Retrofitting HID Parking lot lighting to CFL

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HounddogElect

New member
Has anyone had any luck finding CFL replacement bulbs for HID fixtures in the 208 volt range. The supply house tells me they make a 120V and a 277V but not 208V or 240V. I'm perplexed.
 

DetroitEE

Senior Member
Location
Detroit, MI
Are these pole lights? If so, I've never heard of using CFL in place of HID. HID is typically used because of its high lumens/watt.

This could be why you can't find 208V ballasts for CFLs, they are typically designed for 120V or 277V line-to-neutral voltages only, not the line-to-line voltages that are typically used to feed parking lot lighting.
 

broadgage

Senior Member
Location
London, England
CFLs are now more efficient than the smaller metal halide lamps and are therefore being used more for lighting parking lots and similar places.

Are you looking for CFLs with a built in ballast that work directly from line voltage ?
Or are you looking for those that use external control gear ?

If you require the ones with a built in ballast, these are not generally available in 208 volts, someone, somwhere, may make them, but they are not generally available.
If you require the sort that use an external electronic ballast, these are readily available for multiple voltages. Modern electronic ballasts that are marked 120/277 volts will work correctly not just on 120 or 277, but also on any voltage in between, including 208.
 

DetroitEE

Senior Member
Location
Detroit, MI
CFLs are now more efficient than the smaller metal halide lamps and are therefore being used more for lighting parking lots and similar places.

Are you looking for CFLs with a built in ballast that work directly from line voltage ?
Or are you looking for those that use external control gear ?

If you require the ones with a built in ballast, these are not generally available in 208 volts, someone, somwhere, may make them, but they are not generally available.
If you require the sort that use an external electronic ballast, these are readily available for multiple voltages. Modern electronic ballasts that are marked 120/277 volts will work correctly not just on 120 or 277, but also on any voltage in between, including 208.

Could you provide some data to substantiate this? A 39W metal halide lamp is rated 3300-3400 inital lumens. A typical 42W CFL is rated for 2800 initial lumens.
 
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