timers.

Ted

 

[Quinque]

Dimmers cannot be used with CFL's. And some electronic timers and photosensor switches contain dimming circuitry. According to warning on Sunlite SL65/65K/MOG CFL package I just received from 1000 Bulbs.

 

[ted mcmeekin]

Thanks, we use electronic timers so I will need contact company.

Ted

 

[2Biz]

Put a relay between your fixtures and sensors or electronic timers. This should take care of any issues you might have switching to CFL's or fluorescents using your current setup...

 

[6t7gto]

I have Hubbell 175watt wallpacks. Mercury vapor.
I converted one yesterday to the 105watt cfl that was mentioned earlier in this thread. Went without a hitch. And this one has a plastic lens on it.
Today I converted another one. This one has a glass lens cover.
Installed the glass cover and broke the bulb.
Figured I didn't push the socket high enough.
In order to get the socket to maximum height, I cut an opening in the shroud that covered the old ballast/transformer.
Bottom of the bulb looked like it had plenty of clearance now.
Installed the glass cover and broke a second bulb.
The glass lens is made on a taper whereas the plastic is flat.
The socket was so high it hit the top of the cover.
Has anyone done the conversion with the glas lens?
I'm going to check on the length of the 85watt cfl's.
The 105's are too long.
David

 

[washnvac]

Has anyone done the conversion with the glas lens?

Yes, I have done 16. You have to bend the socket bracket upward and inwards, then slowly close the cover. Just before you are all the way closed, you should be able to see if it is hitting. I admit, I broke one by getting in a hurry. But there is plenty of room to bend the socket up and in. Just take your time---those bulbs are too expensive to be breaking them.

 

[Mel(NC)]

After reading all the reviews, I bought one of the 105CFL's from 1000bulbs and used it to replace a 250 watt MH in a wall pack. The CFL does not appear quite as brite as the 250MH, but close enough that I am going to replace the rest of my MH lighting with the 105 CFL's. I would guess 85-90% as brite.

This was the first time I have ordered anything from 1000bulbs and I can't say I was overly pleased with their service. I could not find the bulbs any cheaper but shipping was expensive ($10) and it took close to two weeks to arrive. I guess I am spoiled by companies that ship the same day the order is placed.