I have the old wallpacks now, I think metal halide. There are two in each bay, opposite corners of each other. I see alot of talk about LED on here but does anyone actually have them? Do you like them? I just want my bays lit nice to draw attention and make it easy to clean your car at night if they want.
Does anyone have LED wallpacks?
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MEP001
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The LED wallpacks aren't brighter than any other option - their main advantage is less maintenance.
Given the current cost of LED lighting and the loss of light output over time of metal halide, the most affordable option is T5 or T8 fluorescent. I just installed a 128-watt 4-tube fluorescent and the light is not noticeably less than a new 250-watt metal halide. The bulbs are rated for 36,000 hours and are expected to keep 95% of the light output throughout its life.
Given the current cost of LED lighting and the loss of light output over time of metal halide, the most affordable option is T5 or T8 fluorescent. I just installed a 128-watt 4-tube fluorescent and the light is not noticeably less than a new 250-watt metal halide. The bulbs are rated for 36,000 hours and are expected to keep 95% of the light output throughout its life.
slash007
Well-known member
I have small bays that have a single 250 Watt metal halide in each bay. I was thinking about adding another fixture on the other side, but I don't want to add metal halide so if I add another light I would have to replace the metal halide that is in there now to whatever I go with so that they match. I also thought about just keeping one light but replacing it with something stronger. I have looked into fluorescent and wasn't sure how strong the light output would be compared to the MH. Thoughts?
Sorry to jump in the thread, but I figured that we were both looking for opinions on similar things so responses would be beneficial to both of us.
Thanks.
Sorry to jump in the thread, but I figured that we were both looking for opinions on similar things so responses would be beneficial to both of us.
Thanks.
I.B. Washincars
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Slash, you need to drive down and look at my washes after I converted the MH to CFL. I promise it will be worth the drive.
I converted my 175 watt MH fixtures over to these http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/8257/FC105-S50MOGOD.html 105 CFL’s and couldn’t be happier. I looked at the LED light fixtures at the ICA convention and they are a lot brighter than the 175 watt MH lights, when guy turned it on it was almost blinding, but the initial costs are still too high. The problem we have with Metal Halide lights is the bulbs punk out after about a year and then they need to be replaced, so far this hasn’t been a problem with the 105 watt CFL bulbs. They seem to be brighter than 175 watt MH lights.
cantbreak80
Maybe I need new clubs
After pricing LEDs, including power company rebates and projected energy savings I converted my wallpacks to CFLs. Even with the cost of new wiring, timer, and my over-the-top control system, I just couldn't justify the cap cost of LEDs. And the difference in visibility from the old 250 watt MHs to the new 85 watt CFLs is negligible. Total project cost was just under $1,800 because I work for myself for free. Without the rewiring and controls, I would have spent less than $500 for my 20 fixtures.
slash007
Well-known member
Is 105 the highest I can get in cfl? I plan on converting to cfl to replace the 250 watt MH and was hoping to get away with just the one light since the bays are small. If not, it shouldn't be that hard for me to add a second light.
That 105 watt bulb is the equivalent to a 420 watt bulb, they are bright. I’d do one bay. Open one of your light fixtures and measure how much space you have inside your fixture, you want to have enough room for the 105 Watt CFL, they are about 11.5 inches long. Buy 2 bulbs, one for each fixture, bypass the ballast inside the fixture, install them, power them up. I think you’ll be pleased with the results. If you have the yellowed plastic light diffusers replace them with glass.
washnvac
Well-known member
They come in 200 watt, but I do not think it will fit into your wall pack unit. I converted some 1000 watt MH lot fixtures to the 200 watt cfl. But those are big boxes.
MEP001
Well-known member
The T5 and T8 fluorescents are as bright per watt as a fresh metal halide, but CFLs are not. I tested a couple different fixtures with CFLs, and it was a lot better than the failing MH that was in there, but doesn't compare in brightness to what the fixture is meant to put out.
Ric
Cantree Member
I have also been happy with the cfl conversions I've done. Some are over 4 years old now.
slash007
Well-known member
CFL should be an easy conversion, so I will try that route first to see how I like it. Some of my plastic covers are darkened, where can I get glass replacements?
MEP001
Well-known member
Not all of them have a glass option. What fixtures do you have?
The CFL bulbs won't yellow replacement plastics as bad as the metal halides did.
Slash,
I sort of paved the way to the CFL conversions 2-1/2 years ago here on the forum. If you want to do some reading, here is a thread I started on the subject. I couldn't be happier with the conversion. I've only had 2 bulbs fail since April 2011, and they just failed last month. The remaining bulbs seem just as bright as when I installed them.
http://www.autocareforum.com/showthread.php?6668-In-Bay-and-Vac-Station-Lights
I sort of paved the way to the CFL conversions 2-1/2 years ago here on the forum. If you want to do some reading, here is a thread I started on the subject. I couldn't be happier with the conversion. I've only had 2 bulbs fail since April 2011, and they just failed last month. The remaining bulbs seem just as bright as when I installed them.
http://www.autocareforum.com/showthread.php?6668-In-Bay-and-Vac-Station-Lights
The cost is to high to convert them over.
Trying to find the Glass lens for some of the MH light fixtures is almost impossible sometimes. If you can’t find Glass lens these guys might be able to help you find a replacement plastic lens. http://www.plasticsforlighting.biz/ I got new lens for my 8’ Fluorescents a while back. I think they were about $35 a piece.
I also know a guy in Bardstown Kentucky who is selling a bunch of new 175 wall pack lights with glass lens that have been converted to 105 watt CFL.
I also know a guy in Bardstown Kentucky who is selling a bunch of new 175 wall pack lights with glass lens that have been converted to 105 watt CFL.
I did read the replies but still havn't heard from someone who actually has LED's at their wash. I would like to hear from someone who actually has them.
Earl Weiss
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Perhaps no one has them because the cost to convert makes no sense on an ROI basis. Perhaps for a new build it might make more sense.
