MH bulb in MV fixture

Status
Not open for further replies.
peter d

peter d

Senior Member
Location
New England
What would happen if I put a metal halide bulb in a mercury vapor fixture?

I haven't done this; I'm just wondering if it's possible and if it could cause any damage.
 
Re: MH bulb in MV fixture

It wouldn't fire, it needs a spike to strike and the ballast for a mercury vapor luminaire doesn't provide it.
 
Re: MH bulb in MV fixture

If the MH lamp is the same wattage as the MV, it might light up. I think this only applies to constant wattage ballasts where the capacitor is in series with the balalst output. My ballast book is at the shop.
If it's a Pulse start MH, it will not light up.
 
Re: MH bulb in MV fixture

It would not lite. You can though use a MV to test MH and HPS to test the starter. If it lights the starters are bad. You can also put a MV lamp (bulbs are planted in the ground) in a MH fixture and it will lite but not last very long.

[ April 11, 2005, 11:28 PM: Message edited by: highkvoltage ]
 
Re: MH bulb in MV fixture

the company i used to work for had a chart if you knowed the ballast number. (example mv87)it would tell you the size mv bulb or mh bulb that ballast could use. if it was a cheap mv ballast you couldn't use a mh bulb in it. but the higher dollar mv ballast would let you use a mh bulb.
 
Re: MH bulb in MV fixture

A 175 watt or larger metal halide bulb has the same running characteristics as a mercury vapor bulb of the same wattage. However, the starting voltage of the MH bulb is higher meaning that in an MV fixture the bulb will work in warm weather but not in cold weather.
 
Re: MH bulb in MV fixture

Darn, I thought I was on to something here. Oh well...I was hoping I could put in a MH BULB ;) to improve light ouput of MV fixtures.

But then again, I'm sure this would have been done decades ago if it was possible.
 
Re: MH bulb in MV fixture

Replace the ballast and lamp. Use PS metal halide. Mark fixture with a number to identify wattage of bulb--17=175, 25=250, 40=400
The fixtures you mark will be the ones that have the MH ballasts!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top