Metal Halide Lamps

[bigvern10]

Hi guys!

Could any one answer me these questions please?

Will fitting a 250 watt metal halide lamp where a 400 watt lamp was damage either lamp or fitting (both lamps are of the same type just the wattage thats different)?

What happens if you fit a pulse start lamp in a fitting only suitable for probe start and visa-versa?

Are some lamps universal and are suitable for either type of starting?

Is there an easy way to check which type of start method the fitting employs?

Thankyou in advance!

 

[RF Lighting]

Will fitting a 250 watt metal halide lamp where a 400 watt lamp was damage either lamp or fitting (both lamps are of the same type just the wattage thats different)?

Thats alot of questions

AFAIK the 250W will still work, but it will fail quicker than with a 400W lamp for which the control gear is designed.

What happens if you fit a pulse start lamp in a fitting only suitable for probe start and visa-versa?

If you fit a lamp with an internal ignitor into a fitting which has an ignitor built into the control gear, normally the ignitor in the lamp will burn out, and it will run as normal.

If you install a lamp without an internal ignitor built into the control gear the lamp will not strike as there is no ignitor to get the lamp going.

Are some lamps universal and are suitable for either type of starting?

No. You have to fit the correct sort of lamp

Is there an easy way to check which type of start method the fitting employs?

It is normally marked on the fitting which sort of lamp is required, but failing that, look at the control gear.

A fitting which requires a lamp without an ignitor will have three components (a ballast, capqacitor, and an ignitor)

A fitting which requires a lamp with an internal ignitor will have only two components (just a ballast and a capacitor)

Note that some fittings may also contain aq photocell, which is not really part of the control gear.

Also, if the light fitting takes tubular lamps the fitting will have an ignitor in the control gear. If it takes elliptical lamps, it could be either.

 

[Lectrician]

All good RF - except the last line.

We relamp a cold store, and they have one freezer with 250watt son T - These are external ignitors.

 

[briwire]

At the factory where I work there are many types of fittings and we have tried to standardise with just the 250w metal halide type. I have fitted these in 400w fittings and they work fine for a few years with no obvious ill effects.

 

[bigvern10]

Thankyou for the info guys!